Gibson stumbles in debut, another big loss, and Morton tinkers.
Good morning Birdland,
For the second time in very recent memory, the Orioles were completely embarrassed on a baseball field. We will all recall the Easter debacle, where the Orioles were blown out 24-2 by the Reds. And then we have last night, which was not as brutal, but similarly tough to watch. The Orioles were crushed 15-3 by the Yankees, a game that was over after the first half of a inning.
Kyle Gibson’s return to the rotation was meant to provide a solidifying presence. No one expects him to come in and be an ace, but rather a back end innings eater that can keep the Orioles close enough while he’s on the mound. None of that happened on Tuesday night.
Gibson was ambushed by back-to-back-to-back home runs to begin the game. After recording one out, he allowed another home run. Then back-to-back doubles to score once more before he finally escaped the nightmare.
Things did get worse from there, but being down 5-0 before even getting a chance to hit is more than enough to sink this crew right now. The Orioles’ lineup mustered three runs on the night. Gunnar Henderson hit a meaningless home run late. As a team they made three errors in the field. It was one of the worst played baseball games you will see on a major league field.
Charlie Morton pitched in relief and was not a total disaster. Across 2.1 innings he did load the bases and allow a run, but it was unearned due one of the aforementioned errors. Progress? Clearly the Orioles aren’t ready to give up on him or put him on the IL.
Despite last night’s calamity, the Orioles do still have a real chance to win this series. The pitching match up tonight (Carlos Carrasco vs. Cade Povich) may ever so slightly favor the Birds. But that will require the Orioles hitters to show up and for the fielding to be somewhat competent. There’s no guarantee of either thing happening.
Links
‘A special moment’: 2019 draftee Handley, 27, makes MLB debut | Orioles.com
It is neat to see a long time minor leaguer get a shot to play in the majors. For his sake, I wish it happened in a better game, but I’m sure he will take it regardless.
Laureano taking advantage of more starts to slip out of slump | Roch Kubatko
Of all the offseason moves, the decision to add Ramón Laureano is the only one that is panning out so far for Mike Elias and the Orioles. The guy was a real nice player for the Athletics a few seasons ago, he just didn’t stay too healthy. He seems to be regaining his form with the Orioles.
Charlie Morton is as flummoxed as anyone by his poor performance. He wants to right the ship. | The Baltimore Banner
I do like Morton. When the Orioles made the signing, it made some sense to me. It was Elias’ comfort zone, and it (theoretically) secured the floor of the rotation. But it has not gone well. If his “stuff” truly does feel dialed in, as he makes it seem in this piece, then I would have to be losing some faith in the Orioles coaching staff to not be able to figure out why he gets hit so hard most times out anyway.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Zac Lowther turns 30 today. The soft-tossing lefty appeared in 11 games for the Orioles between 2021 and ‘22.
- Jesús Sucre celebrates his 37th birthday. He was a catcher in the league for seven seasons, including a 20-game pitstop in Baltimore during the 2019 campaign.
- Jeff Reboulet is 61 years old. From 1997-99, the light-hitting utility man played all over the Orioles infield, and even got a game in right field.
This day in O’s history
1967 – The Orioles lose a game 2-1 in which their opponent, the Tigers, gets no hits. Steve Barber and Stu Miller combined to toss nine, no-hit frames, but Barber walks 10 in his 8.2 innings.