O’Hearn goes to Atlanta, the ASG goes to a Swing-Off, and the “second half” begins.
Good morning Birdland,
I have to admit that I fell asleep before the end of the All-Star Game last night. Ryan O’Hearn had batted twice, the AL was getting smacked around, and I needed to get my kids to bed. It being a weeknight and already rather late, I went down shortly thereafter. Turns out I missed some fun stuff!
The AL stormed back from a 6-0 deficit to tie things up at 6-6. They scored four times in the seventh inning, and then twice more in the ninth to send the game to…well, not extras, but something different.
For the first time in ASG history, the game was decided by a “Swing-Off.” It was a Home Run Derby-style mini-competition in which each team sent three players up to the plate. They each got three swings, regardless of outcome. The team that combined for the most home runs, won.
For the AL, the players were Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena, and Jonathan Aranda. For the NL, it was Kyle Stowers, Kyle Schwarber, and Pete Alonso.
Schwarber ended up stealing the show. He went a perfect 3-for-3 in his swings to put the NL up by one at the time. And unfortunately Aranda went 0-for-3, which left Alonso unused as the NL went home the winners.
It definitely seems like the second half of the evening had more juice to it than the first half. The AL actually came alive offensively, and the Derby was a fun, silly way to end a game that is, after all, an entertainment product. It doesn’t need to be the perfect way to determine which league is better. Just making it interesting to watch.
The big negative of the evening was the length and timing of the game. From first pitch through the end of the overtime Derby, the game took five hours and 13 minutes. First pitch was at 8:25 eastern time. The Derby portion started around midnight local time in Atlanta/Cobb County.
If the extras/swing off had not happened, the game would have ended around 11:30, which feels reasonable enough. But you could argue that the swing off was the most entertaining portion of the evening, and you would imagine most east coasters were in bed by that point.
As long as the game is on during the week, there is no perfect solution. First pitch needs to be pushed for the west coast, and that likely means the east coast is going to miss the late innings/swing off. Could MLB think about shifting the ASG festivities and moving the game to Saturday or Sunday? That would allow for an earlier first pitch, Perhaps the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
Links
On his bat, Orioles All-Star Ryan O’Hearn reps a Little League Challenger team he cares for | The Baltimore Banner
O’Hearn seems like a lovely guy. It’s neat when those types of people get to live out their dreams, like making an All-Star team. And he while doing so he shared the spotlight with a group that means a lot to him. Pretty cool stuff all around!
Because You Asked – An Unexpected Journey | Roch Kubatko
All kinds of questions with Roch. He does mention that Mike Elias is expected back in 2026, which makes sense. There are flaws in the team he built in 2025, but the injury luck has also been remarkably bad. Barring a total collapse in the season’s final two months, it’s worth giving him another chance next season.
Trade Candidate: Charlie Morton | MLB Trade Rumors
Morton could be one of the most sought after players at the deadline. That doesn’t mean he will garner a humongous return, but the guy has oodles of value in this moment. He’s pitching great. He has won the World Series before. He has pitched as a starter and reliever in the postseason. There is a lot to like, and that could push his cost up above some seemingly similar arms on the market as a result.
Manfred: Longer Break In 2028 For All-Star Game And Olympics Is Possible | MLB Trade Rumors
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Talk to me in 2027, Rob. There’s a CBA negotiation coming. All of this will change a million times between now and 2028.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- The late Eddie Fisher (b. 1936, d. 2025) was born on this day. He spent parts of two seasons pitching out of the Orioles bullpen from 1966-67.
This day in O’s history
1958 – The Orioles get some offensive help from an unlikely source. Pitcher Jack Harshman homers twice to lead the O’s to a 6-5 win over the White Sox.
1964 – Steve Barber cruises on the mound for the O’s. He throws a complete game and gives up just one run as the Orioles top the Yankees 6-1 t0 retake first place in the AL.
1967 – The Birds beat Mickey Mantle and the Yankees 2-1 at Yankee Stadium. Brooks Robinson homers. Bill Dillman tosses seven on-run innings
2023 – The Orioles are now just one game back of the Rays for first place in the AL East after beating the Marlins 5-4. Kyle Bradish tosses 7.1 scoreless innings and Danny Coulombe earns the save.