that never sleeps.
You seem to be at peace with being a closer. But could there have been a better place for you?
I think so but we’ll never know. Either way, you put in your time and did alright for yourself. It all paid off – including this soft landing on a contending team that will energize you.
All that time with Dave Wallace and Dom Chiti? Those string drills? Finding more ways to own and harness that other-worldly sinker? Getting your mind rewired to sit in the bullpen and have a chance to pitch every night instead of taking those four “down days”?
You did it all. You changed. You made it work. And you became the best in the world at your job.
The athlete and real baseball player in you took to that 162-game approach. After all, you might’ve made it as a real MLB hitter if that was your path? (I’ve seen you swing the bat!)
Hey, after three legendary years of doing it as well as anyone’s ever done it, you’ve made $35 million playing baseball so far. And now you’re getting your ticket out of town.
8
Pitchers break. No one has 10 years in a row like you did in your prime. But, now, you’ll probably have a chance to go win a World Series.
You could’ve been in Houston or Cleveland or Los Angeles a year ago. Or even this week. But it’s a hungry version of young teammates in pinstripes with the New York Yankees.
You’re 30.
You’ll have a chance to show you can still do this. You might even still get some Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Miller money before it’s all over. After seeing you come back from that nasty Achilles injury and pitch your way into a position to get the Orioles a decent fetch from their arch AL East rival, I would never, ever bet against you.
It feels like the Orioles might’ve wasted you three times.
- Going to the bullpen to begin with because I felt your value as a No. 2 starter would’ve been extraordinary and you would’ve made more money as a starting pitcher in your career
- Toronto, wild card 2016 (the obvious)
- And now your trade value and the recent injuries and risk management over the past 20 months, especially when they weren’t going to invest in your future
But we have three new names to follow on the Orioles farm and you said some nice things about coming back and finishing your career here.
As I’ve pointed out, I just hope the franchise is here when you are 40.
8I think it’s incredible and a testament to what kind of person and competitor you are in coming back from that Achilles tear to make yourself marketable. The Orioles owe you a debt of gratitude for whatever becomes of these kids because your blood, sweat and tears over the last eight months is the only reason they’re here.
And you were always the guy who seemed to kinda like it here. You seemed like the happy, grownup rocker Oriole I wish I had known amidst all of the years of winning and home runs.
I liked cheering for you even though I’ve never met you. (But I was listening to AC/DC before you were born.)
Anywhere is better than here, Zach!
And, honestly, I’d bet more ON you than against you. You seem like one of the good dudes on the team and an asset to the organization.
Get healthy. Go win. Go live for today…
Maybe sometime you’ll be warming up in the bullpen in Game 7 of the World Series and your manager will put you into the game.
8I’m guessing that won’t be Buck Showalter.
Hail, hail to the good times…
You’re off the highway to hell and instead of your career being shot down in flames, you get to shoot to thrill in New York.
We salute you, Zach Britton!
