With the Orioles losing 7-1 to the Texas Rangers in Game 3 to be swept in the American League Division Series on Tuesday, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. The Orioles didn’t hit in Game 1. They didn’t pitch in Game 2. They did neither in Game 3, which is an easy formula for being swept. There’s blame to go around, but there’s only so much to say about some of their least competitive baseball of 2023. Major bummer.
2. For the second straight game, a Baltimore starter failed to escape the second inning as Dean Kremer was chased after allowing a three-run homer to Adolis Garcia to make it 6-0. That’s not a formula that’s going to work in May, let alone October.
3. Though the 15-pitch battle with Nathaniel Lowe resulted in an out to begin the bottom of the second, that was the beginning of the end for Kremer, who couldn’t put anyone away. Being sensitive to Kremer pitching with a heavy heart, I might have rolled with Kyle Gibson to start.
4. Labeled a “playoff pitcher” by Brandon Hyde after Tuesday’s loss, Nathan Eovaldi was outstanding and the kind of free agent I wanted to see Mike Elias and the Orioles sign last offseason. Though lacking his peak velocity, he had more than enough and pounded the strike zone.
5. The offense didn’t put a runner in scoring position until the fifth inning and failed to collect an extra-base hit in Game 3. Regardless of your stance on the potential impact of the five-day layoff, the Orioles weren’t swinging the bats well to conclude the regular season either.
6. A frustrated Cedric Mullins acknowledged the role the groin injury played in his lost season, but going hitless in 12 postseason at-bats is still a tough pill to swallow. Adley Rutschman wasn’t much better with a 1-for-12 ALDS. It’ll be a long winter for those two former Most Valuable Orioles.
7. Since you began reading this, Corey Seager drew two more walks. That Gunnar Henderson has received comparisons to such a special player is a compliment to the 22-year-old rookie, who had an excellent series in his own right. Still, nine walks in a three-game series is ridiculous.
8. No, they weren’t “overrated” as Rangers fans chanted several times, but the moment did look too big for the Orioles with a couple players admitting October crowd noise took some getting used to. The good news is this talented young club now knows what to expect in the future.
9. Even if it will be very difficult to improve upon or match 101 wins, I have little doubt that the Orioles will be back for future Octobers. However, you hope losing convincingly sends a message to Elias — and especially John Angelos — to not be complacent in determining how to improve.
10. Irony wasn’t lost on some that Baltimore went 91 consecutive regular-season series without being swept before losing three straight to the Rangers. And no, we shouldn’t praise the potential continuation of the “streak” because of the technicality of this not being the regular season. October is when legacies are defined.
11. The Orioles haven’t won a playoff game since Nelson Cruz homered and Bud Norris tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings in Detroit to sweep the Tigers in 2014. The current club doesn’t carry the entire burden of an eight-game playoff losing streak, of course, but that’s agonizing for fans.
12. Only one postseason club will be truly happy in early November and the Orioles made their fans proud with a remarkable season for the ages, but a three-game ALDS sweep that didn’t even present a memorable moment makes for a long offseason. How many days until pitchers and catchers report?
