With the Orioles concluding Memorial Day with a 24-30 record after a dramatic 9-7 win over first-place Tampa Bay in 13 innings, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Colton Cowser’s second walk-off homer in as many days concluded a very disappointing opening third of the season on a high note. Baltimore is still playing at a 90-loss pace with the AL’s second-worst run differential, so there’s a long way to go to warrant meaningful belief in this club.
2. Monday’s extra-inning win capped just the third time the Orioles have won three of four games since mid-April. They haven’t won three straight since April 11-13. If Cowser’s heroics are to go down as anything beyond a fun diversion in a disappointing season, it’s time to start stacking series wins.
3. You’d feel better about their chances if this club could play cleaner baseball in the field and on the bases. Even in Monday’s dramatic win, the Orioles had runners picked off and experienced hiccups defensively. It shouldn’t be too much to ask to make the plays you’re supposed to make.
4. Kyle Bradish has now pitched to a 2.22 ERA and averaged just over a strikeout per inning over his last four starts covering 24 1/3 innings. A tweak to his delivery and increased use of his curveball have made a major difference, but others need to follow his lead.
5. The peripherals speak to Brandon Young pitching with good batted-ball fortune, but his 3.47 ERA outperforming the rest of the rotation says much more about Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, and Chris Bassitt not being good enough than the Orioles missing Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer. Young has been solid.
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6. May has been much better for Pete Alonso, but Gunnar Henderson continues searching for consistency as he’ll look like he’s on the verge of going on a tear before reverting to chasing pitches or getting picked off. It sounds overly simplistic, but stars need to be stars for this club.
7. Adley Rutschman has cooled substantially from April, but the walks have started to come with him doubling his season total over his last seven games. That combination of on-base skill and power is the optimal version of Rutschman. His throwing has also improved substantially.
8. Playing this year’s Ramon Laureano has been Leody Taveras, who’s been one of Baltimore’s better players to this point. Maintaining a .341 batting average on balls in play is unlikely, but a career-high walk rate and a strikeout rate near his career low should bode well for him sustaining success.
9. It’s understandable wanting to salvage something from Tyler O’Neill, but it’s notable that he batted ninth Monday. In two seasons with Baltimore, O’Neill is 11-for-92 against lefties. Coaches can continue working with him behind the scenes for now, but viewing this as anything but a sunk cost is extremely difficult.
10. Rico Garcia and Yennier Cano have been excellent, but the Orioles rank 29th in relief ERA since Ryan Helsley last pitched April 28. Helsley is continuing a throwing progression and could be back within the next few weeks, but the bullpen looks like it’s barely hanging on too many nights.
11. This organization’s preference for having the platoon advantage isn’t a secret, but picking spots to give Samuel Basallo and Jackson Holliday opportunities against lefty starters should remain in the plans. It’s not as though the right-handed alternatives inspire much confidence anyway.
12. “We’re three games back, and I feel like we could not have played much worse. I think it’s just getting guys going and staying healthy.” Those were the 37-year-old Bassitt’s words regarding the Orioles’ playoff hopes following Friday’s win. We’re waiting, and Mike Elias is really counting on it.
