Paid Advertisement

Twelve Orioles Thoughts following series split in Washington

Paid Advertisement

Podcast Audio Vault

Paid Advertisement

With the Orioles salvaging a two-game split with Washington after a 7-6 win in 12 innings on Wednesday night, Iโ€™ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:

1. Brandon Hyde wasnโ€™t going to broadcast a demotion from the closer role for a potential Hall of Famer minutes after Wednesdayโ€™s win, but Craig Kimbrel โ€” who hadnโ€™t pitched since Saturday โ€” failed to finish the ninth inning for the fourth time in five appearances. This is becoming a major problem.

2. Last September and last weekโ€™s Yankees series provided the blueprint for how to proceed until further notice. Play matchups and use a committee approach at closer, which is how some believe teams should approach the late innings anyway. But Mike Elias needs to expedite efforts to add meaningful bullpen help. 

3. Though Kyle Bradish couldnโ€™t command much more than his sinker early in Wednesdayโ€™s start, he finished his night by striking out the side in the fifth inning. How he rebounds physically from these outings remains critical for the foreseeable future, but his first two starts have been encouraging. 

4. The Orioles stuck with Jorge Mateo last season, and heโ€™s adapted well to second base and a different role a year later. He successfully dropped a bunt in the seventh and was responsible for the winning runs in the 12th. I prefer seeing him over Ramon Urias at this point.

5. Ryan Mountcastle has two career home runs in two plate appearances against former Orioles pitcher Hunter Harvey. Thatโ€™s no way to treat one of your closest friends. Thursdayโ€™s long ball aside, Harvey is the kind of bullpen arm that would be a solid addition for Baltimore. 

6. Many assumed the Mitch Garver grand slam surrendered in the AL Division Series would be the final Orioles memory of Jacob Webb, but the 30-year-old right-hander has a 1.65 ERA and is averaging 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings this season. Heโ€™s really providing a lift at a time of need. 

7. Entering Wednesday in a 4-for-36 slump that included 17 strikeouts, Colton Cowser collected two hits and had some quality at-bats against left-handed pitching. We know itโ€™s a game of adjustments, so you hope thatโ€™s a sign of the talented rookie heating up again. 

8. Speaking of left-handed pitching, Anthony Santander continues to feast on it as he hit a 109.6-mph laser off Nationals starter Mitchell Parker, who entered the night having not allowed a long ball this season before Santander and Gunnar Henderson victimized him. 

9. Cedric Mullins was visibly frustrated after striking out for the third time to finish an 0-for-5 night and drop his average to .200 with a .637 OPS. You obviously love Mullinsโ€™ defense, but a platoon with Austin Hays could be in order when the latter returns from the injured list.

10. The lack of run support garnered attention Tuesday, but opponents have now stolen 12 bases against Corbin Burnes, a mark exceeding last yearโ€™s total and two-thirds of the way toward his career-worst 18 in 2021. A pitcher better be able to miss plenty of bats for that to be tenable. 

11. With Tuesdayโ€™s win, Washington went over the .500 mark for the first time since July 1, 2021. The Nationals are getting better, and this was a very competitive series. Itโ€™ll be interesting to see where Dave Martinezโ€™s club is when the Orioles host Washington in mid-August. 

12. With countless other things to love about the Orioles these days, continuing to hype a regular-season streak of 103 series without being swept rings hollow after last Octoberโ€™s ALDS sweep, but I guess Iโ€™m not surprised. Now, if youโ€™ll excuse me, I have a cloud to yell at.  

Share the Post:

Paid Advertisement

Right Now in Baltimore

Twelve Orioles Thoughts at start of 2025 Grapefruit League play

Luke Jones offers his latest orange musings as spring games get underway.

Dear Steve Bisciotti: Are you Tuckered out on that zero-tolerance policy?

Methinks weโ€™re kinda getting to the point where weโ€™ll soon hear from โ€œyour peopleโ€ in a two-sentence press release on the team website about the future of the kicking department of the Baltimore Ravens. Probably after lunch on Friday, theโ€ฆ

The big Ravens Maryland Lottery winner returns with his Voices of Hope to help others overcome addiction in Harford County

He bought a Ravens scratch-off Maryland Lottery ticket on Harford Road 18 months ago and T.J. Humphries is going to the games with his daughter for the next 20 years. He returns to "A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl Week"โ€ฆ

Paid Advertisement

Verified by MonsterInsights