CHICAGO—Fresh off a difficult weekend in Minneapolis, the Orioles arrived in Chicago hoping to duplicate the success they had against the White Sox last week.
On their previous homestand, the Orioles lost three straight against the Twins but rebounded to win two of three against Chicago.
Three more losses to Minnesota this past weekend were followed by the Orioles’ fourth straight defeat, 5-3, Monday night to the White Sox.
The Orioles fell to 10-20 and have their fourth losing streak of four games.
In their four losses, the Orioles have scored just seven runs.
“I think there’s some situational hitting where we haven’t either advanced a runner at second with nobody out or scored a runner from third with less than two out kind of situation,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
“We did a good job early, and we’re kind of in a little bit of a funk here where we’re just not driving in the runs. I think those things happen, but at the same time we’ve just got to do a better job with situational hitting. Be able to advance runners, be able to score runners from third. Being able to make contact with a runner on third is huge.”
Catcher Pedro Severino hit his fourth home run. Hanser Alberto, who was playing right field, had three hits. Chris Davis had two hits and two RBIs.
“I think we left a lot of men on base, in scoring position, especially, so I think as a group, we’ve got to work on that and get better because we need to score more runs,” Alberto said.
Means’ night: Starting pitcher John Means allowed four runs — on a pair of two-run homers — on six hits in five innings. Means had been one of the more successful Oriole pitchers at keeping the ball in the park.
Entering the game, Means had allowed two home runs in 20 2/3 innings. He also hit two batters, doubling his season total.
“I didn’t have my best changeup today, and I was throwing some good ones down in the zone that they weren’t offering at,” Means said. “I tried to make too much of an adjustment and left some up. Overall, I didn’t feel it was that bad. I made some bad pitches, and they made me pay for it.”
Means said he doesn’t think about run support.
“No, especially from a pitcher’s perspective,” he said. “You try and go out there and try to get everybody out. You’re not worried about getting run support or anything like that. You’re worried about doing your job.”
Scott sent down: After the game, the Orioles optioned left-hander Tanner Scott to Triple-A Norfolk.
Scott has a 6.75 ERA in eight games and has walked eight batters in 6 2/3 innings. On Monday, he allowed a hit, walked two and threw a wild pitch while recording two outs.
“Tanner’s got elite stuff, but he’s got to be able to throw the ball over the plate,” Hyde said. “ He’s got to be able to make pitcher. You see the stuff. You just want to see some consistency. That was a good spot for him tonight. It just didn’t happen.”
Scott’s demotion leaves just one left-hander, Paul Fry, in the bullpen.
Ramirez makes 37: Yefry Ramirez, who had been recalled from Norfolk on Monday, became the 37th player used by the Orioles in 30 games.
He gave up a run in 1 1/3 innings.
Ramirez had a 1.50 ERA in four starts for Norfolk.
“I kept working on improving my slider and continuing to command my fastball,” Ramirez said through a translator.
Last year, Ramirez was 1-8 with a 5.92 ERA in 17 games for the Orioles.
“Last year was tremendous for me. I think that experience is going to allow me to make fewer mistakes this year and to be a better pitcher,” Ramirez said.
Waiting on Mancini: Trey Mancini, who fouled a pitch off his right index finger on Saturday, was out of the lineup for the second straight game.
Mancini expects to play today.
“With the improvement from yesterday to today, if the improvement from today to tomorrow is the same, I’ll be 100 percent good to go,” Mancini said.
“When it happened, I thought it was broken. I was pretty surprised when the X-ray came back negative and very relieved, obviously. I knew it would take a couple of days at least. Fingers can be a very delicate thing, unfortunately. I feel very lucky it’s not broken.”
Hyde is eager for Mancini’s return.
“You take Trey out of our lineup, he’s leading the American League in hits, so it’s obviously a blow,” Hyde said.
Karns back on IL: Nate Karns, who had been on a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie, has returned to the 10-day injured list. Karns, who has forearm tightness, pitched in one game for Triple-A Norfolk and another for the Baysox. In his only outing for Bowie, Karns gave up two runs on two hits in an inning.
“I just don’t think he’s feeling right,” Hyde said. “Our guys wanted to take a look at him and get him reevaluated. Hopefully, he gets good news and he continues to pitch and stays on his rehab assignment, and when he’s healthy, be here.”
Hyde at home: This is Hyde’s first visit to Chicago as a visiting manager. He coached with the Cubs for the previous five seasons, and lives in the northern suburbs.
“I love Chicago,” Hyde said. “Great city. People are fantastic. I’m used to the North Side, but played here every year, obviously. It’s great to come home, sleep in your own bed, get up and go to my normal breakfast spot and kind of have a similar routine than I did when I was here.”
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It’s a good thing they assembled this coaching staff for its teaching abilities; I just hope their patience doesn’t wear thin. I’m still not sure how you get to the majors without being able to command your fastball, and how one team ended up with so many pitchers who can’t keep the ball off the middle of the plate. Still, I think they are more interesting (“enjoyable” might be too strong a word) to watch than last year’s struggling veterans.
I totally agree with you. It just amazes me that our farm system from the prior regime, could not develop pitchers to command their pitches, be aware of the situation with the current batter plus the batter on deck and not fall in love with their "slider".
If we are getting frustrated, I can only imagine the conversations in Hyde's office between the coaches, realizing how much of an up hill climb they are in for to get this team into contention.
Well, I think it's swell that Hyde got to sleep in his own bed last night.
I hope y'all are still enjoying the hustle and enthusiasm you were when last queried here-abouts the Diner, regarding your excitement level a few weeks back. How refreshing!! Frankly, it just doesn't do it for me. Besides that, I believe I'm starting to see some hang-dog looks on these scrubs faces and we're not even out of April yet.
Let's face it boys ... it's no fun watching a team without anybody on the roster that has any kind of chance for a future in Bal'more. Tanking sucks, and so far, so does the new regime.
Right on, Boog. Right on...
BRR, I am in total agreement of your assessment. Last night I did wait til the end of the 7th inning before I turned off another train wreck and went to sleep. Too many minor leaguers at both position players and pitchers and all that does is create boredom. Doesn't this manager believe in sac bunts, stolen bases, etc etc etc? They are proving that home runs are not their forte except the pitchers.
Norm, the Orioles are ninth in stolen bases and have been much more aggressive on the bases this year than in prior years. Few managers believe in sacrifice bunts anymore. Earl Weaver and Buck Showalter both felt it was giving up an out.
Rebuilding is painful for the players, management and fans.
Rich, last week O's had men on 1st and 3rd and nobody out, and had one of their many weak hitters in the bottom of the lineup at bat and not even an attempt at a sac bunt, you can look it up. Both Earl and Buck would have tried to move guys up. Remember the last rebuild? The O's had "The Cavalry", the five pitchers that were going to take the team to untold heights. How did that work out? Does rebuild mean playing minor leaguers until the fans stay away and the team averages 7/8000 fans paying major league prices? Rebuilding is painful for management, players (who don't lose a dime when they stink......i.e. The Great Chris Davis) and especially the fans (who ARE the ticket buyers).
The rebuild worked out because Andy MacPhail drafted Manny Machado, traded for Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy, signed Matt Wieters and extended Nick Markakis, Norm.
After he took over, he said that he had been led to believe the minor leaguers he inherited were better than in fact they were. That may again be the case today.
Boog I do agree that the enthusiasm of a few weeks back is waning already. Bad pitching will do that to a team(oh the memories of Manny standing there with his arms folded). This outfield is in disarray--any Eric young Jr sightings? Thanks Mr Hays for diving head first. You put the whole OF behind the 8 ball. Oh AND any Roger McDowell sightings?
Young is batting .222 with Triple-A Tacoma in Seattle’s organization. Roger McDowell is out of baseball, Orial.
Hyde... “Tanner’s got elite stuff but he’s got to throw the ball over the plate.” That’s actually plagiarism as just about any manager and coach who’s worked with him has said and if I wanted to waste my time I could go dig some of them up. I’ve posted, time after time, that some things never change (see Mike Wright, Jr.). Speaking of him, did anybody notice that he made his debut with Seattle on Saturday. Two innings... 58 pitches... 3 hits... 1 run. Good luck Seattle! But, back to Scott... the only thing I can come up with is that they’re waiting for him to find himself like Nolan Ryan did after he put up abysmal numbers in his early days with the Mets. (I was there and saw it...) But he never did it with the Mets. He had to be traded. (Hint, hint). At least Scott didn’t give up a homer. BTW: anyone interested in starting a contest on what game it’ll hit 100? I’m taking #42.
In this forum I projected 75 by the end of April. Unfortunately tonight's game got rained out and they stalled at 73.
It's a good move to send Scott down. Hopefully. he can straighten out his command issues. He certainly has a lot of talent. He struck out 5 out of 6 Twins a little over a week ago in relief. He could be a force coming out of the pen in the near future.
Rich: Now that the first month of the regular season has come and gone, is it safe to assume that the Oriole brain trust is evaluating which of their inherited players can be re-developed into functioning major leaguers. By this I mean, our hitters don't seem to be aware of the situation they are in when they are up.
1. Should I hit behind the runner to move them up. If so, what type of pitch and where should it be to allow me to move the runner up.
2. We need a base runner and they are shifting on me, should I try to bunt for a base hit.
3. This pitcher keeps working me away, should I hit the ball to the opposite field, instead of trying to pull everything (Rickard)
It seems that a lot, not all of our younger players weren't taught how to play this game while they were in our minor system. It seems our better young players have come from other organizations, not through ours. I hope some of our younger talent (?) learns quickly or they will soon face the same fate as Sucre.
Spin, this season can be judged as a success if the Orioles find a handful of useful players from the ones they’re running through.
You continue to hear how great Tanner Scott's potential is but he cant seem to contain his wildness.It is very discouraging and aggravating for everyone for sure.I see everybody (including myself) getting impatient and disgusted but it seems one big game performance and then most of us are back on track.It has been awhile though so who knows.I am surprised at Davis' batting as he seems to be a different hitter (fingers crossed),enough said there.Ramirez looked decent but that seems to be the norm with our pitchers,,one day a good performance and then many more negative.It is very discouraging with the injuries to Cobb.Karns,etc, and the inability of anyone else to pick it up.The pitching in this organization is horrendous to say the least, and as you all refer to,has been for quite some time. I do like the quick decisions of late to dump guys (Wright) and send them down ( Scott) when they don't perform at a time that they should be.Wright took forever but it is finally done.Those are tough decisions when you have no one to call up because no one doing anything in minors,especially triple A.I am thinking they may have to take a chance on a double A guy at some point this season.
Tony... It’s obvious you haven’t been keeping up with the Birds double A team, the BaySox. They are so bad they make the O’s almost look good. After 24 games they are 5-19 and have been shut out 5 times with one stretch of 3 games in a row. BTW: they’ve been no hit twice. Pathetic is the only fitting term to describe them". Zac Lowther has the best shot at moving up but he’s still “ green”. Just sayin...
What I find most disturbing about this team is that besides Smith all our outfielders are infielders and utility men. Richard and Stevie don’t start for any other team in the majors rebuilding or not. It was a mistake for Elias not going with the young guys who performed well this spring. I rather see them make outs and learn then watch Richard and rest of the lot
I'm not so sure about Elias making a mistake, since our so-called exciting young corps of minor league outfielders have kinda stunk up the joint this spring.
Bruce, Austin Hays is hurt. Yusniel
Diaz is hurt and batting .225 at Bowie. DJ Stewart is batting .203 at Norfolk. Anthony Santander has two walks in 93 plate appearances at Norfolk (.267 average.) He’s not a center fielder.
At some point we have to look outside the org for some OF help. I hear Givens is already on the trading block so perhaps he’ll bring back a young near ML ready OF. Or maybe a major league ready SS prospect. I wouldn’t have any complaints there either.
Or maybe not. Mullins is actually playing well in AAA. And Hays will soon be back. I’m interested to see what we get for Givens. I have a feeling it’s going to be some high upside guy in the low minors but it’ll be interesting to see. He hasn’t been as good as he was early on his career.
Rich if Austin Hays was our starting CF like he earned he would not have been hurt in a stupid minor league game. I rather see Diaz 225 in center then Richard any day. I rather see Santlander then Stevie who is a infielder. Elias pulled a genius move getting Smith the rest of the moves were super conservative and besides having untalented guys in the outfield it really hurts the fans interest who love this team.
BHoff - I couldn't agree any more than I do with you regarding seeing Hays/Santander and Diaz ... alhough with Diaz I could give a bit more time.
I have no interest in watching Rickard or Smith either .... we already know what they have to offer.
Bruce, Austin Hays was injured sliding head first into second base.
If someone hits .225 in Double-A, they'll likely hit far lower in the major leagues. With 13 pitchers and a three-man bench, you need a backup catcher and two versatile players. Santander is an inexperienced corner outfielder who has not proven he can consitently hit in the high minors.
You keep referring to "Richard." His name is Joey Rickard.
I do like Smith Boog.
Hysterical...the same guys complaining that we don’t have Diaz , etc. up on the big league roster are the same folks who would be the first to rag on the GM for bringing up a player too soon. If we only had some of these fellows running/managing our organization, we’d be running deep into the playoffs every year.
I don’t think Ruiz is ever going to hit much. I would forget about playing Mountcastle at 1st base it’s a Logjam there and I don’t want him to become another Christian Walker. Play him everyday at third and hire a coach just to help him on a daily basis to improve his fielding
Bruce, the Orioles coached Mountcastle on a daily basis on playing shortstop and third base, and it hasn't worked out. Perhaps Mountcastle will be a DH as well.
What do you mean DH as well. There is no room at 1st base for three years so it’s DH or nothing unless we get rid of Davis and Mancini. Hyde said his fielding was improving this spring. What does it matter if I call Rickard Richard either way he can’t hit and is not a ML starting outfielder. As for Diaz Cubans are notorious bad cold weather players. Look how Abreu has improved the last week as the weather has warmed up. Diaz any day with his arm, speed and ability is a improvement over Joey. For the last time I know how Hays got injured but again he never should have been in that minor league game to begin with. You yourself said he played his way onto this team this spring. You are a great guy Rich but sometimes to much of a company man.
Bruce, it's always great to hear from you. I find it interesting that you call me "a company man." The only company that I work for is BaltimoreBaseball.com