BALTIMORE—Ryan Mountcastle enters Wednesday night’s game with just three hits in his last 35 at-bats. Mountcastle is batting seventh and is the team’s designated hitter.
Mountcastle, who hit .333 with five home runs and 23 RBIs in his first 35 major league games in 2020, is hitting just .175 with a home run and seven RBIs this season. He has struck out 27 times and walked just four times.
“Right now, I’d like to see him work through these struggles and work through a tough start,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
“That’s part of the game. That’s part of being a pro, and that’s part of being a young player is that you have to deal with adversity, and no one’s working harder right now around the league than him offensively. He knows. He’s very aware of what we feel he needs to work on, and needs to get better at.
“He’s had a little bit of bad luck along the way, too. He’s driven some balls that were caught that would change his numbers dramatically. I loved seeing him get a hit on a breaking ball last night down and away, stay on the breaking ball, get a base hit to center, so he’s showing signs of pitch recognition. Corey Kluber’s a really tough at-bat for a young player, a right-handed hitter.”
Hyde said the Orioles aren’t considering sending Mountcastle to the alternate training site at Bowie.
“We’re going to stay with him,” Hyde said. “If that crosses the line down the road, it does. Right now, I want him playing as much as possible and continue to get experience and, hopefully, he starts swinging the bat a little bit better.”
Santander not close: When rightfielder Anthony Santander sprained his left ankle in the April 20th game in Miami, the Orioles thought he’d be out two-to-four weeks. It looks like the latter.
“It’s improving. It’s a two-to-four week injury,” Hyde said. “I’m assuming it’s going to be more like four weeks because it’s a sprained ankle. He’s going to be out for a couple of weeks, and it’s going to take him a little while to come back.
“Getting better every single day. Baseball activities haven’t started yet but, hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later.”
Armstrong’s influence: Shawn Armstrong has the most big league experience of any of the nine Oriole relievers and several have credited him with helping their adjustment to the major leagues.
“I think the most important thing about the young guys is to make sure that they’re comfortable,” Armstrong said. “As far as being a big leaguer, day-in and day-out, what it takes to come to the ballpark and be the same guy.
“We do a really good job down in the bullpen of communicating scouting reports and helping each other.”
Armstrong thinks it’s an important factor in the bullpen’s success.
“The communication aspects that we have among each other on and off the field says a lot. We’re a close group, and [that’s] not just baseball.”
Minor leagues coming: The days of the alternate site are winding down. On May 4th, the Orioles’ full-season affiliates — Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, High-A Aberdeen and Low-A Delmarva — begin play.
Norfolk will play in the Southeast Division of the Triple-A East League; Bowie in the Southeast Division of Double-A Northeast; Aberdeen, the North Division of High-A East; and Delmarva, the North Division of Low-A East.
It’s the first action for the minor leagues since September 2019 because Covid-19 shut down the minor leagues last year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing some game reports of real minor league baseball games,” Hyde said. “And to see how our prospects and to see how our teams are doing.”
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Sending Jay Flaa down after 1.1 of no hit ball? Elias and Hyde have ruined Flaa for the remainder of his career! Hyde is just Elias’ “yes man” amiright?
Seriously? The bullpen is our strength because of the way they can move these young guys back and forth. It’s always been grow the pitching and obtain the bats when the team gets relevant. And that’s not here yet
Sorry forgot they’re innocents like you still here posting on BB. Definitely not serious, will use tags next time...
I’m giving you pearls here, son
On a serious note, I like Hays batting 2nd, hope that pays big dividend.
Would be great to see Urias, Valaika, or Ruiz hit anywhere close to their 2020 form. Okay, let’s add Mountcastle to the “wish they’d improve a bit” list too.
I am prepared for a tsunami of bitter whining of Kremer does not have a decent outing today from the usual BB suspects
Urias? I hope that's not part of your serious side. He's awful.
BRR May I quote your previous posts about small sample size? Tsk tsk BRR. If one player’s stats are similar to another’s and you favor one over another, what is the reason behind it? I see a similarity between Urias, Ruiz, and Severino that has nothing to do with their baseball stats...yeah I am saying it BRR, please stop
I'm confused...I'm dumb ... what exactly ARE you saying?
If you're saying what I think you're saying, I'd suggest knowing a whole lot more about a person before playing that card. If you're saying what I think you're saying, all I'll say about that is that this seems to be 2000's catch all accusation/defense, when they don't have an intelligent argument to make.
You know nothing of me my friend. If you really want to know why I favor one player over the other, just ask. You may be surprised by my answers.
Watch it Boog, tomorrow his name will something Boogfro...I really like how bold he is behind his screen, it was nice the last couple weeks people talking baseball, respectfully disagreeing, not everyone, he’ll only say crap to you & I, not sure what I ever did to him/her, might be a women, you never know...go O’s...
The orioles have a catcher who can’t catch the ball in Severino. It’s beyond frustrating to watch him behind the plate. I’m not at all calling for Adley, just asking for a catcher to, oh I don’t know, catch the ball!
Palmer really ragging on Severino.
And Palmer's also very critical of Kremer for grooving his pitches down the middle of the plate, even on 1-2 counts.
Palmer was in rare form this week. Calling out the weak and bleak play with humor and a lot of snark. Kinda like Lowenstein and I’m lovin it.
:)...go O’s...
Severino is calling a great game though, Kremer shows no ill effects of being sent down...go O’s...
You're really reaching with this one ... Even before Kremer was sent down, he had given up 14 hits and 6 walks in 10.2 innings.
Rightfully so!!! Looks lazy behind plate. Hardly gives the pitcher a target. Time to bring up Wynns
Time to give Sisco 3 out of 4 games.
I was being entirely sarcastic...go O’s...
Kremer had some success last season, twice actually against the Yanks, but so far this season is struggling. I say send him down to work through it and give Lowther a longer look. Let them each spend about 3 weeks to a month, Lowther in Baltimore and Kremer in Norfolk, and see what it looks like at that point. Kremer right now is struggling no more than Mountcastle is offensively but it’s different when you’re a pitcher. I think he’ll be fine but until then let’s see what Lowther can do.
This is why I like Palmer. He’s candid with his criticism. Tells it like he sees it.
Tonight’s game? Well boys, good pitching silences average hitting.
Especially when backed by mountains of NYC cash!
You do indeed get what you pay for.
Keep grinding and let’s watch these youngsters take their lumps.
Love Palmer.
Some positives from tonight’s loss:
No errors
Kremer issued 0 walks
Armstrong, Wells, and Scott looked decent in relief
Mancini 2-4
Mountcastle and Severino with a hit apiece
Guessing we might see Akin, Lowther, or Plutko given a start soon
Severino is the worst catcher in all of baseball yet he starts three out of every four games. Yes Sisco can’t hit anymore but he handles the pitchers way better then Severino and has thrown out 4 straight base runners trying to steal second. This teams offense is embarrassing and just awful now. We need a change. . Diaz will hit and field he should be here now along with Jones. It cant be worse then what we have now. Kremer looked terrible throwing batting practice to the Yankees. The Norfolk shuffle definitely didn’t help him.
The Orioles are hitting better than the Mets... poor deGrom haha go Os
I could tell from the pitches on MLB. Game day on my phone that:
A. Severino is the worst catcher in all of baseball
B. Elias is terrible, no good, awful soul
But why couldn’t Hyde, sitting in the dugout, be as wise as I am?
I think mountcastle is trying way too hard at the plate. If he wasn’t on the dL, I’d think he’d caught something from the hitter formerly known as crush. With hays and especially mountcastle being underwhelming, it’s bad news that santander’s ankle will take a while. It shows that the bullpen is getting along & sharing info. Like the starters, the pen has exceeded expectations so far. I hate to toot my own horn, but I was right when I (somewhat jokingly) suggested a skills competition (I argued for run down) to replace the goofy runner on second rule. The pioneer league is trying a bunch of Calvin ball nonsense, including ending the game in a home run derby. When you think about it, it would be more exciting than playing the game with the assumption of a lead off double, but it is also proof that we are living in a clown world and watching Trey Parker and Matt Stones Baseketball with commissioner man child writing the rules!