The Baltimore Orioles now have a division rival who sold at the deadline is now nipping at their heels and turning common sense on it’s side.
In the Baltimore Orioles’ MLB world, common sense dictates that when you sell at the trade deadline you’re in effect waving the white flag – for that season, at least. Division rival New York did just that last month for the first time in…possibly recorded history. They got rid of some dead weight on their roster and traded for youth. That should help a team in the future…
…but in typical New York Yankees’ style it’s actually helping them now. The Orioles now find themselves in a situation where New York is quickly nipping at their heels in the playoff race. So starting today, the Birds need to do their part to squash that rally. In essence, they need to begin the process of returning common sense to the universe.
Dylan Bundy lasted only four innings yesterday, although his numbers weren’t horrid. Bundy’s line: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 6 K. If anything, he was throwing too many strikes over the course of his outing. After NY took an early 1-0 lead, the Birds actually took the lead back on Chris Davis‘ two-run homer in the third. However not to be denied, NY tied it in the last of the inning on Castro’s RBI-single.
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Instant replay then once again proceeded to hurt the Orioles. NY attempted a double-steal, and Gregorious was called out trying to steal home. However NY challenge the call – and despite what appeared NOT to be clear evidence to overturn the call on the field, Gregorious was called safe at home plate and NY took the lead back.
It has to be frustrating for an Oriole team to find themselves in a situation like that, after seeing so many calls upheld against them with seemingly little video evidence. However it just furthers the point about common sense. And that’s something that the Birds desperately need to return to the universe in which they live – starting today.
But it wasn’t that call that lost the game for the Orioles. It was the fact that they couldn’t get New York batters out. Despite an additional homer from Davis and one from Mark Trumbo, a barrage of New York hitters managed to reach base and score runs. In essence, you don’t lose 13-5 and blame one instant replay challenge.
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On paper, the Orioles have a better team than New York. A roster laden with all-stars shouldn’t be losing in blowout fashion (twice) to a young team that literally just got put together in the last month or so. The Orioles need to find some way to beat NY’s youthful enthusism back down so as to restore common sense and order.
That may come off as somewhat harsh I suppose. However the point is that New York is turning things on their side from the perspective of the Orioles. Once you sell you’re supposed to re-build from the bottom. You sell with the idea of being good down the road. But that’s not how it’s working out thus far. The Orioles find themselves only 2.5 games ahead of New York now, making today’s game huge.
Obviously nobody told these young whipper-snappers for whom New York traded that they weren’t supposed to be good right away. However that’s just how the league works sometimes I suppose. However youth often gets easily frustrated as well – so if the Orioles can begin to restore common sense to the universe by winning today, maybe it’ll start a trend.
Next: Baltimore Orioles: Does the season slip away if Adam Jones is hurt long term?
Speaking of which, the series finale is today at Yankee Stadium. Kevin Gausman will get the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s C.C. Sabathia. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.