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BOSTON – The Orioles had a game postponed yesterday for the fifth time this season, setting up the third of their four scheduled doubleheaders.
Life keeps getting harder for them.
They give up 13 runs in the eighth inning of Game 1, forced again to use a position player to pitch, and the tarp goes on the field less than two hours before Game 2's start time. It begins to rain, as if on cue. They’re stuck in a cramped clubhouse at “America’s most beloved ballpark,” which is a kind way of saying it’s old.
They never posted a lineup, unlike the Red Sox, who either held more confidence in the rain halting or just did it for practice. A starter wasn’t confirmed until last night, when the club announced Zach Eflin for Game 1 and TBA for Game 2. Trevor Rogers finally could get the ball as the 27th man, but Charlie Morton also is a possibility.
The season hasn’t gotten past May and the Orioles have allowed 19-plus runs twice this season. Emmanuel Rivera became the 26th player to pitch for them with his emergency appearance in Game 1, and Rogers could be the 27th - seven fewer than last year’s total. The group includes two infielders and a backup catcher.
MILWAUKEE – Baltimore was right there. The losing streak was over.
The Tony Mansolino era had its first victory in the palm of its hand.
For the first time this season, Baltimore could come back to win a game after trailing entering the seventh inning. They found clutch situational hits when they needed to. Their former All-Star closer was on the mound with a chance to seal things in the ninth.
Baltimore was one strike away.
In a 2-2 count, American Family Field erupted at the sight of a Caleb Durbin RBI single to tie the game at three runs apiece.
DETROIT – Tyler O’Neill tried to play through the neck soreness and had to succumb.
The Orioles put O’Neill on the 10-day injured list yesterday. He’s hoping to be back when eligible to return.
“That’s obviously the goal,” he said last night. “Just, unfortunately, dealing with some pain and immobility for the better part of a week. It’s just better to get it dealt with now and not have it lingering around over the course of the season.
“Hopefully, we can knock it out and be back out there as soon as possible.”
The issue began on the last homestand, leading to O’Neill’s 15th career trip to the injured list but the first involving his neck.
Tyler O’Neill knew that he’d move around the outfield after signing his three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Orioles. He won two Gold Gloves in left with the Cardinals but has made four of his five starts in right this season.
Last night’s original lineup had O’Neill in left and Ramón Laureano in right, the same setup as Monday for home Opening Day, but they switched positions in the updated lineup less than an hour later.
Left field is up for grabs after Colton Cowser fractured his left thumb Sunday in Toronto. He’s expected to be out six-to-eight weeks at a minimum. But the Orioles have the same flexibility in their outfield as they do in the infield.
Long gone are the days of Don Buford in left, Paul Blair in center and Frank Robinson in right. Or two-thirds of the outfield consisting of Al Bumbry in center and Ken Singleton in right, or Adam Jones in center and Nick Markakis in right.
O’Neill is most likely to play where Markakis used to roam.
SARASOTA, Fla. – Félix Bautista finally made it back into a Grapefruit League game tonight, his first in a week, and he stuck around for two outs and 26 pitches.
If the idea was to gain clarity on his status for Opening Day, the mission failed.
Bautista surrendered a wind-aided, opposite-field home run to Zach McKinstry. He struck out two batters but also walked two. Afterward, he described the outing as “good, excellent,” via interpreter Brandon Quinones.
“Apart from everything, I felt good, my arm feels really good,” he said. “I think right now the most important thing is feeling healthy and making sure I feel good out there.
The fastball topped out again at 98 mph and was clocked at 97 four times.
SARASOTA, Fla. – Félix Bautista has become a mountainous riddle.
His fastball touches 98 mph, which it’s done multiple times. He says that his arm feels good and yes, of course, he’s going to be on the Opening Day roster. His last outing was scoreless and hitless with two strikeouts. He retired the side in order after twice running the count full.
The scoreboard radar readings had Bautista at 96 mph, 96, 95, 93 for the first out; 82, 88, 86, 96, 96, 96 for the second out; and 84, 98, 85, 97, 97, 88, 97 and 86 to end the inning. He threw some good splitters.
This isn’t 2023 All-Star Bautista, but he seems to be trending that way. It was supposed to be a gradual build.
The list of relievers last night behind Tomoyuki Sugano didn’t include Bautista, which raised some eyebrows because of the gap between appearances. The media was told that he threw on the back fields, like most of the starters. More innings can be squeezed outside the Grapefruit League.
SARASOTA, Fla. – Charlie Morton will start the second game of the season on March 28 against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Two-thirds of the rotation is confirmed.
Zach Eflin is the Opening Day starter on March 27. Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano, who pitches tonight, will slot further down.
Morton, 41, has tossed six scoreless innings in his three spring starts. He signed a $15 million contract in January and is entering his 18th major league season.
“He’s been everything,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He’s been an amazing influence on our team so far already. Just with his interactions with guys. He’s throwing the ball extremely well, he looks great. That’s just Charlie Morton.
“The stuff he’s thrown out every time out has been really good. He’s brought a lot to our team already.”
SARASOTA, Fla. – The long wait is over for Jorge Mateo. He gets to appear in his first game today since injuring his left elbow on July 23 and undergoing reconstructive surgery a month later.
The Orioles haven’t sounded as optimistic as Mateo about his availability for Opening Day. Today’s start at shortstop could be an indication that he remains in play or that he’ll be able to leave the injured list when he’s eligible.
“Jorgie was a big loss for us last year,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He adds so much to our team – versatility, the speed. I love his energy he brings on a daily basis. We missed that last year.
“This is his first step back, a big step back in his rehab, to get a little game action.”
Mateo will rest Monday rather than make the trip to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. The Orioles wrap up the Grapefruit League schedule March 23 in North Port.
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles held pitchers fielding practice inside the ballpark this week in Sarasota. They took turns chasing soft ground balls that manager Brandon Hyde rolled near them, causing them to break left or right from the mound, and waited for a teammate to yell “first” or “third.”
A reminder of those tedious drills came in the fourth inning today when reliever Gregory Soto bounced a throw to first base in an attempt to retire the Pirates’ Ji Hwan Bae with one out. The fielding part went smoothly, but not the last part.
The ball got past Coby Mayo, allowing Bae to reach second base. Soto walked the next two batters and Bae came home with the tie-breaking run when Oneil Cruz grounded into a force.
Soto had strung together three straight scoreless outings before allowing an unearned run today. He’s totaled five innings and surrendered two earned, five hits, his first two walks and six strikeouts.
Today’s appearance consisted of 19 pitches and only seven strikes.
SARASOTA, Fla. – The first two Atlanta batters reached today against Orioles reliever Seranthony Domínguez on a walk and a ball that deflected off substitute first baseman TT Bowens and rolled into right field.
The ground was opening up beneath him again.
In danger of having another inning implode, Domínguez responded with a called third strike on Charles Leblanc, a popup and liner to center field – the first scoreless appearance in his four games.
Domínguez was coming off his worst, with five runs and five hits in an inning against the Rays. He allowed two runs in each of his first two outings and four homers total.
He needed this one to go his way. It eventually did.
SARASOTA, Fla. – Albert Suárez turned in his second consecutive impressive outing yesterday to stay in the thick of a two-man rotation battle. Ryan Mountcastle hit his first spring home run. Relievers Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano each tossed a scoreless inning. But nobody puts Zach Fruit in the corner.
The Orioles’ ninth-round draft pick in 2023 tried to steal the show with his three scoreless innings, five strikeouts and plus velocity that delivered a save in a 6-2 victory over the Yankees in Tampa.
“Kid is interesting,” said a scout from another organization.
And not just his name.
Fruit, 24, fanned the side in the ninth. His first two pitches were clocked at 98 and 98.1 mph to retire Dominic Smith on a fly ball. He went 92.5 mph cutter, 95.7 sinker, 100.3 four-seam fastball – the highest reading from an Oriole this spring - and 91.3 cutter on Oswaldo Cabrera’s at-bat that ended with a single, and he registered 98.5, 97.6, and 97.4 twice to Andrew Velazquez before getting a called third strike with a 94.6 mph cutter.
The last pitch thrown by Orioles closer Félix Bautista in a competitive game was Aug. 25, 2023 against the Rockies at Camden Yards. Bautista was one strike away from his 34th save but settled for the unwanted hold.
Bautista unleashed a 102.3 mph fastball to pinch-hitter Michael Toglia, tumbled toward first base, began flexing his hand and walked off the mound. He underwent reconstructive-elbow surgery in October, and rest, rehab exercises and baseball activities followed as Bautista missed the entire 2024 season. He’s gotten through bullpen and live batting practice sessions without any setbacks and is expected to pitch Monday afternoon against the Red Sox in Sarasota.
Manager Brandon Hyde provided the update earlier today in his media scrum in Clearwater, where the Orioles are playing the Phillies.
Monday's game airs on MASN and also features Tomoyuki Sugano’s second appearance with the Orioles. Charlie Morton starts and Sugano is scheduled to pitch in relief.
Bautista is expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the team will ease him back into a full-time closing role. He’s got to build up his arm and innings, and the velocity is sitting in the mid-90s.
The weather is warming this week, which whets the appetite for spring training.
Temperatures might touch 40 today. Be sure to lather on the sunscreen.
There might be some deep burns in today’s mailbag. Only one way to find out.
You ask, I answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original. And keep in mind that my mailbag catches two-point conversion passes and your mailbag ... well, you know.
Kyle Bradish ETA?
Any relation to Kyle Bradish CPA? The second half of the season. That’s as far as I can narrow it down. Sorry. Maybe in August? We need to keep tracking his recovery and eventual rehab assignment.
I would have an easier time catching a fly ball in left field in a heavy rainstorm while wearing stilettos than catching a break.
I should be coming home today from Sinai Hospital, except the pharmacies contacted don’t have my new AFib prescription and I have to wait until Monday. I can only get it here in-patient.
My response is, why can’t you just slip me a couple to take home?
But enough of my complaining. Let’s dig through more mailbag leftovers while I sit here in my hospital gown and self-pity.
There was talk of David Ross being added as bench coach. Any idea what happened there? Was Ross too expensive?
There aren’t any details available relating to the coaching search. Maybe later. I haven’t seen confirmation that Ross was offered the job. Just that the Orioles were “interested,” according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who didn’t know whether an offer was made.
Here we are again, blowing up roster projections in November. Stand back and cover your ears.
I want to cover my eyes every time one of my locks doesn’t pan out.
We learned more about the roster with yesterday's non-tender of right-handed reliever Jacob Webb. We know that Emmanuel Rivera has a $1 million contract that doesn’t guarantee him an Opening Day introduction. He’s out of options and the infield is crowded.
It appears to be the only set position. The Orioles could use a right-handed hitting outfielder and at least one starting pitcher. They need a backup catcher. And they’ve decided to make changes in the bullpen.
They seemed to have their eight relievers before removing Webb and left-hander Danny Coulombe, who combined for a 2.71 ERA and two elbow injuries. Coulombe underwent surgery to remove a bone chip and missed three months.
The Orioles have picked up 2025 contract options on first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn, lefty reliever Cionel Pérez and righty reliever Seranthony Domínguez. But in a surprise move, they declined the $4 million 2025 contract option on lefty reliever Danny Coulombe.
The club today also made the procedural move of reinstating pitchers Félix Bautista, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells and infielder Jorge Mateo from the 60-day injured list.
Coulombe has been a dependable reliever for the club since they acquired him just ahead of Opening Day 2023 from the Twins for cash considerations. But now he officially becomes a free agent where he could re-sign with the Orioles or sign with any other club.
Perhaps the team has injury concerns here as Coulombe was on the injured list last year from June 11-Sept. 20 as he underwent a procedure to remove bone chips from his left elbow.
But he finished the year throwing 3 2/3 scoreless over four games and pitched 0.2 innings scoreless in the playoffs.
The Orioles made one decision today regarding club options for 2025 and it was the easiest to forecast.
The team announced that it declined the $16.5 million option on Eloy Jiménez’s contract, which puts him on the free agent market. His deal with the White Sox included a $3 million buyout.
Jiménez wasn’t staying with the Orioles after batting .232/.270/.316 with five doubles and a home run in 33 games. And after going 1-for-24 with eight strikeouts in September.
He also couldn't play in the field while recovering from a left hamstring strain that slowed him on the basepaths.
The Orioles carried 12 position players on the Wild Card roster and Jiménez wasn’t among them. They optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk on Sept. 24 while activating first baseman Ryan Mountcastle from the injured list, but he was brought back to Camden Yards as an extra in case of an injury.
Jumping around the baseball world with a few random notes and takes.
Well at least this year the narrative that the top teams don’t win in baseball and that it’s hard to have a five-day layoff before the playoffs for division winners, were blown all to heck.
We need a new narrative!
Last year wild card teams played in the World Series when No. 5 seed Texas beat No. 6 seed Arizona.
This year’s matchup is the top-seed New York Yankees from the American League and No. 1 seed Los Angeles Dodgers from the National League.
The Orioles have some important roster decisions coming soon. Within five days of the end of the World Series they have to decide if they will pick up club options for 2025 on a few players to include reliever Seranthony Domínguez.
It comes down to a $7.5 million dollar decision. He’ll get $8 million if they pick up his option and a $500,000 buyout if they do not.
Looking at his overall numbers for 2024, where Domínguez went 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 58 2/3 innings with a career-high 1.8 homers allowed per nine, you might say do not pick up this option at that price.
On the other hand, he was better with the Orioles than Phillies despite still giving up a lot of home runs and provides another big bullpen arm in the late innings to join returning Félix Bautista. The O’s are hopeful Bautista will be his old self but bringing back Domínguez could provide some buffer. And added depth.
The O’s added Domínguez and since departed outfielder Cristian Pache from the Phillies for outfielder Austin Hays on July 26.
Reliever Burch Smith doesn’t rate as one of the bigger decisions awaiting the Orioles. However, he’s on their agenda.
Smith is eligible for arbitration despite his name being missing from some lists. He made $1 million this year, with the Orioles paying the prorated minimum salary after selecting his contract on July 11.
The Rays signed Smith as a free agent on Jan. 2. The Marlins acquired him on March 27 in a cash transaction and released him on June 20. The Orioles signed him a week later.
The Orioles optioned Dillon Tate on the day that they brought Smith to the majors. As if you’d forget.
Smith appeared in 25 games and posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.050 WHIP in 26 2/3 innings. He started out with four scoreless appearances, allowing one hit, walking none and striking out six, but he endured some rough patches, including five home runs over seven outings.
