The Baltimore Orioles have the very best file within the American League, and youthful expertise is a giant cause why. Gunnar Henderson is the odds-on favourite to seize Rookie-of-the-Year honors, whereas Adley Rutschman has already reached star standing in simply his second MLB season. The dynamic duo are the first-place crew’s co-leaders in WAR.
They aren’t the one gamers making an influence. The well-balanced Mike Elias-constructed membership has additionally obtained significant contributions from the likes of Anthony Santander, Ryan Mountcastle, and Austin Hays. On the pitching facet, a mixture of veterans and less-established arms have greater than held their very own, in some circumstances outperforming expectations. From the better-known to the lesser-known, a large number of gamers have performed essential roles within the 90-wins-and-counting success.
With that in thoughts, who has been the most-underrated participant on the 2023 Orioles? I requested that query to 4 individuals who see the squad on an on a regular basis foundation — two broadcasters and a pair of beat writers — previous to yesterday’s sport at Fenway Park.
Nathan Ruiz, who covers the crew for the Baltimore Sun, selected Danny Coulombe.
“A lot was made of the All-Star combo of Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista, but Coulombe has come in and kind of been that main left-handed reliever all season,” stated Ruiz. “He’s been really good with inherited runners, which is something they have generally struggled with. Cionel Pérez was really good for them last year, but they felt they needed another lefty so they acquired him [from the Minnesota Twins] for cash around the cusp of the season and he became a solid piece for them right away. He’s been dependable at the back end of the bullpen.”
Melanie Newman went with Kyle Bradish.
“He’s got an ERA that’s sitting there with Gerrit Cole right now,” the Orioles broadcaster opined. “We all talk about Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista, and our back end — what they’ve been able to do so far — but Kyle has been consistent. For whatever reason, when we’re on the road in a big spot, those are his best moments. That’s what you want out of a guy, and you forget that he’s only in his second year. His breaking pitches are disgusting. I don’t think he gets enough credit.”
Danielle Allentuck opted for Ryan O’Hearn.
“He has kind of been the guy who, whenever they need the big hit — he’s either coming off the bench or already in the lineup — has been providing it,” the Baltimore Banner reporter instructed me. “He’s been that kind of spark for them. He’s turning his career around here. We’re talking underrated, and I don’t think a lot of people know about him. He’s not the big name. He wasn’t a big superstar, but he’s come here and turned things around for himself, and the team.”
Geoff Arnold agreed with Allentuck.
“The most underrated Oriole for me would be Ryan O’Hearn,” the Baltimore broadcaster stated. “The Orioles got him from Kansas City, and our hitting coaches have done a really good job with him, tweaking a couple of things in his swing. He’s a guy that has always hit the ball hard, but this year he’s hitting it in the right spot; he’s hitting it in the air more. I’ve also been impressed with how he’s played first base defensively. He’s handled himself really well around the bag. I think you actually have to put him in there as a candidate for most valuable Oriole this year.”
O’Hearn is slashing .305/.388/.509 with 12 house runs and 129 wRC+ in 293 plate appearances. Bradish is 11-6 with a 3.03 ERA over 26 begins. Coulombe is 5-1 with two saves and a 2.42 ERA over 53 reduction appearances.
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My July 9 Sunday Notes column included the recounting of a play that occurred two weeks prior, one wherein O’Hearn reached second base on what would have been defensive indifference, solely to show round and start jogging again to first base. Realizing what had truly occurred — Adam Frazier swung and missed — he shortly reversed course and was protected at second solely as a result of Cincinnati nearer Alexis Díaz, who’d been tossed the ball by the catcher, made an errant throw. Had the toss been on the right track, O’Hearn would have been out by a large margin, ending the sport.
I requested the veteran first baseman concerning the play on Friday.
”I assumed Fraze fouled the ball off,” defined O’Hearn. “I turned around and asked the umpire ‘Hey, foul ball?’ and saw him nod his head yes. He didn’t say anything, nor did he look at me, but I thought he meant the ball was foul, so I started jogging back.”
The official scorer charged Díaz with a throwing error and gave O’Hearn a caught-stealing. Had he awarded a stolen base, it could have been the primary of the 6-foot-2, 220-pound slugger’s six-year big-league profession.
O’Hearn has subsequently summoned his interior Rickey Henderson and now has 4 steals to his credit score. He additionally has a caught-stealing on a play the place he was protected.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Giancarlo Stanton is 8 for 13 towards Dallas Keuchel.
Brady Anderson went 0 for 16 towards Mike Stanton.
Leroy Stanton went 11 for 22 towards Fritz Peterson.
Joel Youngblood went 10 for 15 towards Jim Kaat.
Jimmy Bloodworth went 2 for 12 towards Vic Lombardi.
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The Twins have confronted each MLB crew this season apart from the Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, and New York Mets. Which of them has Rocco Baldelli been most impressed with? I requested that query to the Minnesota supervisor earlier this week.
“Well, I’ll say this,” Baldelli replied. “The Atlanta Braves made an impression when we played them. No manager likes to sit around and talk out loud about other clubs, but when you’re complimenting another club and don’t really have any hesitation doing it, you can let it fly. The Atlanta Braves set a tone in the series, the style we saw them out there playing… I mean, what they were doing at that moment in time, and really throughout the whole season, is pretty special. There is no denying what their lineup is doing on a daily basis. We got a chance to see it firsthand. I don’t think what we saw was a mirage.”
The Braves swept the three-game house collection towards the Twins in late June, leaving the yard eight instances whereas outscoring Baldelli’s crew 13-3. Along with boasting baseball’s greatest file at 92-49, Atlanta has bashed 273 house runs, by far probably the most within the majors.
“You get three games against these teams — the teams you’re only to catch once in awhile — so it’s not going to give you a full Encyclopedia Britannica of everything they have to offer,” stated Baldelli. “But you do get a snapshot. There are many good clubs out there, and we have no idea who is going to take home a trophy this year — it could be any number of clubs — but of all the ones we’ve played this year, the one that has stuck out is the Braves.”
While Baldelli didn’t take pleasure in what he noticed on the sector, he did benefit from the snapshot itself. Getting to see each crew on a yearly foundation is to his liking.
“You get a good idea of what’s out there with the new schedule,” stated Baldelli. “I feel like the new baseball schedule is more of a real baseball schedule. You don’t run into the same teams over and over again, and not see certain players for half a decade.”
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A quiz:
Max Scherzer has been credited with 140 wins because the begin of the 2014 season. Which pitcher has been tagged with probably the most losses over that span?
The reply may be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
SABR introduced the 5 finalists for the 2023 Dorothy Seymour Mills Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors people who’ve made essential contributions selling the participation of ladies in baseball. More data may be discovered right here.
The Atlanta Braves formally retired Andruw Jones’s No.25 previous to final night time’s sport. A local of Curaça, Jones performed with the Braves from 1996-2007 in a 17-year profession that noticed seize 10 Gold Gloves and crush 434 house runs whereas logging a 111 wRC+ and 67 WAR.
Jerry Turner, an outfielder who performed for 3 groups — primarily the San Diego Padres — from 1974-1983, died late final month at age 69 (per Baseball Player Passings). He batted .257/.319/.387 with 45 house runs in 1931 plate appearances.
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The reply to the quiz is Patrick Corbin with 100 losses.
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David Fry made information on Monday when he grew to become the primary true place participant to throw as many as 4 innings in a sport since José Oquendo did so for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986. Oquendo’s outing got here in a contest that took 19 innings to finish, whereas Fry’s effort got here in a nine-inning affair that noticed the Cleveland Guardians get thumped 20-6 by the Minnesota Twins. A utility participant who had taken the mound as soon as beforehand, Fry allowed seven runs in his 4 save-the-bullpen frames.
It wasn’t the longest place participant mound look in Cleveland franchise historical past. That distinction belongs to Milt Galatzer, a left-handed throwing outfielder who labored six innings in a 14-1 loss to the Washington Senators on August 26, 1936. Galatzer performed 15 skilled seasons, together with 5 within the huge leagues, and took the mound simply that one time. He allowed three runs.
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Cleveland’s 20-6 loss on Monday was adopted by one other defeat on Tuesday, leaving the Guardians seven video games behind their AL Central rivals with simply 23 left to play. At 66-73, the defending divisional champions have been, and nonetheless are, dealing with lengthy odds to return to the postseason. Chris Antonetti pinch-hit for supervisor Terry Francona in Wednesday’s pregame media session, and I requested the President of Baseball Operations if he may assess the membership’s season up to now. He demurred. Antonetti stated that the topic may be addressed as soon as the marketing campaign has been accomplished.
Longtime Cleveland beat author Paul Hoynes proceeded to ask Antonetti concerning the crew’s lack of energy. More to the purpose, he requested how the issue could possibly be corrected.
“The problem isn’t power,” Antonetti replied. “The problem is that we need to score more runs. Last year, without hitting for enough power, we did a good enough job scoring runs; we were more in the middle of the pack. This year we haven’t scored enough runs. And there are different ways to do that. It’s not always power. I do think you can just throw a blanket on things and say, ‘This is what’s happening.’ We try to look at it more on an individual level. There are different ways more guys can contribute and help us score runs.”
The Guardians went into that afternoon’s sport with 106 house runs as a crew, the fewest in both league. Their 566 runs scored have been the third fewest.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw his second profession no-hitter this week and is now 14-5 with a 1.26 ERA on the yr. The 25-year-old Orix Buffaloes right-hander is 47-15 with a 1.46 ERA towards NPB competitors because the begin of the 2021 season.
Roki Sasaki was on the mound final night time for the primary time in seven weeks following an indirect harm. The 21-year-old Chiba Lotte Marines righty reportedly topped out at 100 mph whereas permitting one run and fanning two over three innings.
Katsuki Azuma is 13-2 with a 2.11 ERA for NPB’s Yokohama DeNa BayStars. The 27-year-old left-hander has wins in every of his final 10 choices.
Shoki Murakami is 10-5 with a 1.76 ERA for NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. The 25-year-old right-hander has 131 strikeouts and 82 hits allowed in 133 innings.
Tanner Tully is 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA in 30-and—third innings with the NC Dinos. The 28-year-old left-hander signed with the KBO membership after being launched by the New York Yankees in early August. Tulley made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Guardians final yr and appeared in three video games.
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Which of Zac Gallen, Justin Steele, Spencer Strider, and Zack Wheeler is most deserving of this yr’s Cy Young award? I requested that query in a Twitter ballot earlier this week and, considerably surprisingly, the pitcher with MLB’s highest WAR completed useless final.
The outcomes have been: Strider 46.3%, Steele 31.9%, Gallen 13.4%, Wheeler 8.3%.
Strider is 16-5 with a 3.83 ERA, a 2.89 FIP, a 13.89 Okay/9, and 4.7 WAR.
Steele is 16-3 with a 2.55 ERA, a 2.98 FIP, a 9.06 Okay/9, and 4.3 WAR.
Gallen is 14-7 with a 3.48 ERA, a 3.32 FIP, a 9.37 Okay/9, and 4.3 WAR.
Wheeler is 11-6 with a 3.49 ERA, a 2.93 FIP, a ten.16 Okay/9. and 5.7 WAR.
This yr’s voting guarantees to be fascinating. How the 4 carry out of their remaining begins — they usually aren’t essentially the one Cy contenders — will doubtless go a great distance in figuring out the winner.
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Zack Greinke has 66.0 WAR, and his bona fides embody 2,962 strikeouts, six Gold Gloves, six All-Star berths, and a Cy Young award. There is an efficient probability that he’ll in the future be elected to the Hall of Fame. If it occurs, will he have had the worst-ever season for a pitcher enshrined in Cooperstown? With his 2023 marketing campaign winding down, the Kansas City Royals right-hander is 1-14 with a 5.34 ERA and 84 ERA+ over 123 innings.
According to esteemed colleague Jay Jaffe, it is determined by the parameters. If you’re simply occurring successful proportion, Greinke’s present .067 can be the worst when going with a 10-decision minimal. Robin Roberts went 1-10 (.091) in 1961.
If you go by ERA, Grienke’s season is nowhere near the worst. Jay identified that there are 47 seasons by Hall of Famers with an 84 ERA+or worse in 120 innings or extra,
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FARM NOTES
Chandler Simpson has 94 stolen bases in 109 makes an attempt, probably the most within the minors for every class. The 22-year-old outfielder within the Tampa Bay Rays group is slashing .294.372/.346 with a 107 wRC+ between Low-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green. He has but to go deep.
Hogan Windish has a Northwest League-best 22 house runs. The 24-year-old infielder within the Seattle Mariners system is slashing .270/.371/.509 with a 136 wRC+ for the High-A Everett AquaSox.
Tyler Black is slashing .267/.404/.486 with a 135 wRC+ between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville. The 23-year-old infielder within the Milwaukee Brewers system has 21 doubles, 10 triples, 16 house runs, and 53 stolen bases.
Termarr Johnson has 84 hits and 100 walks. The 19-year-old infielder within the Pittsburgh Pirates group is slashing .243/.421/.442 with 18 house runs and a 142 wRC+ between Low-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro.
Drew Thorpe has 182 strikeouts, probably the most within the minors. The 22-year-old right-hander within the New York Yankees system is 14-2 with a 2.52 ERA and a 3.05 FIP in 139-and-a-third innings between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset.
Zach Agnos has 26 saves, probably the most within the minors. The 23-year-old right-hander within the Colorado Rockies system has a 2.10 ERA, a 3.51 FIP, and 66 strikeouts in 51-and-a-third innings for Low-A Fresno.
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Freddie Freeman is placing up huge numbers this season — what else is new? — they usually embody an MLB-best doubles complete. One yr after topping the senior circuit with 47, and with three weeks left within the present marketing campaign, the Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman has banged out 53 two-baggers. That is a franchise file, the long-forgotten Johnny Frederick having hit 52 in his 1929 rookie season.
“It’s amazing,” LA supervisor Dave Roberts stated of Freeman’s manufacturing on the finish of August. “And it’s not easy. You don’t just pencil it in to the back of the baseball card. It takes a lot of work. His preparation. His mindset. He’s relentless. I know the [single-season] record is 67 [by Earl Webb in 1931]. He’s putting together one of his best seasons ever.”
Freeman, who boasts a .336/.414/.575 slash line and a 168 wRC+ on the season, has 467 profession doubles. Of the 93 gamers in entrance of him on the all-time checklist, solely Matt Holliday (who has 468 doubles) has fewer plate appearances.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
As cable TV dies, followers battle to comply with their favourite groups. Bill Shaikin addressed the difficulty at The Los Angeles Times.
Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein believes that Bruce Bochy’s levelheaded demeanor is simply what the slumping Rangers want.
The Athletic’s Stephen J. Nesbitt and Cody Stavenhagen teamed as much as write about the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who went a woeful 43-119. (Subscription required).
Also at The Athletic, Jayson Stark defined how Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Robert Stephenson threw an immaculate inning wherein he walked a batter and stranded two runners.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Notable in yesterday’s 13-12 Orioles win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park is that it was the primary time since June 3, 1930 {that a} crew had gained a nine-inning sport whereas permitting 23 or extra hits (per @SLangsOnSports). The nearly-a-century-ago contest was an 11-10 St. Louis Cardinals win over the Philadelphia Phillies wherein two Cardinals hurlers mixed to permit 23 hits. The successful pitcher, Syl Johnson, surrendered 20 of them over eight-and-a-third innings.
Josiah Gray has allowed 19 house runs and issued 75 walks. George Kirby has allowed 19 house runs and issued 16 walks.
Cleveland’s Addie Joss walked 30 batters in 325 innings in 1908. Cleveland’s Bob Feller walked 208 batters in 277-and-two-third innings in 1938.
Jordan Lawlar slashed .423/.506/.761 towards lefties within the minors this yr. The 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks infielder bought his first big-league call-up on Wednesday. (Per D-Backs beat author Jesse Friedman.)
Eugenio Suárez had 49 house runs and 189 strikeouts in 2019.
Ted Kluszewski had 49 house runs and 35 strikeouts in 1954.
The Chicago White Sox swept a Sunday doubleheader from the Detroit Tigers on in the present day’s date in 1967, successful by scores of 6-0 and 4-0. Joe Horlen, who completed the season 19-7 with a league-best 2.06 ERA, threw a no-hitter within the opener. Cisco Carlos recorded the primary of his 11 profession wins within the nightcap.
On in the present day’s date in 1988, Ruben Sierra hit a walk-off double within the seventeenth inning to offer the Texas Rangers a 3-2 win over the California Angels. The Rangers had earlier been right down to their final out when Jim Sundberg knotted the sport at 2-2 with a ninth inning house run.
Players born on in the present day’s date embody Mike Saipe, whose big-league profession totaled two pitching appearances comprising 10 innings with the Colorado Rockies in 1998. The right-hander surrendered 5 house runs, together with two to David Segui and one every to Hall of Famers Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr, and Edgar Martinez.
Also born on in the present day’s date was Randy Wiles, a southpaw whose profession file contains each a win and a loss regardless of his having thrown simply two-and-two-thirds innings over 5 appearances with the Chicago White Sox in 1977. Wiles bought a win when Lamar Johnson hit a walk-off house run towards the Mariners, and a loss when he surrendered a walk-off gopher to the Yankees’ Chris Chambliss.
Content Source: blogs.fangraphs.com