Five Things We Learned from the O’s Opening Day Win

The Orioles began their AL East defense in style on Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, defeating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by a score of 11-3.

With 161 baseball games still to play in the regular season, it would be completely irresponsible to jump to a bunch of conclusions after just a single contest.

So, let’s do just that.

1. Corbin Burnes is The Truth

When the Orioles acquired Corbin Burnes from Milwaukee, it was like a breath of fresh air. The team’s first true, bona fide ACE since Mike Mussina was on his way to Charm City. The 2021 Cy Young winner added immediate legitimacy to the Birds’ rotation, one that was full of exciting arms, but which lacked a stopper on whom to truly rely every fifth day.

Burnes did a lot of “getting his work in,” down in Sarasota, making some O’s fans a bit wary that the team was, somehow, getting damaged goods. Though many of us tried to reassure those folks by reciting Burnes’ career 4+ Spring Training ERA numbers, the uneasiness remained in certain corners of Birdland.

On Thursday, Burnes put all those doubts to rest.

Other than a first inning solo home run to Mike Trout, Burnes was perfect, not allowing a single baserunner. In fact, I’d like to thank Mr. Trout for saving us from having to watch Brandon Hyde remove Burnes from a perfect game bid on Opening Day. (Somewhere, David Hess nods in agreement.) Burnes went six innings, striking out 11 with nary a single walk, throwing first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 19 batters he faced.

It was interesting watching him work as an O’s fan. He went to a three-ball count on five hitters. We’re conditioned by years of ineptitude to seeing those at-bats end with a foul ball or two, then, inevitably, a walk. Again, not one of Burnes’ three-ball counts led to a walk today. That’s gonna take some getting used to.

Let’s check out some stats.

Corbin Burnes allowed just one hit today, the fewest by any player with 10+ strikeouts and 0 walks on Opening Day. 🔥#OpeningDay | #Birdland pic.twitter.com/2QBJPLLD0i

— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) March 28, 2024

O's pitchers with 11+ Ks, 0 BB and no more than 1 H

Corbin Burnes (today – his O's debut on #OpeningDay)
John Means (5/5/21 – his no-hitter) https://t.co/Pb2Fx4UBpf

— Jason Catania (@JayCat11) March 28, 2024

Before today, the record for strikeouts by an #Orioles pitcher in his team debut (since 1954) was 9, done twice.

John Parrish 7/24/00
Sammy Stewart 9/1/78
Charlie Beamon 9/26/56 https://t.co/QkEQqTZroo

— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 28, 2024

Yeah, that’ll play. Welcome to Baltimore, Corbin.

2. David Rubenstein’s Ownership Group is The Truth

New Orioles owner David Rubenstein and his ownership group were in the house, and what a first impression they made. Before the game, minority owner Mike Aroughetti, CEO of Ares Management, was at Pickles, and bought the packed house a round of beers.

Ain’t the beer cold! pic.twitter.com/lbLkXV5vqs

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 28, 2024

Later in the day, MASN cameras were following as Aroughetti was making his way to the centerfield bar to do the same, when Cedric Mullins hit a three-run homer.

Knock knock. pic.twitter.com/Gga6KGgXgr

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 28, 2024

Rubenstein joined Kevin Brown, Jim Palmer, and Ben McDonald in the MASN booth for an inning, and listening to him talk about his hometown team was incredible. He spoke about being a senior in high school (at City College High) in 1966 when an “old” Frank Robinson had joined the team at the age of 30. He sounded like…well, like a fan. It’s incredible that this man is now the owner of the team.

Before the game, he walked around greeting fellow orange and black faithful and concession workers, including the famous Fancy Clancy.

Birdland, David. David, Birdland. pic.twitter.com/4tun8bjbdz

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 28, 2024

Oh yeah, then there’s that Ripken guy. He might do some good things too.

3. The Orioles are Still a Whole Lot of Fun

In the bottom of the first inning, after the Trout homer had put the Angels on top 1-0, the Birds wasted no time in reminding us who they are as an offense. Gunnar Henderson led off with a walk, then sped from first to third on a little Adley Rutschman blooper to right field. It was the first example this season of something we grew used to a year ago: the O’s, especially Henderson, taking the extra base. Gunnar was 16th in MLB in FanGraphs Baserunning Runs Above Average in 2023. Everyone above him on the list had at least 16 stolen bases, and 14/15 had 20+, while Henderson had just 10, meaning he earned his numbers by doing…what he did in the first inning.

We were two batters into the season, and Gunnar Henderson was already standing on third base with a dirty uniform.

From there, of course, things just got more fun. The O’s scored twice in the first, three times in the second, twice in the fourth, once in the sixth, then Mullins capped things off with the aforementioned Earl Weaver Special. Eight of nine Orioles starters had at least one hit, and pinch hitter Ryan O’Hearn laced a double in his lone opportunity off the bench.

The Birds walked more than they struck out (6-5), chased the opposing starter in the second inning, and as of publication time, are the only team to have put up double digits so far today.

4. Jim Palmer Remains the Best

Allow me to set the scene. Top of the seventh inning. Birds lead 8-1, and Corbin Burnes has just exited the game, giving way to Mike Baumann out of the bullpen.

Baumann falls behind Aaron Hicks 2-0 to lead off the inning. He then gasses a 99 MPH fastball up and in for a swinging strike. Big Ben and Kevin fawn all over the speed reading. Palmer notes that Hicks was looking for a fastball and wasn’t even close. Mike then throws a change-up, missing inside to go to 3-1.

Jim is INCENSED.

“Now why you would ever come back after you throw a 99 MPH fastball with a change-up is beyond me, but…”

Palmer then goes on to praise Hicks, who spent the final few months of 2023 with the Birds, for being patient and knowing the situation. Meanwhile, Baumann throws a 3-1 breaking ball in the dirt, completing issuance of the leadoff free pass.

Friends, let me tell you: Jim Palmer has NO TIME for this nonsense.

“And then a breaking ball? Well, I take it all back.” Meaning, he takes back all praise of Baumann for the big fastball a moment ago.

“I mean, I just don’t understand that sequence.”

Never change, Cakes.

5. It’s Truly The Next Chapter

Rubenstein and the O’s have been pushing this PR line of calling his purchase of the team, “The Next Chapter.”

I’m admittedly a sap, but I’m telling you: it feels like a true new chapter in Orioles baseball, friends.

We’ve got members of the ownership group at Pickles buying rounds of beers for the fans. We’ve got Cal Ripken Jr. – again, part owner – sitting right behind home plate and itching to get his hands dirty to help any way he can in an official capacity with the organization.

We’ve got nothing but a gratuitous camera shot of now-former owner and pain-in-our-collective-rear-end John Angelos on the broadcast. We’ve got promises that the MASN situation is being put back in the hands of the business people instead of the lawyers. There’s not a single country music concert on the docket, as far as I know. We’ve got a farm system packed to the gills with talent, and one of the best and smartest front offices in the sport.

We’ve got the majority owner rubbing elbows with vendors and fans alike. A man with enough money to buy a copy of Magna Carta on a whim and donate it, and who speaks about his hometown baseball team with the love and admiration we hear in our own homes and local watering holes – that’s our owner.

It’s here. The Next Chapter. Cheers to the future, Birdland.