The Birds come home for the first time since the break looking to rebound from a 3-4 road trip. It won’t be easy this weekend, as the first-place Indians come to town boasting the AL’s best record. It’ll be a scorcher in Charm City, so hopefully the O’s bats heat up as well, and they can rack up some more wins at the Yard.
Let’s see what’s up in the links, which start with some bad – yet, sadly predictable – news.
Hunter Harvey to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
The O’s top prospect, pitcher Hunter Harvey, becomes their latest first-round pick to require Tommy John Surgery. The most frustrating thing about this is not just that he’s getting the procedure, but that he suffered elbow injuries in both 2014 and 2015, but the O’s opted to go with their “wait, see, and hope” strategy, which never…friggin’…works. An industry guy who I trust, who knows pitching, says that the Birds really need to part ways with Director of Pitching Development Rick Peterson.
The White Sox Might Have Fixed Miguel Gonzalez
Speaking of “The Orioles Have No Idea What to Do with Pitchers,” Ryan Romano, writing at Beyond the Box Score, says that Chicago may have fixed what was ailing Miguel Gonzalez. MiGo’s velocity – which was atrocious in Spring Training – is back, he’s throwing more splitters, and – SURPRISE! – he added a cutter and – DOUBLE SURPRISE – it’s helping. Le sigh.
Little Help Available on Trade Market, So O’s Have to Count on Own Rotation
Sporting News’ Jesse Spector points out that, despite their 3-4 record since the break, the Birds’ rotation’s ERA of 4.02 is just what they need, especially compared to the 5.15 at which it ended the first half. Nobody expects the Orioles to make an impact trade at this point, so we’ll need more of the same.
Zach Britton Closing in on History for the O’s
Orioles history professor Matt Taylor, in his weekly lesson over at MASN, details just how awesome Zach Britton (now 30-for-30) has been this year. Matt compares Zach’s 2016 and career numbers to other O’s closers, and some of the best closers all over baseball.
Section 336 Episode 173: Phone Calls
Josh checks in with Bert in Florida and with Matt in Tanzania in this episode of Section 336. It has a very old time-y feel, with Josh manning the switchboard.
And in Ravens news…
Ray Rice Deserves a Second Chance
Unrepentant Greg Hardy keeps getting chances, so why doesn’t Ray Rice, wonders RSR’s Tony Lombardi? Rice has offered to donate his entire 2016 salary to a domestic abuse charity, should some team step forward and sign him. Here’s hoping some team does (though, for obvious reasons, it can’t be the Ravens).
