Orioles SLIDE CONTINUES in Series Loss to Nationals

Hear from Craig Albernaz and Gunnar Henderson after yet another series loss, this time at the hands of the Washington Nationals at home on a dreary Sunday afternoon. #Birdland #BaltimoreOrioles #MLBonX

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:30

Another day, another Orioles loss. Welcome in, ladies and gentlemen, to yet another episode of the Charm City Sports Podcast. I'm your host, Jay Hollyhan, and as I'm going to continue to tell you this throughout the majority and the rest of the season, doing these episodes is for sure getting harder and harder and more and more difficult. As the Orioles have lost another series, two in a row after miraculously, I mean, I think it probably should be studied by scientists as to how in the world the Orioles managed to take two out of three from the two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers. But that series right now looks like a pretty rose in a field full of I mean depressing dead flowers. I mean, look at it. Right smack in the middle of what is now four out of five series losses for the Baltimore Orioles. When they beat the San Diego Padres in game one on June twelfth of the first of three that weekend, the O sat 34 and 37. They have now slid their record all the way down to 39 and 46. 5 and 9 since that point. Now, in a typical season, in a usual baseball season, the Orioles should have no chance right now at still making the postseason. They are three games back of a wild card spot. Ladies and gentlemen, I I can't sell you a bill of goods on this one. It's gonna be so unlikely for the Orioles at this point to make the postseason, it's not even funny. They would have to grow up, and by the estimation of management of the Baltimore Orioles, everyone thought that they had grown up. But they're gonna have to grow up big time in these next couple weeks in order for that to become a reality. Now I've been saying this since the beginning of June. And it just it still hasn't hasn't happened. The amount of blunders that they make on whether it's in the base paths, in the field, at the plate, the bullpen, whatever it may be, it's just been mind-numbingly bad. Mind-numbingly bad. And I gotta tell you, the biggest casualty of all this is the fans of the team. Everyone who and I'll monologue about it again, because I think it's worth monologuing about. You know, think about it like this. Since the year 2000, every other team in the AL East has won the pen. You know, the Yankees have done it five times, winning one World Series. The Red Sox have done it four times, winning all four World Series. The Rays did it twice, zero World Series wins, and the Blue Jays last year have done it once, again, zero World Series wins. But they've gotten there. They've won postseason series. Every single one of those, now I know Tampa Bay Rays fans can be few and far between. But in a lot of those communities, those teams, and I mean, you know, Yankees and Red Sox aside, and Blue Jays for the so I guess we're only talking about the Tampa Bay Rays here, but still, those fan bases have at the very least been able to come together on a consistent level for their team. I don't think the O'S fans and I and I think the O'S franchise, you gotta wonder you gotta ask yourself, as this team continues to dwindle its way down, and as, you know, some kids who are around the age of ten, maybe a little younger than that, as they're figuring out, you know, who their teams are, who they want to root for, which usually sure it's the hometown team. But maybe they're going, hmm. What's that team doing a couple hours north of us? And just maybe, if they make the postseason this year, they're going. That team in DC looks to be pretty good. That Luis Garcia Jr.'s a promising player. James that James Wood guy's good. I want to be like him when I grew up. I want to hit baseball as far as he can. I I mean, honestly, I it's I would assume for this Orioles team, for this Orioles organization, that rebuild that they thought at this point was going to turn into an Orioles team that could make the postseason year in and year out, I have to assume they thought it would be a lot better than this. And that at this time, in 2026, this team would be contending with the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays. Well, maybe right now take Toronto a little bit out of it. But the other two, they'd be contending with them for the AL East. Not happening. Not happening in the slightest. In the slightest. Which is a joke. They've dragged your fans through the mud. And that's what you get? You get an early 2-0 lead off of Pete Alonzo Homer for your ace on the mound, Kyle Bradish, to go out there in the third inning and give up a two-run double to Luis Garcia Jr. Now, granted, Luis Garcia Jr. has been hot. He's been, you know, one of the biggest surprise hitters in the National League. But hey, you're supposed to be the ace in this mound, on the mound for this team, for this staff. You've got to have shutdown innings, and Bradish just did not today. When they really needed to have a big game out of him, he did not deliver. And I'll tell you what. You know who else didn't deliver in a i i in a d really pathetic fashion? Was Kobe Mayo. Uh two outs. Mead at the plate. First pitch he sees. He beats it into the ground. Now Luis Garcia Jr. is getting to third. That's all he's doing. Mayo I mean he's getting out of Mayo's way for this throw. I i it's not like I mean, sure, he gets in your way, but it's not anything that because he's coming across, but he's not totally in your path or anything of that nature. There should have been no reason why Kobe Mayo could not throw across the diamond to Samuel Basayo's glove. And then Luis Garcia Jr. Because hey, you know, I'm busting it around the bases, scores on the throwing air, and it's three to two. And the Nats never look back. As a matter of fact, Garcia Jr. adds on with the two-run blast in the fifth. And then another home run in the seventh for Luis Garcia Jr. And it's six to two. Not all credited to Bradish. Jackson Holiday got the O's back into the game. Great. Nice to see them put Jackson Holiday in a game you needed it the most. Out there at second, but then why is Blaze Alexander not playing at third? Why is Kobe Mayo starting a game at third base? And did Pete need the day? Could he not have played first for Sammy B? You got Rutschman back in the lineup? Fine. Good. Great. He's catching. Alright, well you Basio's been the DH rut the majority of the season. This is a game you need to have. It's not feel-it out time. It's as someone put it earlier today, what's with the spring training lineups? Get your best nine guys on the field that give you the best opportunity to win the game. Put them in the best possible positions to make winning happen. At this point in the season, all that matters is that a W gets flashed up on the board. I don't care what it looks like. Friday's win, was it not the sexiest win? Sure. Do I care? No. Not at this stage in the game. This isn't style points time. And Michael Ies, who sat there yesterday, meeting with the media, telling everyone, you know, when asked, with Craig Albernaz being his first year as a manager, is there input from the front office on the lineup card? He said, no. It is completely Craig Albernaz's lineup card. He said if he needs help, which I mean it's a collaborative effort, but you're the manager. If you are given free reign to do whatever you will, then there's no need to have help putting together the starting lineup. Now I'm not here to pile on Albie. You know, this is a situation in which he's coming into that is, I think, as we can tell, pretty screwed up as is. And I have some feelings on that, which I'll get to in a moment. But let's first get to losing this series, and here was Gunnar Henderson in the clubhouse after the game.

SPEAKER_03 11:14

Just for the team as a whole to win the first game of the series, which you guys have done uh kind of a lot here recently winning the first game and then drop the next two that are kind of winnable. Just goes without saying just how difficult is it to drop a couple games that are that are kind of right there for you guys.

SPEAKER_04 11:28

Yeah, I mean obviously every game matters, so um just obviously um execute a little bit more on uh the back half of the games and um yeah, we'll win more games.

SPEAKER_02 11:41

What makes them difficult? Okay.

SPEAKER_04 11:45

Um yeah, I mean um I mean I feel like we've taken good at bats. I mean, it's just hats off to him for making good pitches.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

All right, well now we're gonna talk a little bit about Gunnar Henderson here. By the way, some of what he said there that basically saying there's urgency, there's not urgency within that clubhouse. We can all see there's no urgency there. I think you guys do want to I mean, obviously they want to win. They're professional athletes, they want to win. I don't think you understand what it looks like. I don't think you understand what you have to go through in order to make winning happen. And whether it's the way the players prepare themselves, whether it's the way they're being coached, or overall, whether it's just the culture with the with the Orioles, because I was thinking about this earlier. You know, when Rubenstein bought the team ahead of the 24 season from the Angelosas, and I listen, I'm not trying to stick up for the Angeloses, don't miss, don't misinterpret me here. But Rubenstein to me does not come across as a hands-on owner. And I get this sense, I get this overwhelming sense that in some ways I don't think he understands really the direction of this ball club and how to lead truly from the top. Because I think that's what the Rubens, what what David Rubinstein was essentially planning for Michael Eyes here. I think that's what he wanted. Figured he had overseen the organization with the Angelosas, who were a little more hands-on, I think, in the last couple years of their ownership, maybe not as much, but enough to where Kevin Brown was suspended a game for his comments about the team. Now, I just think the culture of this team, when that transition was made, because and listen, I'm not saying the Angelosis needed to be here anymore, I'm not saying that. But I think that Elias is having a tough time figuring out what Baltimore Orioles baseball looks like, even though it's in this new regime. What does David Rubinstein want it to look like? What will please the owner? Because that's the only like that's that's just a theory I've come up with here because I can't explain this. I don't understand it. And he's sitting there saying, Well, there's a lot of teams that can't explain a lot of things right now, and we're just in the we're in the thick of it with them. You're supposed to be better than those teams, man. This was supposed to be. I mean, you're hanging out with the Minnesota Twins right now. Let's not sit here and play that game. You make it sound like there's no urgency within the ball club. There's no there's no grit. There's no toughness, there's no buy-in. That's what it comes down to. That's the difference between teams that turn their season around. Look at the Houston Astros, case in point, look at the Houston Astros at 42 in 44. The Houston Astros who were left for dead long ago. Long ago. Many thought, yeah, well, it's over. You know, their streak of making the postseason ended last year. They sat 11 games under 500 on May the 20th. Now they're two games under 500. What did I tell you about the Big June? Sure, they had a Big May, 15 and 14. They've had a big June thus far, they're 15 and 10. And they're on the precipice of getting back to 500. That's taking advantage of the opportunity. That's also leadership within that clubhouse. Something I'm telling you right now, the Orioles do not have. And this isn't taking a shot at Pete Alonzo. This isn't taking a shot at anyone. Necessarily in that clubhouse. This is about the collective of the team. And the messaging that's being brought forth from the top down. Because it's uh it's unacceptable. It's absolutely unacceptable. And I mean, for Gunnar Henderson to sit there and then go who to the starting pitcher, you know who. Don't sit there and give me who. You know his name. You know who he is. You know that you were 0 for 4 today, and you're hitting 221 with a 701 OPS. And you can just see the maturation within him. He is 25. Been in the big since he's 21 and 22. Finished fourth in MVP voting in 24, but has since been a shell of himself. To the point to where his on base is at 294. He's slugging at a 414 clip worse than last year. His slug was 438 last year. And we thought that the 274 batting average and the 17 homers and 68 RBIs was bad. Hey, his homer numbers are about the same as he had them at last year. He has 16 right now. He had 17 last season. And I'm looking through here at a lot of his advanced statistics. He's a much better hitter when he's thinking opposite way. He had a 17.9% opposite fuel percentage in 23. And 24 is a little lower as at 16. Right now it's at 13.7. His pull percentage two years ago was 32.2. In 23, when he was rookie of the year, 34.2. It's 40.4 right now. His ground ball percentage is a little bit lower, 45.5 compared to 47.4 in 24. And I mean, it's about the same where it was in 23, 45.8. But he's a much better hitter when he's thinking the other way and not trying to pull everything over the field over the fence and and right. I mean, let's face it. That's what he's looking to do. Every time. Not looking to get on, not looking to necessarily move something. He's looking to take a yard. And I I just gotta say to, you know, when do you go back to keeping it simple? When do you go back to let's get back to basics. Let's dumb it back down for myself. Because what's working isn't working. And here was Craig Albernez and Gunnar Henderson on Gunnar's performance. I mean, throughout the collective of the season at this point.

SPEAKER_01 19:10

Yeah, Gunnar is just, he's like we talked about, just not getting the results he wants. That's it. I mean, he had great swings today. The fly ball of the center field was a was more one of the more cleaner pass in the smoother swings that he had, and then obviously the one down the left field line. He does a good job of throwing strikes. His split is an equalizer, and he does a great job with his his cutter to keep guys honest. Like we had good at bats, some good swings. We just get anything going, but he his call and caught, he just attacks the strike zone. Today felt pretty good.

SPEAKER_04 19:44

Uh, we were working through some stuff yesterday, and um today felt pretty good, but I mean it's just been I don't even know how to just grab it. The most probably the most one of the most frustrating things I've ever been through. I mean, I come in and work my butt off every day, and um like you said, I mean, I know it's not a you don't want to think about results, but it's hard not to when crab guns show up for so long. So um it sucks. It's baseball, but um, yeah. I do feel like in the case that you've been looking to just change things a lot or try to get back to doing things you're doing. I mean, I've been trying to do any and everything that I can to help the team leaning because it really doesn't feel like I'm doing that offensively, at least. And um, yeah, it just sucks, man.

SPEAKER_02 20:29

Are you changing are you doing you know are you doing the same thing every day basically the same thing every day, or are you trying to do trying?

SPEAKER_04 20:38

Yeah, I mean trying to do things that I feel like is gonna get me to the right spot.

SPEAKER_02 20:45

Pretty much whatever happened in a career. Um is that just been like if on top of that, you know, maybe you haven't seen many fastballs in the zone, but is that a you know difficult aspect that you're not able to see as many hitters and driving in the zone?

SPEAKER_04 21:00

I mean, I've hit off speed very well in my career before, so it's not like I can't hit it. Um just I don't know. I don't really know what to take. I mean I'll put in the work every day. It's just I guess a matter of time at this point. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 21:13

Like I said, he's he's still a young hitter. There's still a lot of you know, tread left on those tires, I hope. But two years ago we thought we were getting the next big thing. And right now, I'm telling you, boy, oh boy, are the people who are saying, oh my god, how could you have taken Adley Rutschman over Bobby Witt Jr., man. That crowd is growing by the masses because of this performance. And the way he was answering questions there, that's not it it's not that difficult to answer questions that they're asking you. There's no need to act like, you know, a smack do know what. And that's how that's how Gunner came across, in my opinion. It's not their fault you're struggling at the plate. It's not their fault that you're basically an out every time you step up there. Now, what's upcoming for the O's is a three-game series this weekend with the Chicago White Sox. These two teams met previously in the season. The O's actually swept the first place White Sox in the American League Central. Now, let's get to the starting pitching preview. Listen, when we do these starting pitching previews, it's always, you know, to kind of give a little background information and whatnot. You can read whatever you want to. These two organizations just don't necessarily know each other at this point. There's not a lot of familiarity. So just pointing that out there. Shane Bass will take the mound tomorrow for the O's, 4-8 with a 4-3-1 ERA. Last year he won four innings, gave up eight runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox. So, you know, and that was last year's White Sox team that, hey, they showed signs of a team that was starting to come out of it. That was starting to have a little oomph, but I didn't think they'd be where they are right now. I thought actually, kind of hoped maybe these two teams heading into the series, their records would be reversed. But no. He's 3-2 with a Bazes, 3-2 with a 4-4-1 ERA and six starts at home this year. In his last two, he's gone 12 innings, giving up three runs on 13 hits with 10 strikeouts. He had nine against the Rays. He only had one against the Padres. He's also walked four batters. Sean Burke takes the mound for the White Sox. He's 9-4 with a 3-7-1 ERA. He went five innings, gave up two runs on two hits with three strikeouts earlier in the year against the O's, a game in which the O's won 5-3 again with the sweep. He's 4-1 with a 3-06 ERA in six starts on the road this season. Now game two, Trey Gibson takes the mound for the O's. He's 1-2 with a 5-6-4 ERA. He's 1-2 with a 5-9-4 ERA at home this year in three starts. Eric Fetty takes the mound for the White Sox, who's 2-6 with a 4-3-4 ERA. In six innings, he gave up two runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts, and the O's won that game two to one. Now, game three, both starters are listed as TBD. For the White Sox, I get it, because it's expected, in my opinion, to be Nolan Schultz, who's been out with right knee Pateller tendonitis, and it looks like he's going to be finally activated. He's been making rehab starts in the White Sox Charlotte Triple A team. He's 2-4 with a 5-8-2 ERA this year before he got hurt. Former first round pick in 2022. Clearly, you know, there's a lot of, I think, hype around what the White Sox have been doing this year. And I mean, it kind of, you know, it is the Chicago White Sox, so it goes under the radar, but for a lot of people, you know, they've taken notice, baseball fans have noticed, man. I can't believe that. And I can't necessarily pinpoint if it's totally, you know, it can't be their starting pitching being that lights out. They don't have any real young players coming up that look, oh my goodness, you know, this is the next big thing. And I don't think Schultz necessarily is that. So um it certainly has been an interesting case of you know, where where is this necessarily, I guess, coming from with this ball club? I mean, it's just they've come out of nowhere uh to be to now have a lead in the AL Central. I mean, they're starting their team ERA in pitching is eighteenth. Not I mean not bad, that's average, and falls in tow, I guess, kind of with the record. But then you look at the offense, and I mean, it can't just be one guy that's getting it done for them. I mean, they're eighteenth in team batting average. And it I mean, you know, you sit there and you say, is Murakame, who has spent some time on the I.O. And Miguel Vargas and Coles and Montgomery, Andrew Benintendi, who's, you know, I think maybe even played a leadership role within this team. Like, is that is that really what's been driving this White Sox bus right now that is just playing at an insane rate at this point. And it it it's just I mean, I think it's just both are average, but they're able to find ways to win games so far. Something that that's the mark between a good team and a bad team. And in this case, the White Sox and the O's heading into the series. Now for the O's in game three, this is also listed as TBD, but I it's Trevor Rogers' turn to pitch. It's been five days. Um he's five and seven with a 499 ERA this year, went six innings, gave up two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and a start earlier in the year against the White Sox, the game in which the O's won 4-2. Now, unless there would be a reason to say, well, we're gonna bring back Dean Kramer, we're gonna bring back Kate Povich, then that's why you're TBD as well. Kramer, who was 0-1 with a 409 ERA this year before uh unfortunately going down earlier in this, I mean we're talking 60 day I. Quadricep injury and now finally starting to near return for him, and then Cade Povich, who is dealing, unfortunately, with left elbow inflammation that had him sideline for uh a month, and Cade Povich again, whom, you know, young pitcher who sure won and one with a 5-1-2 ERA in this season, but definitely showed some flashes. Um both made their second rehab start. We'll see if they're gonna be returning coming up on Wednesday or whether it would be Trevor Rogers. I mean, could they go to a six-man rotation? Sure. I mean, probably gonna have to obviously send down Trey Gibson in order to do so, which I don't think anyone would have any qualms about that. Not that Trey Gibson hasn't pitched his butt off, he has, but I think we can all say collectively we take more reassurance that you are going to have a successful outing with maybe Kramer and Povich out there on the mound. We'll see coming back from injury, though. But, ladies and gentlemen, this is a real bummer of a season. And I'm not gonna continue to you know go on and monologue it, but it's a at this point in the year, when you're nearing July, you are what you are. And what the Orioles are as a team right now is a bad team. And I know we played clips from last um, well, from yesterday, not last evening, recorded last evening, uh, from Michael Eyes about the trade deadline. I certainly would start thinking about who I'm gonna be shipping out of here because that is gonna be vastly approaching, and that's gonna be something as we get into the month of July, we'll be talking about for that early August trade deadline. That's kind of where the season's at right now, and I hate I hate saying it. I really do. So we'll be back on here uh throughout the series, and uh we should be back on to recap it as well. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll talk to you then.