Can O's Ride POSITIVE MOMENTUM Into Second-Half

For a majority of the first half of the season for the Orioles, it left much to be desired, but the O's ride a four-game win streak into the All-Star break and now sit 2.5 games back of a wild-card spot. How will the O's get out of the gates to begin the second-half? #Birdland #BaltimoreOrioles #MLBonX

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:10

From down and out to maybe, just maybe hope. That's what the Baltimore Orioles gave their fans a little glimmer of hope as the first half of the season finished up at Camden Yards. As we welcome you in to this first episode of the second half of Major League Baseball's season post-all-star break, as we welcome you in. I'm your host, Jay Holohan. We'll quickly delve into the four-game win streak. For the first time all year, the Orioles win four in a row, so we'll quickly talk about that. But obviously, we have to turn our attention to the second half of the season and expectations for the second half of this season. Now, let's quickly get into this from the end of the first half, that final six-game homestand against the Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Royals. It began with the Orioles unfortunately losing this series to the Cubs quickly, rather quickly. Tuesday, they fell 5'2 to Chicago. They really couldn't figure out Matthew Boyd at all. Shane Baz had some trouble in the third, then again in the fifth, but the offense did nothing. They got back in the game with two runs, courtesy of Adley Rutschman in the seventh, and then on to Wednesday, where the O's well, they were able to, in this game, get out to an early lead on the Cubs. They led three to one. Felt like, hey, you know, maybe I I mean it kind of just felt like at this point a Fugezi kind of thing, but you know, maybe they'll take a game here. Pete Alonzo, the two-run blast. Uh, but then Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly, homer off Dean Kramer. We're tied at three. PCA hits another one out to make it four three Cubs, and all of a sudden, Dean Kramer has lost the lead, and the Cubs would pile on to take a 9-3 lead in the seventh, getting the best of Rico Garcia and Grant Wolfram. Then in the seventh, Tyler O'Neal gets the Orioles back on the board 9-4 with a solo blast, and Taylor Warden, RBI single 9-5. Then it got a little exciting in the bottom of the eighth with Kobe Mayo Solo Homer. Tyler O'Neal solo Homer 9-7. Obviously, he would follow that into the next day. But the Orioles in the end would fall by a final score of 9-7 to the Chicago Cubs, and then that took us that took us directly into Thursday. Final four games of the first half, and it's kind of like, well, you gotta show us something at this point if you're the Baltimore Orioles, if you're this team. Because, listen, as we know now, as the after they've won four straight, they now sit two games back of a wild card spot. You look at the way that they went into that final game on Thursday, and it was like, man, this is it. This is it. You gotta prove yourselves. It's a dreary, rainy day. And Tyler O'Neill gets started with the solo blast, three straight homers and three straight at bats. Hey, again, Tyler O'Neill reminding everyone he is a member of the Baltimore Orioles, and of course that's a pretty cool moment. Three straight, you know, homers and three straight-at-bats. Saya Suzuki gets the Cubs on the board in the top of the sixth. Trevor Rodgers, who just went out there and pitched brilliantly, allowed a run in five hits and six innings. Now, in the top of the eighth, Suzuki would strike again with an RBI double as he got to Tyler Wells. Unfortunately, Wells couldn't keep what had been a pretty impressive run there out of the bullpen, gives up uh get gives up, you know, the run there, surrenders the tie, gives up the lead, gives up not the lead, but you know, Cubs break the tie right there, and then the Orioles have a situation, two on, one out, and Jeremiah Jackson at the plate, and he hits a two-run double to center. Gunner scores, Pete Alonso scores, chugging to the plate, Pete Alonzo. I think, you know, so much of the first half of the season, so much of the really porous play by the Orioles, it just has completely, I don't well, maybe not entirely completely, but it really has kind of hurt what has been an impressive first half from Pete Alonso. No, not an all-star, but still a fine first half of the season for him, and what a play that was to beat the throw to the plate, all the emotion as he gets up, his teammates around him felt like such a huge moment. Was a huge moment for Jeremiah Jackson and Kittredge, who then in the ninth would lock down his second save of the season, and the Orioles win by a final score of three to two. Now, it was announced, and this was really, you know, kind of just I think something we I don't want to say expected, but you know, without Ryan Helsley, as we've discussed here, losing him uh and the fact that, you know, the elbow inflammation um now obviously has uh spurred up again. He's placed on the I. For fifteen days. The Orioles are going to need to piece together this bullpen. They've needed to get big outs from you know Kittredge. They've looked to get big outs, obviously. Uh they've looked at Tyler Wells at times. I'm curious if they'll ever take a peek at Yunir Kano even. And it's just it's really created an unfortunate sequence of events. And I'll tell you what, Jeremiah Jackson, who was he was sent to the miners. We spoke about this I think the last time we were on. You know, really for anyone that you're gonna send down, I don't know if Jeremiah Jackson would be that guy that I'd be looking to send down to the minors, but you know, obviously with what happened in the finale against the Kansas City Royals, now his role maybe takes an even uh heightened role here. Now, as we get into the Royals series, so your next three games are against a team that, you know what, you gotta go out there and you gotta sweep them. You gotta finish this first half of the year on a positive note. That was the best case scenario at that point for the O's, and that's what they did. They went out and they swept the Kansas City Royals. They took a 5-3 lead off of Samuel Basayo's two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth on Friday. Then on Saturday, the Orioles, and and really on Sunday as well, they certainly had their way with Kansas City, defeating them six to one. Great final started out of Kyle Bradish on Saturday, and then on Sunday, uh it was an A-2 Orioles win. Uh they were tied at two at the end of three, then they put five runs on the Royals in the sixth, tacked on one more in the seventh, and then obviously the I think you know, so i when something good happens, there's always got to be something bad happen. And that's what it just feels like has been the case for the Baltimore Orioles for the last couple seasons, but especially this one. After Samuel Basal hits his sixteenth home of the year to make it eight two O's, Blaze Alexander on a 1-2 pitch that pitches one, five, and six in this at bat, in this seven pitch at bat, and obviously number seven, we're all in on Blaze Alexander. Craig hits Alexander in his left hand, as we know now, of course, placed on the I. L. Huge loss for the Orios because Blaze Alexander has been among one of your hottest hitters, obviously. And I mean, regardless, you know, not only has he been one of your hottest hitters, but can dare we say been one of your best just all around players, and just in terms of you know sp sparking the team, I mean, that's kind of what he has been. Now the O's made a couple moves here this past week. Today they recalled Christian Arkin Incarnacion Strand from Norfolk. They put Keegan Aiken on the 60-day IL now, transferring him from 15 to the 16 day with left elbow discomfort. So, you know, that's the story with Keegan Aiken right now. Uh Yermel Geraldo has been activated, uh, which is good to see from the 60 day. Now he's gonna get some looks down in Norfolk. Um, so we'll see what what happens here uh with him moving forward. But back to the Blaze Alexander issue. The bench is clear, the bullpen's come in, and Blaise Alexander, it was, I mean, it's an 8-2 game, and there's reason in reasoning to be upset. Clearly a Craig upset with the fact that he gave up a solo blast, probably upset that the Royals have such a horrific end to the first half of their season, and really, you know, their last two seasons have been pretty horrific in and of itself, especially with a great player like Bobby Witt Jr. on that squad, and you know, Vinny Pascantino can sit there and say what he wants about Blaze Alexander, you'd be pissed off too, if it's an 8-2 game, and I'm sure right away Blaze Alexander knew something was was wrong with his hand. I think at the end of the day, that's more as to what he was upset about. Now, he could have been upset about getting hit by pitch at all. No one could say it. No one wants to get hit by a pitch. Now, if you're someone who, you know, just kind of camps out over the plate and you gotta wear it and go to first, then sure. But in that situation, it's obvious he was coming in, he was coming high and in, and sure enough, he plunks plays Alexander, and that really set off what you saw. And now, obviously, that's gonna have a kind of domino effect from the Baltimore Orioles, as, you know, you look at this team, right now, there was reasoning to be pleased, obviously, with the way that I mean, no doubt, with the way that Blaze Alexander was playing, that trade by Mike Elias might go down as one of his best trades in his time with the Baltimore Orioles. And, you know, what do you know? It's a utility bench piece that uh turned out to be quite the spark plug for this O's team. And it's just it's a real shame. It's an absolute shame. Now, this is not one of those decisions because, hey, this is a this is not something that you can you can put on the training staff, this is not something you can put on anyone else. You can't blame the coaching staff or mismanagement or anything like that. This is just simple a bang bang play that doesn't need to be that you can be as upset as you want with the Royals and the Craig and the way they went about it. And obviously for Blaze Alexander, he knows he was in the midst of a fine season. He was in the midst of a really earning, I think, an everyday spot, dare I say, moving forward here, potentially moving forward here. I mean, for the second half of the year, if the Orioles were gonna do one thing, they may very well have said, you know what? We need to put our best players on the field with a chance to win. And whether that's you know, playing Blaze Alexander Moore and not Kobe Mayo, or however way they were gonna work out third base, because now you're kind of left with no choice. Now Kobe Mayo has to be your everyday third baseman, or you have to result back to what the options were to kind of start the year off with Jackson Holiday, where he was getting looks at third base. Maybe they try him over there at the hot corner, who knows? Um, but no doubt about it, and Jeremiah Jackson there as well. Obviously, he's gonna need to see his playing time increase, no doubt, because we know Kobe Mayo just not good against righties, and Jeremiah Jackson, I think, gives you a better opportunity there from that side of the plate, so that'll probably be the new platoon role for Craig Albanaz. But there's no doubt about it. Frustration, mounting over from Blaze Alexander for good reason being hit by that pitch, and I don't blame him. I don't blame him one bit for being upset at all. Now, are pitchers going to pitch inside? Yes, they will. But for a guy who doesn't have control or is just upset and can't calm himself down as a professional baseball pitcher after giving up a home run, for that to be the case, get a clue. Get a clue. And shame on the Kansas City Royals as well. For you know what, you want to stick up for your teammate? That's fine. That's fine. But once you see the guy has a broken hand, maybe that's when you realize, man, you know, maybe I should I should just shut up. Maybe I just shouldn't say anything. Maybe saying nothing is the best case scenario because how would I feel if I was in that situation? Now, moving on from that. Moving on from that situation and looking at where the Orioles are right now. Two games back of a wild card spot at 46-51. They were 42-51 heading into that Thursday game against the Cubs, and now they sit just two games back, a half a game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. They sit a half a game back of the Houston Astros, who they'll see uh coming up here for this weekend series in Houston, right out of the All-Star break. They're a game and a half out of the Boston Red Sox, who went on a nine-game heater to end the first half of the season. Uh really remarkable stuff. You got the Mariners holding down that last wild card spot at 48 and 49. Twins tied with them at 48 and 49, so it's right there for the Orioles. But now, as we come out of the All-Star Break, the Baltimore Orioles hitting the road is probably not something many people wanted to hear. The O's currently sit at 18 and 26 on the road this year. They're 28 and 25 at home. But again, 18 and 26 on the road. Uh there's no doubt about it. They are, I mean, the furthest thing, you know, you could say in terms of fur furthest thing away from being quote unquote road warriors uh this season. It just they can't play on the road. They struggle playing on the road. Now, last time we saw them on the road, they took two out of three against Cincinnati. But the time before that, the Angels took two out of three against them. So, you know, I I'm curious to see what kind of road team, Rhodos team, we're going to get here heading to Houston. Now, the Houston Astros, they're for the second half of their season, with the experience they have, they know what it takes to get to the postseason. They missed the postseason last year. Uh I'll be interested to see how they play the second half. But if you're the O's, getting off to a good start, A gives now, I think Michael Lyas is going to look to add no matter what. I think he's going to put a full court press on adding at this trade deadline. I think he's going to go all in. I really, really do. I think he's going to double down on this core, on this team, and on himself more so than anything, and go for it. And we'll see where they're at. Honestly, I think unless they really hit the skids, he's going to go for it. Um now, how far we don't know what the degree of that is going to be because a lot can change here. August 3rd, the deadline, and you've got teams, you know, I mean, in the American League, you know, the Tigers are three and a half games out of 44 and 58 and 52. The A's are six and a half games out of 41 and 55. I mean, who knows what happens from that perspective. Obviously, those teams right there, Tigers and A's, could be linked. You got the Blue Jays who are two and a half games back at 45 and 51. Obviously, no one thought they'd be in that position right now, but that's where they are. So my point is a lot of teams are still there in the wildcard hunt. Same thing for the National League as well. As you really, you know, you look at it, probably the Rockies, the Mets, the Giants, um, maybe likely the Reds who are eight games back of a wildcard spot, they're most likely gonna sell. I mean, the Mets who just told their clubhouse today who they're gonna keep, or well, rather, not just keep, but who they're not gonna look to ship off, which could be a ploy for them to try and spark their clubhouse, or could be a just, you know, hey, get ready to potentially be moved at one point in time or another. Now, let's get back to the Orioles. You're starting pitching preview in Houston. Here it is. Peter Lambert takes them out for the Astros. He's 8-5 with a 3-1-4 ERA. He pitched earlier this season versus the O's, where he won 4-3rd innings, gave up two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks. He's 5-4, a 3-3-5 ERA at home in nine starts. He pitched five-two-thirds shutout innings versus the Rays in his final start for the first half of the year. He allowed no runs on three hits. So obviously Lambert's someone that could definitely stymie this Orioles lineup. Dean Kramer, who's 1-2 with a 4-09 ERA, he's tabbed with the duties of opening the second half of the year off for the O's. He's 1-2 with a 4-0 nine ERA. 1-0 with a 4-5-0 ERA in three starts versus the Astros since 2024, where he's gone 18 innings, giving up nine runs on 17 hits with 16 strikeouts and four walks. And he's pitched in those three starts. He's gone five complete innings, so you know at least he's going to give you that. He gave up three runs, or he's given up uh so far on the road this year, three runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks and six innings. That was in just one road start all year in Cleveland, obviously, uh being hurt with the injury. Now, game two is definitely one that you sit there and go, the Orioles got to have this. Spencer Araghetti takes them out for Houston. Seven and five with a four-five-o ERA, allowed two runs on six hits and five and two thirds innings with two strikeouts and zero walks versus the O's earlier in the year. He's three and one with a three-two-two ERA and six starts at home. His last start was against the Rays after being shelled in his two previous starts. He went six innings against Tampa that night, allowed just one run on two hits with four K's and a walk, and obviously Tampa Bay Rays, top team in the American League East. But Trevor Rogers, who is six and seven to the four-four eight ERA this year so far, but he's looking a heck of a lot better. We'll get to that in a moment. He's one-o with a 2-1-9 ERA versus the Astros since 24. That's in two starts. He went 12 and a third innings as a member of the Marlins and the O's, allowing three runs on 11 hits with 14 strikeouts and five walks. 3-2 with a 4-1-8 ERA and six starts this year on the road. Now in his last three road starts, he's given up a run on eight hits with 13 strikeouts and no walks in 17 and 2 thirds innings. He has been red hot. He has been red hot from you know really about mid June on, and hopefully that's going to continue and propel him throughout the second half. Now game three will be interesting with Hunter Brown. On the mound for the Astros, one and oh with the 357 ERA, 1-0 with the 3-5-4 ERA and 4 starts this year at home. He had a great two shoulder strain earlier in the year that sidel sidelined him until mid-June. Listen, I fully expect to head into this game with this being a rubber match. And I think, you know what? You gotta have faith in your ace out there in Kyle Braddish, who's six and nine with a three-six one ERA this year. He's three and five with a four-oh six ERA and nine starts on the road this season. But hopefully, first start for the second half of the season, this Orioles team, and I know I'm gonna do it to myself one final time, you gotta allow yourself to, I suppose, be hurt one more time because you gotta at least you know what, say, man, we're going into this trade deadline here coming up, and you just hope that the Orioles players can give the fans, the ownership group, Michael Lyas the confidence to say, hey, let's go for this thing, let's go for a postseason berth, and let's take it from here. Now, it's gonna be a tall task, even though they're two games out. You know, any team you're seeing the Boston Red Sox, they're getting red hot. We'll see what obviously if they can hold up here throughout the rest of the way. A lot of people were lining up outside Fenway, you know, I'm sure calling up saying, Hey, what do you want for Rollis Chapman? What do you want for Contreras? What do you want for you know, this guy and that guy? And now it's Boston probably calling up potentially here in the next couple weeks. The lonelier teams may be calling up the Mets saying, hey, what do you want for Francisco Lindore? What do you want for, you know, Luke Weaver? What are you gonna take w you know, how much is it gonna cost for, you know, uh uh an Angels player or an athletics player that they'll be looking to shop? Vinny Pascantino, what's what's he what what are you taking for him? I mean, just different things like that. It's it's gonna be a very interesting deadline. It's one of the more bizarre uh seasons I think we we've seen in recent baseball history, which is how porous the race for the final six seed is in the American League. And if Cleveland stumbles the five seed could even open up as well, which could really make things interesting. But it doesn't look like Cleveland will be doing that anytime soon. Now, anyways, back to what's at hand. Orioles gotta take two out of three. They gotta take two out of three. They have to continue to push, you know, take over that spot there, the Houston Astros, the Boston Red Sox, who will open up their second half of their season at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. That could spell, you know, if you take two of three, if you're the O's, well, maybe Boston forty-six and forty-eight. You get lucky there, maybe you could heck even overtake then them. And I mean you got the twins who are on the road against the Cubs. That even opens the door there. Twins who are, you know, sure two games ahead of you. That could open the door there, and then uh you have the Seattle Mariners who uh host the San Francisco Giants, and I would not expect the Mariners to have a tough time against the Giants, but who knows? Stranger things have happened. Mariners are 27 and 20 at home, though. Too bad it's not on the road where they're 21 and 29. Uh welcome to the party, Seattle, because the O's are obviously just as lowly on the road. But let's hope we change that in this upcoming road trip that sees the Orioles hit the road for six games to open up the second half of the year. And folks, here's to hope in the second half brings a lot more smiles and joy around the Baltimore area because I think this fan base more than deserves it. Thanks for tuning in. We'll talk to you next time.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

Something magic happens. Every time you go, you make the magic happen. The magic of all real when the game is closed, and the yokes are high. That's a thunder rear from thirty-four to give it all a guy.