BALTIMORE—Oriole Park was as beautiful as ever. The empty stands are still jarring, and the overly loud crowd noise for routine outfield fly balls needs toning down.
On the field, the New York Yankees, the surprise opponents for Wednesday night’s home opener, resumed their tormenting of the Orioles with a 9-3 win in the home opener for the 2020 season.
The Orioles are now 2-2.
Instead of Gleyber Torres, who hit an astonishing 13 home runs and drove in 20 runs in 18 games against the Orioles in 2019, there was just the general annoyance of another loss to New York. Torres was hitless in four at-bats and walked.
Last year, the Orioles won two of their first three games against the Yankees and then lost 16 straight. They’ve stretched that losing streak to 17, which ties the Orioles’ record for most consecutive losses to a team.
They also lost 17 in a row to Cleveland in 1954. It was the 16th straight loss at home to New York. The Orioles’ last home win against the Yankees came on July 10, 2018.
“They’re the New York Yankees,” starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski said. “You can’t mistakes. You’ve got to execute well. You’ve got to go out there and compete and be on top of your game. I made three mistakes tonight, and they got hit for homers, and that’s where I got hurt.
“I wish I could have had those three pitches back because throughout the game, I thought I executed my other pitches really well.”
Wojciechowski worked through five innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out seven.
Gerrit Cole, who signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees last winter, was impressive.
He allowed a first-inning double to José Iglesias, which scored Austin Hays, and retired 14 straight and 18 of 19 until giving up three straight hits with two outs in the seventh.
Cole was charged with three runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Wojciechowski, making his first start of the season, allowed three home runs in the first three innings — a leadoff homer to DJ LaMahieu in the first, one to Aaron Judge starting the third, and a two-run shot by Aaron Hicks.
“I just thought Asher missed location with the pitchers there,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “They were fastballs up, just not up enough.”
Wojciechowski wasn’t helped by two catcher’s interference calls against Pedro Severino in the first. Judge, who later scored, and Giancarlo Stanton reached. According to ESPN, it was the first time since at least 1974 that two catcher’s interference calls were recorded in an inning.
“That was a first for me,” Hyde said. “I’d never seen that. I thought that Judge and Giancarlo get kind of long in the bat and they’re big guys and you’ve just got to have a little bit more awareness and give yourself some room.
“I thought (Severino) was just a little bit anxious early. He made the adjustment a little too late, but he made the adjustment and got a little deeper. But, yeah, that’s one thing I’ve never seen and (Severino) hasn’t had that issue. That was very unusual.”
In the seventh, Renato Nuñez, who started at first base in place of Chris Davis, whom Hyde said was unavailable, doubled with two outs. Dwight Smith Jr. homered, and Severino doubled to chase Cole.
Smith, who tested positive for Covid-19, and wasn’t cleared for workouts until July 17, didn’t play in any of the three exhibition games.
“I feel like I’m pretty close to where I should be physically,” Smith said. “I’m still working hard every day just to get my body back into baseball shape. I feel pretty close right now.”
Orioles relievers inconsistent: In his first appearance of the season, Evan Phillips allowed two runs in the sixth inning. He hurt himself with two walks before yielding two hits.
Shawn Armstrong, made his season debut and retired all six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth.
Cody Carroll, who didn’t retire a batter and allowed four runs in his first game on Friday while walking three, finally retired a batter, striking out Brett Gardner.
However, that was the only hitter not to reach. Carroll allowed two hits, walked one and hit a batter. Two runs scored.
Oriole pitchers struck out 12. Gardner struck out four times, Sanchez three.
Iglesias leaves after six: Hyde pulled Iglesias after six innings, immediately after he grounded to short, ending the sixth. He was replaced by Pat Valaika.
“He’s just battling some soreness in his quad from the Red Sox series,” Hyde said. “I saw him not get out of the box really good in the first inning on that double. I was monitoring him.”
The Orioles were trailing, 7-1, and Hyde made the move.
Iglesias was 1-for-3, and is hitting .500 this season, (8-for-16).
Means on Thursday?: Hyde didn’t fully commit to using John Means to start on Thursday, saying it would probably happen. The Orioles need to make a roster move. J.A. Happ starts for New York.
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No comments regarding catchers interference twice in the first four batters, someone needs to talk with Wojo, sounded very intimidated by New York, O’s first inning, at least they didn’t seem intimidated by Cole, a loss is a loss though...go O’s...
Ray, you didn’t read very carefully. Hyde commented on the catcher’s interference calls when asked.
Sorry, thought that was as Wojo...go O’s...
I think "Wojo" proved my point (3 homers in 3 innings) that the O's HAVE NO PITCHING. Even Genius 1 knows you can't keep wheeling minor league pitchers out there game after game. at least I think he knows that. And what happened with Severino is a "puzzlement"
Don't know what kinda game Severino calls but defensively he's like a "bull in a China shop". Hearing about this or that pitcher being intimidated by the Yankees makes me think we may have one of the problems with this staff--grow some "B's",toughen up. Coaches too approach them the same as others. Not with trepidation. The only way I would be satified with a seasons cancelation is if the Yankees had a 10 game lead.
Wojo gets hammered by the Yanks. Yawn..............
Wojo thinks he only made 3 mistakes. Maybe this explains his joviality on the bench after being removed. I've got news for you Wojo. YOU LOST!!
Evidently, it must be good to play the Red Sox this year. 'Cause playing the Yankees is painful. After a brief couple days of faux euphoria, I was reminded of this last night.
Stark contrast when watching these 2 teams play. One looks professional, the other like a bunch of clowns. It's embarrassing to be an Oriole fan. This begins with the visuals.
Ok .... I know I couldn't be any more petty, but starting with Wojo, Smith Jr, R. Ruiz's & Hunter Harvey's moronic hair cuts, all the way to the stupid white shoes (we're not the A's) and pajama bottom length pants, maybe we should cut down on the punk fashion shows! Maybe it's even time to remove the names from the jerseys. Until these guys learn to throw the ball, or hit the ball, and catch the ball like big league players, I don't believe they've earned the right to "express their individualism" in such ways. How's about stressing "TEAM"? You don't see the Yankee players pulling this bush league crap. Some of these guys need to be reminded that the only reason they're in the big leagues is that they're part of an organization that is currently bottomed out and without decent alternatives.
Instead of the Houston blueprint, perhaps management should consider the Yankee blueprint.. 'Cause this sure as crap isn't the Oriole Way anymore.
Jesus, attack of the 50 foot Boog. I’m not ready to break out the pitchforks and torches just yet, losing to Mr. Cole isn’t exactly surprising stuff. I am concerned that Inglesias felt a little off, mainly because it’s 2020 and the only thing to look forward to is what the Os get in trade for people. Let’s see how Meansy looks tonight.
With all due respect BanMo, for you are my favorite, wittiest, most clever contributor on this site. I say that with all sincerity. You truly are what I strive to be in this forum .... but what happened to putting a stranglehold on the AL East by beating these rich punks? Don't get soft on me now my friend! :)
BRR,
Some may think that you are being a little rough on some of these guys. Agree totally about the "moronic haircuts"--a great description.
Look-- for the most part this is a replacement team. Waiting for their better prospects to matriculate through the Minor Leagues..woops, there is no Minor League season this year,,,this is really going to delay the turnaround even more.. We have to suck-it-up a deal with this situation..no sugar-coating it otherwise..
Stay strong.
Guess we'll have to wait to see if Means shows up to the ballpark to know if he is going to pitch. Hyde seems way over his head in communicating with the media and fans.
OK... so everybody is banking on "Meansy". Even if he didn't seem to be damaged goods at this point, which indicators DO point to, has anybody considered that the young man had a career year last year? I sure hope not, but frankly, after what I've seen for the past 3 years, I can't see anything in a glass half full mode anymore.
They've beaten me down boys. I'm sorry. Give me some players. Put Sisco in ... Where is Mountcastle? Diaz? How's about Akin, Lowther and Bauman? These guys HAVE to be better than the bums we have now. Instead, we get Cody Carroll. And as far as them being ready, don't give me that crap, I don't see any of them getting any better by playing with themselves in Bowie either! (yes that was intentional) There are no training grounds this year...how's about a little OTJT?
And now Hyde, who I've liked and defended up to this point, is starting to look like a big dope...being puppeteer'ed by the boy genius. This guy should be lambasting these boys. Enough sugar coating. This organization has become decidedly Bush League. And just as Hyde seems to have been beaten down by his boss, I have as well. They've beaten me down boys. The glass is empty.
Go O's ... go Means!! Rah rah rah
You’re on a roll Booooog!, and I agree with most if not all of it. Putting lipstick on a pig might fool some folks, but I’m in it for the Wins and you need real major league players for that, not a reclamation team. Means needs another strong year before I’ll jump on that band wagon. And if Davis is sitting out why not bring up Mountcastle to okay first!! Meanwhile - after 17 straight losses I think we have the Yanks figured out for tonight.
I am not banking on anyone, not Means, not Sisco, not RM. I think Means deserves a shot to make a start or two before we write him off as a one year wonder on a bad team. I'd rather have Means rather than Wojo, and certainly Milone.
My comment about having to wait to see if Means shows up tonight to pitch was because Hyde wouldn't provide a direct answer as to whether he will start tonight, just like his glib response on CD - "he is not here".
BRR - as you have noted there are some excellent and knowledgeable contributors to this site. I'd be interested in your input and others, about reshaping the squad. While I suspect that contracts, MLB and Union rules would hamstring some moves that this group would make, let's put together the group that we'd enjoy watching for two months, regardless of getting their brains beat out with the current group. So you would dfa CD and put RM at 1B. Sisco is your starting catcher. The squad has to go to 28 soon, so let's assume that Carroll and Milone are gone - Carroll to Bowie and Milone dfa. I assume that you would release Smith, bring Williams or Diaz for OF or neither, since the squad would have to go to 26 in September. So to get the three pitchers that you like Akin, Bauman, Lowther - which 4 pitchers get bumped (still have to get down to 26)? Of course, we would return to the O's days of no beards, mustaches or mullets. Thanks
Wow Phil ... nobody has ever lumped me in with the knowledgeable crowd before. I certainly am not GM material, and apolgize if I come off that way. I'm more the strat-o-matic type. I'm just fed up with the lose now, win tomorrow crap we've been fed for 2 years.
But I'll play your game a bit. The only existing pitchers I'd want/have to keep on the squad right now are Cobb, Means, Bleier, Givens, Harvey, Castro and a big maybe to Leblanc since he's had all of ONE big game for us! Hah! I'd certainly like to see Akin, Bauman, Lowther and Kremer get their shots sooner rather than later. I'd also keep an eye on Rodriguez and Hall for a more distant future, both being relative babies.
This year, I'd have an outfield of Diaz, Hays, Sahntahndaire (I'm a big fan of his however you pronounce it), Stewart and Cedric the Centerfielder.
I've omitted Mountcastle from this list cause I'm saving him for 1st to REPLACE THAT BIG DOPE that can't hit within 30 points of the Mendoza line. Why, oh why is he still here? I don't care what you're paying him.
Another option is for Sisco to play 1st base, and work Mountcastle into the outfield. But in any case, Sisco needs at bats...he's a sweet swinging lefty that they've jerked around for 2 years. You've got to work these two into the lineup somehow, even if you have to relegate to one of them being a DH.
Existing pieces .. I'm not a big fan of Nunez or Rio Ruiz. Iglesias seems like a decent enough stop gap for shortstop, but he's no more than a run of the mill piece. And frankly, IMO, he's the only decent acquisition Elias has made. BFD.
That's about it off the top of my head.
Thanks. Also appreciate the humility. I knew you were a big fan of RM and Santander and Cedric. Agree with you on Ruiz and Nunez; Iglesias I think is solid for now - at least he can play major league defense. You been consistent on CD. I am not as high on Sisco as you are...but who knows. He seems to struggle mightily with MLB pitching. If we are going to do tryouts and learn at MLB level, then I would rather have Sisco at 2B and Alberto at 3B.
Totally agree with you Boog, I notice TONS of input from some I’ve not heard much from before, almost everyone’s agreeing with play your youngens, where are the ones that keep shooting us down, you & I in particular, I think it’s funny that others can say to play different players & that’s ok, but we can’t...I’m sure they’ll chime in now though...go O’s...
CalsPals - you and BRR are valued contributors - consistent and I think respectful in sharing/offering your input. I don't agree with some items - e.g., as much as I would like RM on the team, I don't think he should be here now; the CBA kind of forces things to play out like this. Watching him for 10 meaningless games now versus having him for 150+ potentially meaningful games a few years from now is not appealing to me. I remember the Kiddie Corps - Chuck Estrada, Jerry Walker, Jack Fisher, Steve Barber - in '64 Wally Bunker - they all had some success, but nothing close to what was predicted for them. But I get your point, Bundy and Harvey had bad arms almost instantly after signing their contracts - I see both sides of the argument - wouldn't be critical of anyone. We all want to see meaningful baseball - I'd like to see Santander in LF, Hays in CF and Diaz in RF. RM at 1B and Trey as DH. Of course, TM is not available, but hopefully next year.
I think by getting Diaz involved would answer a lot of questions for his future, the other playing some younger guys, other teams may see something of interest & a potential trade could be in the works, I think this season is a wash, I’d be shocked if there are any substantial trades because of how short the season actually is...thx Phil...go O’s...
Like watching the Bad News Bears...go O’s...
Ya know ... I think Tatum O'neil could lower this staff's ERA.
I like Wojo's strikeout/walk ratio. I'm also happy Dwight Smith's a great example of recovery. Good, too,
to see Valaika get a hit. Shawn Armstrong looked professional.
Is there a chance CD sat for discipline reasons, base running faux pau & Hyde was trying to cover for him, don’t see that, but it may send a message to the youngens....go O’s...
Sitting CD for those reasons would make sense, but you'd be giving Hyde far more credit than he deserves.
No.
No to what? Giving more credit to Hyde than he deserves?
You’re probably right, because that’s what a leader would have done...go O’s...
This season should be a blessing for the Orioles when else will we ever basically see a 60 game exhibition season. To have our kids play in front of no fans , less pressure and a chance to develop against the best. Instead we have cast off pitchers and some players with no major league future to suffer with. RM should have been on first last night. AR should be on this team learning and playing. YD should be in the outfield. The baby birds should be the starting staff like we had in the 60’s. I personally filmed then in the WS at memorial park. Instead we have the cast offs to pitch .
You make perfect sense BHoff. Wow ... "filmed" the 60's O's? Awesome memories I'm sure.
Yeah it was great especially the crab cakes
Slightly off topic, but got a rules question. A reliever now needs to pitch to a minimum of 3 batters unless the inning ends. So what happens if a reliever comes in with 2 outs, gets the third out on the next player, and then starts the following inning? Does the pitcher now have to stay in for 2 more batters to meet the 3 batter minimum? Or can he be relieved after one more batter since he ended the previous inning?
He can be relieved after one batter since he ended the previous inning, Chewy.
Thanks.
I also filmed the 79 series against the Pirates. I remember in Pittsburgh they gave the press cheese sandwiches in Baltimore we has a seafood feast fit for a king and also watch Palmer pitch . It doesn’t get any better then that
That's too awesome, and I hated that '79 series and that stupid song.
I wonder what the comments would be like if management decides in a few weeks to insert the kids/prospects/waves-of-the-future as starters, and they perform horribly--far worse than the current cast. Double digit losses not uncommon. Which will dominate: calls for patience or demands that CD and friends return to the lineup?
Wouldn't matter in the least ... to me anyway.
No how bad they perform and I think a lot of them especially Diaz RM and some of the pitchers it will be better then seeing these cast offs plus they will gain great experience. This season is meaningless so let it proceed with our future not our past. Again to Elias ,Williams has major league skills since he has no future here at 29 years old trade him to a team that will give him a chance to play.
Bruce, I know you've posted countless times about Mason Williams, but he isn't viewed as a great prospect around baseball. If someone really wanted him, they would have signed him to a major league contract last fall. He doesn't have much power, and power is important to evaluators in looking at outfielders. He's not a bad player, but not a difference maker.
This season is hard to look at because of the abnormalities, but assuming it continues, I think you'll see some younger prospects coming along. Even though it seems longer, they haven't yet played a week.
I’d love
Oops, to see how the youngens would’ve played, honestly could care less if they played badly, I know they would give 100% & if they screwed up it’s because they haven’t had big league experience...but I doubt if we’ll see anything remotely like that...go O’s...
Rich Mullins has no power and can’t hit and get on base as consistently as Williams. Williams I think hit over 20 homers in Norfolk last year and I saw him hit a homer in WPB this spring . So I don’t agree with you . Plus smith firs not have great power and can’t throw and DJ can’t even get a hit