It wasn’t a shock when the Orioles made a change with their catchers on Monday, optioning Chance Sisco to Triple-A and purchasing the contract of Austin Wynns.
Sisco and Pedro Severino haven’t played well this season. When he was optioned, Sisco was batting .154 in 23 games.
Severino has struggled defensively, especially during the 14-game losing streak. Manager Brandon Hyde decided to give Sisco more playing time last week, but it didn’t help.
Sisco goes to the Tides with just one hit in his last 16 at-bats, but Hyde was charitable.
“Tough conversation, this morning. I love Chance. Great kid. Team player, works his tail off,” Hyde said.
“I’d just like to see him go down and see him driving the baseball. I like all the improvements he’s made defensively, continue to work on his defense. He’s throwing the ball much better than he has the past couple of years. His receiving is continuing to improve. He’s learned the position better. He’s becoming a better defensive catcher.”
Sisco threw out six of the nine runners who tried to steal, an improvement over the past two seasons when he threw out only 17 percent of runners attempting to steal in 2019 and 19 percent last year.
His offense has been in a decline. Sisco has a .199 average in 191 games with the Orioles over the past five seasons. Because he’s a second-round pick in 2013, he’s been given him many opportunities.
“Got to get the bat going,” Hyde said. “I’ve always loved his plate discipline, his ability to lay off pitches borderline and off [the plate]. We don’t really have a lineup full of those type of guys. He’s got to start putting up some offensive numbers, got to get back to really driving the ball from gap to gap and just feel more comfortable offensively, getting four at-bats a night, hoping that that gets him going.”
Wynns was chosen eight rounds later than Sisco in 2013, and he’s the kind of player managers love. He’s a hard worker and heady player. Wynns was hitting .333 with three home runs and nine RBIs for Norfolk.
“Off to a nice start, swinging the bat well, hitting the ball for average, catching the ball extremely well,” Hyde said. “Austin’s just very, very solid defensively.”
At Norfolk, Sisco will join Brett Cumberland, who came to the Orioles in the July 31, 2018 trade with Atlanta that brought Bruce Zimmermann and Evan Phillips to Baltimore, as well as Nick Ciuffo and Taylor Davis, two catchers with major league experience. Ciuffo has an injured hand that’s prevented him from playing so far this year.
Wynns was hitless in four at-bats in Monday’s 3-2 loss to Minnesota but earned praise from starter Jorge López and Hyde.
“I like Austin’s intangibles,” Hyde said. “He’s got great feel behind the plate. He does a great job with his pitchers. He’s a really good clubhouse guy, he’s the ultimate team guy. I like the way he really invests himself with pitchers, getting them through innings and helping out guys on the mound … Any type of offense he gives us is a bonus. He’ll take good at-bats.”
Along with Stevie Wilkerson, Wynns brings energy and a positive attitude. Wynns didn’t see major league action in 2020, but if he plays well, he could be in contention to be Adley Rutschman’s backup when he joins the Orioles.
Infielder Richie Martin was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room for Wynns. With Martin, whose broken left wrist could keep him out until August, fellow infielders Rylan Bannon and Jahmai Jones and outfielder Yusniel Diaz all injured, the Orioles had a 40-man roster crunch. Putting an injured minor leaguer on the 60-day injured list is not something teams like to do, but there was little choice.
In case of an injury to a catcher, Sisco can be brought up without costing the team a roster spot as Wynns did.
Josh Rogers released: The Orioles released left-handed pitcher Josh Rogers, who came to the team along with right-handers Cody Carroll and Dillon Tate in the July 2018 trade with the New York Yankees for Zack Britton.
Rogers won his major league debut on August 28, 2018, pitching five innings and allowing three runs in the Orioles’ 12-5 win over Toronto.
It was his only major league win.
Rogers, who had Tommy John surgery in 2019, pitched in eight games for the Orioles in 2018 and 2019, and leaves with a record of 1-3 and an 8.65 ERA.
He began the season with Triple-A Norfolk and was 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA in four games.
Rogers enjoyed talking about his friend Lamar Jackson, who also went to Louisville.
Rogers’ release was first reported by MASNsports.com and confirmed by an industry source.
Call for qestions: It’s time for our monthly mailbag. Please leave your questions in the comments below or email them to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.
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View Comments
Any type of offense he gives us is a bonus, sounds like your replaced Sisco with Sisco, wasn’t that the approach with catchers 25-30 yrs ago, hopefully he does provide something, biggest positive, he seems more of an engaged player, Sisco was very quiet, doesn’t work on that position...go O’s...
I'm simply distraught over this development.
Boog, it’s been great having you back, you’re the one that gives me pretty good advice, you’re a huge part of this site, don’t get sucked in by the politics, unless of course it’s about the O’s, then you can state your point ad nauseam if you want...go O’s...
I wasn't stating my political stance at all.
I just thought the vulgarity and personal attack on a fellow commenter was out of line. What is it with these children that have to curse people and call them names? Dude was talking about a downturn in attendance and possible causes when he gets lambasted. I don't care if it's in the form of an acronym, but directing an F bomb towards someone is uncalled for. It's also a coward that throws it out there on the web. Chances are he wouldn't be saying that stuff he we were face to face.
The acronym is plenty toned down. "Talking about a downturn in attendance" is BS - he politicized it immediately with attacks on the owner, the mayor, the city council and the media. I'm certainly not a child and would not hesitate to say it to his face - but apparently he's too scared to leave his home anyway.
If you don't see him using "liberal" "incompetent" and "spineless" as pejoratives that require response then that is a problem on your part. Also nothing about "woke" "liberal crack" "social justice warrior" to be found?
I agree this forum should be for baseball talk, but when others throw political attacks without evidence or answers it must be responded to. The repeated lies are what got us to this state of unrest.
You're funny.
Totally agree, didn’t think you did, also agree about the vulgarity, TOTALLY agree with 99% of the people on here wouldn’t say this crap to anyone’s face, I’d love, even as an old man just 5 minutes, would be fun...don’t change, go O’s...
Just think you took what I said the wrong way, I know you won’t talk politics, kudos to you, meant you could state your point about the Orioles...sorry for the confusion...go O’s...
im predicting a win tonight and every night until i am correct
The O’s are DEFINITELY going to win tonite. I can feel it in my bones. Or is that just the arthritis?
You sir, are clairevoyant.
Any word on whether the media will travel with teams this season?
Good,refreshing move getting a new catcher here but how long will it be before we'll be running Wynns out of town? Rutchsman all I can say is you better be the dream deal. When I saw Valaika/Stevie as your DP combo I knew it wasn't gonna be pretty. Nice HR by Mountcastle but that AB in the 10th--my God. Lopez outing was encouraging. Still can't figure Stewart out. Does he or does he not have a better future(offensively) than Mountcastle? Just keep watching Bowie/Delmarva and wait for Jones,Diaz to get healthy is the one settling thought I have as the "Dog Days" approach.
Any early early projections for top prospects in 2022 draft? It looks like Os will have one of the top picks. Will the Os go under slot again with the #5 pick this year? It appears Os could have a shot at Brady house or maybe kumar rocker.
Going to be interesting to see just many fans come to OPACY this Summer now that capacity limits and ticket prices return to normal.
A big issue that no one has discussed up to this point os Public Safety.
Yes, we had a pandemic, yes the team plays poorly, yes the DC/Va market was taken from the Orioles. However, there is a much larger issue at play here; Downtown Baltimore is a very dangerous City to live in and to visit. We have liberal owners, an incompetent Mayor and City Council and a spineless media that refuses to shed light on this very real fact much less do anything about. This is not going to get any better.
This will ultimately lead to the Orioles leaving Baltimore--mark my words. It pains me greatly to say this. But these are the new world realities that we are living in and unless/until they are repaired the Orioles are close to being in the same boat as the Rays and the Athletics--but for different reasons.
I have held this view regarding crime for years. Current political climate does not want to truly
address crime because it would have to roll up its sleeves and get real dirty to fix it. Instead it’s all about more funding, just one more program, kicking the can, blaming the predecessors, more handouts, more efforts at educating the kiddies.
I know Baltimore has wonderful gentrified areas, but its limited in scope and not reflective of the whole. Bottom line: Winning will help put butts in the seats, however, the feral crime definitely does influence attendance at Camden Yards.
GTFOH with this bullcrap. You don't want to go, don't go. The Orioles aren't going anywhere, despite your whining. You know what the real danger is? The far right fascists who are encouraging armed insurrection and continuing to spread lies to the American people about the security of the election, the depth of corruption in police forces across the country and the terrorist attack on our nation on January 6.
The Orioles ownership also fully supports social justice initiatives, by the way.
Bottom line, when the O's are winning again in 2023-2024, the seats will be filled.
Totally uncalled for.
The Jan 6 insurrection by Trumpists was totally uncalled for.
No the vulgarity was uncalled for. You're not even bright enough to know what I was going for. Back off clown.
Amen - except it wasn't just an insurrection. It was a fascist terrorist attack by fools who bought into the Big Lie regarding an election that the Qidiots still won't acknowledge.
And BRR, if you're going to defend his inflammatory attacks and then complain about "bullcrap" and "GTFOH" then you are equally out of line.
Don’t mean to offend you Komrade.
You have no idea on my political views. The topic here is Public Safety. Your attacks on people who hold different opinions than you don’t change what is going on.
I hope your view actually does turn out to good for the future here in Baltimore.
If you call somebody "Komrade" I think we know your political views, Fascist.
"Comrade" is a term used for a person with extremely leftist views. You don't get sarcasm do you? And chances are, without visting a dictionary 1st, you couldn't define what a Fascist is either. Why do you insist on attacking people? We're all O's fans here. Concentrate on yourself sir.
OK Mr. Schutzstaffel, when do we start rounding up those undesirables from "the media" and downtown Baltimore? That'll help "public safety", won't it you racist fascist? What's "going on" is people aren't going to allow police to indiscriminately use excessive force and murder minorities anymore and it disagrees with your snowflake sensibilities and threatens your privilege. Your defense of actual attacks of people who are different from you is not going to change what is going on.
Afterp
Talk some baseball, if you can, and leave that "woke" southpaw liberal crack, & sjw b_ lls_it for it's proper forum.
Which, hint..hint..... ISN'T THIS BALTIMORE BASEBALL SITE
You can kiss my woke ass. You got jackhole Castaway over here denegrating ownership, city leadership and "the media" (on a media site) and you and BRR defending his Fascist crap. You guys made it political and when one side is the side that already attempted one violent coup and is openly discussing another one, you can bet I'll be calling out anyone who shares those Anti-American terrorist views. So you Qidiots can take Tucker's talking points and shove them right where they belong, hint, hint... it's where you'll find your head.
I am basically for free speech, but when I click on Baltimore Baseball, i believe I have a right to read about Baltimore baseball. Wasting my precious time with a socio-political rant is a blatant example of social injustice. And we're all against that. To be clear, I am not speaking about comments regarding attendance.
I don’t want to drift into social issues, either. It’s about baseball, in particular attendance. So I comment on a previous thread and get excoriated. Boy, talk about intolerance.
Anyway, glad we can share opinions, regardless.
Winning does make a difference. Look at the purple stadium across the parking lot. (Yes, I know it’s only 8 home games)
Only 8 weeks or so and those dirty birds will be in camp.
We'll have winning sports in Baltimore within a few months. I will strain for patience with this current lot colored Orange & Black until then
Stop all the real political crap, our politics should evolve around batting orders, starting pitchers, era or lack of...didn’t we just deal with similar crap a couple months ago, Jesus, our country has enough issues...let’s talk Orioles...go O’s...
Rich, could you remind us how/when the clock starts on a player toward arbitration/free agency?
I’d like to see Adley Rutschman behind the plate this year. Would that proverbial cup of coffee burn a year?
Is Heston getting close to playing. I'm already getting nervous that this was a wasted pick
I don't go to MASN (Kabotko) because of all the non-baseball talk. Please leave the poltical stuff somewhere else, not here.
TOTALLY agree, now would be a good time for a moderator to step in & say something...go O’s...
The political scene in the USA is toxic enough. Many of us did not need or appreciate the outpouring of vitriol, ad hominem insults, and "no you are" retorts in the comments above. As some suggested, this is supposed to be a site devoted to discussing baseball, an ideal escape from real world stresses even if our favorite team is losing a lot. To say anything more would be insulting and self-righteous, so I'll stop here.
TOTALLY agree WV, thanx for making sense...go O’s...
I have my own strongly held beliefs on politics as well, but as others have said, this is not the place for them. I did that once before and regretted it. We have enough to upset us and divide us on this site by the play of our beloved team, and how we have differing viewpoints as to the direction we see them going, we don’t need external differences to exacerbate it. I think the O’s losing so much is fraying all our nerves a little bit.
:)....agree...go O’s...
Let us agree not to respond to political rants. If it’s not about baseball , let it go
I stopped reading the school of roch because of all the non
baseball bs. Please let's keep this about baseball!!
How does the” Tennessee Orioles “ sound!!
On PTI they ripped the O’s, Tony Kornheiser made a comment about moving a little ways from Memphis, wouldn’t be my choice, but there & new ownership (Timberlake) would infuse some excitement...go O’s...
Hey, Timberlake's career started off on the Mickey Mouse Club. That would be a marriage made in heaven.
If they MUST move, I vote for Indianapolis. It would be adorable to have the Colts and Orioles in the same city. If there's any more talk about team relocation here, the nasty personal insults will start looking good to me.
Lol, I needed the laugh. As truly painful as that March day still is to me I found that comment humorous. Now if some Mayflower moving vans show up at the warehouse then I won’t be laughing as much.
Boy this comments thread got out of hand....
Let’s switch it up, can you believe Jeff Reboulet once homered off Randy Johnson in the playoffs??