The last time the Orioles opened the season so well in 2016, they reached the opening day with a veteran team and playoff expectations, then handed out a season opener of the Gemini in 89 wins and a berth in the wild card game in American League. O21s are designed differently, their objectives being more long-term. But the early results? So far, clean.
One weekend, the Orioles are one of two undefeated AL teams (along with the Astros) after beating the Red Sox, 11-3, on an Easter Sunday route to Fenway Park. Receiving an early double-digit position behind a third seven-stage innings, Baltimore started at the opening line of the 2016 season and the front line at Boston on August 25-27, 2017.
“It was a really wonderful weekend,” said winning pitcher Bruce Zimmermann. “It’s just an excellent confidence boost for this team and I think we will surprise a lot of people this year. So this is just the beginning. ”
The Orioles did it with contributions up and down, with the five-shot game of Cedric Mullins in front of the leader, rhythmic attack of 17 shots. Four O enjoyed a multihit game, and four led in several races in support of Zimmermann, the novice left-hander who recorded six solid innings on his way to his first major league victory. Celebrating in the cold with Garrett Richards after two close victories, the Baltimore outscored the Red Sox by 13 rounds (18-5) in a three-game series, despite not hitting a round at home.
A weekend, of course, is hardly a season. But if nothing else, the last three days in Boston have provided optimism for a rebuilding club that is preparing to see signs of growth, either in the arrival of more top prospects or in the further development of building blocks already in the house.
Let’s take a look at some important developments this weekend that could suggest more to come:
1. Click the top of the command
Sunday’s victory was a team effort, all but one Orioles starter, recording at least one hit and the top three hitters – Mullins, Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander – combining for 10. But the key was Mullins, who is 9-for-13 next season 5-for-5 days. Consider the difference between that and two years ago, when Mullins started 6-for-59 and finished the season at Double-A Bowie.
Mullins’ nine hits are the most of an Oriole in the first three games. Billy Gardner (1957), Paul Blair (’75) and Brady Anderson (’97) shared the record of the eight.
“He’s doing extremely well,” Hyde said.
Mullins, who reached the base in all six appearances on the set on Sunday, scored the first game with five shots from the Mancini Orioles on September 24, 2019. He doubled and scored in the first, doubled in the second, alone and he scored in the third, picked himself up again in the fourth, went into the seventh and doubled and scored in the ninth.
Mullins is the first Oriole and sixth player since 1952 to record five hits, three doubles and at least one walk in a game. The last player? Indian captor Kelly Shoppach against the Tigers on July 30, 2008.
“It’s relaxing and I can climb in there and keep my bats locked,” Mullins said. “It’s very important to stay stuck right now.”
2. Pitching supporting
Bats were not the reason for the low expectations that followed the Orioles in 2021. The biggest was pitching – in particular, a starting rotation that, even after the dust settled this spring, remained full of questions behind the starter opening day opening Means. This weekend masked almost all of them.
Means was simply masterful on Friday, the bullpen held the line behind Matt Harvey on Saturday and Zimmermann cruised on Sunday in his second career start. Launching a 10-run lead at times, Zimmermann hit five against a walk, allowing just outside of JD Martinez’s solo homer and RBI double. The bullpen played all weekend, combining to play 9 1/3 innings without a score.
3. Fundamental solid
Could these Orioles be better defensively than they have been in recent seasons? They fought on the field all spring and were not a strong defensive team in 2019 or ’20, with many young players and some sometimes playing out of position. Looking around the diamond this year, there are fewer holes, especially with Rio Ruiz turning heads at second base in place of Yolmer Sánchez, winner of the Glove Gold Gold League Award with the White Sox in ’19.
Mullins is a center-back. Santander was the finalist for the AL Gold Glove Award last year in rights. Austin Hays – who left Sunday’s victory with a right basket injury – allowed Hyde to protect Ryan Mountcastle from Fenway’s Green Monster on the left all weekend. Mancini has returned to his full-time natural first base position, and Freddy Galvis and Maikel Franco are offering solid veteran gloves on the left side. The O’s made a single mistake all weekend and generally didn’t fight the ways they did in the recent past.
“I think the synergy we have as a team is very strong,” Mullins said. “We have been playing each other for several years and everything is starting to click. We have an idea about our style of play, how to keep our heads up, whether they are successful or not. And it shows. ”