HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park on March 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The latest news on your Houston Astros and from around MLB:
This was the greatest defensive play I have ever seen Jose Altuve make.Range. Awareness. Accuracy. Timeliness. Pure Brilliance.
Get this: the Astros had 29 hits and 24 walks in the last two games of the series against the A’s, something no team has done in a two-game span since at least 1900.
Cleveland is watching it’s franchise player become it’s franchise icon:
No one in the 125-year history of CLE baseball has played in more games than José Ramírez. Every day, he breaks some franchise record originally set by some dude born in 1881.
"If they haven’t started building the statue yet, what are we waiting for?”https://t.co/UBtbDH7qrb
Cubs’ 2B Nico Hoerner has a career OPS of 104. Yet he just got the 4th largest guaranteed salary of a second baseman all time. Ken Rosenthal thinks it’s a great move by Chicago.
Five reasons why the Cubs’ $141 million extension for Nico Hoerner makes sense. https://t.co/sIOsreZjKx
Angels’ hitting coach Brady Anderson had some high praise of RF Jo Adell, who stole 3 home runs in one game Saturday, to Ken Rosenthal:
When you're being talked about in the same breath as Ken Griffey Jr., you're doing something right.@Ken_Rosenthal reveals what Angels hitting coach Brady Anderson told him about Jo Adell's stunning third home run robbery on Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/mgEDROCohw
Does the MLBPA currently have the short end of the stick in negotiations for a new CBA with MLB?
"Those pressures on both sides will become very real if we're in the middle of a work stoppage."@EvanDrellich takes a look at the players' side and whether they are more susceptible to leverage in CBA negotiations. pic.twitter.com/ZgRHQ15Whb
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH, 1981: Pitcher Ken Clay #21 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a portrait in March, 1981 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we here at Pinstripe Alley continue to do our daily feature highlighting a Yankee birthday of the day, we’re probably going to come upon situations where someone we write about happens to have been in the news recently. In today’s case, it was for a sad reason.
Today’s birthday is Ken Clay, who sadly passed away just over a week ago. Even before that news, he was set to feature as today’s birthday honoree, so let’s offer our best wishes to his family and loved ones on his 72nd birthday.
Kenneth Earl “Ken” Clay Born: April 6, 1954 (Lynchburg, VA) Died: March 26, 2026 (Lynchburg, VA) Yankees Tenure: 1977-79
Born on April 6, 1954, Clay was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia where he made his name at E.C. Glass High School. A multi-sport star and five-letter athlete, Clay excelled on the baseball diamond, leading to the Yankees selecting him in the second round of the 1972 MLB Draft.
Right from the start in the Yankees’ minor league system, Clay showed talent and was dubbed an “outstanding” pitching prospect, but his path to the majors would take a little while. That was in large part because, while having decent stuff, he had some issues with control. In all of his first four seasons in the minors, he walked at least 4.1 batters per nine innings, including 27 in 48 innings in his first taste of Triple-A in 1975.
Clay started to get his control under, well, control, in 1976, and he followed that with an excellent start in ‘77. In 10 starts with Triple-A Syracuse, Clay went 5-1 with a 1.68 ERA in 75 innings. That got him a call-up to the big leagues for his first taste of The Show. Manager Billy Martin gave Clay his debut on June 7, 1977 in the eighth inning of a game the Yankees were trailing against the Rangers. Clay allowed one single in a scoreless frame, keeping the Yankees in it with a chance in the ninth, though nothing came of it.
For the year, Clay would make 21 appearances for the Yankees in 1977, including three starts. He went on to appear in the Yankees’ two World Series losses, but he pitched decently in them, earning a ring as the Yankees defeated the Dodgers, 4-2.
The following season, Clay went into the year hoping to win a spot in the Yankees’ roster, or even the rotation. However, the Yankees acquired a number of more veteran pitchers, dampening those chances. Clay began to show some frustrations over that, to the irritation of some of his veteran Yankee teammates. The generally easygoing Catfish Hunter even said that Clay had a “great arm, great slider, bad brains,” remarking that advice from him and other more experienced pitchers often went ignored.
On the field, Clay finally seemed to figure out his walk issues, but was still a bit below average, posting a 4.28 ERA. However, once again, he was good enough to merit a postseason roster spot, where he showed his potential. In Game 1 of the 1978 ALCS against the Royals, Clay threw 3.2 hitless innings out of the bullpen. He was credited with a save as he kept the Royals in check, allowing the Yankees to build and then maintain a lead. He had a less successful appearance in the World Series, but the Yankees again defeated the Dodgers, earning Clay another ring.
As the calendar turned to 1979, Clay’s frustrations about his role continued, but this time around, he was running out of positive marks to point to. Again in a swingman role, Clay posted a 5.40 ERA in in 78.1 innings.
Things fully came to a head on September 1, 1979. Having been given a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first in a game against the Royals, Clay ended up surrendering four runs on five hits and a walk, lasting just 2.1 innings, getting removed from the game by manager Billy Martin after allowing a home run to George Brett. Kansas City ended up winning the game 9-8, despite the Yankees’ big early lead. Adding to that, Clay didn’t stick around after being removed and left the dugout in frustration.
After the game, Clay was the subject of ire from not only Martin, but also Steinbrenner. As was his wont, the Yankees’ owner did not mince words about Clay, saying:
Clay has continually complained about not getting a chance to pitch, but he has refused any of our suggestions to help his pitching. I’ve heard people tell me what a great arm he has, but I question his heart. In horse racing, we have what we call a morning glory. The horse works a great three or four furlongs in the morning workout and looks sensational. Then when the race comes he starts sweating during the parade to the post, and when he gets in the gate and the race starts he stinks the place out. He spits the bit.
Clay was relegated to just one bullpen appearance for the rest of the ‘79 season, and began the following season in the minors. With the 1980 Yankees looking for pitching they could count on more, they added future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in a trade with the Rangers on August 14th. With the still-intriguing Clay pitching well in the minors, he was a featured name going the other way.
However, his fortunes didn’t really change in Texas as despite now getting an extended chance in the rotation, he posted a 4.60 ERA and also walked 29 batters in 43 innings. After the season, the Rangers included him in a 11-player deal with the Mariners. He still struggled there in 1981, and was released in March 1982. Clay never really attempted to catch on anywhere else after that, ending his baseball career at just 27 years old. Following his playing career, Clay dealt with a number of legalissues. He eventually settled back in his native Lynchburg, where he lived until his recent passing, just before his 72nd birthday.
There is a saying that there’s “no such thing as a pitching prospect,” and considering what happened to Clay, George Steinbrenner may have taken that to heart a little too much.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH, 1981: Pitcher Ken Clay #21 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a portrait in March, 1981 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we here at Pinstripe Alley continue to do our daily feature highlighting a Yankee birthday of the day, we’re probably going to come upon situations where someone we write about happens to have been in the news recently. In today’s case, it was for a sad reason.
Today’s birthday is Ken Clay, who sadly passed away just over a week ago. Even before that news, he was set to feature as today’s birthday honoree, so let’s offer our best wishes to his family and loved ones on his 72nd birthday.
Kenneth Earl “Ken” Clay Born: April 6, 1954 (Lynchburg, VA) Died: March 26, 2026 (Lynchburg, VA) Yankees Tenure: 1977-79
Born on April 6, 1954, Clay was born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia where he made his name at E.C. Glass High School. A multi-sport star and five-letter athlete, Clay excelled on the baseball diamond, leading to the Yankees selecting him in the second round of the 1972 MLB Draft.
Right from the start in the Yankees’ minor league system, Clay showed talent and was dubbed an “outstanding” pitching prospect, but his path to the majors would take a little while. That was in large part because, while having decent stuff, he had some issues with control. In all of his first four seasons in the minors, he walked at least 4.1 batters per nine innings, including 27 in 48 innings in his first taste of Triple-A in 1975.
Clay started to get his control under, well, control, in 1976, and he followed that with an excellent start in ‘77. In 10 starts with Triple-A Syracuse, Clay went 5-1 with a 1.68 ERA in 75 innings. That got him a call-up to the big leagues for his first taste of The Show. Manager Billy Martin gave Clay his debut on June 7, 1977 in the eighth inning of a game the Yankees were trailing against the Rangers. Clay allowed one single in a scoreless frame, keeping the Yankees in it with a chance in the ninth, though nothing came of it.
For the year, Clay would make 21 appearances for the Yankees in 1977, including three starts. He went on to appear in the Yankees’ two World Series losses, but he pitched decently in them, earning a ring as the Yankees defeated the Dodgers, 4-2.
The following season, Clay went into the year hoping to win a spot in the Yankees’ roster, or even the rotation. However, the Yankees acquired a number of more veteran pitchers, dampening those chances. Clay began to show some frustrations over that, to the irritation of some of his veteran Yankee teammates. The generally easygoing Catfish Hunter even said that Clay had a “great arm, great slider, bad brains,” remarking that advice from him and other more experienced pitchers often went ignored.
On the field, Clay finally seemed to figure out his walk issues, but was still a bit below average, posting a 4.28 ERA. However, once again, he was good enough to merit a postseason roster spot, where he showed his potential. In Game 1 of the 1978 ALCS against the Royals, Clay threw 3.2 hitless innings out of the bullpen. He was credited with a save as he kept the Royals in check, allowing the Yankees to build and then maintain a lead. He had a less successful appearance in the World Series, but the Yankees again defeated the Dodgers, earning Clay another ring.
As the calendar turned to 1979, Clay’s frustrations about his role continued, but this time around, he was running out of positive marks to point to. Again in a swingman role, Clay posted a 5.40 ERA in in 78.1 innings.
Things fully came to a head on September 1, 1979. Having been given a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first in a game against the Royals, Clay ended up surrendering four runs on five hits and a walk, lasting just 2.1 innings, getting removed from the game by manager Billy Martin after allowing a home run to George Brett. Kansas City ended up winning the game 9-8, despite the Yankees’ big early lead. Adding to that, Clay didn’t stick around after being removed and left the dugout in frustration.
After the game, Clay was the subject of ire from not only Martin, but also Steinbrenner. As was his wont, the Yankees’ owner did not mince words about Clay, saying:
Clay has continually complained about not getting a chance to pitch, but he has refused any of our suggestions to help his pitching. I’ve heard people tell me what a great arm he has, but I question his heart. In horse racing, we have what we call a morning glory. The horse works a great three or four furlongs in the morning workout and looks sensational. Then when the race comes he starts sweating during the parade to the post, and when he gets in the gate and the race starts he stinks the place out. He spits the bit.
Clay was relegated to just one bullpen appearance for the rest of the ‘79 season, and began the following season in the minors. With the 1980 Yankees looking for pitching they could count on more, they added future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry in a trade with the Rangers on August 14th. With the still-intriguing Clay pitching well in the minors, he was a featured name going the other way.
However, his fortunes didn’t really change in Texas as despite now getting an extended chance in the rotation, he posted a 4.60 ERA and also walked 29 batters in 43 innings. After the season, the Rangers included him in a 11-player deal with the Mariners. He still struggled there in 1981, and was released in March 1982. Clay never really attempted to catch on anywhere else after that, ending his baseball career at just 27 years old. Following his playing career, Clay dealt with a number of legalissues. He eventually settled back in his native Lynchburg, where he lived until his recent passing, just before his 72nd birthday.
There is a saying that there’s “no such thing as a pitching prospect,” and considering what happened to Clay, George Steinbrenner may have taken that to heart a little too much.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
FanDuel Sportsbook is paying bettors who were robbed of three home runs during Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell’s historic night of defense.
Adell snagged three balls headed over the fence, including one that sent him tumbling into the stands, during Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Key Takeaways
Adell caught three balls that were headed over the outfield wall and would’ve been home runs.
The underdog Angels won the game and the series against their division rivals.
FanDuel users received bonus bets instead of cash refunds.
FanDuel bettors experienced the same sinking feeling of despair that the Mariners did during Saturday’s unprecedented outcome.
On three occasions, a Seattle player appeared to have slammed a solo blast over the right field wall. That included last year’s MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth, and J.P. Crawford in the ninth.
All THREE of Jo Adell's home run robberies from tonight ...
Player home runs are one of the most popular betting markets in MLB games. Prior to the contest, sportsbooks had home run odds for Raleigh (+215), Naylor (+425), and Crawford (+800), while the Mariners were -150 on the moneyline.
Anyone who bet $10 on each outcome individually would have won $174. Taking it a step further and parlaying all three outcomes with a $10 wager would’ve resulted in $1,478.42 in winnings.
While all home run tickets on the players mentioned above could have been graded as losses, FanDuel decided to refund customers with bonus bets. The sportsbook said that it had its customers' backs for a “once-in-a-lifetime situation” like the one that Adell found himself in the middle of.
The company did not say anything about refunding Mariners’ moneyline bets.
Jo Adell saved the game.
FanDuel is saving your bets.
When a once-in-a-lifetime situation like THREE home run robberies happens, we've got your back 💙
We're refunding all HR bets on Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor and J.P. Crawford with bonus bets! https://t.co/fRSdnshrUw
Bonus bets are not the same as cash refunds. They cannot be withdrawn or transferred to other sportsbooks, but they can be used to fund wagers placed at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Adell powers the Angels’ solid start
Adell wasn’t much of a factor on offense in Saturday’s win. He hit one single but did not get on base otherwise and did not score the only run of the game.
Despite that, his defensive performance earned praise from a legendary player who happened to have a close-up view of his outfield robberies.
Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, who now works as a special assistant for the Angels, said that Adell probably played “the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.”
He also claimed to have “blacked out” when Adell, with whom he spent time working on defense during spring training, fell into the stands clutching his third robbery.
The Angels carried the momentum from Saturday night’s thriller into the rubber match with the Mariners on Sunday, which ended 8-7 in their favor. Adell went 1-5 at the plate with an RBI and scored twice.
The Angels now sit at 5-5 on the season, one game behind the AL West-leading Houston Astros. The Mariners are 4-6 and two games out of first in the same division.
World Series and future odds
There are still more than 150 games left in the MLB regular season. Although the Angels have enjoyed a solid start, they still find themselves last in odds to win the AL West at FanDuel (+2700). The Mariners (+105) lead the odds board and are slightly ahead of the Astros (+230).
World Series odds still heavily favor the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are already down to +200. The New York Yankees are second and first among all American League teams at +800, followed by the Mariners (+1100).
There are no odds for Adell to rob three home runs in another game.
FanDuel Sportsbook is paying bettors who were robbed of three home runs during Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell’s historic night of defense.
Adell snagged three balls headed over the fence, including one that sent him tumbling into the stands, during Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Key Takeaways
Adell caught three balls that were headed over the outfield wall and would’ve been home runs.
The underdog Angels won the game and the series against their division rivals.
FanDuel users received bonus bets instead of cash refunds.
FanDuel bettors experienced the same sinking feeling of despair that the Mariners did during Saturday’s unprecedented outcome.
On three occasions, a Seattle player appeared to have slammed a solo blast over the right field wall. That included last year’s MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth, and J.P. Crawford in the ninth.
All THREE of Jo Adell's home run robberies from tonight ...
Player home runs are one of the most popular betting markets in MLB games. Prior to the contest, sportsbooks had home run odds for Raleigh (+215), Naylor (+425), and Crawford (+800), while the Mariners were -150 on the moneyline.
Anyone who bet $10 on each outcome individually would have won $174. Taking it a step further and parlaying all three outcomes with a $10 wager would’ve resulted in $1,478.42 in winnings.
While all home run tickets on the players mentioned above could have been graded as losses, FanDuel decided to refund customers with bonus bets. The sportsbook said that it had its customers' backs for a “once-in-a-lifetime situation” like the one that Adell found himself in the middle of.
The company did not say anything about refunding Mariners’ moneyline bets.
Jo Adell saved the game.
FanDuel is saving your bets.
When a once-in-a-lifetime situation like THREE home run robberies happens, we've got your back 💙
We're refunding all HR bets on Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor and J.P. Crawford with bonus bets! https://t.co/fRSdnshrUw
Bonus bets are not the same as cash refunds. They cannot be withdrawn or transferred to other sportsbooks, but they can be used to fund wagers placed at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Adell powers the Angels’ solid start
Adell wasn’t much of a factor on offense in Saturday’s win. He hit one single but did not get on base otherwise and did not score the only run of the game.
Despite that, his defensive performance earned praise from a legendary player who happened to have a close-up view of his outfield robberies.
Torii Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, who now works as a special assistant for the Angels, said that Adell probably played “the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.”
He also claimed to have “blacked out” when Adell, with whom he spent time working on defense during spring training, fell into the stands clutching his third robbery.
The Angels carried the momentum from Saturday night’s thriller into the rubber match with the Mariners on Sunday, which ended 8-7 in their favor. Adell went 1-5 at the plate with an RBI and scored twice.
The Angels now sit at 5-5 on the season, one game behind the AL West-leading Houston Astros. The Mariners are 4-6 and two games out of first in the same division.
World Series and future odds
There are still more than 150 games left in the MLB regular season. Although the Angels have enjoyed a solid start, they still find themselves last in odds to win the AL West at FanDuel (+2700). The Mariners (+105) lead the odds board and are slightly ahead of the Astros (+230).
World Series odds still heavily favor the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are already down to +200. The New York Yankees are second and first among all American League teams at +800, followed by the Mariners (+1100).
There are no odds for Adell to rob three home runs in another game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are off to good starts — and their MVPs finally are starting to hit.
Shohei Ohtani hadn’t driven in a run until Friday, then homered in that game and again Sunday. He and Aaron Judge each have three straight multihit games.
Judge hasn’t needed to carry the Yankees, who are 7-2. They had allowed a paltry 15 runs on the season before a 7-6 loss to Miami. Cam Schlittler has made two scoreless starts and New York ran wild against the Marlins — with even Giancarlo Stanton stealing a base.
It wasn’t a great first week for the Dodgers’ quartet of sluggers — Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — but then they broke out in a big way as Los Angeles posted 31 runs in three games at Washington. The Dodgers are 7-2 with Andy Pages off to a 16-for-34 start at the plate, so they can afford to be patient with their stars.
That includes Betts, who went on the injured list with an oblique strain.
Los Angeles now heads to Toronto for a three-game series — the first meeting between the teams since the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series in Canada last year.
Battling Bucs
On the topic of teams succeeding while waiting for stars to get untracked, Pittsburgh swept three straight from Baltimore to improve to 6-3. The Pirates have won five straight, although Paul Skenes has allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings through his first two starts.
They haven’t needed much from top prospect Konnor Griffin either. The infielder is 1 for 9 since being called up, but he has yet to play in a loss. The Pirates have 10 of their next 13 games at home, with Skenes expected to take the mound when they host San Diego.
Trivia time
When is the last time the NCAA men’s basketball champion and baseball’s World Series champion came from the same state in a given year?
Performance of the week
Jo Adell went 1 for 3 at the plate Saturday, but it’s what he did defensively that made a real impact. The Angels’ outfielder made three home run-robbing catches to help Los Angeles to a 1-0 win over Seattle.
Adell made spectacular catch while crashing into the seats when J.P. Crawford led off the ninth with a drive to right. Adell also denied Cal Raleigh what would have been the catcher’s first homer of the season.
Comeback of the week
Arizona trailed Detroit by four Tuesday night before scoring six times in the bottom of the eighth to win 7-5. The Tigers had a win probability of 96.4% after seven, according to Baseball Savant.
Corbin Carroll hit a bases-loaded double that scored two runs, and Jose Fernandez added a three-run homer. It was the second home run of the game for Fernandez, who was making his major league debut.
Trivia answer
In 1973, UCLA won the national title and the Oakland Athletics won the World Series. That pairing also won in 1972.
There was a recent near-miss in 2021 when Baylor won the NCAA Tournament and the Houston Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. The only way this double can happen this year is if Michigan wins in basketball and the Tigers prevail in baseball.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are off to good starts — and their MVPs finally are starting to hit.
Shohei Ohtani hadn’t driven in a run until Friday, then homered in that game and again Sunday. He and Aaron Judge each have three straight multihit games.
Judge hasn’t needed to carry the Yankees, who are 7-2. They had allowed a paltry 15 runs on the season before a 7-6 loss to Miami. Cam Schlittler has made two scoreless starts and New York ran wild against the Marlins — with even Giancarlo Stanton stealing a base.
It wasn’t a great first week for the Dodgers’ quartet of sluggers — Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman — but then they broke out in a big way as Los Angeles posted 31 runs in three games at Washington. The Dodgers are 7-2 with Andy Pages off to a 16-for-34 start at the plate, so they can afford to be patient with their stars.
That includes Betts, who went on the injured list with an oblique strain.
Los Angeles now heads to Toronto for a three-game series — the first meeting between the teams since the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series in Canada last year.
Battling Bucs
On the topic of teams succeeding while waiting for stars to get untracked, Pittsburgh swept three straight from Baltimore to improve to 6-3. The Pirates have won five straight, although Paul Skenes has allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings through his first two starts.
They haven’t needed much from top prospect Konnor Griffin either. The infielder is 1 for 9 since being called up, but he has yet to play in a loss. The Pirates have 10 of their next 13 games at home, with Skenes expected to take the mound when they host San Diego.
Trivia time
When is the last time the NCAA men’s basketball champion and baseball’s World Series champion came from the same state in a given year?
Performance of the week
Jo Adell went 1 for 3 at the plate Saturday, but it’s what he did defensively that made a real impact. The Angels’ outfielder made three home run-robbing catches to help Los Angeles to a 1-0 win over Seattle.
Adell made spectacular catch while crashing into the seats when J.P. Crawford led off the ninth with a drive to right. Adell also denied Cal Raleigh what would have been the catcher’s first homer of the season.
Comeback of the week
Arizona trailed Detroit by four Tuesday night before scoring six times in the bottom of the eighth to win 7-5. The Tigers had a win probability of 96.4% after seven, according to Baseball Savant.
Corbin Carroll hit a bases-loaded double that scored two runs, and Jose Fernandez added a three-run homer. It was the second home run of the game for Fernandez, who was making his major league debut.
Trivia answer
In 1973, UCLA won the national title and the Oakland Athletics won the World Series. That pairing also won in 1972.
There was a recent near-miss in 2021 when Baylor won the NCAA Tournament and the Houston Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. The only way this double can happen this year is if Michigan wins in basketball and the Tigers prevail in baseball.
Aug 26, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) stands in the dugout in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Kevin Cash’s lineup decisions. Cash addressed those concerns recently, noting that the team expects to experiment with different lineups throughout the season. Much of the focus has centered on Chandler Simpson’s place in the order and Junior Caminero’s lack of traditional lineup protection.
It’s not a matter of these decisions being “right” or “wrong,” but there’s a clear pattern and underlying rationale behind them.
Leading-off
One of the main criticisms of the Rays lineups has been Simpson’s spot in the order. Some want to see him leveraging his speed at the top of the lineup. That would mean bumping Yandy Diaz down to 2nd or 3rd in the lineup. He’s the best on-base hitter on the roster, so they could potentially be leaving runs off the board by replacing him with Simpson. However, Simpson is off to a hot start and is reaching base over 43% of the time. Unfortunately for him, Yandy is getting on base nearly 49% of the time. Yandy also has a more established track record of getting on base at a high clip (.373 career OBP vs .334 for Simpson so far in the majors). I think Simpson will have some opportunities at some point this season to hit leadoff, but the best version of the Rays lineup right now has Yandy leading off. The case against Simpson leading off isn’t just about OBP – it’s about optimizing both his strengths and the hitters around him.
There’s also the question of how much is Simpson’s position near the bottom of the order helping his production. There’s typically less pressure to produce when you’re near the bottom of the lineup. Simpson has batted 8th three times already this season, and his average spot in the lineup is 6.3. It’s also fair to wonder how his current role is supporting his production. Hitters lower in the lineup often operate with less pressure and clearer situational expectations. While that’s difficult to quantify, it’s at least possible that Simpson’s current usage is helping him settle in at the major league level. Simpson is already making worse swing decisions that last season, so I’m not sure the added pressure of the leadoff position would benefit his production.
There’s also evidence that having an aggressive base stealer on first doesn’t necessarily help the hitter. In some cases, it can do the opposite; hitters may alter their approach to accommodate the steal attempt rather than focusing on their own at-bat. In this case, it might be better to have someone less central than the Yandy-Aranda-Caminero group hitting behind Simpson so the Rays best hitters can focus on being their best. Simpson batting 8th like he has most of the season might be the most effective way to get him in scoring position with the top of the lineup coming around; he would have an opportunity to steal a base with the number 9 hitter at the plate or potentially advance a base with a productive out from that hitter.
Cleaning-up
So far, Caminero has primarily been batting 4th in the lineup with mainly Cedric Mullins (x4), Jake Fraley (x2), or Ben Williamson (x2) hitting immediately after him. Some fans might want Caminero higher in the lineup so he can get more plate appearances. This does make sense as he would statistically have more PAs over a full season hitting 3rd rather than 4th, but there are a few reasons to bat him 4th and it doesn’t really matter who is “protecting” him in the lineup.
First, separating Díaz and Caminero (while still keeping both near the top) creates matchup pressure later in games. An opposing team could bring in a tough RHP to face Yandy, but would likely have to let them face Aranda plus another LHB like Fraley or Mullins. This forces an opposing manager between having to neutralize Yandy/Caminero or the LHB between them – but not both.
Another reason to hit Caminero 4th is because he’ll see more PAs with runners on base than if he was batting 3rd. Batting Caminero fourth may cost him some total plate appearances over a full season, but it increases the likelihood that those plate appearances come with runners on base — and for a hitter with his power profile, that’s often the more valuable trade-off.
There isn’t any research that supports the idea that protection is something that should be prioritized when building a lineup. The effects of having a good hitter protecting the batter in front of him are likely marginal at best, and Caminero can hit just about anything out if he squares it up, so he’s not really someone who needs to see more pitches in the zone to be productive. The main thing for him will be to continue to improve his swing decisions as his zone-minus-out-of-zone swing rate is the same as last season despite him chasing less. Having someone like Aranda hitting behind Caminero won’t help him be more productive, but swinging more at pitches down the middle will. Caminero swung at pitches in the heart of the plate just over 75% of the time in 2025, but that number is down under 64% this season. He has done well to limit his chasing so far, but swinging at pitches he can do damage on will help raise his game even more.
Lineup construction isn’t just about putting the “best hitters” at the top; it’s about sequencing skills, managing matchups, and creating the most difficult set of decisions for the opposing staff. Early on, the Rays appear to be prioritizing exactly that.
Aug 26, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) stands in the dugout in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
There has been plenty of discussion surrounding Kevin Cash’s lineup decisions. Cash addressed those concerns recently, noting that the team expects to experiment with different lineups throughout the season. Much of the focus has centered on Chandler Simpson’s place in the order and Junior Caminero’s lack of traditional lineup protection.
It’s not a matter of these decisions being “right” or “wrong,” but there’s a clear pattern and underlying rationale behind them.
Leading-off
One of the main criticisms of the Rays lineups has been Simpson’s spot in the order. Some want to see him leveraging his speed at the top of the lineup. That would mean bumping Yandy Diaz down to 2nd or 3rd in the lineup. He’s the best on-base hitter on the roster, so they could potentially be leaving runs off the board by replacing him with Simpson. However, Simpson is off to a hot start and is reaching base over 43% of the time. Unfortunately for him, Yandy is getting on base nearly 49% of the time. Yandy also has a more established track record of getting on base at a high clip (.373 career OBP vs .334 for Simpson so far in the majors). I think Simpson will have some opportunities at some point this season to hit leadoff, but the best version of the Rays lineup right now has Yandy leading off. The case against Simpson leading off isn’t just about OBP – it’s about optimizing both his strengths and the hitters around him.
There’s also the question of how much is Simpson’s position near the bottom of the order helping his production. There’s typically less pressure to produce when you’re near the bottom of the lineup. Simpson has batted 8th three times already this season, and his average spot in the lineup is 6.3. It’s also fair to wonder how his current role is supporting his production. Hitters lower in the lineup often operate with less pressure and clearer situational expectations. While that’s difficult to quantify, it’s at least possible that Simpson’s current usage is helping him settle in at the major league level. Simpson is already making worse swing decisions that last season, so I’m not sure the added pressure of the leadoff position would benefit his production.
There’s also evidence that having an aggressive base stealer on first doesn’t necessarily help the hitter. In some cases, it can do the opposite; hitters may alter their approach to accommodate the steal attempt rather than focusing on their own at-bat. In this case, it might be better to have someone less central than the Yandy-Aranda-Caminero group hitting behind Simpson so the Rays best hitters can focus on being their best. Simpson batting 8th like he has most of the season might be the most effective way to get him in scoring position with the top of the lineup coming around; he would have an opportunity to steal a base with the number 9 hitter at the plate or potentially advance a base with a productive out from that hitter.
Cleaning-up
So far, Caminero has primarily been batting 4th in the lineup with mainly Cedric Mullins (x4), Jake Fraley (x2), or Ben Williamson (x2) hitting immediately after him. Some fans might want Caminero higher in the lineup so he can get more plate appearances. This does make sense as he would statistically have more PAs over a full season hitting 3rd rather than 4th, but there are a few reasons to bat him 4th and it doesn’t really matter who is “protecting” him in the lineup.
First, separating Díaz and Caminero (while still keeping both near the top) creates matchup pressure later in games. An opposing team could bring in a tough RHP to face Yandy, but would likely have to let them face Aranda plus another LHB like Fraley or Mullins. This forces an opposing manager between having to neutralize Yandy/Caminero or the LHB between them – but not both.
Another reason to hit Caminero 4th is because he’ll see more PAs with runners on base than if he was batting 3rd. Batting Caminero fourth may cost him some total plate appearances over a full season, but it increases the likelihood that those plate appearances come with runners on base — and for a hitter with his power profile, that’s often the more valuable trade-off.
There isn’t any research that supports the idea that protection is something that should be prioritized when building a lineup. The effects of having a good hitter protecting the batter in front of him are likely marginal at best, and Caminero can hit just about anything out if he squares it up, so he’s not really someone who needs to see more pitches in the zone to be productive. The main thing for him will be to continue to improve his swing decisions as his zone-minus-out-of-zone swing rate is the same as last season despite him chasing less. Having someone like Aranda hitting behind Caminero won’t help him be more productive, but swinging more at pitches down the middle will. Caminero swung at pitches in the heart of the plate just over 75% of the time in 2025, but that number is down under 64% this season. He has done well to limit his chasing so far, but swinging at pitches he can do damage on will help raise his game even more.
Lineup construction isn’t just about putting the “best hitters” at the top; it’s about sequencing skills, managing matchups, and creating the most difficult set of decisions for the opposing staff. Early on, the Rays appear to be prioritizing exactly that.
Apr 5, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) tags Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) out during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
This isn’t a cop-out blog. I truly feel this way.
I could sit here and give you fancy-dancy analysis, couldn’t I? I have done that before and I will do so again. I don’t think a 2-7 Red Sox start calls for that type of article, though.
I’ve also done this crashout before. Dan Secatore, my fearless leader, has OK’d this before. I feel like I can only pull this move out every few years. Maybe to the uninitiated this type of prose is seen as juvenile, but I feel like I might be speaking for the masses here.
The only other time I’ve done so: August 2023. Not a good year for the Red Sox, perhaps, but I dunno what 2023 me was complaining about. Seems like we were on a relatively good run after the All-Star break up until one bad week. I can’t say for sure what made me snap on that day.
Maybe I was stressed leading up to my wedding day? That’s the only thing I can imagine, in hindsight, that was hindering my judgement.
Well, as a firmly married man right now, my mind is clear. I can feel comfortable with playing this card. I don’t get the chance to play it often—and the fact that I’m playing it in early April is awful for all of us—but it feels right to do so.
I’m playing the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA card.
CAN OUR NINE FIGURE PITCHER GET THROUGH FIVE INNINGS IN AN OK STATE? IS THAT ASKING TOO MUCH????? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABASEBAALLFUCKINGSUCKSAAAAAAAAAAAAAA GOD FUCKING DAMNIT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
I EVEN TRIED GETTING MY DOG TO TYPE ON THE KEYBOARD JUST NOW BUT HE WONT EVEN GIVE THIS TEAM THE TIME OF DAY. HE IS RIGHT TO DO SO. FUCK. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa.
IF A DOG DOESN’T EVEN WANNA AIR HIS FRUSTRATIONS THEN IS THIS TEAM EVEN WORTH THE TIME OF DAY JESUS CHRIST.
REALLY ANNOYING FUCKING TEAM. FUCK. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAasdf(my beloved wife stole some blanket from me, so that typo stays in, anyways) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
STUPID MISTAKES ON THE DIAMOND. HOW MANY OF THEM DO WE HAVE TO SIT THROUGH. AT WHAT POINT DO WE START ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS DRIVING THE SHIP. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY BRAIN DEAD WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDAMENTALS COMING OUT OF SPRING TRAINING. FUCK. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
I AM NOT ONE TO CALL EVERYTHING A WRAP IN EARLY APRIL BUT JESUS CHRIST THIS TEAM IS GIVING ME ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NOTHING TO MAKE ME THINK OTHER WISE. THE STARTING PITCHING ISN’T STEPPING UP. THE BULLPEN IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THE OFFENSE LOOKS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, AIMLESS.
THE SEASON STARTED ALREADY, GUYS. I CAN TRY TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR OFFENSIVE OUTPUT (I still think we can get on base a lot) AND OUR PITCHING (please just don’t hang as many cookies with two strikes!!!! I feel like half of the damage this season has come with two strikes!!!!) AND YOU WILL BE OK. GROW THE FUCK UP, THOUGH!!!!! GROW UP!!!!!! DON’T LEAVE ALL OF YOUR SCORING TO ONE FUCKING INNING. JESUS!!!!!!!!!!! GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! BE BASEBALL PLAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!! THE SEASON STARTED!!!!!! YOU ARE A TEAM A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT STOCK IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Song of the Week: “Somebody Kill Me Please” by Adam Sandler
The Cure is great, in his defense.
One more for the road, because I might as well: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
Apr 5, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) celebrates with team mates in the dugout after scoring against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Rays 3, Brewers 2
Tuesday: Brewers 6, Rays 2
Wednesday: Brewers 8, Rays 2
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: Postponed (Rescheduled to Saturday doubleheader)
Saturday, Game 1: Brewers 5, Royals 2
Saturday, Game 2: Royals 8, Brewers 2
Sunday: Brewers 8, Royals 5
Division Standings
Brewers: 7-2
Pirates: 6-3
Reds: 6-3
Cardinals: 5-4
Cubs: 4-5
Last Week
Brewers: 4-2
Pirates: 5-1
Reds: 4-2
Cardinals: 3-3
Cubs: 3-3
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
Kyle Harrison got off to a great start in a Brewer uniform. Over two starts against the Rays and Royals, Harrison spanned 10 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out a team-high 14 batters.
There was no clear hitting performance this week, as seven different players had four-plus hits this week, but none had more than six. Even so, Garrett Mitchell had a huge day on Saturday across Milwaukee’s doubleheader, but specifically in game one. In the 5-2 victory, Mitchell went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, and all five RBIs, a career-high for him. He added another RBI in the night game for a three-hit, six-RBI day in total. He finished the week with five hits, including four extra-base hits, driving in eight.
The busy news day of the week came on Monday. First, the Brewers acquired outfielder Luis Matos from the Giants, sending cash considerations the other way after he was designated for assignment. To make space on the 40-man roster, left-hander Sammy Peralta was designated for assignment by Milwaukee, while Jeferson Quero, who made his MLB debut on Sunday, was optioned to Triple-A Nashville to make space on the active roster. Peralta was claimed by the Rockies on Saturday.
Later in the afternoon, Milwaukee’s No. 4 prospect, shortstop Cooper Pratt, reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $50.75 million extension with a pair of options that could keep him in the organization through 2035. After the extension was officially announced on Friday, Pratt was added to the 40-man roster. Outfielder Steward Berroa was designated for assignment as the corresponding move, while Pratt will remain in Triple-A Nashville for the time being.
Lastly, RHP Logan Henderson was recalled as the team’s 27th man for Saturday’s doubleheader, making the start (2 IP, 2 ER, 3 K) before being sent back to Nashville after the game.
On Deck
Monday: @ Red Sox (5:45 p.m.)
Tuesday: @ Red Sox (5:45 p.m.)
Wednesday: @ Red Sox (12:35 p.m.)
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: vs. Nationals (6:40 p.m.) — Wisconsin First Friday
Saturday: vs. Nationals (6:10 p.m.) — Miz Trading Card Bobblehead Giveaway
Sunday: vs. Nationals (1:10 p.m.) — Wiffle Ball Set Giveaway (Kids)
1972 – For the first time in history, the major league season fails to open due to a general player strike. The strike, announced April 1, will erase 86 games from the major league schedule.
1973 – Yankee Ron Blomberg, facing Boston’s Luis Tiant, becomes the first official designated hitter in the major leagues. Blomberg walks with the bases loaded his first time up and winds up 1-for-3 in a 15-5 loss to the Red Sox.
1993 – In his National League debut‚ Cubs P Jose Guzman takes a perfect game into the eighth inning against Atlanta‚ finally settling for a one-hit‚ 1-0 victory. Otis Nixon’s single with two out in the ninth is the Braves’ only hit.
2013 – The Upton brothers, playing together for the Braves, stun the Cubs. With Atlanta trailing 5 – 4, B.J. Upton leads off the bottom of the ninth with a homer off Carlos Marmol, and two batters later, Justin Upton hits a walk-off blast to give the Braves a 6-5 win, his second long ball of the game. They are the first pair of brothers to homer in the same inning since Billy and Cal Ripken did so for Baltimore in 1996.
2014 – Texas P Yu Darvish becomes the fastest starting pitcher to reach 500 strikeouts when he fans David DeJesus and Wil Myers in the first inning of a 1-0 win against the Rays in his first start of the season. It took Yu only 401.2 innings to reach the total, beating Kerry Wood, who had needed 404.2 innings.
2017 – Cardinals C Yadier Molina loses a ball when it bounces in the dirt and then gets stuck to his chest protector, allowing Cubs PH Matt Szczur to reach base on a dropped third strike in the seventh inning while Molina is frantically looking around to find the disappeared spheroid. The bizarre play turns out to be instrumental, as Brett Cecil walks the next batter, Jon Jay, and Kyle Schwarber follows with a three-run homer and Chicago wins, 6-4.
2020 – Hall of FamerAl Kaline, who was signed by the Detroit Tigers out of high school, went straight to the majors, and collected 3000 hits during his lifelong association with the team, passes away at age 85. His death will start an unprecedented parade of passings by members of the Hall of the Fame over the rest of the year.
774 – Charles the Great (Charlemagne) confirmed the gift to the Pope of the territories belonging to Ravenna made by his father Pepin the Short at Quiercy-sur-Loire in 753.
1652 – Cape Colony, the 1st European settlement in South Africa, established by Dutch East India Company under Jan van Riebeeck.
1772 – Catherine the Great Empress of Russia, ends tax on men with beards, enacted by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698. (There is probably no truth to the rumor that this was then handed down to the New York Yankees.)
1889 – George Eastman begins selling his Kodak flexible rolled film for the first time.
1896 – First modern Summer Olympic Games open in Athens, Greece; American athlete James Connolly becomes first modern Olympic champion when he wins triple jump (then two hops and a jump); later third in long jump, second in high jump.
1909 – North Pole reached by Americans Robert Peary & Matthew Henson.
1930 – Hostess Twinkies invented by bakery executive James Dewar.
1938 – Teflon invented by Roy J. Plunkett.
1974 – 200,000 attend rock concert “California Jam” at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California; line-up includes Earth, Wind & Fire; Black Sabbath; Deep Purple; and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (this was simulcast on WDAI 94.7 FM. I know because I was listening and watching.)
1987 – Los Angeles Dodgers GM Al Campanis appears on TV program ABC News: Nightline saying Blacks may not be equipped to be in baseball management, sparking a racial controversy.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Jackson Cluff #85 of the New York Mets at bat during a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As I was sitting down to start typing this report up yesterday afternoon, I took a quick look at Gameday and saw that the score was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth. Barely a minute later, when I opened MS Word to start writing this, I looked over at my phone and the score was 4-3. Jackson Cluff walk-off! Carl Edwards Jr. didn’t pitch too bad in his five innings of work, but the Syracuse offense wasn’t able to crack Toledo starter Carlos Pena and they found themselves down all afternoon. Jonathan Pintaro allowed two more in the top of the sixth, and the way the offense was playing, it very well could’ve been a 3-0 final. Showing a little intestinal fortitude, Syracuse strung together a bunch of hits and plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth, and then in the bottom of the ninth, Ji Hwan Bae doubled and Cluff drove him in with his second homer of the season and his second in as many days.
Apr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh (16) breaks his bat on a swing in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
You had to think that a weekend in Colorado would help the offense a bit. Then they went and scored three runs in two games. I can’t figure this offense out just yet.
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) looks on from the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! It was not a happy weekend for the Orioles, who limped out of Pittsburgh after being swept. That was after losing two out of three to the Rangers, making them losers of five of their last six. It’s not really how any of us imagined the season starting.
Yesterday’s game was particularly painful. Chris Bassitt pitched his second clunker in as many tries and exited after six runs allowed in just two innings. He may have stayed in longer if he hadn’t been hit in the leg by a 112 mph line drive, certainly. The offense had eight hits, but just two runs. Poor Samuel Basallo struck out four times. You can get all of the grisly details in Paul Folkemer’s game recap.
Last night, I was reading the comments in the game recap and in the game thread, and it got me thinking about letting a sports team make you totally miserable. Because if you read the comments, it seems that people are miserable and very angry. I get it. I have watched more bad baseball in my life than I have good, and I have been a very invested and very online fan for most of it. It’s so easy to let what happens out there affect your mood.
No doubt many of you remember the 2010 season. Nobody expected the Orioles to be good that year, but also nobody expected them to start the year 2-16. Back in those olden days I was running Camden Chat before the current site manager, Mark, took over. He’s much better at it than I ever was, by the way. Sometimes my game recaps wouldn’t go up until like midnight because I got busy watching reruns of The Golden Girls or something.
I was so deep into the Orioles in 2010 that the 2-16 stretch of baseball made me entirely miserable. I turned on the game every night. I watched Ty Wigginton and César Izturis and Corey Patterson stink up the basepaths. I watched Kevin Millwood give up a billion runs and Jake Arrieta underperform. I was deep into it. I could tell you everything about those teams. And I hated it. I hated the Orioles. And they weren’t even supposed to be good!
Not long after that 2-16 stretch (maybe around 7-18 or so), I realized I needed to stop being so miserable about the Orioles. Why was I letting myself get angry? What was the point? There had to be something redeeming about being a fan of a bad baseball team. Otherwise, why do it?
I think the answer to what is redeeming is different for everyone. For me, there is community in baseball fandom. Does it suck to watch the Orioles lose and struggle? Of course it does. But we’re all doing it together. Just like we’re all doing it together when the Orioles play well and hit a bunch of dingers and have a lot of fun. Camden Chat has always been a place where the community matters and where people get together during a game to be happy or mad or whatever the situation calls for.
Also, for me, I find some meaning in the players themselves. A lot of internet commenters are quick to call players “garbage” or ascribe some motivations (or lack thereof) to players, and it makes me uncomfortable. Those people will say they are just being fans, and I guess that is true. But how can you really be a fan of a team if you hate all the players? If you think they are all lazy or arrogant or stupid? When your first instinct is to trash them?
I’m not saying I don’t have a lot of emotions about the Orioles. I have never been so high as I was after game two of the 2014 ALDS. I’m dying to feel that again. And I felt incredibly sad about leaving Camden Yards after the 2024 Wild Card series. But I don’t think you get to either of those places by spending six months being aggressive and angry. It’s deeper than that.
I just wrote a lot of words that don’t have much to do with the team the Orioles are fielding right now, so thanks for indulging me. But it does have to do with the nature of being an Orioles fan, and if they truly prompt you to be angry and mean, maybe that’s something to examine. Or if you only want to shout into the void when things are going poorly but don’t want to celebrate when they’re not, why is that?
Anyway. The Orioles start a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox tonight at Guaranteed Rate Field. The starting pitcher is TBD but it’s expected to be a bullpen game kicked off by Albert Suárez. Not exactly what we hoped for in game 10 of the season, but here we are.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have just one Orioles birthday buddy. Danny Clyburn was born on this day in 1974. Clyburn was an outfielder who appeared in two games with the Orioles in 1997 and 11 games in 1998. His only other MLB experience came with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. Clyburn was tragically shot and killed in an argument with a neighbor in 2012.
On this day in 1973, the Orioles defeated the Brewers on Opening Day by a score of 10-0. Brooks Robinson hit two home runs. Don Baylor had a home run and three doubles. And Dave McNally allowed just three hits.
In 1992, the Orioles played their first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and defeated Cleveland, 2-0. Rick Sutcliffe pitched a complete game, five-hitter. Chris Hoiles and Billy Ripken had RBIs for the Orioles.
In 1997, the Orioles lost their first game of the season after starting 4-0. Mike Mussina allowed seven runs in just four innings, his worst start of the year.
In 2009, the Orioles celebrated Opening Day with a 10-5 victory over the Yankees. Jeremy Guthrie earned the win with the classic QS (6 IP, 3 ER). Brian Roberts and Adam Jones each had three hits as the 1-2 batters in the lineup. Roberts hit the first of his 56 doubles of the season and Jones hit the first of 19 home runs.
And one year ago today, the Orioles lost to the Royals, 4-1. Cade Povich allowed all four runs, but just one was earned thanks to an error by centerfielder Jorge Mateo. The Orioles scored their only run when Ryan Mountcastle reached on an E9 and came in to score on a passed ball.
