Rating the Orioles’ 100 gopher balls by how a lot they damage

BALTIMORE — On Monday afternoon, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks walked by the guests clubhouse at Camden Yards, carrying a shiny black bat. Ken Singleton, the previous Orioles slugger and present Yankees broadcaster, stopped him and requested if he might take a look at the stick. Hicks forked over the lumber and Singleton sized it up in his palms.

“This can be a place you possibly can hit some,” Singleton advised Hicks, who missed the primary six weeks of the season and had only one dwelling run to his credit score. “And these guys may give ’em up, too.”

Though Hicks did not go deep within the first two video games of the collection, his Yankees teammates hit six homers. The final of these was a laser to useless middle off the bat of Clint Frazier. It additionally was the 100th homer Orioles pitchers have allowed this season.

It took the O’s simply 48 video games to hit the century mark, which is 9 video games quicker than the earlier quickest crew (the 2000 Royals). If their present tempo holds, they will serve up 338 gopher balls this season, which might shatter the present document of 258, held by the 2016 Cincinnati Reds. Positive, dingers are up throughout the board. Manner up. They’re up a lot that three groups (Mariners, Twins, Astros) are at the moment on the right track to interrupt the document for many homers hit in a season. However the extent to which these golf equipment are threatening the offensive mark (will they or will not they?) is nothing in comparison with what Baltimore’s hurlers are doing (they most definitely will). Or to the ache that they are inflicting O’s followers within the course of.

In honor of the Birds reaching triple digits, we have taken the freedom of rating each one of many 100 dwelling runs their pitching employees has helped launch this season, so as from least to most painful. So seize a few ice packs and a few ibuprofen, and benefit from the experience. Or do not.

100. Mookie Betts, Could eight vs. Andrew Cashner

Betts has 14 jacks in 42 profession video games at Camden Yards. So this one brought on completely zero ache as a result of O’s followers are fully numb to it by now.

99. Aaron Decide, April 6 vs. Dylan Bundy

It is Aaron Decide, individuals. Going deep is what the man does. No laborious emotions. (Actually, this one might’ve simply been No. 100, however since Decide wears 99 on his uniform, this appears like the precise spot.)

2 Associated

98. Decide, April 6 vs. Bundy

See No. 99.

97. Freddy Galvis, April 1 vs. Mike Wright

The shortest of all of the homers the Birds have allowed this season (348 toes), it had a 91 p.c probability of being an out, based on Statcast. Meh.

96. Jurickson Profar, April 9 vs. Richard Bleier

Bleier’s sinker is among the many higher ones in baseball and is not speculated to end in roundtrippers. So usually, this is able to damage. However the truth that Bleier hit the IL with shoulder tendinitis shortly afterward proved he wasn’t fairly proper and makes this simpler to swallow.

95. Gleyber Torres, April Four vs. Alex Cobb

The primary jack O’s pitchers allowed at Camden Yards this yr, it occurred within the third inning of the house opener. Maybe just a little sooner than followers would’ve preferred, however on the time, it did not appear all that conspicuous.

94. Andrew Benintendi, April 12 vs. David Hess

Your fundamental, garden-variety solo shot. Nothing a lot to see right here.

93. Albert Pujols, Could 11 vs. Bundy (1 of two)

This was Pujols’ first at-bat after turning into a member of the ultra-exclusive 2,000-RBI membership. Onerous to be mad at a man who has had such a implausible profession. This nearly felt like an appreciation present.

92. J.D. Martinez, Could 7 vs. Hess

When ache is predicted, it hurts much less. A masher like Martinez going deep at Camden Yards is virtually a foregone conclusion.

91. Matt Chapman, April 10 vs. Josh Rogers

The O’s have been already down 7-Three within the seventh inning (to a non-division rival) when Chapman hit this two-run bomb. So mainly it did not matter.

90. Jason Kipnis, Could 16 vs. Dan Straily (1 of two)

The Marlins launched Straily three days earlier than Opening Day. Sure, these Marlins. The Orioles felt it prudent to signal him, and he has since surrendered 10 homers in 30 innings. This Kipnis shot was the 10th of these. So by the point it occurred, O’s followers have been fairly used to it.

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Mike Trout to 7-year-old superfan Gavin Edelson: “I have to hit a house run tonight.”

89. Mike Trout, Could 10 vs. Straily

You may need heard concerning the latest sport the place a 7-year outdated superfan requested Trout to hit a homer, after which the Angels star went out and did simply that. That is that homer.

88. Trout, Could 12 vs. John Means

You may need heard concerning the latest sport the place a 7-year outdated superfan requested his favourite participant to hit a homer, after which the participant went out and did simply that. That is that participant.

87. Marcus Semien, April 9 vs. Means

One of many dwelling runs on this checklist needed to be No. 87. This one appears pretty much as good as any.

86. Josh Phegley, April eight vs. Cashner

Double-digit exit velocity. Comparatively low 52 p.c hit chance. The Birds have been main Four-Zero on the time and cruised to a 12-Four win. This tater virtually tickled.

85. Jose Abreu, April 22 vs. Tanner Scott

Abreu averaged 407 toes on his dingers final yr. So the truth that this one traveled solely 388 toes nearly appears like a win.

84. Mike Zunino, Could Three vs. Straily

Tyler Glasnow, contemporary off his April Pitcher of the Month honors, began reverse Straily on this one. So actually, the destiny of this sport was just about sealed earlier than it even began. So what if Zunino went yard?

83. Pujols, Could 11 vs. Bundy (2 of two)

In response to the foundations of etiquette, one gopher ball is taken into account a suitable present for reaching the two,000-RBI plateau. Two, nevertheless, is a bit extreme.

82. Eddie Rosario, April 20 vs. Straily (1 of two)

Bear in mind this date. As a result of you are going to see it in these rankings once more. And once more. And time and again and once more. This was the primary of 11 homers — rely ’em, 11 — the Twins hit in a doubleheader at Camden Yards.

81. Jordan Luplow, Could 18 vs. Means

Luplow, an Indians outfielder, is the great-nephew of Al Luplow, an Indians outfielder. Ol’ Al hit two profession dwelling runs towards the Orioles, the second of which got here in help of Cleveland starter Mudcat Grant.

80. Gary Sanchez, March 31 vs. Means

The Yankees hit just one homer on this sport, tied for the fewest they’ve hit in any contest towards Baltimore this season. Some day, John Means will brag about that to his grandkids.

79. C.J. Cron, April 20 vs. Cobb

That date once more.

78. Abreu, Could 1 vs. Cashner

This Abreu shot went 433 toes. That is 26 toes longer this his common distance from final yr, however hey — at the least it did not go farther!

77. Phegley, April 11 vs. Bundy

Phegley hit as many homers on this collection as he did all of final season (two). However, in protection of the O’s employees, you possibly can solely maintain down Josh Phegley for thus lengthy.

76. Clint Frazier, April 7 vs. Hess (1 of two)

75. Yandy Diaz, April 17 vs. Hess

74. Carlos Santana, Could 19 vs. Yefry Ramirez

73. Rosario, April 20 vs. Straily (2 of two)

Not too many people outdoors the Twin Cities are conscious of this (but), however Rosario is a fairly harmful hitter. In reality, for the reason that begin of 2017, no Minnesota participant has extra homers. So although Straily served up two bombs to Rosario on this sport, nothing to essentially be ashamed of right here.

72. Torres, April 7 vs. Hess

Got here on an Zero-2 rely, which looks as if it ought to damage … till you notice the league is hitting an unfathomable .248 towards Orioles pitchers when the rely is not any balls, two strikes (that is three factors increased than the MLB common on all counts). In different phrases, this was simply enterprise as ordinary.

71. Mitch Garver, April 20 vs. Wright

70. Randal Grichuk, April Three vs. Jimmy Yacabonis

69. Christian Vazquez, April 13 vs. Cashner

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68. Ji-Man Choi, April 17 vs. Hess

Choi’s first dinger of the yr. That half smarts a bit.

67. Sanchez, April Four vs. Cobb

66. Santana, Could 18 vs. Miguel Castro

This 426-foot shot was one of many longest dwelling runs Castro has allowed in his profession.

65. Willians Astudillo, April 20 vs. Straily

The second of back-to-back jacks, this one would’ve ranked increased on the ache scale, besides watching Astudillo do something is enjoyable.

64. Sanchez, April 7 vs. Hess (1 of three)

63. Xander Bogaerts, Could 7 vs. Hess

This was the seventh dinger of the season for Boston’s shortstop. That is seven greater than Orioles shortstops have hit this yr. Someplace, Cal Ripken is cringing.

62. Kipnis, Could 16 vs. Straily (2 of two)

In his first 104 plate appearances this season, Kipnis did not homer. Then, in his first sport towards the O’s, he went yard … twice. Sounds about proper.

61. Profar, April 10 vs. Straily

60. Cameron Maybin, Could 15 vs. Hess

Maybin’s first of the yr (see No. 68).

59. Greg Hen, March 28 vs. Paul Fry

58. Troy Tulowitzki, March 30 vs. Bleier

Tulo’s tater got here on a sinker. With an Zero-2 rely. And is the one homer he has hit in practically two years.

57. James McCann, April 22 vs. Hess

The three-run homer was Earl Weaver’s jam. The truth that McCann appropriated it — to interrupt open a tie sport, no much less — is considerably offensive to the sensibilities of any self-respecting Baltimorean.

56. Mitch Moreland, Could 7 vs. Brandon Kline

One other Earl Weaver particular, substitute Crimson Sox for White Sox.

55. Semien, April 11 vs. Mychal Givens

Givens, Baltimore’s nearer, got here into the sport in a non-save state of affairs — together with his crew trailing 7-5 within the ninth inning — and proceeded to stink up the joint.

54. Nelson Cruz, April 20 vs. Cobb (1 of two)

Since Baltimore let Cruz stroll away through free company following the 2014 season, he has 170 homers, second most within the majors. Ouch.

53. Byron Buxton, April 28 vs. Bundy

52. Yonder Alonso, April 29 vs. Means

Alonso is Manny Machado’s brother-in-law, and something that reminds O’s followers of the bygone Manny period is sure to tug on the heartstrings.

51. Jonathan Schoop, April 20 vs. Wright

See No. 52 (Schoop was Manny’s greatest Hen buddy).

It took Baltimore simply 48 video games to serve up 100 dwelling runs. If that present tempo holds, the O’s will permit a document 338 dingers this season. We rank ’em from least to most painful. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports activities

50. Khris Davis, April 10 vs. Rogers (1 of two)

This blast by Oakland’s Khris Davis (his sixth in 15 video games) by some means appeared to intensify the struggles of Baltimore’s Chris Davis, who on the time was using an unimaginable Zero-for-49 skid.

49. Davis, April 10 vs. Rogers (2 of two)

See No. 50.

48. Max Kepler, April 26 vs. Cobb

47. Frazier, April 7 vs. Straily (2 of two)

Contemporary off his launch from the Marlins, Straily bought completely torched in his O’s debut, when he got here on in reduction and recorded fewer outs (4) than runs allowed (5). Two of these runs got here on Frazier’s second jack of the sport.

46. Cruz, April 20 vs. Kline (2 of two)

See No. 54. As if Cruz going yard twice towards his former crew wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, this was the Twins’ sixth dinger of the sport, and their ninth of the doubleheader.

45. Kepler, April 27 vs. Scott (1 of two)

44. Cron, April 27 vs. Fry

Whether or not or not this blast damage anybody emotionally, there is a first rate probability it damage somebody bodily — at 113.6 miles an hour, it is the second-hardest homer surrendered by Baltimore’s employees this season.

43. Frazier, Could 21 vs. Hess (1 of two)

42. Luke Voit, April Four vs. Castro

A 3-run shot with the Yankees main 5-Four within the ninth, this was Grade-A, nail-in-the-coffin materials.

41. Garver, April 20 vs. Kline

40. Torres, April Four vs. Wright

One other Zero-2 homer. Do you know Baltimore’s OPS allowed on Zero-2 counts is about 200 factors increased than the subsequent closest crew and nearly twice as excessive because the league common? True story.

39. Davis, April 11 vs. Bundy (1 of two)

By this time, the Chris Davis streak had reached Zero-for-51.

38. Davis, April 11 vs. Bundy (2 of two)

Zero-for-52.

37. Sanchez, April 7 vs. Wright (2 of three)

Moreover giving Sanchez a multi-homer sport, this was a 438-foot monster shot, the longest of seven New York homers that day. Blech.

36. Chad Pinder, April 10 vs. Straily

35. Bogaerts, April 14 vs. Josh Lucas

If you happen to have been casting a catastrophe flick based mostly on the 2019 Orioles pitching employees, you’d little doubt contemplate Kevin Costner, as he is on the quick checklist of thespians who can convincingly painting a giant leaguer. Sadly, Costner’s too outdated for the position lately. As a substitute, you may simply should make do together with his doppelganger, actor Josh Lucas. Not not like the Orioles are making do with pitcher Josh Lucas.

34. Grichuk, April Three vs. Matt Wotherspoon

A former 34th-round decide lastly makes his debut at age 27 and promptly serves up a gopher ball. That about sums up the Orioles pitching employees this season.

33. Brandon Lowe, April 17 vs. Hess

Lowe (rhymes with thou, not although) is a Delmarva native who attended the College of Maryland. 4 years after the Orioles — and 28 different groups — handed on him within the draft, the previous third-rounder is a legit Rookie of the Yr candidate.

32. Cruz, April 26 vs. Cobb (1 of two)

Did I point out Cruz was as soon as an Oriole?

31. Cruz, April 26 vs. Gabriel Ynoa (2 of two)

See No. 32.

30. Frazier, April 6 vs. Castro

After dropping their dwelling opener, the Birds have been main the Yankees Four-Three within the eighth. Till they weren’t. Frazier’s three-run jack, which was the eventual sport winner and moved each groups to .500 (Four-Four), signaled the tip of the early-season honeymoon for O’s followers.

29. Tim Anderson, April 29 vs. Means

The ache right here is strictly as a result of Anderson, for as soon as, determined to not bask in certainly one of his patented bat-flips. In doing so, he disadvantaged a downtrodden Birds fan base of some much-needed leisure.

28. Rosario, April 20 vs Cobb

There’s that pesky date once more. This was Rosario’s third of the doubleheader, which hurts. What’s extra, it is laborious for O’s followers to listen to the identify “Eddie” and never miss this man.

27. Marwin Gonzalez, April 27 vs. Yacabonis

435 toes is loads of toes.

26. Mark Canha, April eight vs. Cashner

436 toes is much more toes.

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25. Sanchez, April 7 vs. Straily (Three of three)

Primarily based purely on distance (or lack thereof), a 374-foot dinger by Sanchez is virtually a win. However the truth that it got here on an Zero-2 rely and was his third homer of the sport turns it right into a loss. A extremely unhealthy loss.

24. Torres, Could 15 vs. Hess (1 of two)

This was Torres’ fourth jack of the season towards the O’s. It appeared like so much on the time.

23. Torres, Could 15 vs. Hess (2 of two)

Make that his fifth.

22. Tommy Pham, April 18 vs. Cashner

421 toes is loads of toes — particularly when these toes are within the path of the alternative discipline.

21. Kendrys Morales, April 11 vs. Bundy

Not too lengthy after, the Athletics designated Morales for project.

20. Rosario, April 26 vs. Cobb

Rosario’s fourth entry on this checklist. He is certainly one of six gamers with at the least 4 homers towards LongBalltimore this season. Three of them play for Minnesota (Rosario, Cruz, Kepler), which is absurd contemplating the O’s and Twins have confronted one another solely six occasions.

19. Cron, April 26 vs. Cobb

Again-to-back-to-back. That by no means does not damage.

18. Grichuk, April 1 vs. Pedro Araujo

A former Rule 5 decide, Araujo was unhealthy final yr (7.71 ERA). Nonetheless, he discovered his method right into a sport this yr, served up this dinger, then was DFA’ed proper afterward. One other poster second for the 2019 Orioles pitching employees.

17. Avisail Garcia, April 16 vs. Bundy

At 428 toes, it is the longest lengthy ball Bundy has allowed this yr, which is admittedly saying one thing.

16. Austin Romine, April 7 vs. Hanser Alberto

It was Romine’s solely homer of the season, and it got here towards a place participant. Want I say extra?

15. Jason Castro, April 27 vs. Yacabonis

The second of three gopher balls in the identical inning for Yacabonis, this one went 443 toes.

14. Kepler, April 27 vs. Yacabonis (2 of two)

The third of three taters within the inning, this one traveled solely 433 toes. The three jacks averaged 437 toes. In associated information, Yacabonis was despatched all the way down to the minors the subsequent day.

13. Sanchez, Could 15 vs. Hess

With an exit velocity of 114.9 mph, it is probably the most violent homer the Orioles have surrendered this season. It additionally was the Sanchize’s sixth jack of the season towards the O’s.

12. Torres, Could 15 vs. Cashner

Torres’ sixth jack towards Baltimore. At occasions, it looks as if he and Sanchez are engaged in their very own little sport of “Something You Can Do, I Can Do Higher (Towards The Orioles).” And by “at occasions,” I imply “each single sport through which the Birds and Yanks face one another.”

11. Kepler, April 28 vs. Bundy

Though the Twins are having a implausible season and their future is vibrant, do not be shocked if Kepler calls for to be traded to the Yankees on the deadline. Ya know, simply so he can get in on the “Something You Can Do” motion.

10. Torres, Could 20 vs. Cashner (1 of two)

Seven.

9. Torres, Could 20 vs. Givens (2 of two)

Eight.

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Gary Sanchez opens the scoring with a three-run dwelling run within the first.

eight. Sanchez, Could 21 vs. Hess

Typically talking, every successive homer hit by a selected participant appears to inflict extra ache than the earlier one. There are, nevertheless, exceptions. Like …

7. Sanchez, Could 20 vs. Givens

His seventh homer towards the O’s was undoubtedly extra hurtful than his eighth due to the circumstances. Baltimore was main 7-Three late within the sport. After New York rallied it to tie it within the ninth, Voit hit a foul pop that ought to’ve ended the highest half of the inning. However Orioles catcher Pedro Severino inexplicably misplaced it, Voit walked and Sanchez hit a three-run shot. So yeah, this one stung.

6. Rowdy Tellez, April 2 vs. Castro

At 449 toes, the longest homer allowed by any Orioles pitcher this yr. (What did you count on from a dude who’s 6-foot-Four, 255 kilos, and goes by the identify of Rowdy?)

5. Garcia, April 18 vs. Givens

Not fairly so long as the Tellez tater (447 toes), however this one was a dramatic ninth-inning blast that resulted in a blown save, and despatched the sport into extras. (Baltimore ended up profitable, however that is inappropriate.)

Four. Frazier, Could 21 vs. Hess (2 of two)

The precise 100th homer. Frazier’s second of the evening, it was New York’s 29th jack in 10 whiffle ball baseball video games towards the Orioles this season. It additionally marked the 18th time this season the O’s have allowed a participant to hit a number of homers in a contest. No different crew has achieved it greater than seven occasions.

Three. Schoop, April 20 vs. Chris Davis

The final of Minnesota’s 11 homers on that fateful day, it (A) was hit by a former Oriole, (B) went actually far (435 toes), and (C) got here towards a place participant. That is just about a trauma trifecta proper there.

2. Benintendi, Could eight vs. Ramirez

When Trey Mancini laid into one within the backside of the 11th, the Orioles thought that they had the sport received — till Jackie Bradley Jr. did this. Moments later, within the prime of the 12th, Benintendi went full gut-punch mode.

1. Voit, March 28 vs. Cashner

Opening Day. First inning. ‘Nuff stated.