‘Pretty annoying’ times for O’s
Hyde laments opposition homers, poor home record
Another marathon homestand in a second half full of them has the Orioles confronting both of the ignominious major league records they’re threatening to make their own.
One — their inevitable achievement of allowing the most home runs in major league history and the ways to prevent that — is the “question of the season,” manager Brandon Hyde said. They entered Saturday having allowed a major league-high 214 home runs in 109 games, and could break the record of 258 by the end of this month.
But another home loss Friday dropped them to 15-38 (.283) at Camden Yards this year. With 13 of their remaining 28 games against likely playoffs teams including the high-flying New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s in play that the Orioles could challenge the 1939 St. Louis Browns for the lowest home winning percentage of all time at .234.
To Hyde, the two are at least tangentially connected.
“We give up a ton of home runs,” Hyde said. “It’s pretty annoying. But it’s kind of where we are. We play in a hitter’s ballpark in the American League East, and when we don’t throw — a lot of times, we just don’t execute very well.”
On the subject of home runs, Hyde said the Orioles might be able to combat that by pitching inside more effectively. He noted how many balls Orioles players are fouling off their lower bodies as the Blue Jays pitchers go inside often in this series, but also noted that’s not the easiest thing to do.
“We’re not there yet,” Hyde said. “A lot of our guys are still trying to survive, getting their feet wet, surviving in the major leagues. That’s why I think you see certain guys improving and certain guys still having a high ERA, because it’s not easy to do. It’s really hard to pitch in the major leagues, and some guys figure it out later than others. Some guys figure it out right away.
“But John Means doesn’t give up a ton of homers, or he hasn’t, because he throws to both sides of the plate and he’s got an equalizer of a changeup and he pitches in. I just wish we pitched in more. That doesn’t mean hit people, but be able to throw a fastball on the inside corner and off the insider corner so guys can’t lean out on you.”
O’s claim Blach, DFA Rondón
The Orioles claimed left-hander Ty Blach off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, continuing a run of no-risk pitching additions over the last month to help them get through the rest of the season. He was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Blach, 28, was designated for assignment Sunday after spending most of the year at Triple-A Sacramento, where he had a 5.93 ERA with a 1.604 WHIP in 17 appearances (15 starts). Blach made two appearances for the Giants this year, allowing 10 runs on 14 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
He had more major league success previously. Blach made his big league debut in September 2016 after pitching to a 3.43 ERA in Triple-A, and had ERAs of 4.78 and 4.25 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. He pitched as both a starter and reliever.
In a corresponding move, the Orioles designated infielder José Rondón for assignment. Rondón, 25, had one at-bat with the Orioles after joining the team Thursday as a waiver claim. He could be a candidate to get through waivers and go to Norfolk.
To take Rondón’s major league roster spot, the Orioles recalled right-hander Branden Kline from Norfolk. Kline gives the Orioles 14 pitchers and just two bench players for Saturday’s game, which Hyde said was to make sure the team went into the upcoming series against the New York Yankees in good shape.
Hyde noted that right-hander Miguel Castro has been sick and unavailable this week, and they are preparing for a likely bullpen game Monday.
Around the horn
Hyde said Means (shoulder) could come off the injured list to start Wednesday against the Yankees. … Hyde also said left fielder Dwight Smith Jr. (calf) is progressing, but not close to returning.