AtD – Crush Davis T-Shirt Edition
Around the Diamond
It’s been a while since we’ve done an Around the Diamond post (yes, when things become more chore than fun, we cut them). After going to last night’s game, I thought it was time to pull it out of stasis. I can’t promise that there will be a ton of these, but there were a LOT of great things going on last night that might otherwise be overlooked. Let’s dig in and take a trip Around the Diamond.
First Base
Steve Johnson was the key to this win. Tillman had been one of our more consistent starters, but he was knocked around by a Nationals lineup that featured an alarming number of hitters under the Mendoza Line, and did not feature Bryce Harper. No better time to bring in a soft-tossing righty who has been hit hard this season, right?
Johnson answered the bell, but going 2.1 innings and allowing only one base runner (a walk to the first batter he faced). Then he silenced the Nationals, and allowed the Orioles to mount a very Buckle-Up-Birds-esque comeback.
It’s easy to overlook, but it was possibly the most important individual effort in the game.
Second Base
No really: Second Base. We got something out of our second baseman. And it was Ryan Flaherty! The O’s surprised us by recalling Flaherty and shipping Yamaico Navarro to Norfolk before yesterday’s game. There were whispers that Navarro’s defense wasn’t up to the Buck Standard, and that Flaherty, for all his failures at the plate, had earned another shot because of his solid D.
The Solid D was on display. Flaherty hung in there for a tough double play in the top of the second. He avoided contact as Ian Desmond tried to disrupt the play, and fired a strike to Davis at first. Then, Flaherty became an integral part of the offense (I’m pretty sure he did it just to spite us, but I’ll take it). His day at the plate included a 2nd inning RBI double and a single to start off the Birds’ six-run 7th inning attack.
It was a big game, from a guy we’ve come to expect far less from – and it was about damn time.
Third Base
I was proud of Orioles fans last night.
Exhibit A: I arrived at Camden Yards 50 minutes before first pitch, and was denied a Crush Davis t-shirt. Enthusiastic O’s fans lined up outside the park in the 5:00 hour for their chance at the (pretty damn cool) giveaway.
Exhibit B: The park was a lot orange. A lot. DC is 40 miles away, and their fans still didn’t make a sizable impact. Sure they were there, but not in droves. With a successful 2012 campaign, and the 2013 season looking up, Orioles fans are not letting “prime” games become away games.
Exhibit C: Just under 40,000 fans came for a Wednesday night game in the swamp-ass-heat (technical, meteorological term). By the 9th, most of them were still there. I must admit to having my doubts in the middle innings (but for all of you keeping score at home, Scott called the comeback – big time), but the fans stuck around to watch Orioles Magic unfold.
Exhibit D: Then there was this little nugget:
Yes, it was loud last night. Ryan Zimmerman did his best to quiet the crowd during the middle innings (somewhat successfully, I might add), but Nick Markakis’ 6th inning homer brought the Orioles to within 3, and the fans back to life. With just a hint of another come-from-behind win, the fans were back. And yes, they were loud. This was no playoff atmosphere, or even a Cal statue game. But observing the crowd last night, you could believe this town once had an outdoor insane asylum.
Exhibit E: Jim Johnson got a genuine, loud, welcome to the mound as the Foo Fighters announced Closing Time. After being (rightfully) maligned on talk radio, podcasts, water coolers, and bar stools all over Birdland, Johnson return to the ballpark he’s called home his entire career without even the slightest reminder of his recent struggles. Kudos, O’s fans. Kudos.
Home Plate
Of course we’re going to talk about Chris Davis. Crush, Thor, the Deputy, the Hulk… whatever you call him, make sure you call him “Sir.” Davis put on a show on his t-shirt night, belting his league-leading 18th and 19th home runs, on route to a 4-4 night.
It’s one thing to simply get hot, and hit a few home runs. It’s another thing altogether to go up to the plate trying to hit the ball out of the park, and doing it. Davis quickly got to 0-2 in his 7th inning at-bat, because he was swinging like a madman. And then his madman swing caught a ball over the plate, and he muscled it out to center.
Davis was honored for his AL Player of the Month award (for April) before the game. Then he went on to show why he’s a strong candidate for consideration in May. He is a completely disruptive force in the middle of the lineup, and is playing credible defense at first base. I don’t know if this kind of pace is sustainable, but after last night’s game, I’d bet on Chris Davis.
Back to the Dugout
To be sure, last night’s game was a great one. A signature win for the 2013 season. Now the Birds must turn their attention to winning tonight’s game. A win would earn a “sweep” of the two-game Baltimore set, and give them 3 of 4 against their closest neighbors. This may not be a real rivalry, but I still want, as MASN would say, “to own it.”
After a couple of terrible weeks of baseball, the Orioles find themselves just 2.5 games out of first. Now is the time to bear down and put some wins together.