Glenn and Griffin continue our Monday tradition for the 2024 baseball season Monday on GCR with ‘Three Up and Three Down’ where we rank the best and worst Orioles performers of the week, much like how we do with Pats on the Ass and Slaps to the Helmet during football season after Ravens games. The guys will each name three players, three trending up, three trending down, based on how they did for that week specifically as the Birds were in action all seven days this week and carved out a nice 6-1 record vs the Yankees and Reds…
Without further adieu:
Glenn’s Three Up:
3. RP Jacob Webb
When the Orioles needed someone to step up in the bullpen, he delivered. No baserunners over 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the Yankees, striking out six of the eight batters he faced.
2. SP Dean Kremer
He’s the one who made two starts, so he gets to speak for the entire rotation here although all of them could have been on the list this week. He posted a 0.77 WHIP over 13 scoreless innings to lead the way.
1. C Adley Rutschman
It’s a real shame we don’t have a statistic to measure the additional value he’s bringing by being the one calling the games on top of his incredible offensive season. He hit .345 this week with 3 doubles and 5RBI and the pitching put up arguably the best week in modern Orioles history with him largely behind the plate. That’s all.
Griffin’s Three Up:
3. C Adley Rutschman
Just shows up every single day and does his job, and does it better than everyone else. Deserves a lot of credit for his management of the pitching staff, too.
2. SP John Means
I feel emotional watching John Means pitch. He was the only bright spot on the team for over three years and to come back from another injury and do what he did Saturday night was such a joy to watch.
1. SP Dean Kremer
It was all the starting pitching the week and Mean Dean made two starts, where he was brilliant, shutting down the Yankees and the Reds back-to-back.
Glenn’s Three Down:
3. OF Colton Cowser
I gave him respite from this list last week but can’t do it again. We were all enamored with the hot start but hits have been fewer and farther between since then-including 2/16 last week. Plus the throw on Thursday was a whole lot of yikes.
2. OF Cedric Mullins
I love Cedric Mullins and his range still justifies his playing time but we can’t ignore his offensive struggles after going 2/17 last week.
1. RP Craig Kimbrel
He just can’t be trusted at the moment to be the caliber of closer that you can win a World Series with.
Griffin’s Three Down:
3. CF Cedric Mullins
It pains me to put him on this list because what he means to this team as a leader, and a defensively in CF, but it was a week where everybody played REALLY well, Mullins did not.
2. RP Michael Baumann
He was good against the Yankees, but to just implode the way he did against the Reds yesterday in an 11-0 game, I already was skeptical, but now I don’t know how you can ever have confidence handing this guy the ball.
1. Closer Craig Kimbrel
Tough to base it all on one outing, but if he can’t pitch in back-to-backs, then his future in the Closer role has be discussed.
Here’s a look at the season-long standings. scoring is simple: 3 points awarded to the top player in ‘Three Up’ each week, -3 points for the top player in ‘Three Down’ each week:
To listen as the guys go Three Up and Three Down, be sure to click below:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
