Baseball season is back! And with is the return of ‘Three Up and Three Down’ where Glenn and Griffin recap the week that was in Orioles baseball. It’s quite simple, Monday on GCR the boys will rank their top performing Orioles each week, and some of the worst performing birds of the previous week. Much like in baseball, we will go ‘Three Up and Three Down’ ranking the top three best and bottom three worst Orioles performers based specifically the most recent week of baseball.
Orioles are stacking disappointing weeks now, as they go 3-4, falling to the Yankees before taking two out of three from the Marlins in Miami and then narrowly avoiding getting swept by the Athletics at home over the weekend. Let’s see how Glenn and Griffin evaluated the birds last week:
Glenn’s Three Up:
3. RP Rico Garcia
I feel bad leaving Dylan Beavers off but, like, Rico Garcia recorded three saves without allowing a hit. He did allow three walks so I guess he’s human but how do you leave him off the list?
2. C Samuel Basallo
It’s not just that he’s hitting (.945 OPS this week), it’s how he’s hitting. He’s going and getting pitches he has no business hitting. Plus there was the play at the plate on Sunday. Great stuff all around.
1. C Adley Rutschman
He OPS-ed over 1.000 for the week and basically won them the game in Miami on Wednesday. He’s been the best Oriole to this point this season.
Griffin’s Three Up:
3. C Adley Rutschman
He was Adley ‘Clutchman’ in Wednesday’s win and obviously had a really strong week overall. I did struggle with having to leave Pete Alonso off the list after driving in 7 runs.
2. C Samuel Basallo
This guy just hits. He had the massive game Tuesday in Miami, and I’m a sucker for recency bias, the tag play at the plate yesterday was awesome.
1. RP Rico Garcia
The lone bright spot on the entire pitching staff. A steady, steady prescience, pitching 1 and 1/3 innings down in Miami to pick up a win plus another two saves. The best player of the week 🤷♂️
Glenn’s Three Down:
3. SS Gunnar Henderson
I wanted to leave him off the list because he was…better? And I’m sure Griffin will still put Tyler O’Neill on the list despite only having 10 plate appearances. The reality is that Gunnar still OPS-ed .492 last week, had as many strikeouts (8) as times he reached base AND his bobble on Friday night that prevented the double play helped open the floodgates for the Athletics. So yeah, he’s still here.
2. SP Shane Baz
It’s particularly tough because his previous start against the Astros was obviously his best as an Oriole. But in two starts last week, he allowed 10 earned runs and put 18 on base over 10.1 innings and now we’re starting to notice that Caden Bodine is hitting .400 this year.
1. 3B Coby Mayo
2-16 with seven strikeouts is bad. But then combined with the throwing error at the end of the game in Miami Thursday night, it clinched this spot on the list.
Griffin’s Three Down:
3. SS Gunnar Henderson
Fine. I cede. Jeremiah Jackson was really bad, too. But Gunnar’s strikeouts are awful. You almost don’t want to see him at the plate.
2. SP Shane Baz
Does this guy stink? Allowed 10 hits and 8 walks over 10 and 1/3 innings…
1. 3B Coby Mayo
This guy actually does stink, at everything.
You can listen as Glenn and Griffin share the explanation behind each of their selections here:
And here is a look at the updated standings after a month-plus of ‘Three Up and Three Down’:
Photo Credit: Colin Murphy/PressBox
