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. This week the Orioles went 4-3, suffering their first sweep of the Adley Rutschman era against the Cardinals but recovering to sweep the White Sox in Chicago…
Without further adieu:
Glenn’s Three Up:
3. 1B Ryan Mountcastle
It was a particularly good week for Mountcastle, who went 8-22 with three doubles and at least one hit in the last five games-including four in the opener against the White Sox.
2. RP Craig Kimbrel
He was a perfect 3/3 in save situations against the White Sox, retiring all eight batters that he faced.
1. SP Kyle Bradish
He was phenomenal, obviously. Just one run allowed and just nine baserunners over 12 innings of work, striking out 17. So, so good.
Griffin’s Three Up:
3. 1B Ryan Mountcastle
Feels weird putting a guy on this list who didn’t hit a homerun since this is such a long-ball reliant team, but what a week at the plate for Mounty.
2. SS Gunnar Henderson
Just good, such good ABs, so much power, plays such good defense. He’s a superstar.
1. SP Kyle Bradish
What a performance on Sunday, 17 strikeouts on the week, and sure it was the White Sox, but there are professional batters on that team that could barely even good on base, let alone sniff a base-hit.
Glenn’s Three Down:
3. RP Cole Irvin
The Orioles desperately needed a solid outing from him after injury/rain limited John Means to just three innings Wednesday. Instead he allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits as the sweepless streak came to a close. Maybe he just needs to work out of the rotation?
2. RF Anthony Santander
You might be surprised because you remember the home runs. But he’s becoming about the definition of the Orioles’ “all or nothing” offense. The two home runs were part of a 3-22 week that included TEN strikeouts. The home runs were big but the empty at bats are a problem.
1. RP Keegan Akin
Giving up the home run to Nolan Gorman in the lefty lefty spot against the Cardinals was rough. Allowing six of 11 batters he faced against the White Sox Saturday to reach was brutal.
Griffin’s Three Down:
3. SP Dean Kremer
Not good on Monday night, bad actually. He doesn’t have to always be perfect but now the rotation really needs him.
2. CF Cedric Mullins
Another tough week, and now Colton Cowser is showing that he’s warming up to CF, Cedric is going to need to keep up his stolen base pace, and then some.
1. RP Keegan Akin
Akin can’t be trusted later in games, was all over the place and hit hard when he was in zone. This is mostly for Saturday, against the measly White Sox, and my overall frustration with the bullpen.
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:
Photo Credit: Colin Murphy/PressBox
