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–after another incredible week from the birds, it was very difficult to pick just three “Up” Orioles, and not much easier making selections for the “Down” group either.
Without further adieu:
Glenn’s Three Up:
3. SP Cade Povich
I assume Griffin gave this spot to Corbin Burnes because he made two starts this week. I understand. He was certainly good! But his 1.50 WHIP on Sunday opened the door for me to consider other starters and, yo, Cade Povich was fire. He pitched six shutout innings against the Braves in his SECOND CAREER MLB START, allowing just five hits and walking none.
2. SS Gunnar Henderson
He was phenomenal, obviously. 9-27 with four extra base hits (two home runs) and a stolen base while making some tremendous defensive plays. The big difference in why he’s two instead of one is a rough, ultimately run-costing error in the loss to the Braves.
1. RF Anthony Santander
On the flip side, while Santander was tremendous offensively, highlighted by three home runs against the Phillies, he also made the unbelievable throw to the plate Friday night to keep that a one run game and give the Orioles the chance to tie it up in the bottom of the 10th.
Griffin’s Three Up:
3. SP Corbin Burnes
Not sure how Glenn got a peak at my list, but, yes Corbin Burnes is of course on my list. He was incredible, pitching superbly against a very strong Phillies lineup, and even though he got into some self-induced trouble, there was really never any reason to worry. And that’s part of this whole equation, I still cannot come to terms with the fact that the Orioles have a guy this freaking good. It was difficult leaving Cade Povich off, but the state of this rotation leaves him many opportunities to make more appearances.
2. RF Anthony Santander
Taters was mashing this week.
1. SP Grayson Rodriguez
Holy smokes what a performance on Saturday. That was incredible to watch, a very rocky start and to come back with five scoreless innings after letting runs up early, in a playoff-like atmosphere. I’m in awe of him.
Glenn’s Three Down:
3. SP Cole Irvin
In a week where we have to pick some nit, Irvin just wasn’t sharp early in their loss to the Braves. Atlanta batters attacked him early in counts and found success. He allowed four runs and put ten men on base over 5.2 and particularly given how thin they are in the rotation otherwise, that was disappointing from someone having a great season.
2. C Adley Rutschman
It speaks to how well things are going for the Orioles that Adley had a MISERABLE week and, like, did anyone even notice? Alas, he finished 2-22 for the week with nine strikeouts.
1. RP Cionel Pérez
Brutal week for Perez. Just after the Orioles got back within a run in the finale against the Braves, he turned around and gave two back. The next night, he surrendered the go-ahead RBI single to Kyle Schwarber in the 10th. Then he gave up another run on two hits in an inning on Sunday.
Griffin’s Three Down:
3. RP Cionel Pérez
Yeah it was a rough week, but he was used a lot and will be more moving forward for as long as Coulombe is down, hopefully he’s just getting a little more settled in to that role, but he was hit around a lot this week, not ideal.
2. C Adley Rutschman
Doesn’t seem fair because Adley impacts this team in so many different ways, but even with the HR yesterday, it was a brutal week at the plate.
1. SP Cole Irvin
This is just kind of par for the course with the way the Orioles are playing right now, he struggled mightily Thursday vs the Braves and that’s enough this week to be the anti-man of the week.
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:
You can listen as the guys explain their picks this week by clicking play below:
Photo Credit: Colin Murphy/PressBox
