The Orioles announced that they have placed outfielder Cedric Mullins on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 16, due to a right adductor groin strain. Right-hander Logan Gillaspie was recalled in a corresponding move.
Mullins has been dealing with this groin situation for quite a while, as he was also on the injured list from May 30 to June 24, costing him almost a month of the season. He was able to return to the club in recent weeks but has missed the past few games as the issue cropped back up again.
It doesn’t appear as though Mullins is slated for an extended absence. As recently as yesterday, he said he was hoping to be back in the lineup this week and avoid the injured list, per Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. But it now seems the club will give him some time to rest up and hopefully get it over and done with. Since IL stints can be backdated by three days, as the O’s have done, he can potentially return in a week if all goes well.
Mullins has nine home runs on the year and is hitting .259/.347/.454 for a wRC+ of 122. He’s also stolen 14 bases and has provided strong center field defense. With him out of action in recent days, the center field duties have primarily gone to Aaron Hicks, who is in there again today. Though he struggled with the Yankees for years, he’s hit a strong .263/.366/.474 in 36 games since joining the Orioles.
The O’s are firmly in the playoff race, currently just one game back of the Rays in the American League East. They currently hold the top Wild Card spot in the AL and are 4.5 games ahead of the Blue Jays, who have the second slot. Playing without Mullins for the next little bit isn’t ideal but there’s nothing to indicate he’s slated for a lengthy time away from the club and perhaps Hicks can soften the blow by continuing his recent resurgence.
It’s surprising how the Os; who were so good with fundamentals, defense and base running last season and the beginning of this season; have forgotten everything and are flopping all over themselves.
At this point, the Birds are my favorites to win the A.L East, because Tampa is taking on water.
That may be very true but the Yankees have taken on Sean Casey.
what are you talking about- this is a totally different team from last year- and there is so much more talent on the field.
Last year they had glove first guys who were spotty at the plate like Mateo and Urias; with a revolving door at 2b.
This year Westburg, Gunnar and Frazier have brought legit offense to those positions. They are solid gloves, but all have a much better offensive profile.
Last year was the end of trying to find diamonds in the rough (Mateo and Urias are examples of that), and this year they have the full youth movement (frazier aside, who now feels like a stopgap signing in case those guys were not ready).
I think the fundementals are there- but the guys who are fringe MLB players who stick around by mastering the fundementals are getting replaced by better players.
also note- Mullins has missed a good bit of time, mountcastle has missed a good chunk of time…. so 2 of their cornerstones have been absent.
Plus side to all of this- regular playing time for Cowser.
What? Stop talking. They just won 8 in a row before these two implosions against LAD. “Flopping all over themselves” with the 3rd best record in baseball. Foolish comment.
Tell us you don’t watch the Orioles without actually saying you don’t watch the Orioles.
I watch the Os, and there was a time a week or two ago where i thought Gunnar may be getting some yips. The big exclamation point on it was when he airmailed a ball into the camera crew and hit a camera man in the face (one of the yankees games).
I think he over that glitch and back to normal now, but that is the sort of thing that can throw a player off.
Extreme fandom can get you stressed out. Calm down. Take a deep breathe and just remember, your O’s are almost certainly going to the playoffs and will most likely take the East.
A couple bad games—it’s gonna happen over a 162-game season
I opened this lightning fast hoping to see a Kjerstad callup. Maybe next time!
does not line up all that well. Heston does not play center at all, and really is more likely to end up at 1b long term than playing in the OF in a few years.
Realistically, he will get some playing time this year when rosters expand, and likely be in the OHearn position next year (snaking AB from Mouncastle).. They really want something ready when they almost have to let Santander and Hayes walk (they will want too much money on a team that has Heston, Cowser, Beavers, Stowers, Bridges, and several other OF prospects who will be ready by then.
No fundamentals and defense? As of this reading, the Orioles are just a tiny shade behind the Rays (by 0.001 and by 1 error) being the best fielding team in the league. Certainly giving up a few runs not playing Mateo as much but playing guys who drive in many more has made them a better overall team. The Orioles have also made a marked improvement in getting on base via walk, they’ve cut down the K’s and they are now above average in walks. I have pointed out Mullins as making particular improvement here.
Dropped fly ball to lose opening day aside, not exactly DJ Stewart getting hit the head or for those who remember, Ken Gerhart seeing the field.
And the dropped fly ball was McKenna, who i think at some point would be the 4th OF, but he is getting less and less playing time (and i think shuttled to AAA, but no idea since even when he is up he is the 4th OF).
At this point their OF has been Mullins, Hayes, Santander, Cowser and Hicks. I think Stowers is either traded (if he is enough of a centerpiece to get a mid to late rotation piece) or does not get significant run again this year. Cowser or Hayes now likely slides to CF (a downgrade since Mullins is very good), but the other will be good in one corner and the decision is if Santander/mountcastle/Kjerstad/hearn can cover 1b/DH/LF between them (i put Heston since is he mlb ready)
I said lately the Os are playing sloppy.
Hopefully Cowser will get some more playtime
He’s been getting plenty so far.
i think he is getting benched vs. lefties thus far- so only getting about 2/3 of starts. this may force their hand to let him see some lefties, since he will need to see it to get up to snuff vs. lefties to be an every day player.
note- last 11 games- started 7 and sat 4- he came in later in some of the games he did not start; i am also counting today since he is not in the lineup today vs. a lefty.
Take the time off now Mullins. Get fully healed. The O’s are going to need you down the stretch.
He should have listened to his coach when he said not to pull those balls all the time.
Oooof! His groin injury is to his right adductor, not his testicles.
Did you not read your attempt at a joke out loud to yourself first?
Cuz it fell face first.
My favorite player right now! Get well soon Cedric! O’s need you back for tha GRIND!
Get well soon, 5’9″ Human Sparkplug!