the
andy poland show on ESPN 630 the sports capital yeah time for Orioles preview as they continue their series with the Kansas City Royals tonight
Seven o'clock start for our coverage here on ESPN 630 as Kyle Gibson goes for five and oh on the season and joining us now is
Ben McDonald who was once the number one pick of the draft in 1989 pitch seven years for the Orioles and has been a part of the
Mass and crew on TV. How many years now Ben? How many years is this for you?
This is 13 now
Coming back and broadcasting with the Orioles, you know the last five or six years full time
You know, but they're just kind of getting my feet wet the first few years
You know, so yeah, it's hard to believe it's already been 13 years coming back to do it
And I would say that you have seen the worst of times and now the best of times
What has it been like to to do a team that lost a hundred and ten games just two years ago?
And now has the second best record in the American League and is looking like they have some staying power this year
Yeah, you know, it's a it's been a beautiful turnaround to say the least
I mean there were times as you know being the Orioles fan like I am four or five years ago when
You know, you go to the ballpark just one or not if you're going to lose but how bad you're going to get beat today
You know and it was a very difficult time for for a lot of for a lot of fans
It was a difficult time for the players too because they were just outmanned in a lot of ways and you know, Michael
I have had a a play it
You know and Brandon Hyde had a plan and they stuck to that plan that we saw
Really come to fruition last year when they won 83 games and won 31 games more than they did the previous year and listen
Spring training this year and a lot of people felt like the Orioles over achieved last year and most of the pundits and
People out there the experts about the Orioles are gonna back up this year and they over achieved and I just felt like from this group in spring training this year that
It was a validation year in a lot of ways to show people that hey, we are for real
We are to be taken serious
We're tired of getting beating on and getting punched on and we're starting to punch back
We saw that last year and look the Orioles are having a phenomenal year so far this year second
Best record in all the baseball which is with just a mate. Yeah, 12 of the last 14
They continue to come from behind 10 comebacks including last night when they were down three nothing
And when you talk about the turnaround that started last year it almost traces directly to bringing Adley
Ruchman up the number one number one pick of the 2019 draft
He has exceeded and the expectations were high but he's even exceeded them. He's batting 315 this year
And he has he has just been phenomenal behind the plate. He's driven in 18 runs
He's he's everything that he would have hoped for when you took him number one
You were the number one pick 30 years before he was and you know about the expectations that come along with that and and people
Like in your case, I'm sure we're talking about oh, it's the next Jim Palmer and and the pressure that goes along with that
What was that like and have you had a conversation with Adley as to how to handle that kind of pressure?
Yeah, you know, that's a great question and you know
It was a little bit different years ago for me and the attention and you know being the first pick and the record signing
Bonus and all that kind of stuff and it didn't help that Frank Robinson said in my first full year
I had to win 20 ball games in order for the Worlds to be successful and I was a 21 year old kid
That didn't even know what he was doing yet and then I tried to live up to that
Yeah for a while which was a huge mistake for me and anytime, you know, you're learning at the big league level
It's a very difficult place to learn how to pitch or how to play and
You know
Adley Rutzman though. I'll say this about him a lot more mature than I was
You know, Adley had been a guy to the team USA guy and he'd done a lot of things in Oregon State when a national championship
He'd done a lot of things and I think he had a lot better understanding and how to deal with the pressure
Then idea, you know and so he's kind of fit right in look
He's what you call a difference maker in the game today
He's a different maker on both sides of the ball and defensively last year
I thought he was as good as anybody his framing ability is blocking ability and listen when you watch a game watch
How many times the picture shake their head and they say no, I don't want to throw that pitch
It almost feels like every button or finger he puts down
He's right in tune and knows the league as well as anybody the pictures have bought into what he does and offensively
It's a it's a different kind of approach. I mean we say he's young age-wide
He's really not that young anymore. He's 25
But he's young to the big leagues in a lot of ways experience wise, but it's almost like he's been there for 10 years
You know in his understanding of the strike zone the way he approaches pitches his swing decisions
The ability to walk and lay off tough pitches
He really understands the strike zone and his ability to spray the ball all around the field like he did last
I think three of his hits last night with the opposite way out of four hits
And so it's a special special player. I think Gunder Henderson is a special player to he'll eventually get going as well
By the way, you mentioned your record signing bonus. What was that in 1989?
You remember?
Well, yeah
I think it I
Andy Bennett was the first pick a year before it
$10,000 and I was the first pick the following year at
$350,000 and now I think the first pick this year's gonna get over nine million dollars
So, you know, I think can't wait can't Williams once said, you know, I've played at the wrong time
You know, I think every player that played many years ago can say that about the signing bonuses up today
But it's where we are, you know, it's it's a heck if you go number one overall this year
It's a good day for you sure can't imagine that there's 350,000. Oh by the broken the bank, you know
That that guys got to win the sad young to be worth it. I think it was right
I think I think Bennett was the next year that the Yankees took a pitcher's his name is escapes
Me never made it to the majors because of injury
But he used the leverage of of going to college and got a million dollars out of George Steinbrenner
So it really ramped up in one year. Yeah, so yeah, I mean it but you know, I think that's where we are now
You know, we have slot slot limits now as you know in values
But I mean you can you can go under our over those as well
So exactly we're talking to Ben McDonald part of the Orioles broadcast crew on mass in a former pitcher pitch seven years
were the Orioles won 58 games and
We were just talking about the the pressure of being number one number one
When you have a guy on your staff who's going tonight like Kyle Gibson
35 years old and compared to the rest of the staff is the grand old man
What does that mean to you?
As a pitcher to have somebody with that kind of guidance for a bunch of young guys who follow up behind him
Well, it's important for a young pitching staff, you know, and that's what the Orioles have you talk about Grayson Rodriguez
He's 23 years old make four or five, you know career stars Kyle Brad is his young to the big league so as Dean Kramer
So to have a veteran guy, I can't tell you having Rick Sutcliffe come along
My second full year in the big leagues and what he meant for me and my development
You know as a pitcher and to have a veteran guy that's kind of been there and done it all before like Rick Sutcliffe was
He was a guy that I was I could relate to right-handed big tall guy like me and I could sit down
I could talk about him like a silly bench that we could talk about hitters and what they're looking for and what their approach is
I think Kyle Gibson gives it for young Orioles a lot of the same things of a guy that's been there
You know a guy that has what over 1500 innings at the big league level
He's in and you know his 10th or 11th year of major league baseball and so he could sit down and help this
Young group of starting pitchers kind of began to develop when you could talk about stuff off the field
And maybe you could take it to use on the field
So it's always good to have a a veteran presence. He's been really good this year
I mean look guess it's 4-0 with a sub 4 ERA
And he's really held his own is kept the ball in the ballpark. He spent everything the Orioles hoped that he would be
I mean what he got is for guidance
We also went got him because he's a good picture any the guy that could chew up innings and that's what the Orioles need right now
Is a guy that could go out and chew up innings and he's average almost six innings per start so far this year
So I think gifts has been everything the Orioles hoped he would be at this point
Ten come from behind wins half their wins ten or come from behind wins as a pitcher
That's got to give you a hell of a lot of confidence if you have a rough couple of innings doesn't it?
Yeah, well, you know
I said this on the air last night. It's almost like the Orioles don't get comfortable until they get three runs down at the ball
Okay, right. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen this team
But you know what I think Brendan Hyde deserves a lot of the credit for this this team does not panic
It's able to approach all year long. I mean if you look at the hitting coach is not more salty
Has been outstanding Ryan Fuller has been outstanding and in the oil batters have just bought into this approach
They have at the plate now and what they're doing when the game begins they have a game plan
No matter what the score is or how much they get down or up they will continue to stick with the approach that they have and it's really
Work from this year and you love that as a pitcher, right?
Because you know if you get down a little bit your team did really is coming back
And I think title will give up free right away in the first inning and all of a sudden the world's
Exploiled in the fourth inning and score five runs and boy that means a lot to your adrenaline
To get back out on the field when you know your your offenses behind you looks the defense has been awful a little bit compared to last year
From the world this year, but the defense was on point. It was a glove show last night
I mean gunner Henderson over third base
Wildcats going up the ladder on that line drive admitted difference in the ball game
Of course, it gets a separate mode
It's made was just off the charts last night over in the right center field
So oils are starting to get it to go in a little bit
You know the defense really stepped up and so I I love with this team here
There's been a wonderful stretch. You know we said this about three weeks ago that they were fixing play 19 the next 22 games against up
500 teams they paid in care of business to this point
They only lost four of those ball games they got two left and then we get to the heart of the schedule
So a month from now
We'll find out more about where the Orioles are is you know you got to go to Atlanta
You get Tampa coming in the pirates are a big surprise team
They come to Camden, you know here in about a week or so
So it's been fun, but the Orioles have done the things they need to do the good teams beat teams are supposed to be
That's what the Orioles have done at this point
Yeah, and they do and also in this day and age as you know as a pitcher
If you get six innings in that's that's a good night's work
So they've got the bullpen that's been closing the door and the way Felix put Tista and Brian Baker of pitch
That's been really remarkable
You know for two guys who you know most baseball fans wouldn't know their names
But they have been phenomenal in his first month of the month or show of the season
Yeah, I mean look he looks about piece that was just named American League closer of the month about 30 minutes ago
That's how good he's been
Yeah, and look these guys stepped on the scene last year
I mean you talk about last year the surprises were courts were C&L for S
Felix Bob T said Brian Baker right Brian Baker had one inning in the big leagues before last year ends up being one of the
Best relievers in baseball Phoenix Bob Tista when last year began the year before he was in a ball believe it or not
Just kind of mucking around in a ball and yet he ends up being the closure for the Warriors the C&L for edges could throw a
Strike he bounced around the big leagues those three guys all had over 60 appearances last year for the Orioles and the bullpen
Was the backbone of the Orioles last year was a nice best bullpen
You know in all of major league baseball
It was a backbone of the team actually it was a reason why the Orioles won a lot of games and now I'll submit this to you
Danny Colomb and
yan year can know or two
Giant surprises this year that bullpen Danny had kind of popped around the big leagues a little bit
Look he gave up one earned run and yan year can know give up his first base at him give him a run yet
He gave up his first base hit last night was an infield single and like 11 innings of work
And so they've been the two surprise guys this year and look I'll be honest with yan year to no last year headed like a nine
Erase a big league level. I'm wondering when I saw him last year. Why is this guy even on the 40-man roster?
Well, that's why I'm sitting a booth and not enough to GM like Michael I says he saw something in yan year to know
And he's arguably been the best reliever in baseball since he came up two and a half weeks ago
I'll give you a quick story before I let you go when I was in San Antonio many years ago
They have the double-aid dodgers there and I'm watching sandy
Kofax work with a relief pitcher who I thought was terrible and I'm thinking why is the great sandy Kofax wasting his time with this
Reliever the next year they moved him up to triple-a Albuquerque and he became an instant starter and an instant sensation
His name was oral hershizer
so
You just don't know some guys, you know, and I was part of a low-pass
Traven when we sent a hory low-pass to the Minnesota twin jennier cano was part of that deal
We got back and look it's 96 miles an hour with a bowling ball sinker and a wipeout change up
You know and he's made a big difference for the Orioles and so look it's good right now for the oils
And let's not forget we're fixing to get Dylan Tate and Michael Gibbons back to right?
We have assignment right now, so this bullpen is even gonna be better than it is probably another two or three weeks
You know, it's it's been fun and fun to talk to you. Thanks very much Ben good to talk to you any time
Okay, that's Ben McDonald who does a really nice job on on the Orioles
I mean they have they have Jim Palmer some of the time and they have Ben McDonald
That's he can't do much better than that and a very good good conversation about the Orioles
We'll get to some of the comments from last night and also Kyle Gibson who makes the start tonight as we continue with Orioles preview on ESPN
Capital this is Orioles preview Tony's coming up at 11 o'clock
This is review though from last night as Ryan Mount Castle
Delivered again. He had a game earlier this year where he drove in nine last night five with two home runs in a
Come from behind win at Kansas City
11 to 7 and afterwards talk to Melanie Newman back-to-back home runs you drive in five
How are you feeling tonight? I was I was feeling pretty good, you know, you know got some balls a hit and yeah
The bases loaded it bad you lying this where to say I wasn't thinking about it a little bit
But and I was good day felt good and yeah great team win. Yarbrough was perfect through those first three
He's traditionally really pushed this lineup. What change that you guys cracked him open. Yeah first ending
It was sort of tough to see out there. It was you know super bright in the background, but yeah
I know you had his stuff today and you know after first time through I feel like we put together better bats and
What's going on in the dugout when santander is at the plate for eight minutes? That was that was the craziest bet
legit have ever seen it
Yeah, 15 16 pitches whatever it was and throws the bat at the ball and it lands the right field
That was awesome lastly
bullpen is the best in Major League Baseball Brian Bakers moonwalking into the dugout
What's it like to play behind those guys? Yeah? No, they've they've been great all year and yeah, babe had electric stuff tonight
Cano doing his typical stuff. I mean you get up a hit. I know it's crazy, you know
He's unbelievable and our bullpen's awesome Baker last night lowing his er a to 1.76 pitching tonight
For the Orioles the elder statesman 35 year old Kyle Gibson has a 4-0 record and era of 3.93
leads the team in innings pitch with 34.1 and
And talked about what it's like to be the old guy on the staff with the MLB network up until I think when we traded for Danny
Coulomb I was the only player born in the 80s on his team so
They've let me know every step of the way that I'm clearly the oldest guy
But that's good, you know, I enjoy it
I was really fortunate in Minnesota to have quite a few veterans starting pitchers for me to lean on
And all I'm trying to do is make myself available
You know be able to answer questions about some of the struggles
I've been through some of the things that have helped me bounce back from those struggles and just to see if I can help these guys through
You know some of the rocky roads that they're gonna face or maybe they're going through right now
It's been a lot of fun just sitting in the dugout and talking baseball with these these other rotation guys and they're asking awesome questions and
You know, it's it's been a lot of fun being here with them
So that's the old guy the young guy in the sensation is Adley
Ruchman who went three for four last night and has raised his average to three 15 has been
everything that the Orioles had hoped he would be and
Kyle Gibson talked about him with Billy Ripken on the MLB network
I've been really fortunate throughout my career to throw to to quite a few guys and you know
Adley's right up there at the top with all of them
You know, he's just he's got a good head on his shoulders with how he likes to call a game and take us pitchers through a game
And when you have a guy behind the plate that can do it on both sides of the ball and and as a switch hitter
He's obviously a special talent
You know, it's one of the things talking with Jordan Liles this offseason about coming to Baltimore as a starting pitcher
It's important
I think to have a good relationship with your catcher and to come to a team that has a guy like Adley
it was definitely a selling point so
Been been excited to throw to him so far and and he's gonna be a good player for a long time
You mentioned the the young team that are having fun
I was sitting on the desk last night. You guys were losing you guys almost came back didn't quite happen
But you're sitting on the desk and I saw seven nothing and I said nothing would surprise me right now
If the Orioles come back and possibly win this game. What is it about this crew?
Because they're they're late inning a Rolex their walk-offs recently and things like that and you guys just fell short last night
Yeah, I think you just got to keep your mind in the game those games are tough, you know, they're not many times
Do you really?
Come back and finish that comeback not a lot of times you score four there in the in the ninth either
So you just got to keep your mind sharp. You got to you got to stay locked in and not give away at bats
It's really easy to give away one about here or one inning there
And then you get to the end of the year and you've given away, you know
ten innings as a pitcher 20 of bats as a hitter and and D-row and and and
Ripley you guys know like that does a lot to just the end of the year
So credit to these offensive guys for for locking it in and and and staying in the game all night
Inics is that's the only way you do that so that was Gibson last week with the MLB network
They continue their series tonight in Kansas City Royals with the second worst record in baseball
And the series will wrap up tomorrow afternoon with an afternoon game starting at two o'clock coverage here beginning at 130
Then and this is where the rubber will meet the moored in in the upcoming weeks
They played the defending champion Braves on the road in a weekend series and then they come home on
Monday and we'll really find out what they're all about because the Tampa Bay Rays
The best record at baseball got off to the best start and they are now on the season
24 and 6 they come to Camden Yards for three games that'll be Monday
Tuesday and Wednesday of next week when we'll really find out about this team
But so far so good second best record in the American League
They've won 12 the last 14 games and they'll try to keep it going tonight with again a 7 40 start covered tier on ESPN
630 we'll start at 7 want to thank Ben McDonald for coming on Orioles preview also
Talking to Sulaman Sigawa who will be at the Beltway battle on Saturday night at the entertainment and sports arena in Southeast
And thanks to Rex Minn turned for running the show Tony is coming up next and I'll see you tomorrow morning at 9 a.m