The Baltimore Orioles are the feel-good story going into the MLB playoffs but they won't be there long if they don't clean up the mistakes.
Baltimore fell in Game 1 to the Rangers, 3-2, on Saturday. It's not time to panic but the Orioles can look at players and staff and expect a whole lot more going forward.
Who is to blame for the loss?
3. Gunnar Henderson
Gunnar Henderson blew it and he knows it.
The infielder did exactly what he needed to do in the ninth inning with a lead-off single, but he wiped out any positive momentum he'd created by getting caught stealing.
You just can't take that risk in that situation. Henderson had a miniscule chance of actually pulling that steal off in the first place. And it was totally unnecessary.
The steal was obviously Henderson's worst moment of the game, but it wasn't exactly a banner day for him either. He struck out swinging twice and popped out with a man in scoring position.
But Henderson doesn't hold the most blame...
2. Adam Frazier
Adam Frazier came into the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as a pinch hitter. He was anything but clutch when the Orioles needed him to be.
Frazier's first at-bat was with men on first and second. He worked into a 2-0 count and stranded them on a pop up. Even worse, he had a man on first in his second at-bat with a 3-0 count. He blew that with a fly out as well. Finally, Frazier represented the final out in the game with a ground out to third.
He got into good positions against pitchers who were struggling to put things in the zone but he wasted those opportunities.
The pinch hitter was given a huge responsibility in a playoff game for the Orioles. He didn't do a thing to suggest he deserves to be in that spot again.
But Frazier didn't put himself in the game. The person who did deserves a far bigger piece of the blame....
1. Brandon Hyde
Brandon Hyde has done a helluva job with the Orioles this year, but his first playoff outing was a total dud.
The decision to pinch-hit Adam Frazier in the fourth for Jordan Westburg was a headscratcher. Frazier didn't need three at-bats in the game over Westburg, nor does he bring exceptional defense to the table. Where was the upgrade by having Frazier in?
Hyde also pinch hit Ryan O'Hearn for Ramon Urias in the bottom of the seventh. O'Hearn was 0-for-23 over the last eight games of the regular-season. With a man on first, Hyde can't have expected much from him in a key moment of the game.
Finally, Hyde had a role in Henderson's decision to attempt that steal in the ninth inning. The player said the coach called for it. The manager called it a "miscommunication." Video of Hyde in the dugout after it all went down seemed to show him mouthing a NSFW phrase that suggests he was out of the loop. Either way, it was a huge blunder in the game that any manager is ultimately responsible for.
The Orioles can bounce back on Sunday in Game 2, but their home field advantage is now gone unless they can steal one in Arlington.
