For all of the Orioles’ unexpected success this season, you’d think the veterans would be a significant part of it. Rougned Odor, however, has struggled mightily for Baltimore, batting .197/.264/.353 with 11 home runs, including two hits in his last 27 at bats.
Lest ye think he’s losing any of his swagger, however, fret not. Odor suffered a bit of embarrassment Tuesday night, when he drove a ball to deep center field at Progressive Field, flipped his bat, and adjusted his helmet as if to say “all in a day’s work.”
Bat flips, while good and fun, should be reserved for the true no-doubter. If they aren’t, players end up like Odor.
Guardians centerfielder Will Benson got a bead on the ball and was able to snag Odor’s deep fly, which may or may not have cleared the wall anyways, and sent Odor slinking back to the bench.
We didn’t think @_thekidbilly_ would catch this, but where there’s a Will, there’s a way.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/ymcPqHxySl
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) August 30, 2022
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Honestly, the only scenario worse than this one for that kind of sell is a long single. But it’s hard to say how much worse it truly is.
Really, it’s a misstep to feel confident about anything falling into play against the Guardians this season. They’re fourth in MLB in outs above average at 20, trailing only the Diamondbacks, Cardinals, and Astros.
They’re also coming off a week that saw what may well be the catch of the year, with Steven Kwan diving into the stands of T-Mobile Park against the Mariners to rob Cal Raleigh of an extended at-bat.
The Guardians would go on to win 5-1, and have built up a 1.5-game lead over the Twins in the AL Central. The Orioles, for their part, added Gunnar Henderson to the taxi squad Tuesday, meaning he could be in the lineup soon. Henderson was playing second base in Norfolk this week, which could well mean Odor’s failed trot could be one of his last actions as an everyday player for Baltimore.
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