Anthony Santander added to Baltimore Orioles’ roster, Rickard to AAA

The Baltimore Orioles lost on Wednesday, and Joey Rickard, who has been a regular on the team in 2017 was sent to AAA afterwards.

The Baltimore Orioles lost on Wednesday, and a player who has been a regular on the team in 2017 was sent to AAA afterwards. The Orioles lost 7-6 to the Seattle Mariners, despite one of the strangest ninth innings you will ever see.

Around 9 p.m., the Baltimore Orioles announced on twitter that Anthony Santander was recalled from the 60-day disabled list and Joey Rickard was sent to AAA Norfolk. Rickard is sure to be disappointed by this, but it is purely a numbers item.

Buck Showalter loves the defense that Rickard plays. However, he also loves the defense and speed that Craig Gentry brings. Many people thought that if the Baltimore Orioles put Gentry on waivers, he would have been claimed by a team looking for his speed and defense, valuable assets for teams pushing for the playoffs.

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The fact that Rickard was sent down does make for an interesting situation. With Rickard, your normal starter versus left-handers in AAA, who will take that role in the lineup? It won’t be Seth Smith, a left-hander who has done well in a platoon. It likely won’t be Santander, who is a switch-hitter, but is also much better against right-handers.

Maybe Gentry starts against lefties. Remember, it will probably only be about 12 games for September begins and Rickard is back on the roster. Although, at that point, Pedro Alvarez will likel be too.

Another option, which would significantly hamper the Orioles’ defense, would be to use Mark Trumbo in the outfield, and let either the backup catcher or Ryan Flaherty, who is also expected to be recalled before Friday’s game, serve as the designated hitter. Of course, using both of your catchers is just asking for disaster, so maybe not.

The emergence of Trey Mancini has made all of this possible. Mancini has inserted himself as an everyday player, and his defense on Wednesday showed just how far he has come defensively in 2017.

Another question you can ask in this is whether the Orioles should be trying to put a Rule 5 player on their roster at this point. This is a team that is three games out of a wild card spot. Of course, they haven’t played like a team that really deserves a playoff spot.

The Orioles were winning 1-0 after one batter on Wednesday. They came back and took a 4-3 lead. However, the Orioles also had bad Ubaldo to deal with, and he left the game with the O’s down 6-4. Richard Bleier would allow a tack on run which would end up deciding the game after Edwin Diaz could not find the plate in the ninth.

Diaz walked the bases loaded. Then, Manny Machado swung up 2-0 and flew out to Leonys Martin, on a ball that all most dropped and likely would have scored two. Jonathan Schoop struck out on a ball that was clearly a strike, although he didn’t think so. Then, Trey Mancini was hit on the arm. Mariners’ Manager Scott Servais was ejected arguing he swung at the pitch.

Then, Mark Trumbo was hit further up the arm near the wrist. That was it for Diaz, and it was Mark ‘Scrabble” Rzepczynski who faced Chris Davis with the bases loaded. Any guesses as to what Davis did? That’s right, strike out looking on three pitches. Terrible.

Next: Orioles Need Consistency From Their Offense

The Orioles enter a much needed off day three games back of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Orioles opponent starting Friday at Camden Yards? Those same Angels. The team needs to gain some ground, and playing the wild card leader provides the opportunity to do so.