The Orioles are playing in just one of four games on Monday in Major League Baseball, so obviously all eyes will be on the dramatic Mark Reynolds homecoming as the Cleveland Indians come to Baltimore for the first of a four.
After spending two seasons in Baltimore, the Orioles non-tendered the power hitting first/third baseman and Cleveland jumped in and signed him to a club-friendly one-year, $6 million deal. Reynolds began 2013 hitting like his hair was on fire, he homered 13 times in his first 51 games. Admittedly, I questioned the Orioles decision to let Reynolds walk as the O’s DH’s hit less than most NL pitchers.
However, in his last 21 games Reynolds has homered just once and is batting just .164/.253/.209 with eight walks and 32 strikeouts in June. The Mark Reynolds we knew and loved here in Baltimore has returned.
Still, it’ll be great to see the guy that terrorized the Yankees down the stretch last season. I was always a fan, but Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter decided to construct their lineup with less streaky hitters and so far it’s worked out quite nicely.
I’ll definitely give The Sheriff a warm welcome. Often overlooked by the critics, was his consistent ability to get on base. On teams that consistently could not, he often had the highest OBP. Sure he struck out a lot, but he wasn’t afraid to take a walk like most on the team seemed to be.
Welcome home hell, he’s with the enemy now!
Go O’s!
Oh come on Incher,,,,,,,Reynolds helped make last year pretty interesting……………….
You think he’ll leave Buck hanging again?
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