O’s Blast Seven HRs (And We Needed Most of ‘Em)

Ron Cassie — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 13:46:00 +0000

If you can’t beat them, join them.
The first-place Red Sox far and away lead the majors in offense this year, posting a ridiculous .296 team batting average. Two days ago, after successive 7-2 and 6-2 wins over the O’s, it looked like we were getting run over by a New England freight train. Did we battle back by shutting down Big Papi and his gang with great starting pitching à la Dave McNally and Jim Palmer? Nope, those days are gone. We beat Boston at their own game, posting 13 runs Wednesday and then slugging seven home runs last night—two each by Mark Trumbo and Adam Jones, a key three-run shot by Manny Machado (see photo above), one by Pedro Alvarez, and another by Francisco Pena in his first major league start. Bring on the Bronx Bombers!

She might be the best ever.
Maryland senior midfielder Taylor Cummings took home college lacrosse’s top individual honor—the Tewaarton Award—Thursday night for a record-setting third straight year. The Terps fell just short in their bid for a third straight national title last weekend, but it hardly dims the program’s achievements—or Cummings’ accomplishments—over the past few years. Cummings, an Ellicott City native and McDonogh School grad, racked up 60 goals and 19 assists this season while also leading the team in ground balls and draws. During her career, Maryland went 88-4. #FearTheTaylor

No, you look great. Just please don’t ever wear it again.
For the Seattle Mariners road trip “Dress Up Day” this week, players were encouraged to wear outfits representing where they’re from. For example, one of the team’s Asian-born players dressed in traditional garb from his country of origin. Meanwhile, Adam Lind, from Indiana (see photo below), went with red-and-white stripped pants and a red blazer over a Hoosier basketball jersey. Which, believe it or not, was restrained in comparison to teammate Steve Johnson, a native Baltimorean, St. Paul’s School graduate, and son of former O’s pitcher Dave Johnson. If nothing else, we totally dig the sunglasses, Steve. They’re keepers.

And you wanted to send this guy to the minors.
Remember the kerfuffle after spring training when the O’s asked South Korean signee Hyun Soo Kim to start in the minors and he refused the demotion? Turns out the big outfielder’s defiance—or confidence, whatever you want to call it—was apparently well placed. All he’s done since is hit .367 while working his way into the everyday lineup. He’s shown a good eye at the plate and now that he’s getting his timing down, he’s driving the ball a little bit, too, delivering a big home run the other night. Apparently, spring training is much longer in Korean baseball and it might have taken him longer to get into shape. Either way, he appears to have dropped about 15 pounds since we first saw him, and as Buck Showalter’s noted, he’s even running better these days. Hopefully, all signs of more good things to come. He certainly seems to enjoy playing the game, which we also love to see.

Source

Dave and Steve Johnson share an eerily similar Orioles history

Jess Mayhugh — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

On August 8, an Orioles pitcher named Johnson made his first career start in his hometown of Baltimore. A journeyman prospect, he recently had been called up from the minors in the midst of a pennant race. Certifiably awful the year before, the O’s were surprise contenders this season, captivating a city starved for winning baseball.

Johnson was spectacular, and the O’s cruised to an easy victory. It was his first Major League win.

No, we’re not talking about Dave Johnson, although we could very well be. In a crazy twist, Steve got his first big-league win at Camden Yards 23 years to the day after his father Dave earned his at Memorial Stadium, another remarkable bridge from the Orioles “Why Not?” 1989 team to their storybook 2012 one.
“It was unbelievable the way it worked out,” Steve says. “Being a part of the team, to see the city get behind us, there’s nothing that can beat it.”

As an analyst for MASN, Dave wears a lot of O’s hats: fan, former player, team employee. Now he’s a proud papa as well.

“I enjoyed last year in multiple ways,” he says. “I’m really happy that all Steve’s hard work paid off, that this happened for him in his hometown.”

Source

Steve Johnson – Baltimore Magazine

O’s Blast Seven HRs (And We Needed Most of ‘Em)

Dave and Steve Johnson share an eerily similar Orioles history