As the Orioles packed up their lockers within the guests’ clubhouse at Globe Life Field final week, John Means had related — but additionally completely different — emotions of disappointment.
Means diligently labored for 16 months to make his manner again from elbow surgical procedure and pitched like certainly one of Baltimore’s greatest starters in September, solely to have a flare-up in his left elbow two days earlier than the American League Division Series towards the Texas Rangers began.
“Yeah, it was tough,” Means stated about lacking the ALDS after the Orioles’ loss in Game 3. “These guys have been so good all year. But obviously I wanted to be out there, try and help this team, but it just wasn’t in the cards.”
That elbow discomfort Means felt throughout his two-inning simulated recreation turned out to be one thing “small,” he stated, and the choice to carry him out of the ALDS was “just one of those precautionary things.”
Past the frustration of lacking the Orioles’ first playoff look since 2016, Means’ elbow being structurally OK is sweet information for the left-hander and Baltimore’s rotation in 2024. Means stated he expects to have a “normal” offseason and head into spring coaching prepared for a full season.
“I’m looking forward to that,” Means stated. “I should be ready to go. I’m looking forward to spring training when I’m not held back.”
Orioles government vp and common supervisor Mike Elias stated throughout his end-of-season information convention final week that Means’ elbow is in “good shape.”
“His elbow just kind of barked at an unfortunate time for him, but we’ve gotten it looked at and he’s gonna be fine, so he’ll be a full-go in spring training,” Elias stated. “Nothing needed for treatment with him other than just kind of time and rest.”
Means suffered via the Orioles’ painful rebuild because the membership’s greatest beginning pitcher. He was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2019 and the staff’s opening day starter in 2021 and 2022. But in his second begin of the 2022 season, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and later underwent Tommy John elbow reconstruction.
Three weeks after his surgical procedure, the Orioles promoted catcher Adley Rutschman and reworked right into a playoff contender. From the time of his damage to when he returned in September 2023, Means watched from the facet as Baltimore emerged from the rebuild to play essential video games via the 2022 season after which spend the primary 5 months of the 2023 marketing campaign as certainly one of MLB’s greatest groups.
The hope was Means might return in July, however a muscle pressure in his again delayed his return by about two months.
“It was up and down, for sure,” Means stated of his 2023. “I was glad I made it back eventually. I was hoping to make it back for more, but, yeah, I was happy with how I felt when I was back, so I guess that’s all you can ask for.”
Even although he solely began 4 video games and didn’t pitch within the postseason, he nonetheless performed an integral position down the stretch. He posted a 2.66 ERA in 23 2/3 innings, together with a masterful begin in Cleveland during which he took a no-hit bid into the seventh to assist finish a three-game dropping streak.
“The guy came out of nowhere and saved our division title in Cleveland, and I’ll never forget that,” Elias stated.
Not having Means within the ALDS did play an element within the sweep, though whether or not the left-hander would’ve made a large enough distinction to show the sequence is unlikely. It’s additionally unclear whether or not Means would’ve began Game 3 in Arlington, Texas, or come out of the bullpen someday within the sequence, however supervisor Brandon Hyde stated not having Means affected how he might use the remainder of his pitching workers.
“It’s just one of those things that happened. It’s unfortunate, but it happened and it didn’t allow us to have one of our starters go in the bullpen,” Hyde stated.
In 2024, Means might as soon as once more assist lead the Orioles’ rotation, however one which’s a lot better than those he headlined throughout the rebuild. Kyle Bradish emerged this season as one of many AL’s greatest beginning pitchers, whereas rookie Grayson Rodriguez bounced again from a poor first half with a stellar second, though he struggled in his one postseason begin.
After the Game 3 loss to the Rangers, Means stated getting playoff expertise will probably be useful for a staff that’s nonetheless on the upswing.
“This is something that, you know, is going to be very useful down the road,” he stated. “This team is so young and so talented and so smart, too, that they’re just going to be able to be even better next year.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com