Means on the O's players "looking to make a statement"

When last we saw Orioles lefty John Means, he was giving up just one run and one hit with nine strikeouts in six innings late last September against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was part of stunning finish to his season. Over his last four starts, Means went 2-1 with a 1.52 ERA, a .488 OPS against and a 0.63 WHIP. He did that against teams that all ranked in the top 13 in team OPS in the majors, facing the Mets, Yankees, Rays and Blue Jays.

Today, Means makes his 2021 Grapefruit League debut as the Orioles (0-1-1) host the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium.

Some of the sportsbooks have put the Orioles' over-under win total at 63 1/2 for the year. If they exceed that and go at least 64-98, they would have their most wins since 2017, when the club went 75-87. It is not a high bar when the team won just 47 games in 2018 and 54 a year later.

Yesterday, as a guest on 105.7 The Fan's "Big Bad Morning Show," Means let us know about his confident outlook for the 2021 Orioles.

"I was looking at our projected lineup the other day and I really do think we have a good squad," said Means. "We have some young guys that are looking to make a statement, looking to put themselves on the map. And I think that can be really dangerous. I know we have a lot of guys without a whole lot of service time. But I do think this team is having a lot of fun and we're playing free and loose. I think we have the right pieces to really put together a good season."

Earlier, Means said he felt pitchers could still throw a lot of innings this season after going through a shortened 60-game year. He reiterated that yesterday.

"I honestly think it's a little overblown," he said of talk of limiting pitchers' innings totals. "I look at it as my arm got some extra rest time. I think I can go out and throw 170, 180 innings. Everyone was throwing in the offseason. The offseason work nowadays is so extensive and guys are doing so much to protect their arms that I think it won't be a problem. But obviously we'll see once July and August hits; we'll see how guys are doing and check in there."

Getting to know you could be harder this season: While a socially-distanced clubhouse is needed to help keep ballplayers safe and healthy, some of the protocols they face can make it tougher to get to know their teammates. Or to soak up information from veteran players. Not impossible, but perhaps tougher, left-hander Keegan Akin said during a Zoom interview Monday.

He was asked specifically about getting to know and pick up tips from veterans Félix Hernández and Matt Harvey.

"Yeah, for sure. If I'm on a different schedule that day - say like today (Monday), I have a bullpen and they don't have bullpens," Akin said. "I seem them in the locker room, but when we go outside and do things, we are probably on different fields. I'm off doing my own thing, they're off doing their own thing. Where before, last year and years past, everybody is in one big group. You're all going through things together.

"This year it's just split up. It's a little different. Even getting to know some of the new guys in camp is pretty tough. There is social distancing in the clubhouse, so it's pretty hard to go sit around someone's locker and get to know them or talk to them. It's just, kind of, keep your distance, get your work in and go from there."

Akin went 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA in eight games last summer, making six starts in which the team went 4-2. Akin went 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA in the six starts. If you take away a first-inning knockout against the Yankees, he posted an ERA of 2.49 as a starter. He allowed zero earned runs three times in the six starts, including once in 5 1/3 innings against the Yankees.

Akin averaged an impressive 12.27 strikeouts per nine innings, which was the best of any Oriole that pitched last year. It was also fourth among American League rookies that threw at least 25 innings. Among all major league pitchers that threw 20 or more innings, he ranked 34th in strikeouts per nine. He was keeping good company, as Trevor Bauer was 32nd at 12.33 and Max Scherzer 33rd at 12.30.

The Orioles (0-1-1) have seen starters Thomas Eshelman and Jorge López allow a combined six hits and four runs (three earned) in three innings their first two games. Their hitters have gone a combined 10-for-52 (.192) with two extra-base hits - home runs by Yusniel Diaz and DJ Stewart. Their batters went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position Sunday and 1-for-2 yesterday.

In their third spring game this afternoon at 1:05 p.m., Means gets the start against New York. The game will be broadcast on 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore.

Goodbye to a special lady: I want to pass on my condolences to the family and many friends of Mrs. Vi Ripken, who passed away recently. She was the widow of Cal Sr., the mom of Cal Jr. and Billy, and grandmom of Ryan. She's a pretty important person to the O's organization with that wonderful family connection.

From 2004-2006, I broadcast Aberdeen IronBirds games on radio and had a few chances to chat with Mrs. Ripken before games there. Once I asked her if I could take a moment to pass on how nice it was to interact not only with Cal Sr., but also her sons on the Orioles as well. I told her that all three were always classy and respectful to me and I just wanted to take a moment to say that. I told her I bet she heard that often.

"I do," Mrs. Ripken said. "But a mom never tires of hearing such a thing."

RIP, Mrs. Ripken.

The Ironbirds will dearly miss Vi and offer our deepest condolences to the Ripken family during these difficult times. pic.twitter.com/ScIgLTFgku

-- Aberdeen IronBirds (@IronBirds) March 1, 2021