For O's Gunnar Henderson ROY talk is nice, playoffs though is the goal

The Orioles have not had an American League Rookie of the Year since pitcher Gregg Olson won it in 1989. Last year Adley Rutschman finished a distant second to Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez, who got 29 of the 30 first-place votes by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

But this year Gunnar Henderson is a strong candidate to end a long stretch where the Orioles have not had a ROY.

Their first was Ron Hansen in 1960, followed by Curt Blefary in 1965, Al Bumbry in 1973, Eddie Murray in 1977, Cal Ripken Jr. in 1982 and Olson. If he gets it, Henderson would be the seventh O’s ROY.

Henderson leads AL rookies in baseball-refernce.com WAR at 4.0 and leads among FanGraphs WAR for AL rookies at 3.1.

I asked him in the Baltimore clubhouse before the start of the series with Toronto if Rookie of the Year talk is flattering for him, distracting, or none of the above?

“Yeah, it’s cool to be considered (for) that, but at the same time I’m just going to go out there and do my thing,” said Henderson. “Feel like I’ve done that from Day 1 and whatever happens, happens. Feel like that is the way you have to go about it each and every day.

“Because you don’t want to play for self-accolades. You want to play for the team to help win and make the playoffs.”

Orioles' manager Brandon Hyde has said a few times now that Henderson has his vote and should win it. He said so again yesterday.

“Well, he should (win) for one,” said Hyde. “He’s had an incredible rookie year. I don’t think what gets talked about enough is the defense he’s played at two positions. What he has done at shortstop, what he’s done at third base. It’s extremely advanced and he’s unbelievably consistent and steady for us.

“And then the way he swings the bat - he’s a difference maker and a game changer. The speed he has. What he did that last day in Oakland was incredibly special, four extra-base hits in a game. Taking lefties deep.

“Just amazing, the talent he has, how far he has come and what he has dealt with early in the year. Battled through adversity, battled through some struggles and these last few months he’s just been an incredible player.”

Hyde was probably the least surprised that Henderson did not stop at first base on Sunday to achieve a cycle. He did what he always does, try to take as many bases as he can.

“The intensity with how he plays is off the charts,” said Hyde. “He’s in it to win and to compete and he’s playing with a ton of confidence. What else can I say?”

Nothing really needed. That about covers it, and every word is spot on.

The Orioles went into last night's Toronto series opener with 28 wins the last 40 games. Quite a run by a team keeping the hammer down right now.

“I feel like it’s the guys that we have and how we go about our business, day in and day out," said Henderson "Just wanting to win and putting in the right work each day. Going in with a plan and try to keep that each and every day."

And realizing they haven't won anything yet.

“Yeah, we’ve put ourselves in a position for it to be in our grasp and just have to continue to keep playing the way we have all year," he said. 

O's lost series opener: The Orioles have been good in series openers this year and very good when they score the first run in a game. But it didn't work out last night. They took a 1-0 lead in the first inning but lost to Toronto 6-3 in 10 innings.

Toronto (70-56) improved to 25-16 its last 41 games and to 18-7 its last 25 road games. But they are just 3-8 versus the Orioles this year.

The Birds had several missed chances, going 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. 

They are now 27-14 in series-opening games and 46-13 when they score the game's first run.

They will need to win the series final two games to keep a streak alive of not losing an AL East series. They are 8-0-2 in their past 10 division series.