This, that and the other

A World Series that supposedly was going to be boring and a ratings killer began last night with Corey Seager’s game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and Adolis García’s walk-off homer in the 11th that gave the Rangers a 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks.

The first extra-inning game of the 2023 postseason, and it was an instant classic.

The Diamondbacks’ lineup included first baseman Christian Walker, the Orioles’ fourth-round draft pick in 2012 out of the University of South Carolina. A delayed success story.

Walker appeared in only 13 games in 2014-15, his path blocked by expensive veteran Chris Davis and prospect Trey Mancini. He made only six starts at first.

The Braves claimed Walker off waivers in February 2017, and the Reds claimed him a month later. Arizona claimed him three weeks after that.

Walker won a Gold Glove in 2022 and a Fielding Bible Award on Thursday. He’s played in 160 and 157 games the past two seasons and totaled 61 doubles, four triples, 69 home runs and 197 RBIs. He’s also 13-for-15 in stolen base attempts.

Game 1 last night was a rough ride for Walker, who struck out three times, flied out and walked in five plate appearances.

Arizona is a surprise entry in the World Series after going 84-78 in the regular season and finishing 16 games behind the first-place Dodgers. Walker went 3-for-8 in the wild card round and had a double and home run in a three-game sweep of the Dodgers in the Division Series, but he was 2-for-22 against the Phillies in the Championship Series.

Reliever Miguel Castro also is an Orioles connection, pitching for his third team since the 2020 trade deadline. He came into last night’s game with one out in the 10^th and faced one batter, surrendering García’s opposite-field homer and walking to the dugout with his head down.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias dealt Castro to the Mets for pitching prospect Kevin Smith and a player to be named later who became infielder Victor González. The Orioles released Smith in March. González hit a combined .220/.288/.340 this year in 38 games with Single-A Delmarva and in the Florida Complex League, and he was released in August.

The Mets traded Castro to the Yankees in April 2022, and he signed with the Diamondbacks as a free agent in December. He led the National League with 75 appearances and posted a 4.31 ERA and 1.175 WHIP in 64 2/3 innings.

Castro goes back on the free agent market after Arizona signed him to a $3.5 million contract.

Former Orioles infielder Jace Peterson also is on the World Series roster after the Diamondbacks dropped him in the Championship Series. Peterson appeared in 93 games with the Orioles in 2018 and 29 in 2019.

* The Diamondbacks are making their second appearance in the World Series. I covered the 2001 Fall Classic for The Baltimore Sun and performed a major rewrite on an extremely tight deadline after Luis González’s walk-off single against future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera in Game 7.

My editors wanted the story sent before the final out, and I assumed that my “Yankees dynasty continues” angle was safe after Alfonso Soriano’s tie-breaking home run off Curt Schilling in the top of the eighth inning. Rivera struck out three batters in the bottom half and I was cruising on Easy Street until a pothole caused a blowout in Arizona’s 3-2 victory.

There are a few words or sentences that you never want to hear, like “oops” from your surgeon or caddy, and “you have 10 minutes to file” from your copy desk. I did it, however, with sweat rolling down my forehead. And that’s the only version that ran.

The desk forgot to retrieve my write-through, the cleaner version that had quotes on it. The one that I could take my time crafting. The one I was most proud of, naturally. Never made it into print.

But I’m over it.

* The Orioles used 50 players this year, the lowest number in a full season since 2017. However, 54 appeared on the 26-man roster.

How is this possible?

Four of them didn’t get into a game – pitchers Spenser Watkins and Drew Rom and catchers Luis Torrens and José Godoy.

Eighteen players were chosen in the MLB Draft, seven were signed as minor league free agents, four were signed as major league free agents, 13 were acquired via trade, 10 were waiver claims and two were Rule 5 selections.

Don’t feel bad if you forget that catcher Mark Kolozsvary appeared in one game, catching the ninth inning on June 13 against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. I’m sure you got the rest.

Only three catchers started this season. The Orioles were 67-37 with Adley Rutschman behind the plate, 31-23 with James McCann and 3-1 with Anthony Bemboom.

The Orioles were 5-13 when Jordan Westburg started at third base and 6-3 with Terrin Vavra in right field, which means absolutely nothing.

* Gunnar Henderson was voted American League Rookie of the Month for June, the first Orioles player so honored since Ryan Mountcastle in June 2021.

Henderson was the sixth Oriole to claim the award. Can you name the other four?

Answer below.

* Yennier Cano registered 31 holds this season, a stat that doesn’t get much attention. Not nearly as sexy as the save.

However, those 31 holds tied the Astros’ Hector Neris for most in the majors and were the most by an Orioles reliever since holds were first tracked in 1986, according to STATS.

Should he stay in a setup role or close in 2024?

Cano’s 72 appearances were the most by a rookie reliever in franchise history.  

Answer: Rodrigo López in July 2002, Nick Markakis in August 2006, Nolan Reimold in June 2009 and Brian Matusz in August 2010. I would have accepted only the names.