Trumbo on his future, Kim on outfield incident and more

TORONTO - He led the major leagues in home runs this year and hit another one last night. It was the only swing that produced any runs in the Orioles' 11-inning 5-2 walk-off loss to the Blue Jays.

Mark Trumbo hit a two-run shot off Marcus Storman in the fourth inning in his first career playoff game. The shot down the left field line gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead they could not hold.

Edwin Encarnacion's three-run blast on a 92 mph Ubaldo Jimenez fastball ended the game and the Orioles' season.

Now can they hold onto Trumbo? Conventional wisdom says with his big year he'll get a big contract as a free agent this winter and price his way off the Orioles roster.

Trumbo sounds like he hopes that does not happen.

"I love it here," he said. "Had a great time and I'm sure we'll talk at some point. Who wouldn't (want to come back)? It has been an absolute blast this year."

In the quiet of the clubhouse just minutes after this tough loss, Trumbo tried to sum up the 2016 season.

"I couldn't be more proud of the guys in there," he said. "That is what makes it so difficult, how good a team this really is, not just on the field but the people. When you are in the foxhole with the guys the entire season and all the work that gets put in behind the scenes, it is really tough right now."

Right next to Trumbo's locker, Hyun Soo Kim was engulfed by reporters as he was asked about the beer can thrown at him as he was attempting to catch a fly ball off the bat of Melvin Upton Jr. to end the seventh inning. Despite some idiot fan putting him in danger, he still made the catch.

"I was trying to catch the ball," Kim said through his interpreter Danny Lee. "I actually thought that was the ball and thought I missed the ball. Then I found out that was a beer can. That has never happened to me before and I was surprised and shocked.

"It was a pretty dangerous moment and was pretty scary. If I actually would have gotten hit, it would been worse. I ask the fans - these are not things that should happen."

Moments later center fielder Adam Jones came over to Kim and seemed to yell toward the stands.

"I appreciate Jonsey for doing that. I was glad that I joined this team to start with and I felt warm out there without panicking," Kim said. "I feel sorry that I wasn't able to do well today. I really wanted to do well today."

The Orioles offense produced just four hits in the game and went hitless in their last 16 at-bats. They could not even get a runner to second base in the last six innings. Simply not good enough with the season riding.

Manager Buck Showalter is going to get second guessed probably all winter long for not using closer Zach Britton. I can understand the reasoning during the season for Showalter to wait to get a lead on the road before going to Britton. I can't understand how he could let 11 innings be played last night, use seven pitchers and not one of them be Britton.

You just can't let the best closer in the league not even make the box score in that game. As good as he pitched down the stretch, Jimenez's comfort level in that spot in the 11th could not have been good. Britton should have been used there if not sooner. If you can't provide him a lead to protect, at least let him throw two innings to keep the game going. But the Orioles left Britton in the bullpen and he never got in the biggest game of the year.

It was a devastating way for a solid season to end. It was not a great year with fewer than 90 wins and no division title. But this loss will hurt for quite a while. For players, fans and the entire organization.

There was a lot to like about the 2016 Orioles and there will be more to like in 2017 I'm sure. Now we have all fall and winter to debate last season and look ahead to the next one.

I want to thank all the Orioles and the Orioles staff for being a great group to work with this season. It was sad to shake some hands with a few goodbyes in that clubhouse last night. The 2016 Orioles featured a clubhouse full of players who respected the media and the job we have, and made our lives much easier. More importantly, they respected the community and fans, and did good things on and off the field in 2016. I marveled all year at the many good deeds players did for many people and causes as they played a sport where you get about 18 off-days in six months.

For any new readers here, this blog doesn't stop now. We'll have at least one fresh story probably every day of the offseason. That is the goal, so keep the conversation going in our comment sections. Your feedback is important and appreciated.

Thanks to all of you for reading the game blogs and being around for us to have such a great group of fans to report for. I appreciate every reader. Now, with the disappointment of last night still very fresh, let the offseason begin.