Episode

#634 : In The Hunt

Section 336

August 19, 2026 · 1 hr 10 min

The Orioles are right in the thick of the American League playoff race — and every game is starting to matter.This week on Section 336, we break down Baltimore’s brief stay in a Wild Card spot and what it says about where…

Listen to this episodeYour place is saved on this device.

0:00 / 1 hr 10 min

Speed Download

YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts RSS Feed

Show notes

The Orioles are right in the thick of the American League playoff race — and every game is starting to matter.

This week on Section 336, we break down Baltimore’s brief stay in a Wild Card spot and what it says about where this team stands heading into the stretch run. Gunnar Henderson is heating up at exactly the right time, the Orioles are showing signs they can make some noise, and now comes a tough stretch that could go a long way toward deciding their postseason fate.

The Birds are in the hunt. Can they stay there?

It’s all on Section 336 — Episode 634: In the Hunt.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/section-336-baltimore-orioles-talk3275/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

TranscriptRead Transcript · EN

Search transcript

[SPEAKER_01]: Three, six, we on this, so true.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, welcome to Birdland.

[SPEAKER_02]: Ladies and gentlemen boys and girls, fun more sports fans all ages welcome to section 336 next generation bond more sports talk.

[SPEAKER_02]: I am your in killings and hosts Matt Skroka It's always I'm joined by the button number Josh Rooka.

[SPEAKER_02]: Hey Josh.

[SPEAKER_03]: Hey Matt, it's uh It's always fun to do this podcast and I know it's been two weeks or so But it's also kind of annoying when we have to do it right after a loss

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, lost tonight three to one to the Yankees despite a really good pitching performance by Shane Bass, just their offense could not get it going.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's just, but it seems like that's been the problem with the Orioles all season.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's the offense can't let it go in and you get these key moments.

[SPEAKER_03]: It's easy to say that we leave men on base, but it sure feels like it's also like the basis can be empty, but you can have a guy that you know needs to get a hit and he can't get the hit.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that's kind of what made, I mean if you look at it just this month of August, you know, or after the trade deadline,

[SPEAKER_02]: we open up with the angels, and we say to ourselves, this is a really soft part of the schedule with the angels, and then we get to the Rangers and Twins, both teens or recorders under 500 who were kind of contending with.

[SPEAKER_03]: And that was where we said, well, this is our chance to move into the wall card, is we gotta fight these two teams.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and so, and then the last, we won the first two game against the angels, then the third game against the angels, we only gave it, we only got one run, and then we went in the Ranger series, one run, one run, and then the third game with that Ranger series, we kind of exploded to 10 runs, which was the start that August 9th.

[SPEAKER_02]: Nine days ago, the start of it pretty nice run for the offense.

[SPEAKER_02]: It was scored ten runs, then five runs, and five runs, and six runs, and four runs, then ten runs, and six runs.

[SPEAKER_02]: But we end up losing two out of three to the ranges.

[SPEAKER_02]: Then to the twins, in what fields like a last gas effort to stay in wildcard contention, or even like entertainment here, value here, can we just stay in the running just for fun?

[SPEAKER_02]: We lose two out of three to the twinkies.

[SPEAKER_02]: We're struggling, coming in that series as well.

[SPEAKER_03]: But if there's anything we learned from the Orioles this season, it's been as soon as they decide, let us fan base down.

[SPEAKER_03]: And as soon as we as a fan base aside, well, it's over.

[SPEAKER_03]: We're not, it's not happening.

[SPEAKER_03]: As every time we get crushed, they do something where they suck us back in.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: And that's what they did here.

[SPEAKER_03]: They went to Tampa and played out Stan and Ball.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, the defense is good.

[SPEAKER_03]: The pitching was pretty good.

[SPEAKER_02]: The offense is great.

[SPEAKER_02]: Got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it just looks a lot better.

[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and even we lost Monday night in Tampa, but that was a close game.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, that's where we ran it.

[SPEAKER_03]: We ran it.

[SPEAKER_03]: All fences going.

[SPEAKER_03]: So it still wasn't enough to not to kind of give us hope going into this Yankees series back home.

[SPEAKER_03]: But once the Yankees took the lead by like two runs, you kind of felt it.

[SPEAKER_03]: You felt, oh, our all fences and doing anything today.

[SPEAKER_03]: You got the nice Mayo home run, but nothing else is working.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you get a little hopeful when you see, every time now I see a lefty starter, I can see all right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, that's with the lefty starter, you, you automatically spot Doros one home run with Mayo, because Mayo's going to hit a home run, that's just how it works.

[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe two with O'Neal, you never know about O'Neal, he likes to crush lefty's too.

[SPEAKER_03]: So you, and then you just hope you can get enough for us the offense, but was it the first in and or the second in and where we loaded the bases and couldn't get it run in?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that's when I kind of knew oh we're back for this and we saw we're first for the Yankees load load the bases and they got the runs in so Yes, kind of it's and that's kind of was the different in the game the big head and that's the difference between the rays

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, strand, I mean, CES had a bunch of big hits in that series, and I think we're batting, I mean, the two outs, bat-navage was like, you know, 300, we were crushing with runners-on base.

[SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, I mean, it's a long season, there's ups and downs like that, but this game was more felt

[SPEAKER_03]: It did.

[SPEAKER_03]: It was not a, um, it was not a fun game.

[SPEAKER_03]: And anytime I look out there and we have Franklin out me outfield, I'm like, oh yeah, anyone that turns on a game this week is going to go who who's that guy?

[SPEAKER_03]: That's not a place you want to be in August.

[SPEAKER_03]: And I know we've got Blaze coming back soon and that'll help out, but

[SPEAKER_03]: We had struggles tonight.

[SPEAKER_03]: We have Franklin in the outfair.

[SPEAKER_03]: We got Jeremiah Jackson, who can't do anything playing out there as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: I kind of like Christian Franklin.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm intrigued by his speed.

[SPEAKER_01]: Three, six, we on this, so true. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, welcome to Birdland. [SPEAKER_02]: Ladies and gentlemen boys and girls, fun more sports fans all ages welcome to section 336 next generation bond more sports talk. [SPEAKER_02]: I am your in killings and hosts Matt Skroka It's always I'm joined by the button number Josh Rooka. [SPEAKER_02]: Hey Josh. [SPEAKER_03]: Hey Matt, it's uh It's always fun to do this podcast and I know it's been two weeks or so But it's also kind of annoying when we have to do it right after a loss [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, lost tonight three to one to the Yankees despite a really good pitching performance by Shane Bass, just their offense could not get it going. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_03]: It's just, but it seems like that's been the problem with the Orioles all season. [SPEAKER_03]: It's the offense can't let it go in and you get these key moments. [SPEAKER_03]: It's easy to say that we leave men on base, but it sure feels like it's also like the basis can be empty, but you can have a guy that you know needs to get a hit and he can't get the hit. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that's kind of what made, I mean if you look at it just this month of August, you know, or after the trade deadline, [SPEAKER_02]: we open up with the angels, and we say to ourselves, this is a really soft part of the schedule with the angels, and then we get to the Rangers and Twins, both teens or recorders under 500 who were kind of contending with. [SPEAKER_03]: And that was where we said, well, this is our chance to move into the wall card, is we gotta fight these two teams. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and so, and then the last, we won the first two game against the angels, then the third game against the angels, we only gave it, we only got one run, and then we went in the Ranger series, one run, one run, and then the third game with that Ranger series, we kind of exploded to 10 runs, which was the start that August 9th. [SPEAKER_02]: Nine days ago, the start of it pretty nice run for the offense. [SPEAKER_02]: It was scored ten runs, then five runs, and five runs, and six runs, and four runs, then ten runs, and six runs. [SPEAKER_02]: But we end up losing two out of three to the ranges. [SPEAKER_02]: Then to the twins, in what fields like a last gas effort to stay in wildcard contention, or even like entertainment here, value here, can we just stay in the running just for fun? [SPEAKER_02]: We lose two out of three to the twinkies. [SPEAKER_02]: We're struggling, coming in that series as well. [SPEAKER_03]: But if there's anything we learned from the Orioles this season, it's been as soon as they decide, let us fan base down. [SPEAKER_03]: And as soon as we as a fan base aside, well, it's over. [SPEAKER_03]: We're not, it's not happening. [SPEAKER_03]: As every time we get crushed, they do something where they suck us back in. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_03]: And that's what they did here. [SPEAKER_03]: They went to Tampa and played out Stan and Ball. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, the defense is good. [SPEAKER_03]: The pitching was pretty good. [SPEAKER_02]: The offense is great. [SPEAKER_02]: Got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got got [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it just looks a lot better. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and even we lost Monday night in Tampa, but that was a close game. [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, that's where we ran it. [SPEAKER_03]: We ran it. [SPEAKER_03]: All fences going. [SPEAKER_03]: So it still wasn't enough to not to kind of give us hope going into this Yankees series back home. [SPEAKER_03]: But once the Yankees took the lead by like two runs, you kind of felt it. [SPEAKER_03]: You felt, oh, our all fences and doing anything today. [SPEAKER_03]: You got the nice Mayo home run, but nothing else is working. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you get a little hopeful when you see, every time now I see a lefty starter, I can see all right. [SPEAKER_02]: Well, that's with the lefty starter, you, you automatically spot Doros one home run with Mayo, because Mayo's going to hit a home run, that's just how it works. [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe two with O'Neal, you never know about O'Neal, he likes to crush lefty's too. [SPEAKER_03]: So you, and then you just hope you can get enough for us the offense, but was it the first in and or the second in and where we loaded the bases and couldn't get it run in? [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that's when I kind of knew oh we're back for this and we saw we're first for the Yankees load load the bases and they got the runs in so Yes, kind of it's and that's kind of was the different in the game the big head and that's the difference between the rays [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, strand, I mean, CES had a bunch of big hits in that series, and I think we're batting, I mean, the two outs, bat-navage was like, you know, 300, we were crushing with runners-on base. [SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, I mean, it's a long season, there's ups and downs like that, but this game was more felt [SPEAKER_03]: It did. [SPEAKER_03]: It did. [SPEAKER_03]: It was not a, um, it was not a fun game. [SPEAKER_03]: And anytime I look out there and we have Franklin out me outfield, I'm like, oh yeah, anyone that turns on a game this week is going to go who who's that guy? [SPEAKER_03]: That's not a place you want to be in August. [SPEAKER_03]: And I know we've got Blaze coming back soon and that'll help out, but [SPEAKER_03]: We had struggles tonight. [SPEAKER_03]: We have Franklin in the outfair. [SPEAKER_03]: We got Jeremiah Jackson, who can't do anything playing out there as well. [SPEAKER_02]: I kind of like Christian Franklin. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm intrigued by his speed. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm intrigued by his good eye at the plate. [SPEAKER_02]: And so he intrigued me. [SPEAKER_02]: Jeremiah Jackson does not intrigued me. [SPEAKER_02]: No, Jeremiah Jackson. [SPEAKER_03]: Jeremy Jackson. [SPEAKER_03]: Jeremy Jackson, I think, is the guy going for [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, yeah, and then it's the question is who leaves for a basalo it's Pozo is it yeah, yeah, or do you take one to take And want to use basalo as a DH to keep him healthy and then you still need another catcher You know, I guess you're going to go that route. [SPEAKER_03]: You know, I think there's a chance to carry three catchers. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah [SPEAKER_02]: Alright, well, at this point Josh going forward, I mean, for a second there, for just one night we went to bed as kind of a wildcard team as that was kind of fun. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, for one night we were the sole holder of that wildcard. [SPEAKER_03]: And then yesterday we were tied. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, and now it's fun. [SPEAKER_03]: And now we're gone. [SPEAKER_03]: But it gives us hope. [SPEAKER_03]: That's where we are. [SPEAKER_03]: We're right on the cusp. [SPEAKER_03]: So if we don't fall apart with the Yankees, if we can play the the rays again well at home, we can we're right there. [SPEAKER_03]: So I'm still hopeful. [SPEAKER_03]: But I'm not hopeful like give me anyone and this team can beat them. [SPEAKER_03]: I'm not hopeful like just make the playoffs and we'll prove it wrong. [SPEAKER_03]: I started to get that way this weekend against Tampa. [SPEAKER_03]: where I saw a team that can beat anyone because Gunner Henderson was hitting the ball and I've been saying for months Gunner Henderson is the problem with this team and average Gunner Henderson and we've got 10 more wins and I saw a glimpse of that this weekend with Tampa. [SPEAKER_02]: Well, yeah, and you see a player in Peter Lanzo who can put the team on his back. [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, one of the best hitters in baseball still, and we have a pitching staff. [SPEAKER_02]: They weren't that they're best against Tampa, but we saw Shane Bass tonight in any night, Rogers. [SPEAKER_02]: Bradish or Baz, and that's all you need to three starters and playoffs on any given night. [SPEAKER_02]: Those guys can kind of, oh, I'm branding young on any given night. [SPEAKER_02]: Any of those guys can kind of shut down a team for six or seven innings or hold them to one or two runs. [SPEAKER_02]: And so that keeps you in the game. [SPEAKER_02]: And so yeah, I was talking about that, too. [SPEAKER_02]: Looking at like the runs, Boston has been on. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: And like I could, I could easily see, [SPEAKER_02]: Um, the Ordals winning five in a row when they're off the top's rolling or winning seven in a row I looked up the stats for the last seven games Who is this? [SPEAKER_03]: Last seven games a 357 baton average 10 for 28 two home runs for RB eyes [SPEAKER_03]: scored eight times four walks three strikeouts Last seven games. [SPEAKER_02]: I know and the crazy thing is Josh. [SPEAKER_02]: I feel like it could be a bunch of guys I feel like it could be C. Yes, it could be Mayo it could be Halliday it could be could be Alonzo I feel like it could be all this guys. [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, but it's Gunner Henderson. [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, who's suddenly like those type of numbers That's better than average [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, he has been so far below that. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, and that doesn't include that one game where he was robbed twice with with with with two in extra basits. [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, it does it does include that game, but not as a positive number. [SPEAKER_03]: Right, right, right, right, right. [SPEAKER_03]: Yes. [SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, last seven games. [SPEAKER_03]: Gunners actually looking like Gunner. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_03]: So that's where, yeah, that's where I do. [SPEAKER_03]: I get hopeful and I get excited still. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I feel, I mean, it's it's crazy on the one hand. [SPEAKER_02]: even when we were sitting as a soul spot of Wildcard, it was like fun, but also like, we have no business being there. [SPEAKER_02]: It's like, yeah, but there's one, two, three, four, five, six teams within a half game for that last spot. [SPEAKER_02]: It's gonna be a wild last month of the season. [SPEAKER_03]: It is, and that's the thing that I keep telling myself, is, yes, we got into the Wildcard, which is great, but there's still 30 games left. [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, yeah, yeah, I listen, you know, I just or it's like 35 games or something like that in the September. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, you know, I, I, the, the, uh, these people, these basic people, like I, and by baseball people, really the only interaction I have outside national baseball people is. [SPEAKER_02]: The baseball tonight podcast with but Sony okay, and the guests he is on They are not they are not giving the Orioles any love. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, no, but oh, we'll get to that in a second, but outside the Orioles [SPEAKER_02]: Every week, like I listen to this pocket, and it's unbelievable. [SPEAKER_02]: Every week, Buster and his guests come on, and they all agree, so confident who is a playoff team. [SPEAKER_02]: And they come in and two weeks ago, or right for the deadline, they were like the Seattle Mariners are gonna get healthy and they're about to make a run. [SPEAKER_02]: And then this last week they were saying, [SPEAKER_02]: We could go there with saying the Tigers have this locked up the Tigers are going to be the last World

Show notes

You Might Also Like

Pod 630 : Cracks

#633 Adley Trade

#632 : All Star Break 2026