I left town for a long weekend, and the Orioles lost two of their bigger personalities. Bud Norris was designated for assignment after Thursday's disastrous relief appearance, which left him 2-9 with a 7.06 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP in 2015. "Budford", as I liked to call him for no other reason than my own amusement, was never right this season, as he was hampered by a bout of bronchitis and also admitted to being overly concerned with his impending free agency. It was a far cry from his strong 2014 season, when he went 15-8 with a 3.65 ERA (8-2, 3.27 in the second half). Though he couldn't maintain that performance this season, Bud has etched out a place for himself in team history. O's fans are unlikely to forget his standout start in the Game Three ALDS clincher in Detroit last October, when the righty outdueled David Price with six and a third innings of two-hit, two-walk shutout ball. Norris struck out six batters in a 2-1 Baltimore win.
The other new ex-Oriole is Tommy Hunter, and he deserves his own sendoff. I'll do him right tomorrow.
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