Good morning, Birdland!
The Orioles are just trying to survive this season. It’s not even June, and it already feels like the roster is being held together with toothpicks, rubberbands and glue. It’s more than a bit concerning.
There is no way David Hess survives five innings on many other teams given how he pitched on Tuesday night. In the same vein, players like Joey Rickard, Richie Martin, Renato Nunez and Miguel Castro would have been banished weeks ago.
A look at the Orioles individual stats is a masochistic act. The batting averages are minuscule. The ERA’s are enormous. And just about everything else is just laughably bad.
I get that losing is basically the point of this season. Getting back-to-back first overall picks would/will go a long way towards improving the minor league talent pool. But it would also be cool to see the Orioles be competitive on a more regular basis rather than getting blown out several times per week.
Call me a dreamer!
Links & Notes
O’s pitching staff fastest ever to allow 100 HRs - ESPN
There are a lot of factors at work here. The Orioles play in a homer-prone ballpark. They play in a division with some power-heavy opponents. And, the baseballs are probably juiced. Those things can all be true. But it really comes down to the fact that the Orioles pitchers are just bad. They can’t miss bats. Until they do, the home runs will rain down in Baltimore.
Who Are The Baltimore Orioles Most Valuable Trade Chips? - Forbes
Are they able to trade things other than the players? I hear they have a real nice flat screen TV in the clubhouse. That could fetch a couple hundred bucks. Maybe they can part with a treadmill or two in hopes of upgrading their weight equipment. Or they can go full Semi-Pro and trade their washing machine for Woody Harrelson.
Orioles reach 100 home runs surrendered in 11-4 loss (updated) - MASN Sports
All of the quotes needed to relive the horror of yet another O’s loss to the Yankees. Woo!
Oriole pitchers getting ready for rare batting opportunity - Baltimore Baseball
The Orioles offense is awful. Maybe if one of the pitchers shows a healthy ability to hack at the plate this weekend they will step into a role as Brandon Hyde’s new DH. It couldn’t hurt.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Current O’s third baseman Rio Ruiz celebrates his 25th birthday today. Through 45 games, he is hitting .247/.327/.363 with four home runs and five doubles while playing solid defense at the hot corner.
Netherlands-born pitcher Rick van den Hurk turns 34 today. The right-hander appeared in 11 games for the Orioles between 2010 and 2011, compiling a 6.04 ERA during that time.
It is thr 45th birthday of southpaw John Bale, a pitcher in Birdland for 14 games in 2001. Over his 26.2 innings of work, Bale allowed nine earned runs on 18 hits, 17 walks and 21 strikeouts.
Finally, happy 53rd birthday to Jose Mesa, a 19-year MLB veteran who began his career as a starter with the Orioles for parts of four seasons between 1987 and 1992.
1959 - The Yankees are one-hit by Orioles pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm. The only hit was an eighth-inning single from Jerry Lumpe. The O’s win 5-0.
1964 - The Orioles come back to beat the Twins 6-5. John Orsino hits the game-winning home run off reliever Bill Fischer. It would prove to be Fischer’s final major league appearance of his nine-season career.