Wednesday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles rapidly approach rock bottom

Hello, friends.

Another day has dawned with the Orioles in fourth place in the American League East. They are now 11 games back of the division-leading Red Sox.

What's worse for the Orioles is that, following their sixth consecutive defeat on Tuesday night, the Orioles are now 4.5 games back of the Minnesota Twins for the second AL wild card spot. They now have six teams to pass with 17 games to play. Say good night, Gracie.

The game on Tuesday was particularly frustrating. The Orioles once again failed to generate much offense and then, after taking an eighth inning lead, they blew it in the ninth inning, with Zach Britton being charged with the blown save. Toto, I've a feeling we're not in 2016 any more. Make sure to read Randy's recap of the game.

For the Orioles, the "tragic number" is now 14. That's it. This thing is over. They have 17 more games to play. They can now lose four games at a maximum and even that might be too many. There is nothing about this team to inspire much hope that they are capable of going 13-4 the rest of the way. At this point, maybe they can go 10-7 to at least be .500 again.

What else is there to say? The team that has spent every month since April showing us that they're probably not good enough is finally proving, beyond any doubt, that they just aren't good enough.

Around the blogO’sphere

Ed Smith facility in Sarasota suffers minor damage from Hurricane Irma (Baltimore Sun)

This may be the only piece of good news about the Orioles lately.

Welington Castillo could soon return to the Orioles lineup - Steve Melewski
Well, OK, there's also this bit of good news. Castillo wasn't seriously hurt when he took a foul ball to the nuts this time.

Cal Ripken Jr. won't return to TBS broadcasts in MLB playoffs (Baltimore Sun)

In a fitting coincidence, neither will the Orioles.

Act like contenders or play the kids? - School of Roch
Another loss on Tuesday night has left one obvious answer to this question, and only one acceptable answer.

Is this season really harder for fans than the Dark Years of 1998-2011? (Baltimore Baseball)

Speaking for myself, what makes this meltdown really bad is the fact that it's hard to shake the feeling that the Dark Years are waiting right around the corner again.

Birthdays and anniversaries

On this day in 1971, Frank Robinson hit a home run in both ends of a doubleheader for the Orioles. The second of these home runs propelled Robinson into the 500 home run club. He was the 11th player to reach that mark.

There are two former Orioles with birthdays today. Happy birthday to the uncle of Birdland, Rick Dempsey, 1983 World Series MVP, as well as Mike Adamson of the 1967-69 O’s.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with Dempsey, your birthday buddies for today include: Army physician Walter Reed (1851), Hershey Company founder Milton S. Hershey (1857), General of the Armies John J. Pershing (1860), animator Don Bluth (1937), Village People cowboy Randy Jones (1952), movie man Tyler Perry (1969), singer-songwriter Fiona Apple (1977), and One Directioner Niall Horan (1993).

On this day in history...

In 1501, Michelangelo began work on the statue of David.

In 1814, the British tried, and failed, to bombard Fort McHenry into submission in Baltimore harbor. Francis Scott Key, who witnessed the bombardment, was moved to compose a poem, “Defence of Fort McHenry” - which we know today as the Star-Spangled Banner.

In 1847, an American force led by General Winfield Scott, the longest-serving general in American history, attacked and captured Mexico City in the Mexican-American War, eventually leading to Mexico ceding significant territorial claims to the United States, including Texas.

In 1948, Margaret Chase Smith was elected to the United States Senate. This would give her the distinction of being the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

In 1985, Super Mario Bros. was released in Japan, the first installment of the Super Mario series that continues to this day.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 13 - or at least, until something happens later. The O’s are set to play the Blue Jays, though nobody says that it will be good. Have a safe Wednesday. Go Orioles!