Thursday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles have the worst record in MLB

Hello, friends.

Another day has dawned with the Orioles in last place in the American League East. Not only that, but with their 15-34 record, the Orioles now have the worst record in all of MLB. There is no one below them. They are 19 games behind the first place Red Sox and eleven games behind both the Rays and Blue Jays for third/fourth place.

Even having watched most of the 49 games these jabronis have played, it still boggles my mind how they are so bad. No, really, how? How is it possible to again have such an awful starting rotation? How is Chris Davis batting .154/.230/.253 in late May, and how in the heck do the Orioles choose to keep batting him fifth knowing that is how he is hitting? Why do the few good things they have going for them flee on the road? It is a mystery.

Wednesday’s contest was not a lot of fun. If you are a Washington hockey fan, I hope you had a lot more fun watching the Capitals make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Missing the 11-1 Orioles loss was better for you, I promise. Check out Alex Church’s recap for the not-so-lovely totals.

Don’t worry, you will have another chance to watch the Orioles lose this afternoon. They close out this four game set against the White Sox with a 2:10 game today. Dylan Bundy and Lucas Giolito are the currently scheduled starters.

1988 Orioles Watch

Through 49 games, the 1988 Orioles were 10-39. They lost their 49th game on the road to the Mariners, 4-1. The ‘88 O’s did not win their 15th game until they were 15-43. So, in that sense, there is still a cushion between these O’s and the worst Orioles.

However, that cushion won’t last forever if the O’s keep playing this poorly. The 1988 Orioles won just 54 games, which is indeed quite horrible, but the 2018 Orioles are currently on pace to win just 50, if you round up.

Around the blogO’sphere

With big decisions looming for Orioles, John and Louis Angelos assume larger roles in organization (Baltimore Sun)
Whatcha gonna do, brother, when the 24” pythons and Brady Anderson run wild on you?

Showalter on injury concerns for Trumbo and O’Day (Steve Melewski)
Darren O’Day was supposed to miss the minimum time, or so they said when he went on the DL. At the moment, things don’t sound great for a quick return.

Five sensible proposals for a Manny Machado trade (USA Today)
I can’t independently verify how sensible any of these trade proposals are or aren’t. Off the cuff, I like the Yankees one the best. I find it unlikely the Orioles will trade Machado to the Yankees, so there’s not much point in my getting worked up about it.

Zach Britton throws inning in simulated game (Orioles.com)
As O’Day seems to get farther away, Zach Britton gets closer. He’s set to begin a rehab assignment in Norfolk next week.

More on Manny Machado and Chris Davis (School of Roch)
When even one of the MASN writers says of Davis, “And we’ve reached the point where flying out to the left field warning track is graded as a successful trip to the plate. Solid contact rather than striking out.” you know that’s bad. Davis took another 0-for-4 last night with two strikeouts.

Those who stayed with MASN last night into the post-game coverage heard some tough words about Davis from Jim Palmer. Thanks to WNST’s Luke Jones for keeping his TV on and tweeting about it:

A subsequent tweet describes how Palmer went on to say that everyone talks about Davis working hard in spring training but he doesn’t believe it.

Birthdays and anniversaries

One lone former Oriole has a birthday today: The late Willy Miranda of the 1955-59 Orioles.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: temperature-measuring pioneer Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686), Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (1819), American jurist Benjamin Cardozo (1870), candy man and Reese’es Peanut Butter Cups creator H.B. Reese (1879), singer-songwriter Bob Dylan (1941), singer-songwriter Patti LaBelle (1944), novelist Michael Chabon (1963), and actor John C. Reilly (1965).

On this day in history...

In 1607, the first 100 English settlers disembarked at Jamestown, marking the first English colony in present day America.

In 1738, the Methodist movement was founded with the conversion of John Wesley.

In 1830, Sarah Josepha Hale’s “Mary Had a Little Lamb” was first published.

In 1935, MLB’s first-ever night game was played in Cincinnati. The Reds beat the Phillies, 2-1.

In 1960, the Freedom Riders were arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, immediately upon getting off of their bus, for “disturbing the peace.”

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on May 24 - or at least, until something happens later when the Orioles play the White Sox, even if what happens may not be good. Have a safe Thursday. Go O’s!