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Hello, friends.
Another day has dawned with the Orioles in last place in the American League East. Following on the heels of yet another defeat on the road, the Orioles now find themselves with an 8-25 record, a whole 16 games out of first place and, even more depressing, eight games out of fourth place. No, really. This seems like it could not be real, but it is.
In the quest for the worst record in all of Major League Baseball, the Orioles remain tied at the bottom with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds were also shut out on Saturday night, dropping a 6-0 game to the Marlins.
If you missed last night’s game, you are, of course, one of the lucky ones. However, you may want to find out how the Orioles managed to strike out 20 times, the most that they have struck out in a single game since 1962. They also lost even though Kevin Gausman pitched nine shutout innings! Check out Ben Hansford’s recap for more not-so-lovely totals.
Although MASN came up with the slogan “Ain’t Baseball Great,” the last two seasons of action for the Orioles have instead offered a more truthful arrangement of those words: Baseball ain’t great. Is someone going to get fired? Is anyone going to get traded? These questions will probably not receive an answer today, but the more losses that pile up, the sooner they will need to be answered.
Around the blogO’sphere
Miguel Gonzalez celebrates Cinco de Mayo by performing with a mariachi band (Cut4)
This made me a whole lot happier than anything to do with the Orioles has done in some time.
Dominant Delmarva rotation could mark next wave of promising pitching for Orioles (Baltimore Sun)
If you haven’t been following our daily minor league recaps, you may not know that the Shorebirds rotation rocks. Here’s hoping some of these guys are up to the challenge of Frederick and beyond in the very near future.
Notes on Tillman, Britton, Beckham, Rasmus, and more (School of Roch)
Step right up and get your injury updates here!
Pitching some earlier in games, Brad Brach looking to find his form (Baltimore Sun)
Brach is not the only Oriole who needs to find his form. He is just the subject of this article.
Birthdays and anniversaries
In 2012, the Orioles played the legendary Chris Davis pitching game against the Red Sox, triumphing by a 9-6 margin in the marathon 17 inning contest. It was, perhaps, the first sign that there was something really special about that team. Baseball was sure a lot more fun then.
There are a few former Orioles with birthdays today. They are: 2015 outfielder Gerardo Parra, 2001-01 reserve Mike Kinkade, 1994 reliever Tom Bolton, and Hagerstown’s own Leo Burke, who played 12 games for the 1958-69 Orioles. Burke turns 84 years old today. An extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: Reign of Terror figure Maximilien Robespierre (1758), actor/director Orson Welles (1915), baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays (1931), singer-songwriter Bob Seger (1945), and actor George Clooney (1961).
On this day in history...
In 1527, Rome was sacked by Spanish and German troops. The pope of the day, Clement VII, escaped as his Swiss Guards sacrificed themselves. By some reckoning, this is the end of the Renaissance.
In 1757, Frederick the Great’s Prussian force defeated the Austrians in the Battle of Prague, though the Third Silesian War (part of the Seven Years’ War) raged on for another seven years afterwards.
In 1877, Oglala Lakota Chief Crazy Horse surrendered to United States troops in Nebraska.
In 1937, 36 people died when the zeppelin Hindenburg caught fire while trying to dock in Lakehurst, New Jersey.
In 1941, Bob Hope made his first USO performance at March Field in California.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on May 6 - or at least, until something happens later when the Orioles conclude their series with the Athletics, even if nobody can promise it will be good. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!