Monday Bird Droppings: Where it’s draft day for the Orioles and everyone else

Hello, friends.

Another day has dawned with the Orioles in last place in the American League East. They are 23 games behind the division-leading Red Sox and 8.5 games behind even the fourth place Blue Jays. With a .293 winning percentage, the O’s are now on pace to win just 47 games

The weekend rain, coupled with today’s off day, means that the Orioles are guaranteed to go two days without losing a game. It’s true that this is only the case because they will not play games on those two days, but in this disastrous 2018 season, we have to take what respite from the losing that we can.

Though there’s an off day today, this will still be an important day for the Orioles of the future. Today is day 1 of the 2018 MLB draft, so the Orioles will have a chance to start adding talent to their system, if they draft shrewdly and develop players well. I know, that’s a big if.

The draft will go through the first two rounds tonight starting at 7pm. The Orioles pick 11th and 37th overall. They do not have a pick in the second round as a result of signing Alex Cobb. Still, if history is any indication, future useful big leaguers will be on the board at both 11 and 37. The Orioles just must find the right players. Stranger things have happened. Check back in later for O’s draft coverage.

Around the blogO’sphere

Orioles continue search for leadoff hitter (School of Roch)
I’ll give Buck this one for free: The answer isn’t Jace Peterson.

Orioles’ Duquette: “We’ve got to put a little bit sharper focus on the future” (Baltimore Sun)
Obvious comments are obvious, but that doesn’t make them any less true. But when will the Orioles do something about it, and when they do, WHAT will they do about it?

Orioles considering Hanley Ramirez (MLBTR)
Let’s go out on a limb and guess that adding Hanley Ramirez is not any kind of focus on the future.

For Mike Wright Jr., as his velocity got better, so did his results (Steve Melewski)
To my surprise, Mike Wright hasn’t allowed a run in his last six appearances. When he starts to appear in games where the Orioles aren’t losing, I guess we’ll know he’s really gotten better.

Orioles enter MLB draft with focus on building depth while keeping options open with 11th overall pick (Baltimore Sun)
Repeat after me: Best player available!

Birthdays and anniversaries

In 1967, the Orioles played the longest game by innings in their modern history, a 19 inning affair where the Orioles ended up beating Washington, 7-5, when Andy Etchebarren followed a Brooks Robinson single by hitting a home run.

In 2010, with the Orioles sitting on a record of 15-39, manager Dave Trembley was fired and replaced on an interim basis by Juan Samuel.

There are several former Orioles with birthdays today. They are: 2009-10 reliever Cla Meredith, 2012 five-gamer J.C. Romero, 1986 reserve infielder Ricky Jones, 1987-88 catcher Terry Kennedy, and 1954 third baseman Billy Hunter. Today is Hunter’s 90th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your birthday buddies for today include: Hamilton character George III of Great Britain (1738), actor Keith David (1956), and actress Angelina Jolie (1976).

On this day in history...

In 1411, France’s King Charles VI granted a monopoly to the people of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon to produce their particular kind of cheese.

In 1745, the Prussians under Frederick II scored a victory over the Austrian army in the Battle of Hohenfriedberg during the War of the Austrian Succession. After this battle, Frederick acquired the nickname Frederick the Great.

In 1919, the 19th amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote, was approved by the Congress and sent to the states for ratification.

During the World War II years...

1939: Carrying 939 Jewish refugees, the MS St. Louis was turned away from Florida and forced to return to Europe. Over 200 of its passengers later died in concentration camps.

1940: The evacuation of Dunkirk was completed, prompting Churchill’s famous “We shall fight on the beaches” speech to the House of Commons.

1942: The Imperial Japanese Navy led by Admiral Nagumo launched their attack on Midway Island. So began the Battle of Midway. Within 30 hours, all four Japanese carriers had been sunk, a decisive American victory that effectively ended Japanese expansion.

Back to the rest of history, in 1989, the People’s Liberation Army of China crushed the protests in Tiananmen Square, with at least 241 people killed.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on June 4 - or at least, until something happens later when the Orioles draft a couple of players. Have a safe Monday.