Friday Bird Droppings: Where losing is a way of life for the Orioles

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Happy Friday! You’re just one day away from the weekend, and even better, you’re just three days away from a much-needed reprieve from the Orioles. The O’s will wrap up their first-half schedule with their three-game series against the Rangers that starts tonight. For four glorious days from Monday through Thursday, we won’t have to suffer through atrocious, unsightly Orioles baseball. The Birds lost again last night in a makeup game, finishing their season series against the Phillies by going 0-4. Alex Church’s recap has the details.

The Orioles are now 26-68, and are guaranteed to head into the All-Star break at least 39 games under .500. There’s also a strong likelihood that they’ll finish the first half with 70 losses. The Orioles have had 21 entire seasons in which they didn’t lose 70 games, most recently in 2014. This is the stuff of nightmares.

Links

Try as they might, Orioles can’t use out-of-position players as reason for league’s worst defense (Baltimore Sun)
Buck Showalter claims the Orioles’ league-worst defense is a result of several fielders playing at positions that aren’t their best. But, as Jon Meoli points out, that’s the Orioles’ own fault for having such a poorly constructed roster.

Injury updates on O'Day, Hays and Cashner - School of Roch
Darren O'Day underwent his season-ending hamstring surgery without incident, while Andrew Cashner and Bowie's Austin Hays will each be getting injections and hope to be back on the field soon.

Trey Mancini spurns a reset as he tries to get his bat going - Steve Melewski
Trey Mancini always makes for a good interview, even when things aren't going his way. The poor guy sounds pretty down in the dumps about his season-long struggles at the plate.

Fancred Sports : Jon Heyman: Handicapping the Machado race
Jon Heyman breaks down the eight main contenders in the Machado trade sweepstakes and lays odds on each one. By the way, am I the only one who keeps wanting to pronounce "Fancred" like it rhymes with "anchored"?

Baltimore Oriole Adam Jones seeks $2.7 million for Maryland mansion (LA Times)
Adam Jones is putting his Lutherville-Timonium area mansion up for sale. Read into that what you will. Jones does, however, still own another mansion that he bought from Cal Ripken earlier this year.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Among your Orioles birthday buddies is...Mark Brown! Yes, there was an O’s pitcher who had the same name as Camden Chat’s esteemed managing editor. He appeared in nine games in 1984. Mr. Brown turns 59 today.

Your other O’s birthday buddies are 2000 righty Pat Rapp (51) and the late Fritz Dorish, a right-hander on the 1955-1956 Orioles. Dorish, who passed away on New Year’s Eve in 2000, would have been 97 today.

On this day in 1991, four Orioles pitchers — Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, and Gregg Olson — combined to throw a no-hitter in Oakland. Milacki worked six hitless before a finger injury forced him out of the game, and the three relievers worked a hitless inning apiece to finish off the rare feat. The Orioles haven’t thrown a no-hitter since.

2018 Orioles vs. 1988 Orioles

In their 94th game, the ‘88 Orioles dropped the second game of a doubleheader against the White Sox, 2-0. Future Oriole Harold Baines did most of the damage for the White Sox with three hits, including a homer. Stacey’s uncle Bill Long (not actually Stacey’s uncle) threw eight scoreless innings for Chicago. The loss dropped the Orioles to 30-64, still four games better than this year’s club.

The Royals were off last night, so the Orioles, with their loss, are now the worst team in baseball by a full game (two in the loss column).