Saturday’s Bird Droppings: Where Chris Davis’s season is over

Morning, Birdland!

There are three games left after Friday night’s 2-1 loss. Are you making your way to the Yard this weekend? If so, it’s probably as a show of support for Adam Jones, or just to get one last look at that lush green pasture before an extra long winter following what has been a painful season. Whatever the reason, you are almost certainly not forking over your own money to watch Chris Davis flail around at home plate. The Orioles, it seems, understand this.

In order to “qualify” for the batting title, a player needs 3.1 plate appearances per game his team plays. Over 162 games, that works out to 502.2, which you have to round up to 503. Davis eclipsed that mark with 522.

I’m torn on who to be more angry with here. Davis should be better than this. He makes a massive salary and is not old enough to blame Father Time for sapping all of his natural abilities. But the Orioles could have seen the writing on the wall a long time ago. Davis was never going to turn it around and save this embarrassment of a season. Once the team’s shot at the playoffs was gone, there was no reason to continue playing him on such a regular basis. There was nothing to learn.

This will be a big offseason and upcoming Spring Training for Davis. Why would the Orioles cut him now? They have come this far. He may as well report to Sarasota and see if there is any gas left in the tank.

Links

Fire Showalter or extend him, but can’t let him float in uncertainty abyss - The Athletic
It’s hard to disagree with anything written here. There has been plenty of time for ownership to figured what they want to go with their manager. They should be ready to announce whatever conclusion they come to shortly after the season ends.

Cavalry Is Here, But They Are a Little Irregular - Camden Depot
The Orioles have some real prospects at nearly every level on their organization. It’s nice to see, but it’s not exactly unfamiliar, and it has not always worked out.

Fate Of Showalter, Duquette With Orioles Remains Unclear - Forbes
Last week it sounded like everything was set: Buck Showalter was leaving and Dan Duquette was staying put in Baltimore. Now, that is up in the air. Apparently the club hasn’t even spoken to either man about their situation. Perhpas everyone with knowledge is keep hush-hush, but if that’s true, then it is a bit worrisome about how clear ownership’s vision is for the future.

Orioles right-hander David Hess ends season on positive note - Carroll County Times
In a season of so many seemingly-bottomless lows, David Hess has had some nice moments. He’s unlikely to be competing for the Cy Young anytime, but he has flashed and set himself up well to compete for a starting spot next season.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy Birthday!

It is the 42nd birthday of former O’s first baseman Calvin Pickering. The former 35th-round draft pick played in 32 games for Baltimore between 1998 and 1999, hitting .164/.320/.328 with three home runs.

Also celebrating a big day is southpaw Craig Lefferts, who turns 61. The 1992 Oriole pitched in just five games and compiled a 4.09 ERA over 33 games after being acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres on August 31 of that season. Ricky Gutierrez was sent to southern California in exchange.

Finally, happy 80th birthday Mike McCormick. This left-handed pitcher spent the 1963 and ‘64 seasons in Baltimore, tossing 153.1 total innings over 29 games with a 79 ERA+ and 4.40 ERA.

1953 - Bill Veeck, the owner of the St. Louis Browns, agrees to sell his entire stake in the team to a Baltimore-based group, led by the mayor Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. and attorney Clarence Miles. The deal is approved and the Browns begin their move to Baltimore, where they would be re-named the Orioles.