Saturday’s Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles have made it to 100 losses

Morning, Birdland!

They did it! They did it despite the naysayers at the beginning of the season that thought this group was “too talented” or “too experienced” to lose 100 games. Instead, this team laughed in their face. They made the moves to get them where they needed to go: traded away Manny Machado, kept sending Dylan Bundy to the mound every fifth day, and decided to only play Cedric Mullins half the time. It is a remarkable accomplishment, and one that Orioles fans won’t forget anytime soon.

The magical 100th loss came on Friday night at the hands of the division rival Tampa Bay Rays. It was a spectacular 14-2 beatdown. Harrison Jozwiak recapped the action.

Links

O’s David Hess vows to be more careful after being hit in eye by football - ESPN
I’m not gonna freak about a baseball player getting hurt while not playing baseball. Things happen. But this sure is a fitting way to cap off the Orioles season.

Orioles Tally 100 Losses for First Time Since 1988 - SI.com
Not every team gets remember. The 2018 Orioles will be.

The September Call-Ups Have Begun! - The Warehouse Podcast/Camden Depot
We are back! Sorry for the wonky posting schedule recently. Vacations and holidays get in the way sometimes. In this episode, we get into pumpkin-flavored things, the resurgences of Chris Davis and Trey Mancini, and who will be coming up from the minors this month. It was a fun one!

What’s In a Bat? Inside The Process of Bat Manufacturing. - The Hardball Times
You need some non-Orioles baseball articles to read. This is a really cool piece that any baseball fan should check out.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy Birthday!

Shout out to 2014 catcher Nick Hundley, who turns 35 today. Also celebrating is 56-year-old Al Pardo, who was a backup catcher in ‘85 and ‘86. Right-handed pitcher Don Aase was an Orioles All-Star in 1986, and played for the Birds from 1985 through 1988. George Werley (b. 1938) and Baltimore’s own Lou Sleater (b. 1926) have both passed away, but spent some time in the black and orange.

1993 - Orioles acquire outfielder Lonnie Smith from the Pirates in exchange for two minor leaguers. Smith went on to hit .205/.356/.325 in 44 total games between 1993 and 1994 for the O’s.

2012 - The Orioles tie the Yankees at the top of the AL East standings with a 5-4 win over the Bombers. Mark Reynolds, Lew Ford and J.J. Hardy all hit home runs. Unfortunately, Nick Markakis is hit by a CC Sabathia pitch, breaking the outfielder’s thumb and knocking him out for the remainder of the season.