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Good morning, Camden Chatters.
I’ve got good news, and I’ve got bad news.
The good news is that the Orioles snapped their four-game losing streak with a decisive victory over the Athletics last night, setting a season high in runs in a 12-4 blowout. Tyler Young recapped the glorious details of the Birds’ first home win of 2019.
As for the bad news? Well, you probably already know it if you’ve watched or read literally any sports news this morning.
The embattled Chris Davis made history for all the wrong reasons. With his 0-for-5 performance last night, Davis set a new major league record for hitting futility, running his streak of consecutive hitless at-bats to 49 (dating back to last season). The previous record for a non-pitcher was held by Eugenio Velez, who had 46 hitless at-bats from 2010-11.
The cruel irony is that Davis’ fifth-inning flyout to left, the at-bat that officially broke the record, was probably his most well-hit ball of the season.
Chris Davis lined his last ball to left with a 103.5 mph exit velocity and 18 degree launch angle. The expected batting average for similar-struck balls is .580. #Orioles
— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) April 9, 2019
As terrible as Davis has looked at the plate, you don’t set a record like this without also falling victim to some bad luck along the way. It took a perfect storm of calamity for Davis to achieve this dubious feat.
And Davis, sadly, might not be done making history. If you include his six walks and one hit-by-pitch during his streak, Davis has gone 56 straight plate appearances without a hit, one shy of the record held by Tony Bernazard in 1984. If Davis is in the lineup tonight, he could match and/or break that mark, too.
The tragic saga that is Chris Davis has reached depths we never thought possible. I don’t even know what else to say at this point. Plenty of other people do, though, including ESPN, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and basically every national media outlet.
Links
O’s Davis sets mark with 47th hitless AB in row - ESPN
*heavy sigh*
Chris Davis Is Now Officially Part Of Miserable Baseball History - Deadspin
:(
Davis sets hitless at-bats record in Orioles’ 12-4 win (with quotes) - School of Roch
A bunch of Orioles, but not Chris Davis, speak about last night’s game. Poor Brandon Hyde just had the most lopsided victory of his managerial career but had to answer questions about the most depressing development of the night.
Little League HR for Orioles speedster - Orioles.com
Let’s forget about Davis and focus on the fun stuff from Monday’s win, including Cedric Mullins swatting two triples, one of which turned into a Little League home run.
Brandon Hyde has shown a different managing style than Buck Showalter - BaltimoreBaseball.com
If there’s one thing we've learned about Brandon Hyde so far, it’s that he does things a little differently than his predecessor. You should read this really well written article about it!
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your two O’s birthday buddies are pitcher-turned-outfielder-turned-pitcher again Adam Loewen (35), the Orioles’ No. 4 overall pick in the 2002 draft, and right-hander Dennis Sarfate (38), who was acquired in the Miguel Tejada trade in 2008 and later had a sensational career in Japan. Loewen and Sarfate both starred in the 2008 “Orioles Magic” video that played at Camden Yards after O’s wins.
On this date in 1959, the Orioles became the first MLB team in history to turn a triple play on Opening Day. Against the Senators in Washington, first baseman Bob Boyd caught a line drive for the first out, fired to second to double off a runner, and received the return throw to first to retire the third guy.
In 1970, switch-hitting outfielder Don Buford homered from both sides of the plate in an O’s win. And in 1976, Jim Palmer outdueled fellow Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins, 1-0, to beat the Red Sox on Opening Day.