Wednesday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles actually won a game?

Good morning, Birdland!

Things were going so well. The Orioles had not won a game in a week and a half. It seemed that the number one overall pick was back in sight. Then the guys had to go out there on Tuesday and actually win a game. Unbelievable!

The Orioles are now three wins better than the Detroit Tigers, but the two teams do own the same number of losses. And really what it will all come down to is next month’s four-game set between the two worst squads in all of Major League Baseball.

In all honesty, I do not root for the Orioles to lose. That would be lame. And no matter what, they will be getting a very high draft pick, which means they will be able to select a very talented youngster in next year’s draft regardless of the record that they finish with this season. In fact, I will go out on a limb and say that I would be cool with the Orioles winning twice or even three times per week. That would actually be a lot of fun!

Ah, a boy can dream!

Links & Notes

Orioles promote Rutschman to Delmarva - MiLB.com
It was a slow start to life in Aberdeen for the number one overall pick in the 2019 draft, but Adley Rutschman eventually got the hang of things and began to dominate the New York-Penn League. Now he’s off to Delmarva, where he just might help the Shorebirds win the South Atlantic League championship.

Hunter Harvey gets first major league win, homegrown trio pitches O’s to victory - Steve Melewski
I get the angle here. Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey and Mychal Givens all came through the O’s system, and that’s nice. But Bundy is nowhere near the type of pitcher that most of the industry expected him to be. Givens was meant to be a shortstop and has been a bit of a disappointment this season. And there is still some hope that Harvey can start long term, although becoming an elite reliever would be OK as well.

Survey rates Orioles TV announcers the fourth-best in majors - Baltimore Sun
We all knew that the O’s announcers were pretty good. A piece from Awful Annoucning confirmed it. Even better, the Washington Nationals group of on-air talent finished at the very bottom. Ha!

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

Call up former Orioles infielder Jerry DaVanon to celebrate. He is the only former Bird with a birthday today. The 74-year-old spent 38 games in Baltimore during the 1971 season, compiling a 0.6 bWAR in that time.

1901 - O’s pitcher Joe McGinnity is ejected after spitting in the face of umpire Tom Connolly. Tigers infielder Kid Elberfeld attempts to break up the scuffle but instead he receives a punch from Orioles outfielder Mike Donlin. Other players, the fans and police all get involved in the fight. Orioles part-owner Judge Harry Goldman releases several of the players involved and fines a fan $100.

1963 - Orioles shortstop Luis Aparicio becomes the first player in MLB to reach 300 career steals since George Case in 1945.

1977 - Brooks Robinson goes onto the voluntary retired list, officially ending his 23-year career, all of which took place with the Orioles.

1999 - Brady Anderson becomes the third player in MLB history to lead off both games in a doubleheader with a home run. The Orioles lose both games anyway.

2001 - The Orioles and Expos Triple-A teams face off in a game that is believed to be the first instance of a father and son as opponents in professional baseball. Tim Raines Jr. suits up for the O’s affiliate while his father, Tim Sr., plays for the Expos farm team. The two would later become teammates on the Orioles at the major league level later this season.