Sunday’s Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles have hit another losing milestone

Good morning, Birdland!

The Orioles probably needed to get swept this weekend if they had any hopes of getting the number one pick in next year’s draft. That didn’t happen. It could still happen, but’s looking unlikely.

Even still, having the second pick feels pretty good. Well, as good as being the second worst team in baseball can possibly feel. Mike Elias has a history of making pretty good picks at the two spot (2015, Alex Bregman).

Drafting is not exactly a crapshoot. In fact, MLB front offices have gone to a lot of trouble to develop systems in order to make it as scientific as possible. But there are still misses. Let’s hope that for the Orioles those kisses are far less prevalent than in previous regimes.

Links

Villar still aiming for 162 - Baltimore Baseball

This is just a little nugget in this larger piece, but Jonathan Villar is kind of an anomaly on this Orioles team. He is an established, quality big leaguer.

Orioles using 37 of 40 spots of roster - School of Roch

The times they are a-changin. During the Buck Showalter era, the O’s preferred to keep things intimate in September rather than calling up almost the entire roster. But the team was also winning most of their games back then.

At 43, Lew Ford’s never-ending career continues as player-coach - SI.com

I’m a big fan of those stories that talk about a player who goes from nearly ending his career in its early stages to instead persevering and playing at a high level for quite a while. Lew Ford has one of those stories.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

The two former Orioles that are celebrating birthdays today are 1976 pitcher Dave Pagan (b. 1949) and 1984 hurler John Pacella (b. 1956).

1966 - Orioles pitcher Tom Phoebus tosses a shutout in his MLB debut.

1977 - Orioles manager Earl Weaver pulls his team off the field citing dangerous conditions (a tarp on the bullpen mound held down by bricks). The Orioles are forced to forfeit.

1991 - O’s outfield Joe Orsulak records his six assist in 11 days.

1997 - Eric Davis returns to the lineup two months after having a cancerous growth removed from his colon.