Tuesday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles are hoping to dodge Dorian

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Few things could make the 2019 Orioles season even more unfortunate than it’s already been. Getting caught in a hurricane, though, would certainly qualify.

It’s probably not going to happen. While Hurricane Dorian is fast approaching the eastern seaboard, Tampa Bay is far enough away from any projected landfall sites that you won’t see the O’s and Rays sheltering in place, hunkering down in their respective dugouts at Tropicana Field. Still, the Orioles’ flight back from Tampa to Baltimore could get complicated, which is why the two clubs are wrapping up their series with a doubleheader today instead of a Wednesday afternoon game.

The opener of the series, meanwhile, played out as you might expect, with the much better team defeating the inferior team, although it took 10 innings. Mark Brown recapped the action, which featured a successful return by Mark Trumbo but few other impressive O’s performances.

Now it’s two games for the price of one today, after which the Birds will, hopefully, get back to Baltimore without incident to start a seven-game homestand.

Links

Rays’ Tommy Pham ‘wanted to kill’ Oriole pitcher, then delivered walk-off single - Sporting News
Pham took exception to O’s pitchers first plunking him and later throwing him up and in. How cute that he thinks Orioles pitchers have any idea where they’re throwing the ball.

Trumbo makes triumphant return in Orioles’ loss (updated) - School of Roch
If you’re wondering why the Orioles bothered to add Mark Trumbo to the September roster, just look at the quotes from his teammates in this article. Even an analytics-oriented front office isn’t going to ignore the human side of the game.

Orioles prospects Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle won’t be among September call-ups - Baltimore Sun
I understand the Orioles’ reasoning for not calling up either of these guys, but it’s going to make September baseball a lot less fun to watch.

Remembering a time when Anthony Santander tried to make it as a pitcher - Steve Melewski
Fun fact: As a teenager, Anthony Santander actually started out as a pitcher before switching to hitting. We should all be so lucky to be one of the best in the world at our fallback position.

Detroit Tigers’ push for No.1 pick could come down to O’s games - Detroit Free Press
The Tigers are currently in the driver’s seat for next year’s No. 1 draft pick, but the Detroit Free Press broke down the Orioles' remaining schedule to make sure they can’t out-stink the Tigers down the stretch.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Your O’s birthday buddies include lefty Troy Patton (34), who, in a Camden Chat inside joke, was once believed to not actually exist. You kind of had to be there. It’s also the birthday of Rene Gonzales (59), utility man on the 1989 “Why Not?” team, as well as mid-1950s Orioles Sandy Consuegra (b. 1920, d. 2005) and Morrie Martin (b. 1922, d. 2010).

On this day in 2002, the Orioles played a bizarre game in which they were no-hit until the ninth inning, despite the fact that the opposing starter was ejected two pitches into the game. The Rangers’ Aaron Myette, apparently seeking payback after Alex Rodriguez was drilled in the top of the first, threw two inside pitches to leadoff man Melvin Mora and got tossed. Todd Van Poppel replaced him and threw two hitless innings, and then Joaquin Benoit threw six no-hit frames until Jerry Hairston led off the ninth with a triple. The Orioles lost, 7-1.