Monday Bird Droppings: The Orioles rotation is starting to take shape

Hello, friends.

There are now a mere 11 days remaining until the re-scheduled Opening Day for the Orioles. MLB’s summer camp has not been without its hiccups across the league, but the O’s, at least, are staying on track. In another six days, they’ll play an exhibition game, not that you’ll be able to watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio.

Over the weekend, manager Brandon Hyde told Orioles reporters that it’d be tough for any player who hasn’t gotten into action yet to be ready for the start of the season. That has a real implication for the team’s outfield alignment for Opening Day given that Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith Jr. still haven’t practiced. The team has been silent on why, which probably means it’s connected to the large story that has dominated the country for four months and counting.

One bit of rumored speculation is that the O’s have made an offer to free agent outfielder Yasiel Puig. That’s according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Puig batted a combined .267/.327/.458 last season, split between the two Ohio teams. I’d rather see him out there than a first baseman or a rushed prospect.

Other names are being scratched off of Opening Day consideration due to injury concerns. Richie Martin has a fractured wrist, so he’s out of the picture. Ty Blach has forearm soreness and needs to get a second opinion on the source of it. Neither of those guys were going to stand between the 2020 Orioles and failure, but they’re guys who figured to be lined up for an opportunity that will now end up going to someone else.

In the meantime, there’s still the Baseball Reference Out of the Park Baseball simulation of what the 2020 season might have been like. The Orioles were 3-0 winners over the Red Sox yesterday, scoring all three runs when Chance Sisco hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning. O’s pitchers, led by the sim’s free agent scrap heap signing Aaron Sanchez, held the Red Sox to just four hits.

They also simulated the Futures Game, which would have taken place as part of this week’s originally-scheduled All-Star festivities. Simulated Adley Rutschman had a single and a walk for the AL team, and Grayson Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning as the AL Futures team beat the NL, 7-5.

Around the blogO’sphere

O’s add Rutschman, five others to camp roster (Orioles.com)
One other piece of over the weekend news is that Rutschman’s in town, though he’s expected to go to the secondary camp soon.

Orioles finalize plans to use Bowie stadium as alternate site (School of Roch)
Rutschman and the others who are more recent additions to the roster will probably be headed to Bowie.

Sunday Notes: Jose Iglesias is an Oriole, and the six hole fits him like a glove (Fangraphs)
Orioles and former Orioles are all over the usual Sunday notes column from Fangraphs. I’m looking forward to seeing what Jose Iglesias has to offer.

Orioles rotation taking shape with Kohl Stewart a wild card (Baltimore Sun)
It’s looking like it’s going to go Means, Cobb, LeBlanc, Wojciechowski, and then the #5 spot remains up for grabs.

Means can’t believe his good fortune; Alberto plans to keep hitting; Outfield uncertainty (Baltimore Baseball)
John Means looked up to Jamie Moyer when he was younger, and Moyer pitched until he was 49. That’s a good crafty lefty role model.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1991, the Orioles had their most recent no-hitter. This was a combined effort in a 2-0 win over the Athletics by Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, and Gregg Olson. It was only the second ever four pitcher combined no-hitter.

One year ago today, the Orioles traded Andrew Cashner to the Red Sox for 17-year-old prospects Elio Prado and Noelberth Romero.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2000 starting pitcher Pat Rapp, excellently-named 1984 pitcher Mark Brown, and 1955-56 reliever Fritz Dorish.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Julius Caesar (100 BC), actor Patrick Stewart (1940 AD), actor Harrison Ford (1942), Twisted Sister bassist Mark Mendoza (1956), and actor Ken Jeong (1969).

On this day in history...

In 1643, during the English Civil War, the Earl of Rochester led the Royalist army to victory over the Parliamentarians in the Battle of Roundway Down. Within three years, though, the Royalists were defeated in this phase of the war.

In 1787, the Continental Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance, which put into place rules for the Northwest Territory, as well as procedures for the admittance of new states. It also prohibited slavery in this territory.

In 1863, a three-day riot began in New York City, sparked by opposition to conscription to the Union army in the Civil War.

In 1977, New York City experienced a 24-hour blackout.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on July 13. Have a safe Monday.