Thursday Bird Droppings: The Orioles are back down to .500

Hello, friends.

After two unexpected days off, the 2020 Orioles season resumed last night thanks to MLB improvising and dictating that the idle O’s and Yankees would get together and play one another. Wednesday’s game offered the strong suggestion that the Yankees are a much, much better team than the O’s. It wasn’t a pretty game as they lost, 9-3. Check out Drew Bonifant’s recap of the game for some not-so-lovely totals.

The loss was the 17th straight defeat by the O’s at the hands of the Yankees. It was also the 16th straight loss to the Yankees at Camden Yards. It seems almost unreal, except when you think about how bad the O’s were over the last couple of years and how bad they probably are right now.

If any game was going to break that streak, last night’s home opener had the feel of one that could have done it - at least, before the game. The O’s conjured a lot of emotions between teammate Trey Mancini’s heartfelt well-wishes while he’s recovering from cancer treatments and a memorial for local young fan Mo Gaba, who passed away on Tuesday and received a tribute video package.

In the movies, the Orioles would have gone on to win the game. Real life was less kind. A good story on an emotional night doesn’t always guarantee a win. That’s the way it goes.

For anyone whose optimism is uninterrupted enough to be looking forward to tonight’s game, or whose masochism is strong enough, note that the team changed the start time from 7:35 to 7:05. I don’t know why they decided to do this.

At least the O’s won’t be squaring off against Gerrit Cole tonight. Hopefully the season debut of John Means works out well. Manager Brandon Hyde would only say that Means is “probably” starting tonight in last night’s post-game conference, so there could still be a reversal of some kind.

Also, Jose Iglesias departed last night’s game early due to quad soreness that’s been lingering since the Boston series. Let’s hope there are not any more injury issues to deal with.

Around the blogO’sphere

Davis away from ballpark before home opener (School of Roch)
Chris Davis was not at Camden Yards last night, with Hyde only saying he’s “unavailable.” If he remains absent today with no explanation, people may start making their own guesses.

Grayson Rodriguez assigned to Bowie (Orioles.com)
The Orioles top pitching prospect is now on the 60-man player pool. This does not mean he’s getting a 2020 call-up. It does mean the O’s can keep a closer eye on his development.

‘A lot different than normal’: Amid coronavirus uncertainty, Orioles open home slate in empty Camden Yards (Baltimore Sun)
At least one group of people dined outdoors at Pickles Pub to celebrate the home opener. I was fine just watching the thing on TV.

Astros obtain Hector Velazquez from Orioles (ESPN)
The Orioles outrighted Velazquez, a reliever who didn’t make the Opening Day roster, from the player pool since the start of the season. They’ve now traded him to the Astros for a player to be named later.

Nick Markakis changes mind, opts back in for 2020 season (Talking Chop)
The former Oriole decided he wanted to play in 2020 after all. An odd turn of events. Good luck to him though, except for when the Braves are playing the Orioles.

Here is a nice video the Orioles played before last night’s game:

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 2009, the Orioles traded closer George Sherrill to the Dodgers, receiving Baltimore’s own Steve Johnson as part of the trade return.

In 2011, the O’s sent Koji Uehara to the Rangers for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 1977-80 reserve outfielder Pat Kelly, 1955-62 catcher and Camden Chat’s #42 greatest Oriole Gus Triandos, and 1954-55 pitcher Joe Coleman.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: novelist Emily Bronte (1818), Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford (1863), Medal of Honor recipient and Marine Corps General Smedley Butler (1881), actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947), singer-songwriter Kate Bush (1958), TV chef Alton Brown (1962), actress Lisa Kudrow (1963), actress Vivica A. Fox (1964), and movie man Christopher Nolan (1970).

On this day in history...

In 1419, seven city officials in Prague were killed after being thrown out of windows in the town hall. This was the first of three mass defenestrations in Prague history; the third one is the most famous.

In 1619, the Virginia General Assembly convened for the first time in Jamestown, marking the first colonial representative assembly in the Americas.

In 1729, Baltimore was founded. It was only a town back then.

In 1975, Jimmy Hoffa was seen for the last time, leaving a restaurant in Michigan at about 2:30pm.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on July 30. Have a safe Thursday. Go O’s!