Sunday Bird Droppings: The end of the Orioles season arrives today

Hello, friends.

The Orioles season ends today. After games like last night’s, I won’t be too sorry to see the end of it. Despite John Means keeping the Jays hitless until there were two outs in the sixth inning, the O’s ended up losing, 5-2. Things got stupid later on, with some bad defense, bad baserunning, and with recurring Orioles killer Randal Grichuk hitting a three-run home run even though he wasn’t even in the starting lineup.

Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for the not-so-lovely totals. I mean, it wasn’t all bad. Austin Hays had three hits and Jose Iglesias had two. So that’s something.

With one game left, the O’s will close out at either 24-36 or 25-35. Over a 162 game season, that would add up to somewhere from 65 to 68 wins. That’s Dave Trembley Orioles bad, as opposed to record-setting Orioles bad.

In the draft pick standings, the Orioles enter the final day of play with a better record than only four teams. That leaves them in line for the 5th pick in the 2021 draft, though that’s not set in stone because they could still drop a couple of spots if they win and other teams lose. If you don’t want the O’s pick to go farther down the first round, you want wins from the Royals and Nationals today.

The final game gets under way at the unusual time of 3:07. The O’s will be trying to avoid a season-ending sweep. Keegan Akin and Tanner Roark are the scheduled starters.

Around the blogO’sphere

As shortened campaign nears its end, Orioles brace for offseason of uncertainty (Baltimore Sun)
In here, Mike Elias spoke of Chris Davis’s struggles, noted that “he is under contract with this team” and “we do not have plans to alter that fact.” I suppose the question is whether a guy who gets released but will still be paid continues to count as under contract.

Iglesias hasn’t got time for the pain (School of Roch)
Jose Iglesias has played through a LOT this season. Hopefully he can get a healthier 162 with the O’s in 2021.

Elias talks about 2020, Hyde, Davis, Mancini, Iglesias, and 2021 (Baltimore Baseball)
Also in that Elias interview was some words for praise for Brandon Hyde, though the possibility of changes to the coaching staff was not ruled out. There have been a lot of stupid outs on the bases.

From Mideast to AL East: Orioles’ Israeli prospect blooms (Yahoo Sports)
Dean Kremer, the first Israeli citizen to pitch in MLB, has some fans across the ocean and the sea.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1953, the St. Louis Browns played their final game before moving to Baltimore and becoming the Orioles. They dropped a 2-1 extra inning affair to the White Sox, their 100th loss of the season.

In 1996, Roberto Alomar spat on an umpire.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 1998 one-game pitcher Radhames Dykhoff, 1978 reserve outfielder Carlos Lopez, and 1961-66/69-71 reliever Dick Hall. Today is Hall’s 90th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Medici patriarch Cosimo de’ Medici (1389), American Founding Father Samuel Adams (1722), singer-songwriter Meat Loaf (1947), actor Gwyneth Paltrow (1972), rapper Lil Wayne (1982), and singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne (1984).

On this day in history...

In 1066, Duke William of Normandy set sail for England with an army that later earned him the title the Conqueror.

In 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact to ally themselves during World War II.

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s The Silent Spring was first published.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 27. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!