Friday Bird Droppings: Where the Orioles need to stop another losing streak

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

The Orioles’ recent 14-game losing streak, tied for the second-worst in franchise history, was thankfully snapped during their successful 5-3 homestand that opened June. But they’re not out of the woods just yet for embarrassing skids.

The O’s have lost their last 12 games on the road, including their horrific 0-10 trip through Washington, Minnesota, and Chicago at the end of May. Before that, they were swept in two games by the Mets at Citi Field. The Orioles’ last win away from Baltimore happened more than a month ago, on May 5 in Seattle. You might remember that game. It was, uh, kind of a big deal.

Twelve straight losses on the road is pretty terrible, but amazingly it’s not even the longest active streak in the majors. The worst team in baseball, the Diamondbacks, are currently riding a 19-game road skid. They haven’t won an away game since April 25! Oh, Diamondbacks.

The O’s will need at least one victory on this upcoming road trip to avoid matching that tragic 19-game swoon. The competition won’t be easy. The Birds’ seven-game trek starts tonight with three games against the American League’s best team, the Rays, followed by four in Cleveland against a club that’s 32-27.

Come on, Orioles. You were all about winning games on the road in April. Let’s get back to that, shall we? It doesn’t need to be another no-hitter. Just a win — or, ideally, a few wins — is all we ask.

Links

Stepping up his game: Grayson Rodriguez moves to Double-A and keeps rolling - Steve Melewski
In case you missed it, Grayson Rodriguez has become the best pitching prospect in baseball. Bowie pitching coach Justin Ramsey explains what makes him so dominant while I drool like Homer Simpson.

This, that and the other - School of Roch
Brandon Hyde may not have a knack for homespun turns of phrase like his predecessor Buck Showalter, but he’s apparently fond of the little-known baseball term “snorkeling.” Here he tries to explain what it means, not entirely successfully.

Five Orioles homestands in, Relish hasn’t won a single Hot Dog Race. The team says there’s still time to catch up. - Baltimore Sun
Nathan Ruiz has his finger on the pulse of what everyone in Birdland is talking about. My theory? Relish just doesn’t want it enough. Totally unclutch.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Not a single player in Orioles history was born on June 11. Keep practicing your baseball skills, and maybe someday you’ll become the first!

On this day in 1999, O’s manager Ray Miller benched Albert Belle after he failed to run out a ground ball in the previous game, ending Belle’s consecutive games streak at 392, which had been the longest active in the majors. Belle’s replacement in right field, Jeff Conine, went 3-for-5 as the Orioles beat the Braves, 6-2.

And on this date in 2002, the Orioles beat the San Diego Padres in extras in just the second game the two had ever played against each other. Tony Batista led off the 10th with a walkoff home run against J.J. Trujillo, who was facing the first batter of his MLB career (a career which would last only a week). The Orioles wouldn’t beat the Padres in Baltimore again until 14 years later.