Saturday Bird Droppings: The Orioles offense is suddenly in a funk

Good morning, Birdland!

Baseball can be a cruel game. Just days ago, the Orioles were flying high on a white hot start to June. They were 5-1 on the month and had just scored 28 runs over two games. Fast-forward to right now, and the O’s have dropped two in-a-row while scoring a total of three runs in those losses. That’s life in the big leagues.

Last night’s loss to the Rays was an especially putrid showing from the lineup. Apart from Trey Mancini’s two-run homer in the third inning, it was a no-show. Pedro Severino’s fifth-inning single was the team’s lone hit in-between the homer and the end of the game. Three hits over a nine-inning game usually aren’t going to get the job done.

It’s a quick turnaround for Birds. They get back at it today at 4 p.m. with Jorge López on the mound. He certain has had his ups and downs, but the righty has also seen his season ERA decrease by over one run in his last five starts. Hopefully he can maintain that steady pace against MLB’s winningest team.

Links

Hays gives O’s taste of what they’ve missed | Orioles.com
Austin Hays had a couple of nice throws last night, and his presence in the O’s lineup does give it more depth and an additional athletic dimension. The IL stints are frustrating, though. Maybe he needs more off days, or needs to be in the DH mix, but it feels like they need to change their approach with him a little bit.

2021 is a test of consistency for the Orioles’ young outfielders. So far, only Cedric Mullins has passed | The Baltimore Sun
It felt like not so long ago that the Orioles had a huge class of talented outfielders headed for the big leagues. Now, just about all of those guys have arrived with the exception of Yusniel Diaz. If this season’s performance from Cedric Mullins is to be believed, coming out of all of that with one stud centerfielder that can hold down the position for the next decade isn’t a terrible outcome.

Hyde on outfield depth, Hays, Mullins and Harvey | School of Roch
Quotes from the skipper! He’s not ready to label Hays as “injury prone.” That’s fine. Last season he dealt with a fractured rib, which would seem to be a freaky thing. The hamstrings this year are more worrisome.

Orioles’ Shawn Armstrong: Clears waivers, sent to Triple-A | CBS Sports
It’s nice to see Armstrong stick in the organization. He has had successes with the Orioles, and he could be back. Perhaps taking a step back by pitching in Norfolk for a while relieves some pressure, and he can get back to the level he was pitching in 2020.

June > May (Ep. 72) | The Warehouse Podcast
The world can always use more podcasts, right? Well, here is the newest episode of mine. Check it out!

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Damon Buford turns 51. The Baltimore-born outfielder spent parts of three seasons with the Orioles from 1993 through 1995, hitting .186/.285/.283 in the process. Buford was traded to the Mets in 1995 as part of the deal that landed Bobby Bonilla with the O’s.
• Dave Skaggs celebrates his 70th birthday. The California native spent four seasons as a catcher with the Birds from 1977 through 1980, accumulating 0.6 bWAR.

This day in history

1884 - A mob of hundreds that had grown unhappy about calls by umpire Jack Brennan storm the field at Oriole Park during a game between the O’s and Louisville Eclipse. Police are called to clear the trouble, but Brennan is attacked after the game anyway. For his protection, Brennan is taken to the Orioles clubhouse and then to the home of Orioles outfielder Jim Clinton before catching a train out of town.

2004 - For the third time in MLB history two players with 500 or more career home runs go deep in the same game. In this instance, Giants slugger Barry Bonds hits his 675th long ball while Rafael Palmeiro leaves the park twice for the 536th and 537th time in the bigs.