Wednesday Bird Droppings: The Orioles pitching staff is giving up a lot of runs

Good morning Birdland,

Well, those positive feelings coming out of the All-Star break sure dissipated quickly, didn’t they? August has been another nightmare for the Orioles. The team is 1-7 on the month, and the pitching staff has been especially shambolic, surrendering 9+ runs in each of the last six games. That trend continued last night in their 9-4 loss to the Tigers.

How poor the starting pitching has been continues to be one of the most frustrating things about this team, simply because it was so predictable back in the spring. There was no way that John Means surrounded by a bunch of veteran retreads and a gaggle of rookies was going to survive a 162-game season in the AL East. And we are see that play out day after day.

We don’t have to go down that rabbit hole though. Hopefully the starting staff is somewhat more presentable in 2022.

Outside of the atrocious start from Keegan Akin and some late-game bullpen malfunctions, there were some good things happening on the field for the O’s.

Anthony Santander went deep twice. Both were solo shots, which is unfortunate, but the fact that he is hitting home runs again is encouraging. Cedric Mullins had another hit, extending his current streak. Marcos Diplán looked quite good out of the bullpen, and Paul Fry delivered a scoreless inning. Sometimes we can have nice things!

Links & Notes

Updates on Wells, Scott, Harvey, Severino, Zimmermann and more | School of Roch
It sounds like the Orioles should be getting a bunch of pitchers back in the next week or two, which is helpful. I’m not sure how much “better” it truly makes this team, but it at least gives Brandon Hyde some passable options that don’t currently exist.

Orioles become first team in 19 years to allow at least nine runs in six consecutive games | CBS Sports
On many recent nights, it has been the bullpen’s fault that the opposition has scored so often. That was not the case on Tuesday, when Akin looked like he was throwing batting practice.

Inbox: When will top prospects be called up? | Orioles.com
It is a prospect-heavy inbox with MLB.com’s Joe Trezza. From my perspective, the top prospects aren’t going to be in Baltimore this season. That probably comes early next year. Unless you consider someone like Jahmai Jones a top prospect. He has to get a September call, right? Right?

Akin labors again in loss: ‘Not happy about it’ | Orioles.com
It would have been a failure on the Orioles part to not give someone like Akin, or Alexander Wells, or Dean Kremer extended looks as a starter this season. They have done that, and it has not gone particularly well for any one of them. That doesn’t mean they are all toast, but it does mean the club will need to find innings elsewhere for next summer.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Colby Rasmus turns 35 today. The 10-year MLB vet concluded his career with a 18-game stint on the 2018 Orioles.
• Kurt Birkins celebrates his 41st birthday. The southpaw appeared in 54 games with the O’s between 2006 and 2007.
• John Mitchell is 56 years old. In what would prove to be his final big league season, Mitchell had a 4.64 ERA over 24 games with the 1990 Birds.
• Dorn Taylor turns 63. He pitched in four games for that same 1990 club.

Orioles history

1966 - Frank Robinson makes a catch diving into the stands to rob a home run in the 11th-inning and maintain a 6-5 Orioles win over the Yankees

1991 - The Orioles are no-hit by Wilson Alvarez, who is making only the second big league appearance of his career.