Sunday Bird Droppings: The Orioles losing streak has hit double digits

Hello, friends.

The brutal month of August for the Orioles is not improving. The team was steamrolled by the Red Sox in its most recent game on Saturday afternoon, falling 16-2. They are now losers of ten straight and are 1-11 in August, with 105 runs allowed in twelve games. That’s an average of 8.75 runs per game for the month. In the same stretch, the offense is allowing 3.42 runs per game. It’s not like you could expect any different. If you need a harder look at the not-so-lovely totals, check out Tyler’s recap of the game.

The Orioles schedule the rest of the way includes a whole bunch of games against teams who are either currently in postseason position or are vying to get in one of those spots. Perhaps you might have hoped that the 2021 Orioles could have found some of that 2011 mojo against the Red Sox to spoil their season.

Maybe that will end up happening in September, but for now, Robert Andino’s not walking through that door. The only thing that the Orioles will spoil at this rate is the hopes of teams who they aren’t playing. If I was the Seattle Mariners, I wouldn’t feel too good about running down the AL East teams for a wild card spot when the East teams get to sock it to the Orioles and the Mariners.

After yesterday’s loss, the O’s are now on pace to go 53-109. Even that is starting to feel generous after this month. The pitching is a mess and there are absolutely no answers on the horizon. The guys who are already here are going to have to find a way to suck less. Even the hoped-for return of Bruce Zimmermann (4.83 ERA) will have to wait another couple of days. He sprained his ankle and won’t make his scheduled start today. Keegan Akin (8.23 ERA) is getting another start instead. Fun!

Former Oriole Eduardo Rodriguez pitches for Boston as the O’s try to avoid getting swept. The game is scheduled for a 1:10 start. A wise Orioles fan may have some alternate entertainment planned if things get ugly from the get-go, like they did on Saturday.

Around the blogO’sphere

Zimmermann sprains ankle, stays on injured list, Akin will start Sunday (Baltimore Baseball)
The ten-game losing streak feels like it’s almost automatic to become an eleven-game losing streak.

Final word on Chris Davis (School of Roch)
Roch shares a memory of Davis from August 2018, which to me makes it sound a lot like Davis was well aware he was toast at that point in time:

(Davis sat) down in a chair in the second row with a fan’s name inscribed on a tiny gold plate. Davis was deliberate in choosing his spot and quipped that he wanted to become that guy, just for one day or even for a few minutes. An escape from being Chris Davis, the former slugger who couldn’t live up to his franchise-record contract and couldn’t tune out the booing, catcalls and vicious insults.

It was over then. It just took three years for reality to catch up.

Trey Mancini started the second half hot. Both he and the Orioles have cooled off since. (The Baltimore Sun)
Mancini homered yesterday for the first time since July 28. Before that, he was OPSing .390 in the mont of August. So it’s gonna take a few more homers to dig out from that.

Surprise players, teams in 2021 MLB season (MLB.com)
Cedric Mullins is getting a little national press love. Here’s hoping he can extend his hitting streak to 21 games today.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1975, Earl Weaver was ejected from the first game of a doubleheader, then ejected from the second game before it even began. The umpire, Ron Luciano, ejected Weaver eight times in MLB in his career, plus four times in the minors. Among the eight ejections were twice before a game started.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2002 outfielder Chris Singleton, 1995-96 utility man Jeff Huson, and 1986 reserve Tom Dodd.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: French leader Napoleon Bonaparte (1769), chef Julia Child (1912), current Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer (1938), actor Anthony Anderson (1970), three-time gold medal volleyballer Kerri Walsh Jennings (1978), Jonas Brother Joe Jonas (1989), actress Jennifer Lawrence (1990), and rapper Chief Keef (1995).

On this day in history...

In 1057, future Shakespeare subject Macbeth was killed in the Battle of Lumphanan, leading to Malcolm III taking the Scottish throne.

In 1237, an Aragonian army defeated the Taifa of Valencia in the Battle of the Puig. Aragon captured Valencia, the third-largest city in Spain today, as a result of the battle, continuing the advance of the Spanish Reconquest.

In 1914, the Panama Canal opened to traffic. The first ship to pass through the canal was a cargo ship, SS Ancon, which had been built at Sparrows Point in Maryland.

In 1947, India gained its independence after close to two centuries of British rule.

In 1965, the Beatles played at Shea Stadium.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on August 15. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!