Hello, friends.
To the best of my knowledge, the Orioles have not struck out any more times between when I began this article and when it will be published... although given that they've struck out 37 times over the past two games, it's hard to be too sure.
They might have found a way to strike out in their hotel rooms. They might even now be striking out trying to get their favorite brand of cereal at the continental breakfast buffet. Do you think that MLB players have to eat a continental breakfast? I'm thinking probably not. Maybe they're not even awake for breakfast hours. Games and the aftermath will mean late nights for them on a regular basis.
I would say that it can hardly be worse today, except that's what I would have said after they struck out 19 times in 13 innings on Tuesday, and then, of course, they went ahead and struck out 18 times in nine innings on Wednesday. The ceiling would be 27 times in a game. Can they reach that? Can they manage to go even higher by reaching base on dropped third strikes only to keep striking out?
These are not fun questions to think about. Let's hit the links.
Around the blogO'sphere
'Frustrating' stretch, but O's take Ks in stride | orioles.com
This article was actually written after Tuesday's loss to the Astros, but unfortunately, basically everything in it except for the exact details of the game is the same.
A look at some hitters recently and more with Ashur Tolliver - Steve Melewski
Everyone is striking out a million times. But Ashur Tolliver has some thoughts on finally making it to the show, and that's pretty cool.
'Productive outs for Orioles' a primary focus for club - Baltimore Sun
Although you wouldn't know it over the last two games. There is nothing productive about a strikeout.
Looking at starters for weekend series in Cleveland - School of Roch
It's going to be Mike Wright, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Chris Tillman (most likely) coming up this weekend in Cleveland. How confident are you that the team will be able to get back into the series win column?
Tom Davis Reflects On Mars Supermarkets And | WBAL Radio 1090 AM
A few, but not all, Mars supermarkets in the Baltimore area have been bought by another company. Which was apparently a good occasion to prompt Tom Davis to talk about reading the Mars circular on post-game radio shows.
Brian Matusz: 'Being a part of the Baltimore Orioles is all I really know' - Baltimore Sun
There's a human being wearing every baseball uniform - even your absolute least favorite player on the team.
Birthdays and anniversaries
There are two former Orioles with birthdays today. They were both short-timers on the 1991 Orioles: John O'Donoghue and Stacy Jones.
Along with those former Orioles, your birthday buddies for today include: Pope Clement VII (1478), who excommunicated Henry VIII of England; "laissez-faire" progenitor William Petty (1623); Western movie man - and supposedly my distant relation - John Wayne (1907), all-around cool dude Miles Davis (1926), Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks (1948), the first American woman in space, Sally Ride (1951), music man Lenny Kravitz (1964), half of South Park, Matt Stone (1971), and singer-songwriter Lauryn Hill (1975).
On this day in history...
In 1135, Alfonso VII of Leon and Castille was crowned Imperator totius Hispaniae (Emperor of All of Spain) - he was the last person to claim any such title, however; Portugal became independent during his reign.
In 1538, the city of Geneva expelled John Calvin and his followers from the city. The Reformation would not be televised.
In 1896, Nicholas II became the last Tsar of Imperial Russia. He was a bad dude.
In 1897, Bram Stoker's Dracula was first published. Also, Charles Dow published the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
In 1940, in World War II, Operation Dynamo - the emergency evacuation of French and British soldiers from Dunkirk - began.
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And that's the way it is in Birdland on May 26 - or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Thursday. Go Orioles!