Hello, friends.
Off days after a three game losing streak really aren't a lot of fun, you know? Nothing but bad things to dwell on for the entire day. A crucial series against the Red Sox awaits and yet a feeling of dread permeates, even though the Orioles really bad pitchers aren't set to go until they play the Blue Jays later in the week. At least they'll have the best starters against Boston, for whatever that matters.
Things are starting to get interesting and not in a good way, however, with Ubaldo Jimenez. One beat writer says there's no way that the Orioles are going to cut Jimenez loose at this point in time. Another says that they are thinking about it. Different sources will talk to different reporters and who knows how things will finally land. It's interesting that they're even talking about it, though.
Frustrating as Jimenez is to watch, it'd be sad to see him just get sent to the great DFA in the sky. He really seems like a nice guy and a great teammate. If only he could have like a 4.30 ERA instead of an ERA near 7. Well, whatever will be, will be. Now on to the links.
Around the blogO'sphere
Has Ubaldo Jimenez run out of chances? - School of Roch
It's MASN's Roch Kubatko throwing the idea out there that Jimenez could be on the outs. Whether the Orioles cut him loose or not, it's quite clear they can't keep having him pitch like this. They're trying to compete here.
Yovani Gallardo impressive in final rehab start - School of Roch
Oh, and will you look at that... Gallardo had a fine enough outing in his final rehab start for Norfolk, and he's on turn to pitch on Saturday's game, which is the next Jimenez turn in the rotation. Not that Gallardo pitching against the Jays is exciting either.
Orioles' SS J.J. Hardy To Begin Rehab Assignment - TKB
Speaking of rehab, J.J. Hardy is going to join Bowie for the next three games to start working his way back into playing shape. He'll probably head off to another affiliate that's at home after that.
Prospect Team of Week led by Lucas Giolito | orioles.com
Of interest here is not the Walgreens prospect in the headline, but that Ryan Mountcastle has been proclaimed the shortstop prospect of the week... for whatever that is actually worth, I don't know. Mountcastle was also the South Atlantic League Player of the Week. He's earned the accolades.
O's minor league notes from around the organization (updated) - Steve Melewski
If you're just dying to know who's playing well in the Dominican Summer League, Steve Melewski is your person to read.
Joey Rickard continues to contribute even as his playing time has decreased - Baltimore Sun
Well, he does have a .786 OPS in 14 June plate appearances. I guess that counts as contributing.
Clarksville Orioles win state championship | ClarksvilleNow.com
As you may know, it is the ongoing editorial position of this blog to celebrate the successes of all Orioles teams, everywhere. So here, congratulations to the 10U Clarksville Orioles of Tennessee on winning their state championship.
Birthdays and anniversaries
On this day in 1985, Earl Weaver came out of retirement to manage the Orioles once again, at least for a little while longer.
Of all of the players to ever play for the Orioles, not a single one was ever born on June 14. Sorry, you don't have any Orioles birthday buddies today!
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Although you don't have any O's birthday buddies, you do share the day with the following: physicist Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736), abolitionist/author Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811), iconoclastic WWI-era senator "Fighting Bob" LaFollette (1855), Central Park zoo designer Kevin Roche (1922), Cuban revolutionary "Che" Guevara (1928), Tennessee basketball coaching legend Pat Summitt (1952), and tennis legend Steffi Graf (1969).
On this day in history...
In 1777, Congress established the stars and stripes as the official flag of the United States of America.
In 1789, the Rev. Elijah Craig produced the first whisky distilled from maize in the US - bourbon, named after Bourbon County, Kentucky.
In 1800, First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte led a French army that defeated the Austrians in the Battle of Marengo, re-conquering Italy. In 1807 on this day, Napoleon, who had since promoted himself to Emperor, led his Grande Armee in Poland at the Battle of Friedland, defeating the Russians and ending the War of the Fourth Coalition.
In 1954, President Eisenhower signed into law a bill that added the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.
In 1959, the Disneyland Monorail System opened to the public in Anaheim, California. This was the first monorail in the Western Hemisphere. Monorail. Monorail! MONORAIL!
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And that's the way it is in Birdland on June 14 - or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Tuesday. Go Orioles!