Hello, friends.
That was not a very fun baseball game last night, was it? In fact, it was about as annoying as a baseball game gets - made all the more annoying because, as much as went wrong, the Orioles still only lost by one run and they were close for most of the game. Check out my rundown of the frustrating stuff in my recap of the game.
There will be no rest for the weary. True, the team they will face next, the Padres, is not a good baseball team, but even a mediocre baseball team can beat a good one on any given game or over a couple of games. They'll have to play well - or at least better than they did in Texas - to keep winning and keep ahead of their competition. The Red Sox remain a game behind and the Blue Jays are 2.5 games back.
Manny Machado's suspension is half over. The Orioles are 1-1 without him so far. They *should* be able to take down the Padres without him, but you never know. They'll need to pitch well, and shoot, they still don't even know who is going to start Wednesday's game. It might end up being Ubaldo Jimenez. Not a single one of us is mentally prepared for another Jimenez start, and even with warning we won't be able to get prepared.
That's a problem for Wednesday, though. Today's trouble is enough for today.
Around the blogO'sphere
Orioles notes: Showalter still contemplating a starting pitcher for Wednesday - Baltimore Sun
The writer does not include the quote in this particular article, but Showalter joked during his interview time that he might scout and see who among the beat writers had the best arm for the start.
Baseball Prospectus | Prospectus Q&A: Buck Showalter
Highlight: "You've got to keep in mind there are a lot of people who do the same thing you do as well if not better. They'll mourn you for five minutes and then wonder who the next dumbass is coming in behind you and how it's going to affect them."
Other highlight: "Two weeks from now we can be a piece of shit. We know how it goes. It's fleeting."
Norfolk Tides' Sharlon Schoop to join brother with Orioles | Norfolk Tides | pilotonline.com
This does not signal a call-up. Rather, the elder Schoop has been sent to Baltimore "just in case" - presumably in the event of an injury to either Ryan Flaherty or Paul Janish in Tuesday's game, in order to make sure the Orioles would have enough infielders on Wednesday.
A look at Aberdeen's roster and other minor league notes - Steve Melewski
You know no one is going to get more excited about the short-season A-ball roster than Steve Melewski, although I hope you already read Alex's article from yesterday about prospects to watch there.
David Ortiz of Boston Red Sox says he regrets season-long celebration that has come with his planned retirement (ESPN)
If there's anyone out there who believes this, let me tell you, have I got a deal for you...
Birthdays and anniversaries
There are a few former Orioles with birthdays today. They include Sendy Rleal (2006 bullpen) and Luis Rivera, who was traded for B.J. Surhoff and pitched six games for the Orioles in 2000 then never pitched in the US again.
Also, Rick Sutcliffe, he of the complete game shutout on the inaugural game at Camden Yards, and the late Eddie Lopat, who pitched 10 games for the 1955 Orioles.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Along with those former Orioles, your birthday buddies for today are: schism initiator Pope Leo IX (1002), Captain John Smith of Pocahontas fame (1631), two-time Medal of Honor winning US marine and War is a Racket author Major General Smedley Butler (1881), existentialist philosopher/author Jean-Paul Sartre (1905), Parks and Rec actor Chris Pratt (1979), famous ancestor-haver William of Cambridge (1982), and singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey (1985).
On this day in history...
In 1582, legendary Japanese daimyo Oda Nobunaga was either killed in an attack by his own subordinate or forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) after the betrayal.
In 1900, as part of the Boxer Rebellion, China formally declared war on the United States, Britain, Germany, France, and Japan on the order of Empress Dowager Cixi.
In 1919, German Admiral Ludwig von Reuter ordered the scuttling of the 74 vessels being interned following World War I at Scapa Flow in Orkney. Nine German sailors were killed as they sunk the ships to prevent their being turned over to Allied governments. These were the last casualties of the war.
In 1973, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling in Miller v. California in which it established the Three Prong Obscenity Test. Justice Potter Stewart, who proclaimed "I know it when I see it" about obscenity in an opinion a decade prior, dissented in Miller - he did not see it in this case.
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And that's the way it is in Birdland on June 21 - or at least, until something happens later. Have a safe Tuesday. Go Orioles!