Another day, another loss for the O’s, who are all but out of contention in the AL East race.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
So, Orioles, whenever you feel like busting out of this months-long malaise and remembering you’re supposed to be a good team, we would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
The Birds’ miserable slog of a second half continued with yet another offensive blackout and yet another series loss, as the O’s dropped the rubber game in Detroit yesterday. The Orioles scored just two runs, giving them a total of 21 over their last 10 games. Only once in that stretch have they scored more than four runs. Not surprisingly, the Orioles have lost seven of those games. They’re 26-28 since the All-Star break, and going back an additional week, they’re 27-33 in their last 60 games.
With the Yankees winning yesterday, the O’s dropped back to three games out of first place in the AL East. Their chances of repeating as division champs are all but over. Alex Church recapped the latest debacle. Well, the good news for Baltimore sports fans is that at least the NFL season has arrived, and— (checks Ravens score) …hoo boy. Uh, forget I said anything. Yikes.
Things just aren’t getting any better for this maddening baseball team. The O’s, who as of July 7 were on pace for 103 wins, may well fall short of 90. They’ve completely blown a golden opportunity to win the East. They’re desperately clinging to the first wild card spot, which would at least let them host a first-round playoff series, but it’s not hard to imagine a scenario in which the Royals, who are just two games behind, overtake them. Wherever the O’s do end up playing in October — assuming they don’t collapse completely out of a postseason berth — it’s hard to have any confidence that they’ll be competitive once they get there.
It’s ugly. And it’s not remotely what O’s fans expected from this 2024 season, when optimism was at an all-time high after the addition of a former Cy Young winner as well as the #1 prospect in baseball to a team that cruised to 101 wins a year ago. A devastating wave of injuries has played a big part in the Orioles’ underachieving, for sure, but injuries alone can’t explain everything that’s been going wrong with this team since the All-Star break, particularly on offense.
Right now, the O’s are playing like less than the sum of their parts. If they’re ever going to turn things around, they’re running out of time to do it.
Links
Orioles can’t get clutch hits, again, and waste another strong start – Baltimore Banner
For what feels like the 50th consecutive game, Brandon Hyde commented that O’s hitters need to have better at-bats with runners in scoring position. So at some point are they planning on actually, you know, doing that?
Heston Kjerstad talks about rejoining the Orioles today – Steve Melewski
Heston Kjerstad is finally back in the O’s lineup. And he went hitless in his return. He fits right in!
Mailbag leftovers for breakfast – School of Roch
Roch Kubatko is at least a little more optimistic than I am about the Orioles’ chances of making a postseason run, pointing out that they’ll be getting healthier and there are no truly dominant AL teams. I suppose that’s true, but I just feel like being grumpy.
The Orioles still can’t hit with runners in scoring position, lost series to Tigers – The Latest update and timeline for every injured Orioles player – The Baltimore Sun
Kjerstad and Jacob Webb returned from the IL yesterday, and 3-5 other injured Orioles could be making their way back soon. Don’t rush back too fast, guys, but also, the O’s entire season is depending on you. No pressure!
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Four ex-Orioles were born on this day, including Tim Raines (65), who is guaranteed to boost your Rarity Score in Immaculate Grid when you need to name a Hall of Famer who played for the Orioles. Long after his glory years with the Expos and White Sox, nobody ever remembers that the 41-year-old Raines played four games for the terrible 2001 Orioles. The Birds acquired him in the last week of the season so he could play alongside his son, Tim Raines Jr.
Other former Birds with Sept. 16 birthdays are right-hander Paul Shuey (54) and catchers Mark Parent (63) and Mickey Tettleton (64).
On this date in 2012, the O’s clinched their first winning season in 15 years, defeating the Athletics for their 82nd victory. I remember what a glorious feeling that was after so many years of the Birds being unwatchable non-contenders, and the O’s kept carrying that momentum to a 93-win season and a playoff spot. This year, hitting the 82-win mark — which the O’s did last week — didn’t have nearly the same feeling of accomplishment.
And on this day in 2014, the Orioles memorably clinched the AL East title for the first time since 1997, with the much-maligned Ubaldo Jiménez pitching five solid innings to lead the O’s to an 8-2 win over the Blue Jays. Nearly everyone in the raucous Camden Yards crowd of 35,297 stuck around for the delirious on-field celebration, which included Adam Jones delivering pies in the face to several lucky fans. That was quite the night.
Random Orioles game of the day
On Sept. 16, 1990, the Orioles suffered a walkoff loss to the Blue Jays for the third consecutive day. Ouch. In each of the previous two games, the O’s had blown a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth by giving up three runs. This time, they went into the ninth in a tie before the Jays won on a play that Baseball Reference describes as “Lineout: RF-SS/Forceout at 2B (Deep 2B); T. Fernández Scores,” which makes no sense. Essentially it was a George Bell walkoff hit to right, but the trail runner didn’t bother to run to second base, so he was ruled out (not that it mattered). Anyway: rough series for the O’s.