The O’s have scored a total of four runs in their last four games, which is not a great recipe for success.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
In what’s been a recent theme of miserable O’s hitting performances, yesterday’s effort was one of the worst yet. The Birds were blanked by five Rays pitchers, managing just five hits, none for extra bases. They walked three times and struck out 11. They went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, including a humiliating eighth inning in which three straight batters struck out swinging with two runners on base. It was a truly pathetic showing, and Alex Church’s recap has more details on the Orioles’ offensive blackout.
Sadly, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. The Orioles have scored a total of four runs in their last four games, and have been held to three or fewer runs in 10 of their last 17 contests. The Birds’ offense found temporary relief against the wretched Rockies and White Sox pitching staffs — plating 39 runs in those six games — but otherwise have been in an extended funk for the majority of the second half.
Nearly every member of the O’s lineup is slumping simultaneously, and many have been doing so for quite some time. Jackson Holliday, after arriving back in the majors with a power binge in early August, has regressed to his overwhelmed April form, slashing .145/.206/.210 in his last 19 games. Key lefties Colton Cowser and Ryan O’Hearn are sporting low-.600s OPSes in the last two weeks.
Most concerning of all is Adley Rutschman, whose months-long struggles reached a low point yesterday with an 0-for-3, two-strikeout performance. He’s now hitting below the Mendoza line in the second half of the season, with just two home runs in 41 games, looking like a shell of the player who revitalized the Orioles’ franchise in 2022 and emerged as a two-time All-Star. The prevailing theory among O’s fans is that Rutschman has been trying to play through a lingering injury for much of the season, and while I don’t wish Adley to be hurt, I kind of hope that’s true. The alternate explanation — that he’s fully healthy and just has lost all ability to hit — is too depressing to think about.
The good news is that the Orioles didn’t lose any ground in the AL East race, thanks to a Yankees loss to the Cubs, keeping the Birds a half game back of New York. Tonight the Orioles begin a six-game road trip with the opener of three at Fenway Park, while the Yankees open a seven-game homestand against the likely postseason-bound Royals. On paper, at least, the O’s have an easier matchup than the Yankees do. But that’s not going to matter very much if the Orioles can’t figure out how to hit, and soon.
Links
Orioles offense again stumbles in 2-0 loss to the Rays – The Baltimore Banner
Corbin Burnes says the Orioles’ second half has felt like “two steps forward, one step back.” I think he’s overestimating the number of steps forward.
Orioles’ Colton Cowser making case for first Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove season since Ichiro – The Baltimore Sun
I’m a big Cowser fan, but his 2024 season hasn’t screamed “Rookie of the Year” to me. Maybe Gunnar Henderson’s monster 2023 has thrown off my perception of what a Rookie of the Year campaign should look like.
Checking in with a few 2024 O’s draft picks at Aberdeen – Steve Melewski
Some of the Orioles’ 2024 draft picks are already close friends. Let’s hope they continue to climb up the organizational ladder together.
Coulombe set for rehab assignment later this week – School of Roch
Great! Can he hit?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Six former Orioles were born on this day, including Edwin Jackson (41), who pitched three games for the 2017 Birds en route to playing for an MLB-record 14 different teams. Other ex-Orioles with Sept. 9 birthdays include infielders Pat Valaika (32), Rhyne Hughes (41), and Todd Zeile (59); and right-handers Kurt Ainsworth (46) and the late Jim Corsi (b. 1961, d. 2022).
On this date in 1999, Cal Ripken Jr. set a dubious major league record at the time by grounding into the 324th double play of his career, breaking Carl Yastrzemski’s mark. I suppose that happens when you play for 21 seasons and aren’t particularly fleet afoot, as magnificent a player as Cal otherwise was. Ripken’s GIDP record has since been topped by both Albert Pujols (426) and Miguel Cabrera (364).
And on this day in 2009, O’s second baseman Brian Roberts ripped his 50th double of the season off Boston’s Paul Byrd at Fenway Park, to become just the fourth player in MLB history to post three 50-double seasons. The other three were all Hall of Famers: Tris Speaker, Paul Waner, and Stan Musial.
Random Orioles game of the day
On Sept. 9, 1989, the “Why Not?” Orioles improved to 78-66, and remained 1.5 games behind the first-place Blue Jays, with an extra-inning win in Texas. First baseman Randy Milligan, who had doubled twice earlier in the game, mashed a two-run homer in the 10th to lead the Birds to victory. Rookie closer Gregg Olson retired the final four batters of the game, including a huge strikeout in the ninth with the winning run at third.