Oblique soreness will keep the top prospect out for at least this weekend.
Hello, friends.
The curse that has been afflicting Orioles catchers this season finally made its way down into the minors to latch onto top prospect Samuel Basallo. Before yesterday’s game against the Rays, the team revealed that Basallo will not be playing in any games for Triple-A Norfolk this weekend due to discomfort in his oblique area.
It’s a bummer because oblique injury issues always seem to drag out longer than expected and continue to impact performance even once a player comes back from the injured list. If Basallo has to miss beyond this weekend due to this oblique soreness, he’s probably going to end up missing at least a month, and if that happens, he’s probably not going to get a shot at the MLB roster this season. The missed development time on his catching will drag down his potential impact at the major league level early next season.
Perhaps the greatest active curse in 2025 is whatever is plaguing the way that the Orioles play baseball. They aren’t good, or at least they aren’t good enough to overcome the deficit they put themselves in early in the season, such that every fault and mistake that leads to a loss is greatly magnified.
Last night was another stupid one. Dean Kremer pitched great for seven innings, but the Orioles offense could only generate two runs for him. Once things turned to the bullpen in the eighth inning, Seranthony Domínguez set about blowing the 2-1 lead, which he did by allowing the tying run to score within the span of three batters. After that, he loaded the bases before the Orioles brought in Gregory Soto instead. Soto got the ground ball and Ryan O’Hearn made a terrible throw to attempt to get the force at home plate. This throwing error led to two runs scoring. It’s bad. The Orioles are bad.
If there was any doubt whatsoever about the selloff coming between now and July 31, the Orioles losing the last two games before the All-Star break and the first two games coming out of it sure seals where that has to go. They’re 43-54, 8.5 games back of a wild card spot. As to their postseason chances this season, so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night.
The Orioles will attempt to avoid being swept by the Rays in a 12:10 game this afternoon. They’ll have a better chance of doing this if Trevor Rogers continues to pitch well. Orioles batters will have to try to stink less than they did on Friday and Saturday as they face Ryan Pepiot this afternoon.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Cedric Mullins wants to stay an Oriole. The clock may be running out for him and others. (The Baltimore Banner)
Eleven days to go until the trade deadline. It’s not much fun to think about it in terms of which long-time Orioles could be sent packing in the middle of the season.
The Orioles should be willing to do almost anything for 2026 starting pitching (The Dishwasher)
It starts with a tier list about how much it would hurt (or not) to trade different Orioles players. I’ve been banging the “Who the heck is going to pitch for this team next year?” drum for a couple of months and if the O’s find a surprising trade to get somebody who can do it, they pretty much have to think about it.
If the Orioles can’t win now, they need to show they can win later (Baltimore Baseball)
Seeing the Orioles get worked by the Rays on Friday night prompted Peter Schmuck to write, among other things, “They need to prove over the final two-plus months of the season that they really are a better team than the one that showed up to play on Friday.” Yes.
Ike Irish talks about draft and hit tool (School of Roch)
The Orioles signed their top three picks over the course of this weekend, and first rounder Ike Irish was among those who chatted with O’s media. He’s all in on playing whatever position it takes for the team to win.
Eflin moves closer to return, with updates on Bradish, Akin, Wells (Baltimore Baseball)
It sounds like Zach Eflin’s next start is going to be either Wednesday or Thursday against the Guardians, giving him time to make two starts before the trade deadline.
Disney, sushi, and iguanas: How Orioles players spent their All-Star break (The Baltimore Sun)
Players have to try to make the most of a few consecutive scheduled days off in the middle of the season. The Sun got some of their stories.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
There are several former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2019-21 catcher Pedro Severino, 2013-14 infielder Alexi Casilla, 2010-11 catcher/infielder/outfielder Jake Fox, 1999-2000 catcher Charles Johnson, and 1995 reliever Mark Lee. Today is Lee’s 61st birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: botanist Gregor Mendel (1822), baseball Hall of Famer Heinie Manush (1901), mountaineer Edmund Hillary (1919), author Cormac McCarthy (1933), longtime US senator from Maryland Barbara Mikulski (1936), musician Carlos Santana (1947), and basketball Hall of Famer Ray Allen (1975).
On this day in history…
In 1848, the two-day Women’s Rights Convention wrapped up in Seneca Falls, New York.
In 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the surface of the moon.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on July 20. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!