Saturday’s franchise-historic win could turn out to be the last big hurrah for Cedric Mullins as an Oriole.
Hello, friends.
Even in the midst of a season full of disappointment, staring down the barrel of a trade deadline that is likely to see at least one fan favorite Oriole moved elsewhere, the 2025 Orioles can still come in and drop some history almost out of nowhere. That’s what they did last night in kicking the stuffing out of the Rockies, winning in absolutely dominant fashion with an 18-0 final margin.
This ended up being the most runs scored by the Orioles while shutting out the other team in the history of the franchise, unseating a previous record from a 17-0 shutout that the 1969 Orioles pulled off. In the midst of this team accomplishment, which also saw the Orioles set a franchise record for having twelve different players score a run, there was also individual glory.
Cedric Mullins hit the 100th home run of his career, becoming just the third-ever Oriole to have 100 homers and 100 stolen bases for the team. Paul Blair and Brady Anderson were the previous two to do so. Earlier in the game, Mullins made an amazing leaping catch, for which he received a rousing ovation from fans. Maybe I’m just projecting my own feelings onto it, but it was like people recognized this is probably their last chance to see him do great things in an Orioles uniform, and Mullins delivered.
Trevor Rogers was extremely good in the game as well, even if there was nothing particularly historic about his dropping seven shutout, one-hit innings on the Rockies. Of course, it’s not to be forgotten – even if the Orioles tried to make us forget while losing on Friday – that the Rockies are a terrible baseball team. All of the stats still count.
The trade deadline is now four days away. Mike Elias has dealt two relievers already this month. The lone Orioles All-Star, Ryan O’Hearn, seems like the biggest candidate to be dealt. Mullins is another, though teams will have to be convinced he’s better than his recent lengthy period of struggles. Seranthony Domínguez or Andrew Kittredge could move out of the bullpen, and with rotation injuries besetting contenders, Zach Eflin or Charlie Morton could have some demand as well.
It’s not fun to wake up and wonder which Oriole will be dealt today, or how many will be dealt. The team has played its way into this position. Elias is certainly not going to let sentiment stop him from completing any deal where a player who is going to be a free agent after this season can net him prospects who may be able to show some future value. A deal could come together any time: Before the game, during the game, after the game. Constant vigilance!
These two bad teams close out their series with a scheduled 1:35 start time today. Tomoyuki Sugano is set to pitch for the Orioles, with Austin Gomber, a lefty sporting a 6.03 ERA, pitching for the Rockies.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
When will Samuel Basallo be promoted? Orioles have “plan in place.” (The Baltimore Sun)
Pretty much the second the trade deadline is in the rear view mirror, the next big question facing the Orioles is going to be when to promote the catching prospect who is wrecking Triple-A opposition.
Coby Mayo following advice of former teammate Stowers to heart (Orioles.com)
We can also hope that the Orioles are taking the lesson of Stowers to heart: Give your inexperienced guy playing time instead of jerking him around.
Hiraldo recalled, J. Jackson optioned (School of Roch)
The revolving door of the Orioles roster spun before Saturday’s game. The team optioned infielder Jeremiah Jackson back to Norfolk without having played in a game. Jackson was selected ahead of Friday’s game following the team’s trade of Gregory Soto, leaving the Orioles with a seven-man bullpen. They decided they could only bear that for a day. I think we’ll see Jackson again.
Trade deadline preview – 87 starting pitching prospects that could start for the Orioles in 2026 (The Dishwasher)
If you really want to go deep on thinking about guys who Elias could trade for in the next few days, here’s a great place to find a large number of them.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
The most recent Orioles victory on today’s date came in 2019. Those O’s broke a 6-6 tie by scoring two eighth inning runs and Mychal Givens held on for a save even after he gave up a run and loaded the bases. Pedro Severino had four hits and drove in four runs in the game. No one who appeared for the O’s in this win over the Angels is still in the organization.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2014 pitcher Preston Guilmet, 2012-17 super-utility man Ryan Flaherty, 1980-87 infielder Floyd Rayford, and 1976-85 infielder Rich Dauer. Dauer passed away earlier this year at the age of 72.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Battle of Baltimore general Samuel Smith (1752), baseball Hall of Famer Leo Durocher (1905), screenwriter Norman Lear (1922), Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax (1938), and wrestler Triple H (1969).
On this day in history…
In 1054, the king of Scotland, Macbeth, was defeated in the Battle of Dunsinane by invaders from England; the battle features in Shakespeare’s play of the same name, which actors superstitiously refer to simply as “the Scottish play.”
In 1940, an animated short entitled A Wild Hare was first played in public. This is significant for being the first appearance of Bugs Bunny.
In 1953, the Korean War effectively came to an end as the United States, China, and North Korea signed an armistice over the conflict, which South Korea’s president did not sign but pledged to respect. North and South Korea have never conducted a peace treaty so the war has technically never ended.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on July 27. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!