Unless they dominate out of the break, there’s only one way for the Orioles to go.
Hello, friends.
One more day off to go before baseball resumes. Of less immediate but certainly more long-term interest, there are two weeks to go until the trade deadline, at which point the Orioles will have moved whoever they want to move in deals and picked up whatever they could in return.
The math remains hostile as far as pointing towards anything other than selling off assets. The O’s went 6-3 in their final nine games before the break and even that’s not enough. 7.5 games out, seven teams to pass, it’s just not going to work. I think at this point, they’d need to be four games closer than they are to not be trading away the veterans with value who are going to become free agents after the season. An O’s team that was better enough to have won those four games could make more of a case for being good enough to close the rest of the gap.
It’s just not that way. The 2025 Orioles have been shut out ten times already, including twice in July. They’ve scored only a single run in an additional six games. The Orioles starting rotation has the second-worst ERA of all MLB teams, trailing only the Rockies, who are an entirely different kind of mess.
You can make a pretty good case that the Orioles are going to keep playing better from this point, as their injured players make their way back. They’re 28-24 under interim manager Tony Mansolino. That’s not enough to dig out of the early hole. It’s sad to think about, because they’ve been playing almost well enough to make you think that maybe they can do it, and then they get setbacks. We got that last week heading into the break, with the Bryan Baker meltdown that ended up stopping the O’s from sweeping the Mets, and then whatever it is that happened to the offense in those last two games against the Marlins.
I guess at least we avoided the spectacle of 2018, where Manny Machado was having trade rumors flying around while he was within range of microphones in the All-Star Game and ultimately was dealt the next day. Ryan O’Hearn got through his game with questions swirling but nothing actively happening. That doesn’t mean that Mike Elias won’t strike today, if someone comes calling with a price he can’t refuse.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Orioles enter second half with uphill battle, but momentum in mind (Orioles.com)
My reaction to this headline was, “What momentum? They lost two to the Marlins before the break!” But it’s actually about building momentum towards 2026, which I think is necessary and hope that they will be able to do.
Orioles claim Elvin Rodríguez on waivers (School of Roch)
Recent roster maneuvering left the Orioles with two open 40-man roster spots. Mike Elias couldn’t stop himself from claiming a guy who was good in Japan last year, jumped back to MLB this year, and has been bad. Maybe if the O’s can get him to stop giving up home runs, he’ll be good enough.
With Orioles’ TV future uncertain, Manfred hopes to package local rights (The Baltimore Sun)
The Sun notes that it’s been a recent project of commissioner Rob Manfred to have TV rights reverting to the league, and that it’s possible that the MASN divorce will have the Orioles joining the other five teams who’ve already done this by next season.
Former Shoemaker HS shortstop Joe Philip Guzman signs with Orioles as undrafted free agent (Killeen Daily Herald)
We could all use a local paper to highlight our professional successes. This one from Texas makes note of Guzman, the rare high school player to sign as an undrafted free agent. Best of luck to him in his pro career.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 1991, Sam Horn struck out six times in a row in the course of a 9-8, 15-inning loss to the Royals. Horn had the ignominious record of being the first-ever non-pitcher to do this.
There is one lone former Oriole who has a birthday today. Happy 31st to Josh Lester, who appeared in 11 games for the 2023 Orioles.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Declaration of Independence signer, Vice President, and odd district-drawer Elbridge Gerry (1744), actor James Cagney (1899), pianist and Peanuts theme composer Vince Guaraldi (1928), actor David Hasslehoff (1952), and DJ/producer Darude (1975).
On this day in history…
In 1453, the final battle of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France was fought. An invading English force led by the Earl of Shrewsbury was defeated in the Battle of Gascony, in which the earl himself was killed, and the war finally ended with England having no further will to fight for its claimed continental territory.
In 1717, baroque composer Handel’s Water Music received its premiere performance as 50 musicians played for Great Britain’s George I for hours while floating on a barge down the Thames.
In 1918, the former tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, along with his immediate family, were executed by the Bolshevik secret police.
In 1955, Disneyland was officially opened.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on July 17. Have a safe Thursday!