Another loss, rotation analysis, and Sugano adjusts
Good morning Birdland,
While I try to watch as much Orioles baseball as I can, there are days during the season where I have so many things going on that I have no choice but to miss a game. Last night was one of those instances, and boy am I happy about it.
I didn’t even need to watch the highlights. Paul’s poetic coverage of the floundering was more than enough. What a debacle.
The Orioles are supposed to have World Series ambitions. That is what we were sold during the rebuild years of 2019-21. Because we all had to experience truly horrible baseball during that time, we would be rewarded with competitive, interesting baseball for many years after that. The 2025 season should be right in the thick of that window of contention.
What we have right now is a far cry from a World Series contender. These guys are on pace to be far closer to 100 losses than a playoff spot.
But losses are nothing new around these parts. We can handle losing. The nature of these losses, however, is difficult to stomach.
The Orioles were embarrassed on Easter. They lost 24-2 to a mediocre Reds team. You would have thought that after a day off and a train ride down to D.C. that they would have had some time to get their minds right and come out fighting on Tuesday. Right? Guess again.
Cedric Mullins was the only member of the lineup that seemed engaged. He had their only hit, and he walked twice. Good on Mullins for continuing to thrive despite the cratering of everyone else on offense.
Kremer was ambushed on the mound. There was no fooling the Nationals hitters, and he gave up two more home runs. At some point you expect him to be the 4-4.50 ERA pitcher he has been for his career. But last night was not the time.
Some are taking this opportunity to pile on Brandon Hyde in particular. I mean, sure. Do whatever makes you feel better in this moment. But this team isn’t playing like they are a manager away. It feels like an organizational failing. The players look unprepared. The pitchers’ stuff isn’t playing. It is all a disaster.
Yes, it is still “early.” The Orioles do have time to turn it around. But that runway can evaporate pretty quick if you’re not careful.
Links
The Orioles’ Struggling Rotation | MLB Trade Rumors
Hey, further analysis of how horrible the Orioles’ starting rotation has been. Love it.
Southpaws haunt O’s as lack of hitting vs. lefties continues | Orioles.com
The Orioles believe in their platoon system. That’s great. But they aren’t playing well enough right now to believe in what they are doing. Play your best players. That means getting Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Urías into the lineup.
Mailbag leftovers for breakfast | Roch Kubatko
Roch mentions that Trevor Rogers will make three or four rehab starts before the team deems him ready for the majors. It is extremely sad that I am anticipating Rogers being ready to pitch in Baltimore. Just give us anyone.
Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano continues a season of ‘firsts’ as he adjusts to MLB | The Baltimore Banner
Sugano is the Orioles only healthy starter that I get excited to watch pitch. At the same time, I am very scared of his peripheral numbers. To be a 2025 Orioles fan is to live in fear though, I suppose.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Louis Head turns 35 today. He pitched in five games for the 2022 Orioles.
- Sean Henn celebrates his 44th birthday. The southpaw pitched in six games for the O’s in 2009.
- The late Buddy Peterson (b. 1925, d. 2006) was born on this day. A shortstop, he played 13 total MLB games, seven which came with the Orioles in 1957.
This day in O’s history
1994 – In just the 16th game of the Orioles season, their closer Lee Smith already gets his ninth save. He is the quickest to reach the mark in MLB history.
2006 – Miguel Tejada sets a major league record in the Orioles’ 7-1 loss to the Yankees. Tejada has four hits on the day, the only ones recorded by the Orioles. No other player in MLB history has had so many hits in a single game while his teammates contributed nothing.