The Orioles have their backs against the wall, down 0-1 in a best of three series
I normally start these posts with, “Happy Wednesday, Camden Chatters!” But it’s not a happy Wednesday. It is a sad Wednesday.
I don’t have you tell you what happened yesterday. We all watched it. Corbin Burnes was incredible. He did the job that we all imagined when Mike Elias traded for him in the off-season. He pitched into the ninth inning and allowed just one run against the Royals yesterday. But it wasn’t enough. If you can’t get enough of the gory details, you can check out Paul’s recap from yesterday.
If the Orioles don’t pull out a win today, the worst thing about that is that the Orioles season will be over. But another tragedy built into that is that it will probably mean we never see Burnes pitch in an Orioles uniform again.
There is always the chance the Orioles could sign him to a contract in the offseason, of course. But even if they are interested in that, they’ll be in competition with the rest of MLB. The odds are slim, to say the least. He’s been so incredible for the Orioles this year, and having a pitcher of his caliber has been mostly a foreign concept for an Orioles fan.
And beyond the sadness I’ll feel if the Orioles lose today to the Royals, the feeling that not only will the Orioles probably lose out on him next year but also that they wasted the only year they had him is a pretty crappy one.
So let’s just go out there and win today for many reasons, including that we might get to see Corbin Burnes make another start for the Orioles.
Links
Understudy who inspired Colton Cowser will sing national anthem before Game 2 – The Baltimore Banner
I just love this.
Orioles offense fizzles in familiar fashion to lose wild-card opener – The Baltimore Banner
Can the Orioles PUH-LEASE get their acts together?
Orioles 2024 playoff opener attracts just over 40,000 fans – Baltimore Sun
Every playoff game I’ve been to has been a packed house but yesterday, not so much. I’ll be there today for probably an even smaller crowd. What’s the deal?
5 things we learned from Orioles’ Game 1 wild-card loss – Baltimore Sun
The Orioles face the possible end of their season Wednesday after squandering a brilliant outing by Corbin Burnes in a loss to the Royals.
Camden Yards upgrades: $135M approved for video board, other improvements – The Baltimore Banner
A new video board! Yes, I am in favor.
A few quick takes as the Orioles lose Game 1 to Kansas City – MASN Sports
Steve Melewski’s hot takes.
This Is Why You Get an Ace: Royals Win Series-Opening Pitchers’ Duel | FanGraphs Baseball
Except the Orioles also got an Ace.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies. Last season’s pleasant surprise, Aaron Hicks, turns 35 years old today. Hicks OPS’d .806 in 65 games with the Orioles last year but wasn’t so good this year. He batted just .140 in 28 games for the Angels before being released in late May. He hasn’t played since.
José Morban turns 45 years old today. Morban appeared in 61 games for the 2003 Orioles with an OPS+ of 9. It was his only major league experience. And Victor Santos turns 48. He had a seven-season career as a pitcher that ended with four games with the Orioles in 2007.
On this day in 1996, the Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-4 at Camden Yards in game two of the ALDS. Armando Benitez got a blown save in the eighth inning but the Orioles scored three runs in the bottom half to re-take the lead and win the game with small ball. Three runs were knocked in with a ground out, a sac fly, and a single.
In 1997, the Orioles took a 2-0 lead over the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS with a 9-3 victory. Scott Erickson was the winning pitcher. Harold Baines and Brady Anderson homered. The Orioles would go on to win the series in four games.
In 2012, the Orioles beat the Rays 1-0 despite an incredible 15-strikeout performance from Rays starter James Shields. The game’s only run came on a monster home run from Chris Davis, his sixth in as many games. The win kept the Orioles one game back from the Yankees in the division and spawned this excellent GIF:
In 2014, the Orioles defeated the Tigers 12-3 in game one of the ALDS. The game was close until the eighth inning when the Orioles scored eight runs against Joba Chamberlain, Joakim Soria, and Phil Coke. Chris Tillman started the game and got the with with five innings pitched. Nelson Cruz and J.J. Hardy homered.
In 2016, the Orioles clinched the Wild Card with a 5-2 win over the Yankees in the final day of the regular season. Kevin Gausman pitched 7.1 innings with two runs allowed and Zack Britton closed it out. Matt Wieters hit two home runs.