In a showdown between two lousy teams, the O’s have proved to be lousier.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
If you didn’t stay up to watch the Orioles on the west coast last night, well, you made the right decision. Why would anyone choose to do that? At this point I don’t even want to watch their east coast games. I’d rather go to bed at 7 PM than subject myself to more Orioles baseball.
Poor Mark Brown was on game recap duty and so had to subject himself to the latest O’s embarrassment, in which Kyle Gibson got rocked again and the Birds’ bats continued their near team-wide slumber against an Angels pitcher who entered the game with a 5.79 ERA. And he wasn’t even a lefty!
This road trip was supposed to be the Orioles’ chance to get some momentum going. They were facing two teams that had near equally-bad records to their own. Instead, the O’s have already clinched a losing road trip and would finish 1-5 if they can’t pull out the finale in Los Angeles today. In a battle of awful teams, the O’s have unquestionably identified themselves as the awfulest. At 14-24, they again have the second-worst record in the American League and the fourth-worst in baseball. This is an unserious franchise.
The Orioles’ starting rotation, which has been a disaster all year, is showing signs of improving. Zach Eflin returns today, Tomoyuki Sugano has been great, and Dean Kremer and Cade Povich have taken steps forward lately. The sad thing is that it doesn’t seem to matter, because the O’s offense is a disaster. Cedric Mullins has crashed back to earth and nearly everyone else in the lineup has continued their season-long struggles, especially Adley Rutschman, who went 0-for-4 with a GIDP last night to drop his average under the Mendoza line.
Adley is hitting .195/.295/.320, and unlike last year, there’s no convincing ourselves that there’s an injury to blame. What has happened to him? Is he just done being a productive MLB player in his fourth season? At age 27? Rutschman’s collapse is one of the many mind-boggling mysteries that has led to the Orioles being in the position they’re in. A lot of things need to change soon or we could be on our way to one of the worst O’s seasons of our lifetimes. And that’s saying something.
Links
Orioles’ bats, Gibson struggle in 5-2 loss to Angels – BaltimoreBaseball.com
“I think for me personally, I just have to have to pitch better,” Gibson said. It’s not just you personally who thinks so, Kyle.
Orioles’ Brandon Hyde grateful for Mike Elias’ support, not focused on job security – The Baltimore Banner
Brandon Hyde says he’s more focused on leading the Orioles to a turnaround than on keeping his job. I don’t think either one is going to happen.
Cedric Mullins is especially grateful for wife on Mother’s Day – MLB.com
Here’s a sweet story about Cedric and his family to temporarily interrupt my doom and gloom. But I’ll be right back at it momentarily.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Four ex-Orioles were born on this day, most notably the late Milt Pappas (b. 1939, d. 2016), who had a pretty excellent O’s career before being traded for Frank Robinson, who of course had a more excellent O’s career. Also celebrating birthdays today are right-hander Kerry Ligtenberg (54) and Mark Huismann (67) and outfielder Trent Hubbard (61).
On this date last year, the Orioles won an 11-inning walkoff over the Diamondbacks, 5-4. It took only one pitch in the 11th for the O’s to win it, as Jordan Westburg laced a single off Bryce Jarvis to score the automatic runner. After that win, the Birds were 14 games over .500 at 26-12. I’ve forgotten what that’s like.
Random Orioles game of the day
On May 11, 1978, the Orioles lost to the Red Sox, 5-4, at Memorial Stadium. O’s starter Dennis Martinez pitched into the ninth inning but gave up five runs (four earned) to take the loss, with Hall of Famer Jim Rice tagging him for a two-run homer. The Orioles offense was held in check by Boston starter Bill “The Spaceman” Lee and three Sox relievers. The loss dropped the O’s to 11-16. They recovered to finish the season with 90 wins, which was only good enough for fourth place in the division.