The Birds’ first matchup of the season against the Rays saw them backslide into their April/May form.
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The Orioles, flying high on a recent 11-4 stretch, knew that a lot would be riding on this week’s road trip through Tampa Bay and New York. If they’re to stand any chance of making the long climb back into contention, they need to emerge from this trip with a winning record and the confidence that they can go toe-to-toe with their toughest AL East rivals.
Welp! Things could hardly have started any worse. The Orioles’ opening game of the trip was a total dud, the kind of uncompetitive disaster that felt all too similar to the Birds’ usual horrid performances in April and May. A horrible starting pitching performance? Check. An atrocious effort by the O’s offense? Also check. Get all the details in my recap of the 7-1 blowout in which the Rays outclassed the Orioles in every aspect of the game.
The Orioles do, at least, have three more games in this series and six more on this road trip to try to get back the swagger that they’d shown in their recent homestand. But a game like last night’s makes it all the more difficult. It’s not just that they lost, but that they looked so utterly inept in doing so. Just as a solid win in the opener might have boosted the Orioles’ confidence, their ugly loss could prove to have the opposite effect.
Most likely, the O’s are who we thought they were: a team that’s too inconsistent, and has already buried themselves in too deep a hole, to make any real noise in the postseason race this year. If they intend to prove otherwise, it needs to start happening now.
Links
Orioles’ balloon popped by Rays in 7-1 drubbing – The Baltimore Sun
There’s a decent chance that by the end of this road trip, the Orioles’ balloon never gets re-inflated.
Orioles postpone minor league games after ‘some’ players involved in crash – The Baltimore Banner
Never a headline you want to see. Here’s hoping that nobody was seriously injured and that they’ll be back on the field sooner than later.
Life on the fringe with Orioles reliever Scott Blewett: ‘I’ll do anything to stay in the big leagues’ – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Scott Blewett apparently is friends with Matt Bowman, whose roster spot he took when the Orioles reacquired him. Awkward.
O’s arms take another hit with Povich (left hip inflammation) landing on IL
Another day, another injury for the Orioles. This 2025 team is so cursed.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! The only O’s player in history with a June 17 birthday is the late outfielder Dave Pope (b. 1921, d. 1999), who played for the Birds from 1955-56.
On this date in 2005, the Orioles’ Miguel Tejada played his 822nd consecutive game, tying him for ninth place on the all-time list. Tejada eventually moved all the way up to fifth before the streak ended at 1,152 when he got injured in June 2007. Of course, when it comes to Orioles shortstops, 1,152 consecutive games is mere child’s play.
Random Orioles game of the day
On June 17, 1971, the Orioles beat the Yankees at Memorial Stadium, 3-1. The O’s managed only six hits but an Elrod Hendricks two-run homer and a Davey Johnson sac fly provided all the run support needed for starter Pat Dobson, who went the distance for a victory. That game began an incredible streak for Dobson in which he won 12 consecutive starts, throwing a complete game in 11 of them, and ultimately became one of the Orioles’ four 20-game winners that year.