Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters!
Things have not gone well for the Orioles over the last few days. After an impressive run where they won 10 of their last 14 games, the team has now lost three in a row. And they’ve done so in excruciating fashion. On Saturday, Kyle Bradish was very bad. On Sunday, they blew a four-run lead. And last night, they bumbled around on the bases and did not take advantage of their chances and had some straight-up botches. If you want to read more about that one, you can check
out Paul Folkemer’s recap.
I admit it. I’m down on the Orioles again. It’s only been three losses, but it feels like more proof that the Orioles are just a very uneven team.
Last night, when the Orioles were trying to rally, they had runners on first and third with one out. The score was 6-3. Pinch-hitter Samuel Basallo hit a fly ball and posed like it was going to land 400 feet away. Instead, Julio Rodríguez caught the ball in front of the warning track. Jackson Holliday tagged from third to score, and for some reason, Blaze Alexander tried to tag at first. Rodríguez had no chance at Holliday, but he nailed Alexander at second for the third out. And because he was tagged out before Holliday touched home plate, the run did not count. That’s not ok!
That wasn’t the only bad play last night. Pete Alonso left about a billion men on base. The Orioles, for some reason, continue to bring in Anthony Nunez in a high-leverage situation. The catcher was a guy named Sam Huff, who played while both Adley Rutschman and Basallo sat on the bench.
Of course, one bad stretch doesn’t make a bad season. But the Orioles have yet to climb out of the hole they dug themselves into to start the year, so getting out is going to be tougher and tougher. I propose they start to turn it around tomorrow with a win.
Links
What exactly does Tyler O’Neill do here? It’s time for the Orioles to move on. – The Baltimore Banner
Kyle Goon advocates for cutting Tyler O’Neill loose with over a year left on his contract. It does seem like O’Neill has no future with the team, but it’s not like there are any players breaking down the door to take his place.
More Orioles injury updates – MASN Sports
Chris Bassitt is on the IL but Dean Kremer could return soon. Cade Povich is resuming baseball activities. Samuel Basallo has a bony growth on his wrist, which is a weird injury. But he did bat yesterday so it’s not impeding him too much.
1 trade chip for every team ahead of 2026 Deadline – MLB.com
Jake Rill is out here trying to trade Creed Willems
Former Oriole Trey Mancini completes his comeback in start for Angels, his first MLB game since 2023 – The Baltimore Banner
Now here is a feel-good story! Mancini batted seventh and played first base for the Angels last night. Funnily enough, Grayson Rodriguez was the starting pitcher.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have just one Orioles birthday buddy, John Andreoli (36). Andreoli played in 23 games with the Orioles in 2018. It’s not a great birthday buddy, to be honest.
On this day in 1960, the Orioles signed pitcher Tom Phoebus to a minor league contract. Phoebus appeared in 199 minor league games before making his debut in 1960. He pitched for the Orioles through 1970. In 1968, he threw a no-hitter
In 1984, Mike Flanagan pitched a complete game shutout as the Orioles defeated the Tigers, 4-0. It was Flanagan’s second complete game against the Tigers in a week. Six days earlier, he allowed one run in nine innings in a 2-1 win.
In 2016, both Keegan Akin and Pete Alonso were drafted in the second round of the amateur draft with 10 picks between them. Who do you think was drafted first?
In 2019, the Orioles sent international bonus slot money to the Phillies for pitcher Thomas Eshelman. Eshelman appeared in 31 games, about half starts, with the Orioles from 2019 to 2021 with a 5.77 ERA.
