Hello, friends.
The 2026 Orioles are at it again. This is not a complimentary statement. Last night’s loss, good grief, what can you even say at this point? They find ways to lose. They should be better than a team that finds ways to lose and they aren’t. There’s a lamentable amount of ongoing bumbling. Not even Brandon Young as the starting pitcher makes them immune to this occurring. They are sticking to a variety of philosophies that do not seem to be working out for them with a “captain goes down
with the ship” level of dedication. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for yet another edition of the not-so-lovely totals.
In news that takes on a darkly comic shade after what happened in last night’s game, Mike Elias put in some time with Orioles reporters ahead of the Saturday contest and made some pronouncements that include: “We’re going for it. I’ll let you know if that changes” and “I think we’re going to be good” and “we see a lot of good things in the operation” and “we think we have really good people here.” It’s not the kind of funny that makes you laugh.
I’m sure that Elias also wishes the team had played better immediately following his staking out those kinds of positions. I can sympathize with him. I’ve been in the “You say something and the Orioles make you look stupid not long after” game for longer than he has. I have put my share of cold takes on this website in the past and will end up making them for as long as I am around. You’re never going to say anything interesting about this team (or any team) if you are worried that you’re going to look dumb for saying it. That’s the truth.
Then again Elias isn’t getting paid for takes, he’s getting paid to have the Orioles win games. Or that’s the assumption all but the most dedicated cynics would make. They aren’t winning enough games. They haven’t won enough games dating back to just about two years exactly from right now. That’s a long time in baseball. It’s about as long as it was fun to be a fan coming out of the tanking years. July 2022 through June 2024 were fun. July 2024 through now have not been fun. If they don’t fix this thing next month, the not-fun has gone on longer than the fun ever did. That sucks.
The Elias presser also included a question about whether he feels the pressure to have the Orioles improve, which seems like it was a polite phrasing of “Do you think you might get fired?” To that, Elias said, “I always feel a lot of pressure in this position … Every single year I’ve felt pressure and you worry about your job in this business. So absolutely. But I think we have a really good chance of doing what we want to do and we’re all working very hard and we’re all very optimistic about it.”
I mentioned, above, that there is a captain going down with the ship dedication going on here. The ship is sinking. He’s not abandoning it. There’s a nobility in that. But for the time being there’s not a winning record, and since they’re six games below .500, there won’t be a winning record for at least another seven games.
The Orioles will try to win the series against their southern neighbors with a 1:35 game today. The Nationals starting pitcher, Zack Littell, is not left-handed, so maybe they have a chance. He has an ERA of 5.40, so maybe they don’t have a chance. Kyle Bradish is pitching for the Orioles today, so maybe they have a chance. We’ll see how it shakes out.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Mike Elias says, “We’re going for it. I’ll let you know if that changes” (Steve on Baseball)
I’ve seen this movie before. Elias says something that, if you take it to its logical conclusion, means he’s going to do things. Then he doesn’t do things that live up to what he said.
Mike Elias on Adley Rutschman: “We want him here forever” (The Baltimore Sun)
You’re one of the two people on this planet, along with David Rubenstein, who can make this happen! If you really want him here forever, sign him to the deal. Otherwise it’s disingenuous to say stuff like this.
Orioles reinstate Cade Povich from injured list, option him to Norfolk (Baltimore Baseball)
One small bit of Orioles news yesterday is that the team quietly activated Povich from his rehab stint and sent him back to the minors. He didn’t have a good rehab stint, so it’s no surprise to see him not getting a big league spot right now.
Chris Bassitt undergoes “very minor” back surgery to remove bone spur (The Baltimore Banner)
Article also includes a variety of other injury updates, including that Dean Kremer is “close” and that Elias is “pretty excited” about Félix Bautista’s recovery.
Gunnar gives back: Local kid surprised with specialized cleats (Orioles.com)
The feel-good stories feel better when the Orioles win and not as good when they don’t.
One pitching prospect the Verge’s Nick Stevens just can’t stop watching (Orioles on the Verge)
The Verge is diving down into the Dominican Summer League to find an interesting young lefty, Kelvin Zapata, who the team signed last year.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Of all the players to ever play for the Orioles, only a single one was ever born on this day: 1970-75 outfielder Don Baylor. He passed away in 2017 at age 68.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Methodism leader John Wesley (1703), actor and movie maker Mel Brooks (1926), actress Kathy Bates (1948), and YouTuber Markiplier (1989).
On this day in history…
In 1870, the first federal holidays were established by Congress. In the first batch: New Year Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
In 1914, Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife Sophie were killed by a gunman in Sarajevo. This is the incident that proved to be the lighting of the match of what became World War I.
In 1969, a police raid on a gay bar in Manhattan called the Stonewall Inn sparked riots and demonstrations, an event now recognized as the start of the gay rights movement.
In 1997, boxer Mike Tyson bit off a part of opponent Evander Holyfield’s ear during a rematch between the two men. Tyson was disqualified.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on June 28. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
