Hello, friends.
Yesterday’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 2131 game was darkened a bit in the morning with the news that Davey Johnson, a former Orioles player and manager at different times and winner of the manager of the year award, has passed away at age 82. A member of both the 1966 and 1970 World Series-winning teams in addition to manager to the 1996 and 1997 teams who made the postseason in consecutive seasons, Johnson is inextricably linked to two of the great periods in the history
of the franchise. My sympathy to his family and other loved ones on his passing.
If the 2025 Orioles season has taught us anything, it is that no good Orioles season should ever be taken for granted. You never know when the period of success will end. This was also a lesson from the immediate aftermath of Johnson’s managerial tenure. Essentially forced out right after winning that manager of the year, Johnson’s departure marked a turn into the wilderness for the franchise, from which it did not emerge for more than a decade.
The Orioles went on for some magic in Saturday night’s game after all, although they sure made us wait for it. For nearly the entirety of the game, it seemed like the team was going to absolutely waste the opportunity to make a nice impression on a night where one of the legendary accomplishments in franchise history was being celebrated.
After being no-hit until there were two outs in the ninth inning, they broke out for four runs to get a walkoff win over the Dodgers, capped by Emmanuel Rivera’s two-run single, with Jorge Mateo racing from second to home as the winning run of a 4-3 victory. It can yet be said of the 2025 Orioles that, if only they weren’t so bad in April and May…
Let’s unpack that. The low point of the Orioles season, at least in terms of games under .500, was when they fell to 16-34 when they lost the first game of a doubleheader in Boston. Since that point, they’ve now gone 50-38. That’s more than half of a season of playing at a 92-win clip. To be sure, it’s taken the last five wins in a row to get that to as impressive of a number as it is; had the Orioles lost these last five games instead, we’d be talking about 45-43, and who cares about that.
I still think if they can play the playoff teams tough for the rest of September, that will be a positive going into next season. They’ve done a great job of it so far in September, sweeping the Padres and now winning a series against the Dodgers. We’ll see if they can keep it going from here. Clayton Kershaw and Tomoyuki Sugano are the scheduled starting pitchers for today’s 1:35 series finale where the Orioles go for the sweep.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Davey Johnson, player on 2 Orioles World Series teams and later winning manager, dies at 82 (The Baltimore Banner)
The Banner’s obituary on a unique figure who probably deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, though the last committee to consider him did not choose him.
30 years later, Ripken feels every emotion from ‘2,131’ (Orioles.com)
In my early 20s, I tried to describe to an ex-girlfriend – not from this area – how the 2131 game was one of the most emotional moments of my life. She laughed at me. It didn’t work out, obviously.
Will anyone break Cal Ripken Jr.’s record? The resounding answer is no way. (The Baltimore Sun)
The combination of a player being able to do it and the team letting him do it now is just so improbable. Never say never, but 2,632 stands up there with any other nigh-unbreakable you could name.
McDermott adapting to new relief role (School of Roch)
Chayce McDermott arrived in town yesterday on the medical taxi squad in case Dean Kremer ends up having to go on the injured list. The Orioles should find a way to activate him regardless.
Speaking of injured Orioles, Samuel Basallo took a bunt attempt off of his hand and left last night’s game. Initial news is positive:
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 2018, the Orioles lost their 100th game of the season. It was a 14-2 loss to the Rays. Those jokers infamously ended up with 115 losses. The most that the 2025 team could have, if they lost every game from here on, is
There are a number of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2004-06 outfielder David Newhan, 2000 three-game catcher Willie Morales, 1988 reserve Wade Rowdon, 1984 four-game catcher Orlando Sánchez, and 1972 three-game infielder Tommy Matchick.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your other birthday buddies for today include: English monarch Elizabeth I (1533), Medal of Honor recipient and longtime US senator Daniel Inouye (1924), musician Buddy Holly (1936), disco artist Gloria Gaynor (1943), Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan (1962), actress Evan Rachel Wood (1987), and singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams (1999).
On this day in history…
In 1191, the soldiers of the Third Crusade fought the Battle of Arsuf against Saladin’s army. England’s Richard I led an outnumbered force to victory on the strength of a cavalry charge.
In 1630, Boston was formally founded.
In 1812, the French fought the Russians in the Battle of Borodino, a French victory that ended up being the deadliest single day of the entire Napoleonic Wars. After the battle, the French occupied Moscow. They would have been better off turning around and marching right back home after their triumph.
In 1940, Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe launched the first of 50 consecutive days of bombing attacks of London and other British cities, a campaign now known as the Blitz.
In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened its doors in Canton, Ohio. Among the initial honorees was longtime Green Bay Packers coach/general manager Curly Lambeau, after whom Green Bay’s field is still named.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 7. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
