Hello, friends.
The Orioles followed up a thrilling Friday win with a Saturday clunker, dropping last night’s game to the Phillies by a 5-0 margin. That was the third time this year that the team was shut out. Check out Andrea’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.
This one was always going to be an uphill battle for the Orioles, going up against Philly’s tough lefty Cristopher Sánchez. It’s good that they won on Friday night because Sánchez was there last night and Zack Wheeler
awaits today. Wheeler has a 2.53 ERA in 17 starts this season. Philly’s top three of their rotation, also including Jesús Luzardo, is commendable. It’s wild that this opponent doesn’t have a better record.
It’s an ongoing joke between my wife and I that the present-day Orioles have a bad game every time they are doing some kind of celebration of team history. Yesterday marked the induction ceremony for the team hall of fame for Chris Davis and Storm Davis. Under our prevailing theory, of course the Orioles were going to lose. Add that to the tough lefty effect and this was even more of a certain outcome.
There is silver lining. The Orioles did not lose any ground against any team they are chasing in the wild card race. The Guardians, Twins, and Rangers all lost their games. The O’s remain 1.5 games back with three teams to pass to get into a postseason spot. It is only more ridiculous now that it is August and the team is three games below .500 and they’re still so close to making it in, but that doesn’t make it any less true. They are in this race. Maybe they only need to go like 31-20 to get into October.
All of this is the context setting up the final Orioles game before the trade deadline. This year’s deadline is tomorrow at 6pm Eastern. The O’s have already made one move, dealing Dean Kremer to the Twins for interesting young outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes. That will probably not be the last move they make. Mike Elias might strike again today or he might take the rest of his business down to the wire. This thing really could go either way, or both ways.
Kyle Bradish and Zack Wheeler are set for the 1:35 finale.
Orioles stuff you might have missed
Chris Davis excited, relieved to be inducted into Orioles Hall of Fame (Orioles.com)
It’s too bad they couldn’t win that one for the Davises, but both Chris and Storm did go through their share of not as good Orioles seasons.
Clubhouse reactions to the Dean Kremer trade (School of Roch)
Craig Albernaz and Trevor Rogers both had positive things to say about Kremer on his way off to the Twins.
What we know about Adley Rutschman’s trade market (The Baltimore Banner)
Seems like Elias isn’t categorically shutting down inquiries about Rutschman but he’s demanding such a high price that it appears unlikely.
Pete Alonso on how the clubhouse is handling the trade deadline (Steve on Baseball)
Alonso is the veteran position player leader in the clubhouse and it sounds like he’s doing everything he can to keep everyone focused on each day’s game that’s in front of them.
Catching prospect Creed Willems ‘pissed off’ by timing of injury (The Baltimore Sun)
Willems and Enrique Bradfield Jr. both might have had big league opportunities by now if not for injuries. It sucks for them! Hopefully they can break in soon.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 2022, the Orioles traded closer Jorge López to the Twins for four players, including recently-extended reliever Yennier Cano. We might see a different reliever traded today or tomorrow.
There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2016 two-game pitcher Parker Bridwell, and 1999-2004 pitcher Matt Riley. Today is Riley’s 47th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: D.C. architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant (1754), Warner Brothers brother Jack Warner (1892), novelist James Baldwin (1924), actor Peter O’Toole (1932), writer/director/actor Kevin Smith (1970), and singer-songwriter Charli XCX (1992).
On this day in history…
In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was actually signed, several weeks after it was approved.
In 1830, as a result of the July Revolution, French king Charles X abdicated his throne. Though he believed he was stepping down in favor of his grandson Henri, the newly-created title “King of the French” (as opposed to King of France) was passed to a distant cousin, Louis Philippe, who ruled until another revolution in 1848.
In 1923, President Warren G. Harding died, leading to the vice president, Calvin Coolidge, becoming the 30th president of the United States.
In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait and attempted to set up a puppet government controlled by Saddam Hussein. This sparked an American-led coalition response of Operation Desert Shield, which turned into an invasion to liberate Kuwait the following January with Operation Desert Storm.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on August 2. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
