Good morning, Camden Chatters.
This past week was the Orioles’ chance to decide whether they want to be serious contenders in the postseason race. Unfortunately, it appears they have made their decision quite clear.
Presented with a golden opportunity to make up ground against two wild card opponents, the Orioles lost their series to both the Rangers and Twins, all but burying themselves in the race. The O’s controlled their own destiny, and they steered it right into a ditch. Their latest failure came in yesterday’s rubber game in Minnesota, with Shane Baz imploding in a 7-5 loss. Mark Brown recapped the action.
Even in a mediocre American League, a 2-4 stretch just isn’t going to cut it. As of this writing, the Orioles sit 2.5 games out of the third wild card spot, pending the results of the Rangers’ late game last night. The O’s also trail the Twins, the Tigers, the Guardians, and now the Blue Jays, who pulled a half game ahead of the Birds by winning three straight against the Red Sox. That means the Orioles now sit alone in last place in the AL East.
The fact that the Orioles squandered their chances against mediocre teams like the Rangers and Twins is all the more painful considering what’s coming next. Starting tomorrow, the Birds will spend the next 10 days playing exclusively against the two best teams in the American League. Seven of those are against the Rays (74-46), who are riding a nine-game winning streak after completing a perfect 9-0 road trip. A three-game set versus the Yankees (68-52) is sandwiched in between.
If you’re looking for a sliver of hope, I’ll point out that the Orioles have won a series each against the Rays and the Yankees this season, including a sweep of Tampa Bay in May. Of course, the O’s have also gotten swept by both teams, too. On paper, these are the worst possible opponents for the Orioles at the worst possible time. It’s two teams that are clicking on all cylinders against a Baltimore squad that is again struggling to even win two games in a row.
Call me pessimistic if you like. But it’s hard to imagine any scenario where the Orioles remain even on the fringes of the postseason race after this punishing 10-game stretch is over. Not unless they find another gear and bring their all-too-rarely-seen A game to these upcoming series.
For all intents and purposes, this could be the 2026 Orioles’ last stand. Will they show up?
Links
Shane Baz fades fast as Orioles’ struggles continue in Minnesota – The Baltimore Banner
Baz has gotten screwed out of a lot of possible wins because of poor run support. This time he has nobody to blame but himself.
O’s land 18-year-old OF Rivas from Sox to complete Adley deal – MLB.com
The Orioles added yet another top-30 prospect as the player to be named in the Rutschman trade. That still doesn’t make it any easier for me to stomach.
A very solid year on the O’s farm now leads RHP JT Quinn to Double-A – Steve Melewski
JT Quinn is quietly pitching himself into a quality prospect. That Chesapeake rotation is looking absolutely stacked right now.
When will Heston Kjerstad get called up by Orioles? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
I’m not bullish on Kjerstad’s chances of ever contributing in the majors again, but we’re getting to the point that there’s no harm in giving him one more try. What’s he going to do, cost them a playoff spot?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 22nd to Samuel Basallo. The Orioles’ catcher is having a solid rookie season at the plate, with 16 homers and a .756 OPS, but has been sidelined since July 19 with right shoulder inflammation. There’s no word yet on his potential return. Once he comes back, the primary catcher position is Basallo’s for good, which the O’s made clear by trading Adley Rutschman earlier this month.
Former Orioles born on Aug. 13 include right-handers Cory Doyne (45) and Tom Niedenfuer (67), lefties Will Ohman (49) and Jeff Ballard (63), and outfielder Corey Patterson (47).
Aug. 13 has been a big day for Hall of Fame Orioles, none bigger than in 1969, when Jim Palmer threw a no-hitter against the Athletics. Palmer was effectively wild, scattering six walks throughout the game — three of them to fellow Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson — but blanked the A’s lineup with a masterful 0-for-29, eight-strikeout performance. Palmer improved to 11-2 after missing the entire previous season with back and shoulder problems.
In 1977, Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson played the final game of his legendary 23-year MLB career. Well, he didn’t technically play in it. Brooks was announced as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth against left-hander Bob Lacey, but when the Athletics brought in righty Doug Bair, Robinson was replaced by Tony Muser without ever batting.
In 1978, Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver stole a win for the Orioles through some crafty gamesmanship. The Orioles were leading the Yankees 3-0 after six innings before New York rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh. But when heavy rains arrived, Weaver stalled the game long enough (with help from the groundskeepers) that the field was deemed unplayable. According to the rules at the time, the score reverted to the last completed inning, giving the O’s a 3-0 win. The rule was changed two years later.
And on this date in 1998, Hall of Famer Harold Baines became MLB’s all-time leading RBI leader as a designated hitter, driving in his 824th run with an RBI single in the sixth off Cleveland’s Dwight Gooden. That record has since been demolished, like a dugout phone, by David Ortiz of the Red Sox (1,343).