Aug 19, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde (18) comes to the mound with the trainer as he talks with relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (48) during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jorge Lopez lasted only two innings against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon. His fastball velocity was down, but he was determined to keep his head up, even after another loss by the Orioles, their 15th in a row, 7-2 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Lopez (3-14) has been dealing with more than his struggles on the field. His son son underwent chemo treatments and a bone marrow transplant this summer. Asked if he thought he could benefit from a break, he said:
“I worked my whole life to get there, and that’s the last thing I’ll do is give up. I’ll come back stronger with a good mentality. We’ve all been through the same thing. It’s just part of this game, keep learning and trusting the process.
“Nobody wants to be in this spot. I promise that. I’m just going to keep my head up and looking forward. That’s what I can do, be strong.”
The Orioles are a mess at this point. The 15-game losing streak is the second longest in team history, surpassing the 14-game skid in May of this season. The only longer streak came when they began the 1988 season with 21 straight losses. They have lost every game in their current losing streak by multiple runs.
“Right now, we’re not even in the game,” manager Brandon Hyde said.
The Orioles (38-82) secured their fifth straight losing season on Thursday. To avoid losing 100, they would need to finish 25-17. They were swept for the 15th time and completed their fourth winless road trip.
“We’re not in many games, and that’s hard,” Hyde said. “One thing that I was proud of the last couple of years was in a lot of our losses, we made it closer. We might have blown a game late and done some things to lose, but we played a lot of close games.”
Lopez was in trouble immediately. Brandon Lowe doubled, and Wander Franco was hit by a pitch. Nelson Cruz walked to load the bases. Austin Meadows walked after he hit a pop foul that neither catcher Pedro Severino or third baseman Ramon Urias caught. It’s the kind of mistake that has hurt the Orioles repeatedly during this streak. Lowe scored on the walk, and Ji-Man Choi hit into a double play that scored Franco.
Hyde and Brian Ebel, the team’s head athletic trainer, went to the mound for an extended visit with Lopez, who stayed in and struck out Randy Arozarena to end the first.
“I felt I was a little anxious,” Lopez said. “I felt really good. I’m just going to keep mentally strong and get back tomorrow to keep working.”
Hyde said the mound visit was because he noticed Lopez’s fastball’s velocity dropped dramatically, and he wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything wrong with him.
“He said he was OK physically. He just wasn’t himself today,” Hyde said. “He felt fine. He’s working through some things right now.”
Hyde didn’t see any indication before the game that Lopez wasn’t ready to pitch.
“I felt he was ready to go, and I don’t know why the velocity dropped dramatically the way it did,” Hyde said. “After the hit-by-pitch [to Franco], it seemed like the stuff wasn’t the same. He was just flipping the ball up there.”
Lowe hit a two-run homer in the second. He has five homers and 19 RBIs in 16 games against the Orioles this season.
After two innings, Lopez (3-4) was replaced by Fernando Abad, who pitched a scoreless third but loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. Abad was replaced by Marcos Diplan. Meadows drew his second bases-loaded walk of the game, and Choi delivered a two-run single on a ground ball that normally would have gone to the shortstop, but the Orioles were in a shift. Tampa Bay (75-47) led, 7-0.
The Orioles scored against Shane McClanahan in the fifth when Richie Martin’s RBI single scored Urias, who lined a pitch off the left-field wall. McClanahan (8-4) gave up a run on five hits in five innings, striking out eight.
Urias hit his sixth home run with two outs in the ninth.
The Orioles are 1-15 against Tampa Bay this season. They begin a nine-game homestand against Atlanta, the Los Angeles Angels and the Rays on Friday night.
“We’ve been trying to reset for a while now,” Hyde said. “It’s not easy …”
Notes: Hunter Harvey, who allowed a run on three hits for Triple-A Norfolk in a rehab outing on Wednesday night, will get another one, Hyde said. “He’s scheduled to pitch in a couple of days,” Hyde said.” He could pitch another inning or perhaps more. “Then, we’ll decide at that point if he’ll stay there or come up.” Harvey is on the 10-day injured list because of a lat strain.
Ryan Mountcastle has an 11-game hitting streak and Jorge Mateo has a 10-game streak. …The Orioles open a three-game series against Atlanta on Friday night. Keegan Akin (0-7, 8.13 ERA) will face Max Fried (10-7, 3.78). … The Orioles released infielder Domingo Leyba, who had been at Triple-A Norfolk. Leyba batted .154 with a home run and four RBIs in 21 games with the Orioles. … Trey Mancini returned to the lineup after missing two games after fouling a ball off his calf. He was hitless in four at-bats as the designated hitter.
Looking ahead: With the last quarter of the season beginning Friday, the Orioles will look at who might get promoted on September 1st when two players will be added to the roster.
“When it comes to roster decisions,” Hyde said, “whether it’s bringing up infielders or how many pitchers to bring here, that’s up to [general manager Mike Elias] and the front office on when to determine if a prospect is ready or somebody they want to see in September. Those decisions are starting to happen now, but with the expanded roster only going to 28, it’s a little bit more difficult this year, as well, not being able to see more guys.”
Hyde said the pitching choices at Triple-A Norfolk were limited. He mentioned right-hander Dean Kremer, whose command has been better recently, and some minor league free agents.
“Nobody’s been knocking the door down to come back, and we’ve really taken a look at everybody,” Hyde said. “I’m going with the group that I’ve got right now, and we’ll see what happens.”
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You haven’t been in the game for a month. The Orioles need pitching talent. This year is way lost. Look forward. Spend some well thought out money and get this team at least reasonably competitive for 2022. Fans can only take so much of a team that doesn’t even belong in the majors.
100% correct.
At what point is there going to be some accountability. This is getting ridiculous. There has been no effort from anyone on this roster other than your typical players. Santander looks disinterested and like he doesn’t wanna be there. I don’t know if firing someone would work but dfa some people. Guys like Franco and Stewart need to go. Start by saying a message. Something needs to be done. This streak is only getting worse as we play the braves and the Angels. As far as Lopez I know he’s dealing with things off the field that most of us can’t fathom but if he needs time away he should take it.
Maybe the Angelos need to get on Twitter & question what’s going on like the Mets owner, it broke their 5 game losing streak...;)....Kremer improved pitching coincides w/Adleys arrival...go O’s...
K. Smith's horrible two outing coincides w/Adley's arrival...not cool for Adley to play favorites!
Spin those numbers Pajama Boy.
Shocked you’re responding to something I said, K. Smith, whomever he is, wasn’t mentioned in the article, read instead of looking at pictures;)...go O’s...
LOL.
How does a fringe journeyman draw 2 bases loaded walks in one game? Only the Orioles, unfortunately the new "Oriole way!"
Austin Meadows is a fringe journeyman? Buzz you’re buzzed.
Yes, he is, career BA less than .250.
Career BA is .262 according to baseball reference and he’s played for 2 teams in his short professional career. 2 teams is not much of a journey around the league. He’s been in the league a whopping 4 seasons counting this one. I’ll agree to disagree on your definition of fringe journeyman.
We have NO pitchers at Norfolk who are ready for the Bigs. Going with the current group guarantees a 110+ loss season, rivaling the ineptitude of 2018. I never thought I’d see a 47 win season again but this could be the year!
This is why you can’t give much credence to minor league rankings. We have nobody at the AAA level or big league level that can win a game. Disgraceful.
DFA Franco, bring up somebody from Norfolk. Look at the spark Mateo provides. Fire Gonzales, the fundamentals are terrible. Bring up Jones he can’t be that much worse with his defense than what we have. Maybe the new guys can hit enough to cover up the poor fielding.
The pitching is bad, Severino is terrible at catching, framing and throwing. The guys in the minors can’t be any worse. If we’re going to lose, let’s see what nugget we find in the minors the next 6 weeks.
I can't believe how everyone blames the pitchers for this debacle of a season, when the only person to blame is Mr. Loserpants himself, Mike Elias. He and he alone is responsible for this team.
I'm pretty sure he's the losingest GM in MLB during his tenure, though I could be wrong about that.
I'm not one to rummage though the baseball archives and databases, but I'm wondering which GM has the lowest career winning percentage in the history of the Major Leagues?
OhMy? Anybody? Please somebody .... enlighten me.
Rebuild aside, what is happening in Baltimore is a disgrace. BRR is right, Elias and Elias alone is responsible for this mess. He went from banging on trash cans in Houston to being THE trash can in Baltimore.
Bringing the head analytics guy from the Astros has really helped, huh? Fire the entire bunch - all of them - and bring back the Oriole Way. No more "New Age" managers and their sensitivity training. Do you think someone like a Rick Dempsey - with no managerial experience - couldn't get more from a rag tag bunch? One thing is for certain, he'd get in their face for not playing the game - or wearing the uniform - correctly.
Wake up and stop supporting this BS of a rebuild. Demand more from ownership or wake up one day and like the Colts, this team will be gone from Baltimore.
Wow, that was friggin awesome, we need you posting more...go O’s...
AWFUL!!! Only word to describe this team…
Fugly?...;)...go O’s...
I know my son will be very upset with me for this comment, but I cannot help it if I am forced to remember the good times. Harry Dalton, will you please come back? I don't care in what shape, manner or form, but PLEASE HELP!!!
He’s been dead since 2005.
Rich,
Precisely why I said in any shape, manner, or form!!!
And BUCK as his sidekick!!!
Britton, maybe, not vanilla .500 Buck!
Touché but .500 is better than .300
.500 looks pretty damn good right now...lol...go O’s...
Is it to early to start hoping for Elijah Green in the 2022 draft or will our GM underslot for some guy in the California Penal League?
Guessing, under slot...go O’s...
Angst two years ago.
Anger last year.
Apathy this year.
Anger 2 years ago.
Pleasant surprise last year.
Apathy this year.
Throwing in the towel, this team and management are awful I cannot take it any more. Could somebody provide Hyde with a razor, the stubble looks awful and reflects a not caring about himself nor his team. Hold on Rich, I know you do not blame him for the present debacle but someone has to be accountable. the race to the bottom to get the first pick is fools folly for this team, Elias will probably draft yet another body to provide depth for his minor league teams yet none will ever see the majors. This saga is way past done, lets scrap present management and steal Tampas or Toronto's in an attempt to right this ship.
I realize that rebuilding is a process but for God's sake give us some hope, this is just painful
Keep the faith, I'm trying but sinking fast
Totally agree BC, have said multiple times the staff lacks professionalism, most times the staff doesn’t even wear game uniforms, attitude reflects leadership (from Remember the Titans), very true...go O’s...
The only thing keeping me entertained with this dismal O’sseason are you guys. Some great comments today “Cali Penal League” and BRRs plea for data and Rich dry wit saying the dude died in 2005….
LMDAO!
Thx guys
Why would anyone want to show up at the park. If I was in Baltimore I would organize a boycott. As for Hyde’s idiotic comments bring up Adley , Bauman, Diaz , Jones, Brannon and even Rodriguez. How could one month hurt their development. Give the fans something
Bruce, I think the boycott has already occurred.
Rich, I think the boycott is extending to road games; Tampa Bay averages a low 8,000 a game, and the O's games were still well below that. The O's organization may accept patience with empty seats --heck, empty sections-- as part of The Plan or Process or Whatever, but other organizations might not enjoy losing money when the Birds fly into town. Perhaps pressure from other owners and the league may be forthcoming.
Maybe not, but what team doesn’t want to sweep a home series?
Maybe next year those teams offer a t shirt or some freebie promotion when the birds limp into town.
Maybe the Birds could provide the freebies from their own leftovers.
Notice that no one addressed how one month could hamper their development...lmao...go O’s...
T shirts emblazoned with the logo of the Baltimore Bathyspheres, perhaps?
:)
Career batting averages:
Phillips TB 205
Wilkerson .210
Coolbaugh.209
Mendoza/Flaherty .216!
How do you walk a CAREER .205 hitter twice in the same game?
The "Oriole way"! Have to agree, managers and coaches need to wear regular uniforms, it looks plain stupid!
I’m just curious, because, as I posted the other day I really don’t much care any more, but does anyone know what the lowest winning percentage is for a MLB manager with a minimum of 100 games. I actually tried to look it up but, like the O’s okaying baseball,
See, I even screwed my post up. Anyway, what I was saying was I couldn’t find the answer to that question. I’m actually a fan of Hyde. I hope he’s still given the opportunity to manage when that begin winning again (if that ever happens).
Dave, Brandon Hyde has the fourth lowest winning percentage of any manager with a minimum of 315 games managed.
Thanks Rich, I don’t think Connie Mack, Walter Alston, Tony LaRussa or our beloved Earl of Baltimore could’ve done any better than that with what Hyde has had to work with.
Bannon homers again, the guy is on fire!!! 2 tonight!
It’s a shame they don’t have a run rule like slow pitch softball. The Orioles games would be over in a couple of innings and there be so much pain having to watch them for nine innings.
There's a similar rule for some high school football leagues; it's called, appropriately the Mercy Rule. In track, if you get lapped, you get off the oval. Maybe in baseball if you drop, say, 30 games below .500, you spend the rest of the season at an alternate site while your scheduled opponents get byes. BTW, I think the second ranking for minor league clubs was for the O's Baltimore franchise.
Funny will, but o don’t think they’d be ranked that high;)....go O’s...
Evan Phillips couldn’t make our club this year but just pitched two shutout innings for the Dodgers tonight against the Mets who called up Chance Sisco. This just keeps happening again and again to this organization. Guys that can’t perform here hook up with some some of the best clubs in baseball.
Bruce, talent is thin, particularly for the last few spots on a team, especially with injuries rampant. The Mets have 12 players on the injured list and have used 61 players. Sisco was recalled with a .208 average because they needed a catcher.
Wynns batting .182...;)...go O’s...
Sisco started hitting at Syracuse Rich I follow him and the Dodgers possibly the best team in baseball sign Philips who couldn’t make it here. Would they sign Valdez or most of our guys no they signed Philips because he has good stuff and know it’s major league quality if they can straighten his head out. They are fighting for first place and not signing someone to fill out their roster. The same thing with the Mets. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sisco makes the team next year and turns his career around
:)...go O’s...
Bruce, the Dodgers picked up Conner Greene, the Padres picked up Shaun Anderson.
The Orioles picked up Mateo. Lots of times a new environment helps. As I wrote, with so many injuries this year, teams are desperate to fill out their roster. The Dodgers have 10 pitchers on the injured list.
Hopefully, Sisco will do well with the Mets.
Mateo is hitting .340 as an Oriole!
He can be a good pick up but we are still way on the losing end of players that can’t make it here but flourish on better clubs
He hasn’t shown much defensively, but who has...go O’s...
Stomach-turning stat: Sports Center host said last night that the O's negative 96 run differential over their last 15 games is the largest 15 game differential since the Cleveland Spiders in 1899! (I'm just slightly less than 100% sure that I got all the numbers right.) ESPN also had this gem: the opposing teams' cumulative batting average against the Orioles during these 15 games is better than Mike Trout's (career?) average.
The hanks WV, needed that to start off my Friday...lmao...;)...go O’s...
Have the O’s signed the new long term lease yet?
A number 2 minor league ranking is nice but once Rutschman,Rodriguez are called up I wonder how far that will drop off.
Quite aways unfortunately...go O’s...
They will go to number 30, as they are our pipeline!
Folks,
I really hate doing what I'm gonna do bc I love the O's as much as we all do. There are several "prospects" in The Orioles' (or any other teams') minor league system that are just that....prospects. They have to still prove themselves as major league players. Here's hoping they will be even better than everyone thinks. However we should temper our expectations so as not to disappoint if said "prospects" don't achieve what the experts think they will. But, after saying that, I believe that, even now, they are better than what the major league team is fielding. Just recall Chris Smith, Matt Hobgood, etc.
The glaring issue that I see with the O’s is pitching. But don’t misunderstand me, I am not talking about the talent or talent level for the pitchers within the Oriole system. I am speaking more about the coaching, development and or the pitching philosophy that is with the current pitching hierarchy. I am not saying either that these coaches and advisers are poor in their abilities, but I don’t seem to see a fit with between the talent and the coaching that they are receiving.
It might be time for a new direction for pitching and pitchers.
As I may have said before, or maybe not (I'm 89 so it happens), watching the O's is like getting a colonoscopy nightly. The O's have a few problems. 1st, they have a GM that should be driving a cab in Cheaterville. 2nd, and most important, THEY HAVE NO PITCHING..That's NO with a capital NONE. 3rd, this rebuild is imaginary because the "Waiver Wire" which still is the O's primary farm team, is not producing the rebuilding blocks that Genius1 is trying to get away with. As a wise man once (or hundreds of times) said "it's a very simple game" YOU HAVE TO SPEND TO MAKE. It's the big leagues and big money has to be spent in order to compete.
Agree, said it before, takes money to make money...go O’s...
Need to get some FA pitching here, or we are going for 100+ again next year.
Nice post NormOs. I hope when I'm 89 I'm still passionate about baseball.
I see a lot of comparisons drawn between this squad and the 1988 team which lost 21 straight to open the season. While the '88 Orioles certainly had an abysmal season, they had three things that are sorely lacking with this bunch - character, competency and culture.
Hank Peters was fired after the '87 season and was replaced by Roland Hemond. Hemond inherited an aging club and the organization was also saddled with some bad contracts. Hemond made some bad decisions trying to tweak the club during spring training (remember Jeff Stone and Doug Sisk?) and the rest they say is history. Not once do I remember Hemond throwing Peters under the bus or hearing Frank Robinson (who replaced Cal Sr. in early April) make excuses for poor play. And as bad as they were, the team actually hustled and played with heart. No doubt the '88 team - especially the pitching - was bad but the Oriole Way was still in place and players, manager and coaches and front office were still held accountable. Contrast this with the current state of the organization.
What did Hemond do the rest of the '88 season into '89? He made some smart trades (Mike Boddicker for Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling, Fred Lynn to the Tigers for Chris Hoiles) and went shopping in the bargain bin to pick up some real finds - Mickey Tettleton, Randy Milligan and Phil Bradley to name a few. They also brought up some kids named Finley and Worthington and threw a young Jeff Ballard out there to pitch 215 innings (the horror!). And once again, although there were a lot of players new to the organization the culture - the Oriole Way - was still in place. As it did since 1954, character still counted in Baltimore.
And where is the organization now? From my viewpoint, all I see is a front office and manager making excuses and the local media and many fans saying "trust the plan" and often gushing over the performance of Elias and company. Let's be honest, even if all of the high draft picks pan out - and they won't - players need time playing together in the minors and on the big club for a team to really gel. You really want a rebuild model to emulate? I'm not so sure the 1988-90 Atlanta Braves with Bobby Cox as the GM (followed by John Schureholz in '91) aren't a better example than the Astros. If purposely tanking for a few years was a surefire model for sustainable success, why hasn't it been successful outside of Houston? How do organizations like Oakland and Tampa Bay seemingly retool every year and still compete? I'll tell you - character, competency and culture. Making excuses and not playing hard is not tolerated within those organizations. By the way, Oakland's Manager Bob Melvin was part of the '89 "Why Not!" O's.
The Angelos brothers gave the keys to a once Cadillac of an organization and let Elias intentionally crash it into a tree. But don't worry, insurance (high draft picks) will pay for it and in a few years, we'll have a new one to drive. In the meantime, we don't even have a decent loaner to drive. I'm sorry, but it's time to take the keys away from Elias and find an old school GM and manager to take the reins. Character, competency and culture can't be found or created on a computer model or spreadsheet.
B-R-A-V-O!!!!
Well said. I've often told my son that eventhough the O's of '88 were historically bad because of the 0-21 start, I truly believe this bunch is worse, MUCH worse. Besides the obvious lack of talent, there is an obvious lack of "wanting it." I don't think I've ever seen a lazier catcher than Severino. I hardly ever see Franco run out a ground ball. The same with Santander. This "franchise", once proud and copied is now laughed at and scorned. It is a shame for our children and their children who will never get to witness The Oriole Way nor the greatness of those teams. OK, rant over.
Holy smokes RoenStein, agree with most people f what you said, love the analogies, totally agree baseball people are what we need, not number crunchers...go O’s...
Exactly. You have to pay. It’s survival of the richest.
The Rays demonstrate that brains and skill can bring survival and success without being rich. The Orioles right now are (hopefully temporarily) behind the curve in brains, skill, success, and willingness to spend.
Where have all the optimists gone? I sorely miss the cheery comments dripping with optimism, arguing that the baseball talent is there and will very soon gel into a competitive team. I'd settle for a return of those preachy posts trying to educate the ill-informed that the O's turnaround plan is not an overnight thing and demanding patience for however long it takes. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the guilty pleasure of reading the increasingly amusing gallows humor in the comments. BTW, RoenStein's post was excellent, except for not suggesting that most of the blame for the debacle rests with ownership.
I don't see the gallows humor in the comments as much as I hear the frustration that there has been no improvement at the major league level since Elias took over. If the "rebuild" or "turnaround" was on track we would see some incremental improvement with the big league club. Let's be honest, do you see any progress with the club taking the field at Camden Yards? Any GM can intentionally tank a team to stock up on high draft picks. A skillful GM (and organization) can restock the farm system while keeping the big club somewhat competitive and interesting until the kids are ready. In that regard, Elias has been an abject failure.
I am both an optimist and a realist. Call me old school, but I really think there is way too much emphasis on analytics and the "advance" stats. I don't really care about WAR or OPS - give me W's and L's. When evaluating players, you need to look at intangibles almost as much as the stats.
It's not even a 3 or 4 year thing.