Already in the offseason, we’ve learned that neither of the two 2024 Orioles hitting coaches will be back next year.
Hello, friends.
The Orioles: There’s still not much happening, as you’d expect when the postseason is going on and they are not in it any more. We’ve already had more activity than I expected in the last ten days or so, with news of several departures from the coaching staff, including both of the co-hitting coaches who were doing the job this season. There could still be more changes; none of the staff adjustments reported so far have been officially confirmed by the team, so it’s not like they’ve already set things in stone.
As for yesterday, there was nothing new. Just another day to spend thinking about all of the ways that the Orioles could have done better in the wild card round but they didn’t. Or if you did not spend any part of yesterday thinking about that, then you’re probably in a healthier place. Maybe you’re already looking ahead to the 2025 roster, wondering what will change and what will be the same. But we’ve got to get through the World Series before we can start finding out about that.
Tragically for me and for all decent Americans, the mental energy of hating the Yankees does not cause them to lose. They took a 2-0 lead over Cleveland on Tuesday and will be pushing to stay on track to sweep today starting around 5pm Eastern. The Guardians have not done much to show like they might put up a fight so far. Maybe they can turn things around today.
I don’t have such strong feelings about the Mets playing the Dodgers. That one is looking good for LA after they took a 2-1 edge in their series last night. The NLCS Game 4 in New York is scheduled for an 8pm start. I will probably be watching last night’s Abbott Elementary instead, or maybe playing God of War. Find something that will entertain you.
Around the blogO’sphere
Offseason outlook: Baltimore Orioles (MLB Trade Rumors)
Part of this now-standard MLBTR feature is behind a paywall, but you can still get a good sense of the early financial commitments and decisions to be made about the 2025 Orioles.
Four internal options for open coaching jobs (The Baltimore Banner)
There have been people who’ve been suggesting Triple-A manager Buck Britton as future Orioles manager for years. This article’s listing of Britton as a possible bench coach candidate, if it came to fruition, wouldn’t shut down any of that speculation.
One number that defines every 2024 Orioles pitcher’s season (The Baltimore Sun)
There are some good numbers to be found but also some really bad ones, like Craig Kimbrel’s 11.50 second half ERA.
Grayson Rodriguez’s last 33 starts have been pretty solid (Steve Melewski)
The chief weakness in this arbitrary endpoints game is that a lot of heavy lifting is being done by Rodriguez’s final 13 starts in the 2023 season.
Orioles announce partnership, donation for hurricane relief (Orioles.com)
I don’t usually make note of off-field press releases the team sends out, but this one about Hurricane Milton relief is worth an exception. The team is donating $250,000 and will match up to an additional $250,000 worth of donations from fans.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 1971 AND 1979, the Orioles lost the World Series in seven games to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Maybe some day I’ll find out what it’s like for the Orioles to even be in the World Series.
There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2019-20 infielder Hanser Alberto, 1984-87 pitcher Ken Dixon, 1985-86 infielder Kelly Paris, and 1975 catcher Jim Hutto. Today is Hutto’s 77th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: author Nathaniel West (1903), playwright Arthur Miller (1915), actress Rita Hayworth (1918), stunt man Evel Knievel (1938), comedian Norm McDonald (1959), animator/writer Mike Judge (1962), rapper Eminem (1972), and actress Felicity Jones (1983).
On this day in history…
In 690, the Chinese empress Wu Zetian, who had been ruling first alongside of a husband and then through two sons, usurped the throne and founded a dynasty in her own right, the Zhou dynasty. The dynasty did not survive her death 15 years later.
In 1777, the British general Burgoyne surrendered his forces in Saratoga, New York. Exactly four years later, another British general, Cornwallis, surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis’s surrender effectively ended fighting in the Revolutionary War.
In 1814, a 22-foot tall vat of fermenting beer burst, leading to the London Beer Flood. Though it comes with a silly-sounding name, it was a tragedy, with eight people killed.
In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck not far from Oakland, rather memorably occurring just ahead of the start of a World Series game between the Athletics and Giants. There were 63 fatalities from the earthquake, with damages caused totaling around $14 billion in today’s money. As for the World Series, Game 3 was postponed for 10 days, with the Athletics finishing a sweep after the games resumed.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on October 17. Have a safe Thursday.