Man, that was an ugly series. How ugly was it? Well…
With Feliz's strikeout of Schoop, the #Astros have set an MLB record for most strikeouts in a three-game series with 48.
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 27, 2016
(They struck out four MORE times after that)
The @Orioles have set a new @MLB record with 3 consecutive games with 15+ strikeouts.
(since records began in 1913, via @baseball_ref)
— O's Stats & Facts (@BirdlandStats) May 27, 2016
On the bright side…at least the weather finally turned in Baltimore? Hope everybody has a great and safe Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully our Birds can get back in the wiiiiiin column a few times.
Adam Jones: Let’s Get the Hell Out of Houston (Plus Other Quotes)
I like feisty Adam. I do not, however, enjoy the Adam that tells fans how to be fans, as is the case with his “stop complaining” quip in this set of quotes from Steve Melewski. Rubs me the wrong way. Anyway, Steve also has quotes from Buck in which he seems to point to the lights at Minute Maid Park being tough on hitters. We’ll see if the Ks continue in Cleveland…
You Knew This Was Going to Happen
Matt Kremnitzer of Camden Depot says that O’s fans surely expected a lot of strikeouts, so the sudden focus on them seems odd to him. We expected a lot of Ks, sure, but maybe we were spoiled by the first six weeks of them actually being below league average for strikeouts? Then to suddenly set an MLB record…well, it was a bit jarring. It’s one thing to expect it to rain a bunch in the spring. It’s another for it to rain every day for three straight weeks or whatever (you knew I’d bring weather into this post somewhere).
It’s Time to Try a Kim-Rickard Platoon in the Leadoff Spot
Yes! Hyun Soo Kim looked like the only Oriole with any sort of approach at the plate in Houston. Kim is still getting on base over 50% of the time, and while the league will certainly adjust to him as he gets more plate appearances, they’ve ALREADY adjusted to Joey Rickard, and the results haven’t been pretty. Right now Kim is the hot hand, and the O’s should ride it. Play the man every day. Put him in the leadoff spot against righties.
Chris Stoner of Baltimore Sports and Life looks at the O’s as we reach Memorial Day and says that they’re good enough to get to the postseason, but likely not good enough to end their World Series drought. He points to the rotation, specifically Ubaldo Jimenez and Yovani Gallardo, as one of the main problems, along with low team OBP. Some more nuggets in there as well.
Aparicio, Brooks, and Snyder Led O’s Hitting Streaks in 1966
I was getting really sick of hearing about Jackie Bradley Jr.’s hitting streak, so I was glad to see it end at 29 games last night. Watching the Orioles, I was also desperate for ANY baseball-related reason to smile, and schadenfreude fits the bill just fine. Anyway, what about the hitting streaks on the 1966 Orioles? Matt Taylor of Roar from 34 turns back the clock once again.
And in Ravens News…
It’s Now or Never for Arthur Brown
If I was a betting man, I’d throw down on “never.”
