What more is there to say that hasn’t already been said after the previous 50 losses this season?
The Orioles lost 10-4 to the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night. Jeremy Guthrie was plagued by a four-run second inning, retired 13 of 14 batters, and then walked Chris Coghlan to begin the seventh before giving up an RBI-double to Gaby Sanchez. That marked Guthrie’s exit as he fell to 3-9 on the season.
The bullpen was awful, giving up three earned runs in three innings to put the game even further out of reach than it already was.
On a bright note, Matt Wieters hit a three-run, opposite-field homer in the second inning on a typical Baltimore summer night in which the ball was really carrying at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The struggling catcher now has 6 RBI in his last two games despite a .225 average. It was also the Orioles’ first three-run home run since May 1.
Instead of analyzing why the Orioles lost again (it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, does it?), here’s a glimpse at some staggering numbers and scenarios:
– The Orioles are now 19-51, a .271 winning percentage that now puts the club on pace to lose 118 games. The 1962 New York Mets hold the modern record for losses in a season with 120. The club will need to go 24-68 to avoid the dubious mark. It’s certainly not a given when you consider the Orioles haven’t won consecutive games in nearly six weeks (May 12-14).
– To avoid matching the 1988 Orioles’ 107 losses (that team only played 161 games), the 2010 Orioles would need to finish with at least a 37-55 record (.402 winning percentage). It’s looking more and more like Pete Stanicek, Jay Tibbs, and the ’88 gang will be able to pop the champagne at the end of the year to celebrate their removal as worst team in Orioles history.
– Evading the 100-loss mark—the standard for a pitiful baseball team—would require a 44-48 finish. Does ANYONE see that being possible right now?
– To finish with a .500 record, a mark many set their sights on to begin the season, the Orioles would have to go 62-30 the rest of the way. That’s a .674 winning percentage.
Taking a look at the standings on June 23, the New York Yankees have the best record in baseball with a .620 winning clip.
– Speaking of a .674 winning percentage, that roughly projects to a 109-53 mark over the full 162-game schedule, the exact record of the Orioles’ finest regular season team. The 1969 Orioles, however, lost to the Amazin’ Mets in the World Series that year in a shocking upset.
Despite the disappointment, the Orioles rebounded in 1970 and the rest was history.
Yes, those world champion Birds will be back in Baltimore this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their World Series victory over the Cincinnati Reds. That club was a robust 108-54.
The 2010 Orioles would have to go 89-3(!) over their final 92 games to match that mark.
And they’re going to let these guys wear the 1970 throwback uniforms???
We’ll talk about that on Wednesday from noon to 2:00 on AM 1570 and streaming online at WNST.net.
On that note, hope I was able to brighten your day.
