Yes, Bird Droppings are back after a one-day hiatus, brought about by the SB Nation mass site migrations of 2025. Did we all make it over OK? Let us know how you like the place.

Although the website went through some changes, the Orioles’ performance did not. They lost again on Tuesday, a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies. Dean Kremer had some good moments, but the O’s offense was dreadful, managing just five hits (all singles) and producing only one at-bat—which came in the ninth inning—with a runner in scoring position.

The series wraps up this afternoon with Trevor Rogers on the mound to face Ranger Suárez. It might actually be an interesting game to check out, and it might also mentally break me. You never know with this team!

This post-deadline period was always going to hurt a bit. The morale of the locker room has to be absolutely shot. These guys watched a slew of their talented teammates walk out the door and into playoff races, while those that remained have to prop up what’s left of this disappointing season. But we aren’t late enough into the season where we can simply say “Well, let’s look at what the prospects can do!”

Dylan Beavers and Samuel Basallo continue to rake in Triple-A Norfolk, as they have been doing for weeks now, and as they will continue to do for at least another week, maybe more. It would be fun to watch them do that in Baltimore!

I explained earlier in the week why the Orioles were waiting on promotions at this point. But if you don’t wanna read all that, I can sum it up here: If the Orioles keep Basallo, Beavers, and any other potential “top prospects” down through mid-August at least, they will retain prospect status for 2026. They need to still be “prospects” because MLB incentivizes teams to promote their “Top 100” prospects early in a season in hopes of receiving draft pick compensation should those players win or finish highly in end-of-season awards. So while the chances of getting that additional draft pick may be slim, it makes sense for the Orioles to just wait a few more weeks.

In the meantime, we are left to watch this team, which looks like it has run out of gas. The offense appears especially flat. That’s disappointing. Yes, the team did lose some important hitters last week, but none of the guys that left were considered integral to the future of this club. It’s up to Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, and Adley Rutschman to lead this lineup towards great things. The deadline should not have changed that. We need to see more from them collectively. Hopefully we do before the season is out.

Basallo, Beavers banging on the door as O’s offense struggles | MLB.com
This is exactly what you want to see from the young guys. They are begging for an opportunity. They will get one before the season is over, which should be a launching pad to make the Opening Day roster in 2026. How the Orioles fit all of these pieces together on the roster is for Mike Elias to sort out.

Orioles Claim Rico Garcia | MLB Trade Rumors
Folks, he’s coming home. Oh, what’s that? You don’t know who Rico Garcia is? That is fair. He is a rather unknown middle relief pitcher that has played for seven different MLB teams, but never made more than 12 appearances for any one of them. That includes the Orioles, who he pitched in six games for in 2022.

Terrin Vavra Accepts Outright Assignment With Orioles | MLB Trade Rumors
You Vavra heads will get to keep the dream alive. He sticks in the organization for a little longer. It’s good to have these sorts of useable players in your organization. Vavra could come up and serve as your utility infielder for a few days, and you feel fine about it.

Orioles sent nearly $8.5 million to four teams as part deadline deals, source says | The Baltimore Banner
Elias didn’t call out this specific number, but he did thank the ownership group right after the deadline for their willingness to eat some money on these deals. In effect, this $8.5 million was the Orioles buying that slew of prospects they brought in. It was essentially an additional draft class and feels like a relatively small cost. What matters more is how those prospects pan out, or how they are re-packaged to bring the Orioles big league talent this winter.

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

Víctor Zambrano turns 50 today. The righty tossed 12.1 innings for the 2007 Orioles, which represented the final stop of his seven-season big league career.The late Mike Reinbach (b. 1949, d. 1989) was born on this day. He played in 12 MLB games, all of which came with the 1974 Orioles.A posthumous birthday for Jim Hardin (b. 1943, d. 1991). From 1967 through ‘71, the righty pitched to a 2.95 ERA over 643.2 innings with the Orioles. He was dealt to the Yankees in ‘71 for pitcher Bill Burbach.The late Camilo Carreón (b. 1937, d. 1987) was born on this day. The catcher spent most of his career with the White Sox before appearing in four games for the 1966 Orioles.

This day in O’s history

1959 – The Orioles and White Sox play an 18-inning game that is ruled a 1-1 tie due to a midnight curfew. Billy O’Dell tosses eight innings for Baltimore, and Hoyt Wilhelm takes the next 10 frames. For Chicago, Billy Pierce is responsible for the first 16 innings before Turk Lown throws the final two.

1971 – Several of Pat Dobson’s impressive streaks come to an end as the Yankees rough up the Orioles starter en route to a 12-3 win. Prior to that, Dobson had won 12 straight games, thrown nine consecutive complete games, and tossed 23 straight scoreless innings.

1986 – The Orioles and Rangers combine to hit three grand slams, an MLB record for one game. Despite two of those slams coming from the O’s, they lose the game 13-11.