Good morning, Camden Chatters.

After an off day last night, the Orioles begin a six-game homestand tonight against the Athletics and Mariners. It marks the Birds’ first games at Oriole Park since the trade deadline, when they shipped off Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Laureano, Ramón Urías, and others. This roster looks very different than the last time the home fans got a look at them. It’ll take some getting used to.

That’s not the only change coming for the fans at Camden Yards. The Orioles announced their 2026 season ticket packages yesterday, and there are some notable modifications. Most significantly, the O’s are discontinuing two current ticket packages — the 13-game and 29-game plans — and replacing them with 20-game and 40-game plans. There will also be a 10-game plan that does not include the same perks as the larger plans. Overall ticket prices are expected to rise about 3%, according to an Orioles spokesperson.

As someone who has been going halfsies on a 13-game plan for a few years now, it looks like we’ve got a decision to make. Going to six or seven games a year is about right for our schedules, but are we willing to go to enough extra games that it’s worth moving up to the 20-game plan? Do we cut back to the 10-gamer and lose some of the benefits from having a season ticket plan? Do we discontinue season tickets altogether?

There’s also the very real question of how watchable (or not) the Orioles will be in 2026. Mike Elias has vowed that the O’s plan to be competitive next year, and much of the homegrown core will still be in place, but the Birds’ recent trades have left the team with a slew of roster holes to fill. Are we confident that the Orioles will have the aggressiveness or resources it will require this offseason to add proven talent and restore the team to prominence? Or are we in for another winter of half-measures and mid- to low-tier free agent signings that won’t upgrade the team in any meaningful way? It’s something that a lot of Orioles ticket holders are surely considering before they make the commitment to renew.

For you Camden Chatters who currently have or are thinking of getting season tickets for next year, how are you feeling about these changes? Are you planning to upgrade to a larger plan? Will you cut back to a smaller one, or forgo season tickets entirely? Let us know in the comments.

Akin ascending to leader in Orioles’ bullpen (with roster move) – School of Roch

Nothing speaks to the failure of the 2025 Orioles more starkly than the fact that Keegan Akin is now the best and most experienced pitcher in the bullpen. With all due respect to Keegan, of course.

Orioles’ High-A affiliate moving to Frederick could benefit young hitters – The Baltimore Sun

Aberdeen is where offense goes to die. Hopefully the team’s move to Frederick next year can jolt the bats of some hitting prospects who are having less-than-promising seasons. (Looking at you, Vance Honeycutt.)

Jon Meoli: Colton Cowser’s search for his approach carries outsize importance for the Orioles

Cowser’s offensive disappearance has been one of the biggest bummers of this bummerific year. Can’t one thing go right for this team, ever?

When will Orioles promote Basallo and Beavers? | MAILBAG – Baltimore Baseball

It would be awesome if the answer were, “They’re coming up tomorrow, actually. Surprise!” Unfortunately, it is not.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three former Orioles were born on this day: right-handers Eddy Rodriguez (44) and the late Marlin Stuart (b. 1918, d. 1994), and the late infielder Johnny Temple (b. 1927, d. 1994).

On this date in 1996, Orioles legend Eddie Murray hit his 494th career home run, one of a trio of two-run dingers by the O’s in a 6-4 win in Milwaukee. The blast moved Murray ahead of Lou Gehrig for 15th-most in MLB history. Eddie finished his career with 504 homers, now ranked 28th all-time.

Random Orioles game of the day

Today’s random number generator gave me 2023. That was a great year, so this must be a good game, right? Eh…not so much. On Aug. 8 of that year, the O’s took a tough loss to the Astros. The Birds handed a seemingly comfortable 6-3 lead to Félix Bautista in the ninth, but The Mountain suffered by far the worst outing of his dominant season. He walked the leadoff man, gave up two singles, and then coughed up a go-ahead grand slam to Kyle Tucker. Blech. It was the only time in Bautista’s 56 games that season in which he gave up more than one earned run.

Still, that loss didn’t hurt the O’s too much. They went on to win 101 games and run away with the AL East. I miss those days.