I usually start these posts with “Happy Wednesday, Camden Chatters!” But it’s not a happy Wednesday. It’s a sad Wednesday.

I don’t have to tell you what happened yesterday. We’ve all seen it. Corbin Burnes was incredible. He did the job we all imagined when Mike Elias was traded for him in the offseason. He threw one pitch in the ninth inning and allowed just one run against the Royals yesterday. But it wasn’t enough. If you can’t get enough of the gory details, you can check out Paul’s recap from yesterday.

If the Orioles don’t get a win today, the worst thing about it is that the Orioles season is over. But another related tragedy is that we will likely never see Burnes in an Orioles jersey again.

Of course, there’s always the possibility that the Orioles could sign him in the offseason. But even if they’re interested, they’ll be in competition with the rest of the MLB. The chances are slim, to say the least. He was so incredible for the Orioles this year, and having a pitcher of his caliber was mostly a foreign concept to an Orioles fan.

And aside from the sadness I’ll feel if the Orioles lose to the Royals today, the feeling is that not only will the Orioles likely lose to him next year, but that it will be the only year they have him had, wasted, pretty shitty.

So let’s just go out and win today, for many reasons, including the fact that we might see Corbin Burnes start again for the Orioles.

Left

The understudy who inspired Colton Cowser will sing the national anthem before Game 2 – The Baltimore Banner
I just love that.

The Orioles’ offense fails in familiar fashion, losing the wild-card opener – The Baltimore Banner
Can the Orioles PUH-LEASE combine forces?

Orioles’ 2024 playoff opener draws just over 40,000 fans – Baltimore Sun
Every playoff game I’ve been to has been sold out, but not so much yesterday. I’ll probably be there today in front of an even smaller crowd. What’s up?

5 things we learned from Orioles’ wild-card loss in Game 1 – Baltimore Sun
The Orioles face a potential end to their season on Wednesday after blowing a brilliant performance from Corbin Burnes in a loss to the Royals.

Camden Yards Upgrades: $135 Million Approved for Video Board, Other Improvements – The Baltimore Banner
A new video board! Yes, I’m for it.

A few brief moments as the Orioles lose Game 1 to Kansas City – MASN Sports
Steve Melewski’s hot takes.

That’s why you get an ace: The Royals win the opening duel of the pitchers | FanGraphs Baseball
Except the Orioles also got an ace.

Birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy Birthday! You have three Orioles birthday friends. Last season’s pleasant surprise, Aaron Hicks, turns 35 today. Hicks posted an .806 OPS in 65 games with the Orioles last year, but hasn’t been as good this year. He hit just .140 in 28 games for the Angels before being released in late May. He hasn’t played since.

José Morban turns 45 today. Morban played 61 games for the Orioles in 2003 with an OPS+ of 9. It was his only major league experience. And Victor Santos turns 48. He had a seven-year pitching career that ended with four games with the Orioles in 2007.

On this day in 1996, the Orioles defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-4 at Camden Yards in Game 2 of the ALDS. Armando Benitez made a save in the eighth inning, but the Orioles scored three runs in the bottom half to retake the lead and win the game on short ball. Three runs were scored on a ground out, a sac fly and a single.

In 1997, the Orioles took a 2-0 lead against the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS with a 9-3 win. Scott Erickson was the winning pitcher. Harold Baines and Brady Anderson hit home runs. The Orioles would win the series in four games.

In 2012, the Orioles defeated the Rays 1-0 despite an incredible 15-strikeout performance from Rays starter James Shields. The only run of the game was a monster home run by Chris Davis, his sixth in as many games. The win left the Orioles one game behind the Yankees in the division and spawned this excellent GIF:

In 2014, the Orioles defeated the Tigers 12-3 in Game 1 of the ALDS. The game was close until the eighth inning, when the Orioles scored eight runs off Joba Chamberlain, Joakim Soria and Phil Coke. Chris Tillman started the game and pitched the game-winner in five innings pitched. Nelson Cruz and JJ Hardy hit home runs.

In 2016, the Orioles secured the Wild Card with a 5-2 victory over the Yankees on the final day of the regular season. Kevin Gausman pitched 7.1 innings with two runs allowed and Zack Britton closed out the game. Matt Wieters hit two home runs.