Orioles news: Cal Ripken is coming to (maybe) help
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Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Another series, another series loss. The O’s dropped the opening leg of their three-city road trip with a 2-0 shutout loss to the Mariners yesterday, which you can read about in my game recap if you’re so inclined. If you missed the game, don’t worry; so did the Orioles’ offense. The Birds’ bats have been M.I.A. in two of the first three games of their West Coast tour, and things are only going to get tougher, with a three-game series against Shohei Ohtani and the 48-27 Dodgers up next. Good luck.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Orioles continue to be stuck in quicksand, gradually sinking deeper into the muck without making any real progress toward freeing themselves. They’re back to six games under .500 with 76 games in the books. That’s barely improved from where they were after 50 games, at a season-worst eight games under .500 on May 20. Improving by just two games over nearly a month’s worth of action is probably not the best way to vault the Orioles into contender status…although, with the current sorry state of the American League, who knows?
In the meantime, there’s some changes going on behind the scenes, where Orioles legend and part owner Cal Ripken Jr. is set to take on a larger role in player development, as reported by both The Athletic and The Baltimore Banner. The idea is for Cal, who grew up under “The Oriole Way” during his Hall of Fame playing career, to help emphasize fundamentals throughout the organization. The O’s, as you might have noticed, aren’t a particularly good defensive team, and they’ve been sloppy at some aspects of baseball that don’t necessarily show up in the box score — failing to turn double plays, missing cutoff men, etc.
At first glance, the idea of a team owner becoming heavily involved in on-field operations could spark unsettling flashbacks to the late-90s era of the Orioles. But then again, this is Cal Ripken, not Peter Angelos. If there’s anyone who knows the finer points of baseball and is qualified to dispense such wisdom, it’s the Iron Man. And as the Banner article notes, Ripken will be just one part of a larger group of coaches and personnel who are tasked with establishing best practices in the minor leagues regarding defense and fundamentals. He’ll have his say, but he’s not taking over the whole operation himself.
There’s a sizable contingent of O’s fans who have been clamoring for years for Ripken to take on an on-field role, with some even suggesting the Orioles should hire him as their manager or general manager. I’ve never quite understood that sentiment, and I say that as someone who considers Cal my all-time favorite player. It’s been 25 years since he retired and he’s never held so much as a coaching role since then, so I don’t see any reason to believe he’d be capable of taking on such a prominent position as skipper or GM.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBut this? Working behind the scenes, offering tips to young players on how to prepare, how to position themselves, how to focus on the minute details of playing defense? That’s up his alley. Whatever work that Ripken and the development team do might be too late to save this Orioles season — akin to closing the barn doors after the horses have gotten out, and all that — but if there’s a chance that it can have a positive impact on the future of the ballclub, them I’m all for it.
Links
Will the Orioles finally draft a pitcher in the 1st round? – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Do college outfielders still exist? Then no, the Orioles will not draft a pitcher in the first round.
O’s pitching prospect Luis De Leon looks to get back on track after slow start – Steve Melewski
The hard-throwing lefty’s rocky 2026 season has dropped him off some prospect lists, but the Orioles insist his struggles will only make him stronger in the long term. Uh, sure. Let’s go with that.
Rutschman exits game after being hit by throw on left ear – MLB.com
Adding injury to insult yesterday, Adley Rutschman might be hurt after taking an errant throw off his head. If this team didn’t have bad luck, they wouldn’t have any luck at all.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! A whopping seven former Orioles were born on June 19. They include right-handers Cody Sedlock (31), Logan Verrett (36), and Willis Roberts (51); outfielders Val Majewski (45) and Butch Davis (68); and lefties Bruce Chen (49) and the late Don Ferrarese (b. 1929, d. 2024).
On this date in 1962, the Orioles signed 18-year-old shortstop Mark Belanger as an amateur free agent out of Pittsfield HS in Massachusetts. It was a good decision. Belanger debuted in the majors three years later and developed into an all-time elite defender at shortstop, manning the position for 17 years with the Orioles and winning eight Gold Gloves.
Random Orioles game of the day
On June 19, 1969, the Orioles blanked the Washington Senators, 2-0, to notch their seventh straight win. Dave McNally improved to an incredible 10-0 on the season by throwing his second consecutive shutout and fourth of the season, holding the Senators to a meager two hits, both singles. McNally would finish the season with 20 wins and 11 complete games. Washington righty Jim Hannan countered with seven shutout innings of his own before the O’s broke a scoreless tie with two runs against reliever Dennis Higgins. The aforementioned Mark Belanger reached base three times on two hits and a walk.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
