The Orioles announced earlier today that the splash zone is expanding as part of the left field renovations. Construction already has started.

More home runs could lead to more saturated fans.

The Bird Bath will extend past section 86 and into section 84 and again will feature guest splashers. Past participants include owner David Rubenstein, Gov. Wes Moore, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett, and former Orioles Adam Jones and Ben McDonald.

The club already had revealed that a platform would be built for Mr. Splash.

The Bird Bath debuted on May 12, 2023 after players invented a water theme to celebrate, including human “sprinklers,” homer hoses and hydration stations, and spitting water onto the field from the dugout railing.

The Orioles had losing months in both July and August, but they began September with a win Sunday by 6-1 at Colorado. The O's won the series over the Rockies.

The Orioles had gone 0-5-1 in their past six series versus National League opponents. But their win at Coors Field gave them their first series win over an NL team since they beat Atlanta and Philadelphia in Baltimore in mid June.

The Orioles have gone just 19-24 this season versus National League teams. During the six-series winless run that ended yesterday they were a combined 5-12 against the Cubs, Marlins, Padres, Nats, Mets and Dodgers. 

But now at 79-59 for the season, the Orioles have 24 games remaining. With the Yankees loss Sunday, they are 1/2-game back in the AL East.

Of the games remaining, the O's have three against a club well under .500, six games versus clubs over .500 and 15 against teams hovering around .500.

The Orioles will certainly take some momentum into their AL East series at home tomorrow night against third-place Toronto. 

They blasted Oakland 12-1 on Sunday to produce their seventh three-game sweep of the year. For those that love run differential, the Orioles outscored the Athletics 28-7 over the weekend.

Gunnar Henderson had four extra-base hits to tie a team record and he became the 11th Oriole in club history to have four in one game. His day included a double in the third, triple in the fourth, solo homer in the seventh and another double in the eighth. He drove in a run with that two-bagger when a single would have given him the cycle.

The other Orioles to have four extra base hits in a game were Charle Lau in 1962, Don Baylor in 1973, Dave Duncan in 1975, Cal Ripken Jr. in 1983, Brady Anderson in 1994 and 1998, Will Clark in 1999, Albert Belle twice in 1999, Chris Richard in 2000, Miguel Tejada in 2004 and 2005 and the last to do it was Melvin Mora on Aug. 17, 2008 against the Tigers with two doubles and two homers.

The Orioles went 6-1 in the season series and scored 57 runs versus Oakland pitching.

Today was another step toward Opening Day with the annual What’s New at Nationals Park media tour. Members of the local media gathered on yet another rainy day on South Capitol Street to see all the new features around the stadium and taste the new food and beverages available for the coming 2023 season.

Before we got to the fun stuff around the facility, the tour was kicked off with the news that the Nationals will induct founding managing principal owner Theodore N. Lerner into their Ring of Honor in a special Opening Day pregame ceremony.

Lerner, who passed away last month at the age of 97, was named managing principal owner when his family purchased the Nationals from Major League Baseball in 2006 and led the franchise to four National League East division titles and the 2019 World Series championship. He will be the 24th individual inducted into the Ring of Honor at Nationals Park and his name will be displayed on the stadium facade behind home plate, below the owner’s suite.

Created in 2010, the Ring of Honor pays tribute to some of the most elite and influential members of the Washington Nationals, Washington Senators, Homestead Grays and Montreal Expos organizations.

To also honor Lerner throughout the season, the Nationals will wear a dedicated patch on the left sleeve of all jerseys in his memory. The oval patch bears his initials below three stars, which represent D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Bobbleheads featuring Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Félix Bautista and Hall of Famer Eddie Murray highlight the Orioles’ 2023 promotional schedule, which they released early this morning.

The Oriole Bird also gets his own bobblehead figure during Kids Opening Day on April 9.

Murray will be honored on Aug. 5 as part of the 40^th anniversary celebration of the 1983 World Series championship, the last won by the Orioles.

Rutschman’s bobblehead on June 10 is inspired by Captain America, as the Orioles delve into their first Marvel Super Hero Night.

Some of the most popular items are returning to Camden Yards, including floppy hats on June 30, Hawaiian shirts on July 1, soccer jerseys on July 15.and lightweight hoodies on Sept. 30.