All Star Game Open Thread/Music Madness
I’m not sure how much interest there is, but here we go just in case: the official Loss Column 2008 MLB All Star Game Open Thread.
My only hope is that ‘Ol Flatbrim makes it into the game and delivers a 1-2-3. And speaking of Flatbrim, Matthew Taylor of Roar from 34 provided some valuable perspective recently — good food for thought.
Speaking of other good sites, I’m overdue in mentioning Around the Harbor, a new blog dedicated to Maryland sports. They just launched recently and the future looks bright — give ‘em a look if you get a chance.
Finally, today is Tuesday which means I’ll be in studio from 6-8 with the Fighting Ungers on 1570 AM WNST. The internet stream (surprise!) is still busted but please tune in if you can find a way.
One of the coolest things about doing that show is that they let me pick the bumper music. Today’s selections include Joy Division, Weird War, Radiohead, Television, Death Cab for Cutie, and Link Wray and the Raymen.
While digging for the right Link Wray song to play (I settled on “Deuces Wild”) I stumbled upon an interesting nugget: a recording of him and his band doing a song called “Return of the Birdland”. I’m not sure it works as a theme song but it’s certainly a fun listen. Check it out:
Link Wray and the Raymen — “Return of the Birdland” (mp3)
Of course if anyone at Norton records has a problem with me posting that just drop a line and I’ll take it down. For everyone else, I hope you dig it. Link Wray was the man.
There’s a good link inside of your “perspective” link on this post about Sherrill in comparison to past Orioles closers. It relates any closer with 20+ saves and their WHIPs. Turns out, Sherrill, with a 1.125 WHIP this year doesn’t touch Benitez, Julio or O’s HOFer Gregg Olsen in terms of putting men on base. Sherrill, as the article states, is just as solid as any Orioles closer could be.
…as any closer was.
But you want a closer to have a much lower WHIP. I’m not asking for Mariano Rivera (who has really made some sort of devilish pact this year), but I’d be nice to have someone a little less maddening out there with the 1 run leads.
So, thoughts on the All-Star game pre-show…
1. It’s very, very long. I love All-Star caliber players (and Jason Varitek!) and Hall of Famers as much as anyone, but com’on guys. When are we gonna get to the fireworks factory?
2. That said, how fucking cool was it to see Frank Robinson et al. in Oriole hats? Boss.
3. I guess I understand, but why was Wade Boggs wearing a Yankee cap. Everyone else wore their hall of fame hat (and that makes him a Sox)…which brings me to point 4…
4. So, so, so much Yankee love. It felt like Joe Buck was trying to bring up as much Yankee-Red Sox love/animosity as possible. Good grief.
5. Georgie was rocking the goatee again. I think you might be doing something wrong when you’re players take the first opportunity available to them to go out and do something against your rules. I couldn’t give less than a shit whether or not the Orioles are allowed facial hair, but heck, man, if the players want it, why are you being strict and not letting them have it?
It was a nice celebration of the game, but com’on Fox…they’re paying there again in a few days. Everyone knows the O’s get the last licks there, not the National League all-stars.
Oh yeah, and Fox’s attempt to make the game “mean something” are really getting tired. This year they put Ernie Banks and George Brett in the clubhouses giving pep talks. I mean com’on. Apparently Ichiro gives the real pep talk. Also, Banks’ was something like “Just go out there and have fun. And there’s nothing more fun than winning. Seriously, this is getting embarrassing. Stop fucking around and start winning, dumbasses.”
You know what’s shameful? That this game isn’t on the radio anywhere in Baltimore. For that matter, neither are the Sunday night games. They used to be, but apparently 1300 and 1090 both think syndicated programming serves their audiences better than live baseball.
It’s an absolute joke, and both stations ought to be flat-out embarrassed.
Is that right? I was coming down from Rochester last Sunday (after the 4th) and was switching between the Yankees radio team and the Red Sox radio team and ESPN as I drove through Hunt Valley (and then it ended)…though it was late at night, which makes radio signals stronger, and I didn’t pay any attention to the number on the dial.
If it ended at Hunt Valley late at night it was probably a non-Baltimore signal. I’ve tried recently to listen to Sunday Night Baseball on both 1300 and 1090 with no luck. There’s absolutely no reason for it other than stupidity, which I suppose shouldn’t surprise me.
I haven’t had a chance to listen to the whole thing — did ‘Ol Flatbrim get in?
not yet, tied 3-3 at the bottom of the ninth and Rivera just finished out the last 2 outs in the top ninth. only AL pitchers left are hellboy, kazmir, and soria.
OK, no. But Kazmir hasn’t either, so whatever.
Sorry, Tomas — posted before reading. Thanks for the update. I have it back on the stream now. How awesome would it be if Hellboy got the save in extra innings?
that and the winning AL homerun hit now 20-something Jeffrey Maier in the stands. CATCH THAT IN THE FIELD OF PLAY!
The real ideal result? Rivera taking the loss.
Damnit why did I have to say something.
So the AL has the bases loaded with nobody out? I bet the NL is wishing Sherrill was on their side right about now.
Wow…what an escape. The radio crew is doing a great job with this game, by the way.
is it flat and breezy time?
is it?
is it?
what a great game, by the way.
it is….not flat and breezy time.
Terry Francona is going to Hell. Georgie has connections there, I hear.
Um. This might be painful for the Orioles fans watching. Bases loaded, 2 outs, flat and breezy time.
I don’t know what to make of this. On the one hand, it’s kind of cool that Sherrill is being held back as the Last Man Standing. On the other, what the hell?
As I say that, Francona goes to the mound and…summons Hellboy himself.
Please please please let this go the way it should. Let Sherrill get the out and then the win.
Is that too much to ask?
This is actually a huge moment for the Orioles this year. This is likely the only national exposure we’re going to get before that last series in the Bronx.
Come on, big guy…feel the Power of the Brim.
Oh hell yes!
Represent.
fuck yeah! 3 pitches, go sit down, ugly man from san diego.
now let’s win this one for Hellboy.
Poor Dan Uggla — that guy’s having a hell of a bad night.
All the better for us…
Damn you Evan Longoria. How hard would it have been to just lift a simple fly ball?
Ugh. So does Sherrill come back for lucky number 13?
What a GREAT game, huh?
I really ought to be asleep but there’s something great about having this game on the radio right now. Unless Sherrill blows it, in which case I will be bummed beyond belief.
The ugly part of me says if Sherrill has a great outing here it helps us bump up the trade value, with the big performance on the big stage.
Is that wrong?
I also want to see the Orioles represented as best as possible, of course.
Either way, excellent job by Georgie. 2 strikeouts, 1 bloop hit, and a great defensive play. Thanks FlatBrim! Baltimore loves you!
It’s not wrong, but I go back to my previous comment (whenever it was) about Sherrill being a folk hero, and how much we need folk heroes on a team like this. You all know me — I’m about the stories as much as anything else, and his is a great one. That part of me wants to see him succeed on the big stage and then bring it right back home to Baltimore. Thoughts of trading him aren’t even on the radar right now.
Inning over…
I could totally go downstairs and watch this on TV right now but I’m glued to the radio broadcast. This game, on the radio right now, feels like an All Star game should feel. Great night for baseball.
I take exception to that school of thought, but not a whole lot.
I tell you what though, this game has totally reinvigorated me and baseball! God what a great game! I’m here to the bitter end, and I will be very sorry for it tomorrow.
Man…Dan Uggla. Three errors in an All Star game is painful. I genuinely feel bad for that guy.
I totally understand why you — or anyone else — would take exception to that school of thought. It flies in the face of a lot of things that I actually agree with. But, it’s where I come from in terms of my love of sports and the O’s in particular. I can’t turn my back on that approach.
And, yeah, what a fucking great game.
Why can’t they score a run for FlatBrim???
I think he’s coming back out for the 14th…I don’t know how wise that is in terms of his workload.
Then again, I guarantee you that if he comes back out it’s because he said “hell yes, send me back out.”
I just really hope he doesn’t lose this. That would be an injustice.
So, Sherrill, Seattle’s LOOGY extraordinaire…is now the American League’s All Star long reliever?
Uh.
Well, it worked. When Sherrill can’t get any Tigers out, blame Francona for wasting his arm, though. Still, it was nice to see the Oriole play such a key role, and for him to mow through the NL All Stars like they were bent hats.
Man…he has done his part. What a performance.
You know, the only reason Sherrill is working this long is because the Rays basically said that Kazmir was unavailable.
To which I say: why the hell didn’t they just have him sit out? Certainly nobody could have predicted a 14 inning game, but there’s a quality reliever out there who could have been on this team in favor of a guy who isn’t willing to pitch.
15th inning in an All Star game…this seems impossible to me.
Annnndddd ‘Ol FlatBrim is out. It’s a shame he won’t get the win, but he did his team and his city proud.
FlatBrim is one of us, friends. He is one of us.
My interest has completely flagged now that Sherrill’s out.
But…I’m surprised nobody had any thoughts on “Return of the Birdland.” Can’t you just hear it playing as FlatBrim warms up?
Wow…what a finish!
I lied…my interest didn’t flag as much as I thought it had.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
George will likely not see another ASG. I’m glad his experience was positive and with our team, helping preserve the win.
Now trade him.
WTF?
“Asked to describe how stressful those final innings were in that dugout crucible, AL manager Terry Francona responded with a quote never before uttered after any All-Star Game ever.
‘I have acne on my forehead.’”
I think I’ve changed my mind on Sherrill. Not because of last night. Because he’s not going to bring back a teams top prospect or even Top 5 probably. No one will trade a power hitting corner infielder for him either. Or a MLB ready starter. Aka things we need.
He was also nasty last night.
I would ride him as long as .500 seems viable, but shut him down for the season at the first hint of injury. Give him an extended offseason to prepare for even heavier usage next year.
at that point The Boat hones his skill at closer during the home stretch of the season while the setup position becomes auditions for next years pen.
Chris Ray (7th) George Sherrill (setup) Boat (closer)
KEEP SHERRILL!
I’m draggin’ this morning.
Who’s got a cup of that Brim coffee for me?
Joe, it seems you are on board with my line of thinking. Run at .500, let everyone’s trade value climb with a decent second half, then firesale away and rebuild in the offseason. That way you aren’t abandoning the plan or pulling the rug out. Can we make .500? Probably not, but this team’s been very good (relatively speaking) so far, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility. If not for that tough couple of games (Texas, Kanasas, Washington) we’d be at around 1 game over. So yeah.
Seems like everyone is hating on the long game last night, but I really dug it. You got to see everyone play – an unpopular notion, but what if you’re a Royals fan, do you want to be slapped upside the head with Yankee love all night and never even see your own guy? I even got to make fun of my NL loving friends some more. Particularly Mets fans, and their stupid Billy Wagner. It was a fun game. And I don’t need coffee, I use baseball excitement to keep me awake.
Wow.. no better way to have the O’s represented at the AS game than what Sherrill did. There was no way he was pitching in that game unless it went to extras and apparently post game, Kruk was saying how it was a shame that Sherrill didn’t win the All-Star game MVP. Respect from John Kruk? Amazing.
And for Georgie to put in such a dominant performance over 2 innings in what is most likely his one and only All-Star game… that’s special. From the Indie Leagues to the All-Star game. Love this guy.
Is it time for real baseball again yet?
PACKAGE RAMON AND PAYTON
I’m of the notion that even a trade for Payton and Hernandez would not bring up Wieters or Reimold any faster to this club.
My ideal situation for any called up prospect is that he has an everyday job on this club. Meaning that if Payton is traded, Reimold would get called up and would spend a majority of time on the bench, pinch hitting and spotting Luke. I dunno about you, but that’s not how I want my prospects.
If Payton is traded now, I want to see Redman or Terrero come up as utility outfielder until the end of the season. Reimold may platoon LF and DH with Scott for 2009. But not in 2008. If Reimold doesn’t play everyday, I don’t want him here.
I would like to think that MacPhail sees it the same way. I believe it’s one reason why Moore was sent back down earlier this year; too much bench time.
Did Kruk really say that? I was certainly thinking it, because he came on in a jam, and then pitched more than anybody else for the winning team, totally shutting the NL down when they needed to be. Pitchers never win that sort of thing though, and Drew had a good game, for sure.
Wow, cool, John Kruk!
I’m set for some baseball. Bring on the Tigers! Who’s going to 5.50 night on Wednesday?
My choice for a call up would be Luis Montanez. He is ripping up the minors down there better than Terrero or Redman.
Or Reimold for that matter.