Bring On the Best
Posted July 25th, 2008 by Neal ShafferCategories: Baseball, Orioles, by Neal
Before we get to the game, I feel compelled to point out that the current headline at espn.com is “Papi’s Back”. The subhead: “Tonight’s the night for David Ortiz. Boston went 26-19 in his absence.”
Here’s a fact: when some fat DH comes off the DL, it is not worthy of top billing on what is arguably the world’s sports website of record. Especially considering, as the subhead notes, the team did just fine in his absence. It’s embarrassing.
Anyway…the Orioles welcome baseball’s best tonight as the Angels come to town for a three-game set. Matchups are as follows:
Joe Saunders vs. Brian Burres
John Garland vs. Rad Hams Liz
Ervin Santana vs. Garrett Olson
I think we all probably expect to get swept here, no? Well, screw that. We’re taking two of three. I have no way to back that statement up and, in fact, I realize how crazy it is. But I’m going out on that limb.
Of note: Nick Markakis leads the AL in assists with 11…Alex Cintron went 1-2 in his first rehab appearance, while Jamie Walker allowed three runs and five hits in one inning…Brian Roberts currently leads the AL in both doubles and triples…Burres is 2-0, 2.84 in his career against the Angels.
I might not be back for a main post until Sunday, but I’ll be around in the comments one way or another. Let’s go get ‘em.
Explore posts in the same categories: Baseball, Orioles, by Neal
July 25th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Oh, no.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I turn off the tv for five minutes to watch the Fallout3 trailer and what the hell happened?
July 25th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Well they aren’t even trying anymore.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I was at this game and it actually turned out to be a great game at the end there. Millar finally broke through with 2 homers - he’s been invisible recently. And Fahey - by God do I love this kid - with the clutchest 2-out double off baseball’s saves leader and it shouldn’t have even been a double but he legged it out with the whole section yelling, “NOOOO STOP STOP STOP”, but the kid got in there. Awesome. But then Luuuuuke dribbles one up the first base line to end it. A walk-off 2-run shot would have been slightly more exciting, Lucas.
I love watching that damn bird pace across the top of the dugout. Love it. Best mascot ever.
Also - I was thinking it the whole time Sarfate was out there dominating for 3 innings and Dave Johnson backed me up on the radio on the drive home: why not give the guy a shot in the rotation? With the state of our rotation right now, and the iffy job he’s done as a reliever, it’s worth a shot. He’d get more confidence out there, see more batters, work on his secondary pitches. Why the hell not? He was a starter before at some point, I think.
Yanks get Nady and Marte from the Pirates. Bah.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Other things of note from the game:
-Burres was booed after giving up the 5th Angels run and then applauded sarcastically as he left the field in the 2nd inning.
-Lots of “WIETERS” yells when Ramon failed to catch a Burres pitch and walked back to pick it up while the runner moved up. At least fling the mask with some conviction, guy.
-The crab in the middle had the ball.
-Missed the Ketchup/Mustard/Relish race, though.
-The videos they have in between innings are actually really well done. The one right after the top half of the 1st is great, and they had a few others that are surprisingly worth watching.
-The girl who sang the National Anthem was TERRIBLE. I mean, she just downright botched the thing. Wrong notes everywhere. She tried to disguise it by doing improvving with some soul but got even further off key. And then came “land of the FREEEEEE” and by God. It might have ended her career.
July 26th, 2008 at 1:05 am
“-The crab in the middle had the ball.”
Best comment ever made in TLC history.
“-Missed the Ketchup/Mustard/Relish race, though.”
I’m a staunch Relish supporter. Go Rerish!
Is it sad that when I went to the 1983 ceremony thing on Wednesday I got choked up when Cal came out? Baseball gets me worked up like nothing else on this planet. Also when they show the montage of old Orioles during the Killers song “When You Were Young”, I get all soppy too. It’s terrible.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Looking at the Yankees trade, Kontos and Coke are pretty good… I could care less about Tabata and Ohlendorf. I’m not sure if that would be enough for an excellent outfielder and my backup closer guy.
July 26th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Yeah! That’s one of the videos I was talking about, with the Killers song. CUz half of it is like, the young group we have now “Can we climb this mountain - I don’t know” and then they show the old Orioles and it’s just well done. Gets me every time.
July 27th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Damn Oriole. Always losing and stuff.
Oh Well.
I got teary eyed when Jim Thome hit his 500th… his parent were all excited and proud… I was about ready to start bawling. Baseball just has that effect on me.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Thank you for pointing out how ridiculous the top billing for Papi was on ESPN.com. Talk about shameless. And then the Sunday conversation turns into a discussion of “the greatest rivalry in all of sport,” Yankees - Red Sox, fit with a comment about how baseball wouldn’t be nearly as interesting without it. If it is that important, I have to question why one of the interviewees (it might have been Wade Boggs) noted that the rivalry “kind of faded” in the ’80s and early-’90s. Seems like an odd thing to happen for “the greatest rivalry in all of sport.” Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that back then ESPN wasn’t pumping it up 24/7 during baseball season.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Thanks for checking in, Matt. And I, of course, totally agree with you on the Sox-Janquis thing. Maybe if they meet in the ALCS the “rivalry” will be a story, but not in late July. It’s just silly.