Pink Invasion Open Thread/Radio Alert
The O’s are back home — finally — for a two-game series against the hated Pinque Sox. And we all know what that means. The good news, though, is that I think a handful of Sox fans actually work for a living, so these weeknight games might be relatively tame. We shall see.
We’ve got Jeremy Guthrie on the hill tonight against Josh Beckett, which should be fun. Surprisingly enough, too, Orioles hitters are batting a collective .291 against Beckett. Something tells me we won’t touch him up quite that badly tonight, but one never knows.
Also, don’t forget that tonight I’ll be a guest on the Fighting Ungers radio show on 1570 WNST from 6:30-8.
Starting tonight, this is a regular gig every other Tuesday. So, tune the hell in! And why not call while you’re at it?
fist
pump
This is the closest thing to a playoff feeling we’re going to have anytime soon, and I’m fucking loving it. Got it on the radio, too, which is kind of sublime.
One more out…
Maybe the ump is just having a bad day…he doesn’t seem to be making friends out there on either side.
Flat brim! Flat brim! Flat brim! Flat brim!
And we got ‘em!
Wow. Just…wow.
The game was on in the studio and we were all just shaking our heads after that first inning. To have it end this way after that is truly special. This team surprises me time and again.
GREAT game. GREAT game.
Yeah you were displeased with Huff playing 3rd, that was good. Seriously, you’re right, SOMEone has to be able to play 3rd better than Huff, right?
I’m kind of (read: completely) tired of the debate about how the O’s handle their media relations, but there is one thing they desperately need to correct: the lack of a postgame call-in show like they used to have on WBAL. It’s great that we have discussion space here and at the other b-more sites, but those call-in shows were always a lot of fun. A game like tonight’s makes me yearn for the old days.
I see no reason why Cintron or Bynum or Hernandez couldn’t have played third. Maybe they just have zero experience there? In any case, Huff should be considered strictly “last resort” as far as that goes. If Mora is out for any kind of extended time then we have to bring Moore up.
Dudes. Let’s think about Jimmy J here a minute some more.
My question posed to you: Is there, in all of baseball, a higher stress situation for a reliever to enter a game than:
1. Bases loaded.
2. No outs.
3. Starting pitcher’s win on the line.
5. Manny Ramirez at the plate.
6. Leading the team in RBI.
7. LOOKING FOR HOME RUN NUMBER 499.
8. WORLD SERIES CHAMPION BOSTON RED SOX.
9. Big crowd on hand yelling for you to both succeed AND fail.
10. NICK MARKAKIS T-SHIRT NIGHT.
yeah probably exaggerated with the Johnson-Papelbon comment, but its finals week so I’m not clicking on all cylinders right now.
But yeah before hearing about Mora’s injury I was thinking Trembs had Huff at 3rd to shop him as one to other teams. I am VERY eager to see who AndyMac can get in return for him.
Also…Quiroz isn’t all that bad!
I forgot #4.
4. That starting pitcher being Jeremy Guthrie, who seems to never get the wins he deserves.
Quiroz is SOLID, dude. Solid. And young.
This is still the Lost Season and the team is still what they are. I can’t help but think, though, that last year’s squad would be ten or so games under .500 by now under the same circumstances this team has faced.
Also, Tampa Bay is in first place by virtue of our win and theirs. I know they’re our enemies and all, but if a team other than the O’s has to be in first then I’m glad it’s them. They’ve earned it.
Without a doubt. All these one-run wins? They’re one-run losses. Tonight’s Johnson situation would have to gone to who, Baez? Please.
The fans are chanting Luuuuuuke. Really! We have a Youk call of our own now and it feels REAL good to hear it playing the Sox. The fans don’t show up much, but they seem to have shown up at the Yankee games and the Sox games so far, and that counts more than showing up at any other games. It’s huge.
We beat Josh Beckett, which is also huge. Because now we’re hailing the DC Cab tomorrow against Lester, which would seemingly be the easier game. I was happy, Neal, to hear you speak out against all this “trade Cabrera” garbage. Come on. 27. He’s made of titanium. He might finally be the guy we thought he would be, which is the only reason we’ve held onto him this long. Why would we hold onto a guy we hope becomes an ace, then see him becoming that ace after 4 years, and then trade him? What? Stop it.
Just watched that Luke home run. Man, he crushed that thing – golfed it right onto the flag court.
How about all these 3-run home runs? I think we’ve had about 3 or 4 in the last 10 or so games, which has to be more than we had all last year. I’m willing to bet on that.
No doubt, the “trade Cabrera” speculation is utter nonsense. Rebuilding means one of two things: being the Marlins or being the Tigers. If you’re the Marlins then, yes, you trade Cabrera. But the only reason they do it that way is because they don’t have a solid revenue base. We do, which means the Tigers model is much closer to the one we should work with. The Tigers didn’t trade young studs entering their prime. Instead, they supplanted that talent with some solid acquisitions from outside. That model isn’t perfect, for sure, but it makes some sense. Trading Cabrera does not.
Was at the game up in the cheap seats.
AMAZINGLY powerful moral victory. Hated pink socques. Orange shirts everywhere. A stadium that was more than 1/3 full. Ace against ace.
Neal’s right, it felt like playoff baseball.
And the other story is… Some dudes up above us got into a brawl. O’s fan vs. Sux fan. And the ushers actually tossed only the Boston idiot. That was sweet.
Also big props to Floyd and his boy for bringing whiskey, edamamé, homemade sushi, and hello kitty snacks to an O’s game and sharing. That’s some strange Orioles Magic.
For those who missed it, Ryan actually called in from the game and delivered the entertainment. Good stuff.
Damn, missed that.
Man, that sounds awesome. If I didn’t have a gig tomorrow, I’d go the O’s game. I need to go this weekend. That usher thing is glorious – they’ve been criticized as being too strict with the hometown fans, so that’s very good to hear.
What can we say? We fucking deserve this.
I’m sorry, but Manfra’s home run call was way better than Thorne’s. And Manfra isn’t even that great. Nice immediate energy there from Manfra.
Obviously I’m not in the area (for at least this week and next…) so I can’t comment on the quality of the postgame shows on MASN or JFK or anywhere else…but I rarely ever watched postgame stuff. Really, this is 2008 – the future – I’d rather shoot the shit about such a great game with the good gents here.
On trading Cabrera – the only reason you do it is if the talent evaluators believe that what he’s doing is a fluke, and I read recently (in Rosenthal’s column I think) that at least one scout absolutely does not think that that is the case. Basically, if you can make good Cabrera a cornerstone along with Guthrie and the rest of our promising looking prospects, you do it. Why waste all that time waiting for him only to trade him as soon as he gets there?
And I doubt that Cabs would net us the players Bedard did, based on his reputation, so I doubt a decent package would be out there – but if it were, then that’s another conversation.
Anyway, big game and nice to see Luuke feeling better and swinging better. A 3 hit night was something he really needed to get going. That said, I stand behind my statement that the O’s have suffered mightily from bad luck on offense and their numbers almost have to get better…which is very good news if Guts and Cabs and Olson can keep pitching this way. Not to mention The Boat and Sherrill.
Neal, I have to disagree that the O’s would have to bring up Scott Moore. I think they would pick Salazar, who plays 3rd and is hitting over .300.
It was a great thing to behold. There were fights going on in three separate areas. And while I don’t want to condone such uncivilized behavior, it’s good to see our hometown fans this passionate for once.
Gotta’ thank Ollie’s for sponsoring that $8 left field upper deck ticket deal on Tuesdays. Seats aren’t even that bad for such a reasonable price.
There were Wild Bill style chants going on all over, and people actually had some pride in the team for once. It was most definitely NOT Fenway South tonight.
Good point, Dan. Salazar works for me.
Ryan with the GOSPEL tonight, my brothers.
Preach on, sir.
It sounds like a freaking revolution. Perhaps that’s the change in the Orioles team spirity, or whatever you want to call it, coming to fruition for the fans. Maybe the fans are finally starting to like what they see and have woken up angry at the way the baseball community at large treats them. Maybe the apathy is going away from the field and the stands. As one might put it, hOpe.
Didn’t they say Salazar would come up for interleague play where a deeper bench is needed? Who goes down for him? You could probably pass Luis through waivers, and I doubt you need Cintron and Hernandez when Salazar would be a more impressive bench guy (or even Terrero?). Mora doesn’t sound like he’ll be DLed, though, so maybe he’ll wake up okay tomorrow or be ready by Friday.
Terrero is, as they say, ripping the cover off the ball in AAA.
It’s a toss up between Cintron and Hernandez for sure. I think they try and sneak Luis through waivers, IMO. Cintron can play all infield positions, they say, and can hit a little. But that’s all I know about him. He’s a switch hitter, too, like Luis.
Ryan I like how you link your name to TLC when posting on TLC.
That’s representing.
Haha. What can I say?
Late on posting, but whatever:
Great game, loved it. Love beating the Red Sox. Love the clutch bullpen.
On rebuilding, you sign Cabrera to a 3 year contract if he pitches well throughout the season. He’s 26, still a part of this club. When he’s 30, you trade him for young talent, and open the door for someone else to step into his place. In three years, could be Arrieta, Spoone, Beato, Erbe… who knows. We’ll have some decision making to do, which is a GREAT thing. Having options is not something the Orioles have been real priviledged with. 2009 for me looks like (all things as they stand right now):
Cabrera
Guthrie
Olson
Burres
Loewen
I’m still on the fence about Roberts. Part of me wants MacPhail to trade him to see what he can get to fill all of our other problems, and part of me says that you really don’t come across a speedy allstar second baseman all that often. He’s got a couple more years in the tank.
Sign Markakis immediately. Wait for the offseason to sign Jones to a contract. But for gods sake sign both. Jesus Christ, why spout off about rebuilding around 2 players and not attempt to keep them here, and HAPPY. Nick is getting more expensive by the minute.
When Millar and Payton go, I’m curious to see who we will fill those positions with. I’m thinking that Terrero may get a call up to play the 4th OF role, Huff will play at 1B. For all those who aren’t aware of where I stand on Mark Teixiera, I’m 90% confident the Orioles will not be able to acquire him, and 60% confident they won’t even make a serious move to acquire him. Ramon plays through 2009, Wieters gets a callup in September 2009. Who will play DH? I have no idea. Probably a cheap free agent. Either that or the 4th OF splits time with Scott at DH.
I don’t like Baez or Penn, I hope they get traded.