IndyCar at Camden Yards?
Big non-Orioles Baltimore sports news today, as word came out that the city is in “serious negotiations” to host what would be called the Baltimore Grand Prix. The race, according to the article, would be modeled after the famous Long Beach Grand Prix that winds through the streets of that city.
I can hear the objections already about how it will mess up the daily commute (mine included), but I’m still in favor of it. And this is coming from someone who can’t stand the Baltimore Marathon. I’m all about seeing IndyCar in Baltimore, and if it happens it will be very cool and very good for the city.
More news, this time germane to our Orioles-related discussions: Jerry Crasnick at ESPN checks in with some high praise for our young outfield. No surprises in there but it’s great to see them getting some much-deserved national ink (pixels?).
Speaking of that young outfield, I had brief conversations with all three of them earlier this evening as part of that piece I’m working on for Orioles Magazine. My interaction was only for five minutes over the phone, but all three came across as humble, hard-working, and pleasant. Very cool.
Interesting matchup tonight out in Seattle as current #1 Jeremy Guthrie takes on former #1 Erik Bedard (5-2, 2.47, 1.16 WHIP). Apparently, Bedard might be on a 60-pitch limit. If you’ve got to face him, that’s probably as close to ideal as the situation will get.
You don’t like the Baltimore Marathon? What’s wrong with you?
An honest to God IndyCar race is exhilarating…anything on a Speedway is about the most boring Goddamn thing on this side of the ‘Verse.
Anything that puts Baltimore more out there is a good thing in my book.
@Andrew – I don’t know, I’ve just always been annoyed by the marathon here. It’s not rational.
As far as the race, let me nerd out for a bit. IndyCar is America’s largest open-wheel series, and they race a schedule that includes both road courses and ovals. It’s all IndyCar racing, as such. Grand Prix is a term that comes from Formula One, and it’s used generically to refer to F1-style races — open-wheels on a road course.
I’m a fan of a lot of different kinds of auto racing, but there’s no doubt that road courses, especially with open-wheelers, are the cream of the crop. This would be a major event for the city, easily the biggest thing we could host short of another All-Star game, a World Series, or a Super Bowl.
@neal s – Okay. I saw the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans and loved it and in another life had a friend who was a big Michael Schumaker fan (which seemed kind of boring to me…like being a Federer fan but without all of the competition)…so while I don’t know a damn thing about racing (except that ovals are BOOOOOOOOOOOORING)…I actually would really enjoy a Baltimore Grand Prix.
Also: everyone go find that movie, it was fucking awesome – and it only had maybe 10 lines of dialogue in it.
Brian Matusz at Bowie after tonight:
4 GS, 26.1 IP, 11 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 32 K.
0.34 ERA
In the words of the unfortunately mortal Dr. Thompson: “Jesus God!”
But wait. Tonight’s line: 8 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 11 K
Jesus.
God.
Baltimore Grand Prix sounds absolutely bitchin’.
Andrew is right, ovals are boring. If wanted to see a clusterfuck of cars make 4 left turns in a row I could go to Tyson’s Corner for free.
If I’m watching racing, it’s with cars that actually look like racecars (and not Hot Wheels) on an actual course.
Le Mans? Come on Speedracer! LOL
Wow, 60 pitch limit? He’s already halfway there in the 1st inning!
5 for 1 for this guy…it still gets me!
Sometimes I allow myself to drift off into dreamland and consider what things will look like around here in, say, 2011. Three above-average pitchers in the rotation, the young outfield core just entering their prime, Matt Wieters fully established as a star. Maybe two or three solid free agents on board to round things out.
A lot can and will happen between now and then, of course, but it’s such a tantalizing prospect. And for the first time in ages, we’re not deluding ourselves when we consider it.
Things aren’t looking so bad tonight, either. O’s up 2-0 after the top of the first, and they forced Bedard to throw 28 pitches.
And Trembley got tossed!
@neal s – WOAH! Yeah I was about to feel bad for a second for posting 3x in a row when I saw that RAW emotion from Captain Kirk. Dude was *pissed*!
Eh, ovals aren’t always boring. They certainly can be, but I’ve watched enough F1 races (or parts thereof) to know that sometimes auto racing just doesn’t live up to expectations no matter the track. Hell, short tracks in the NASCAR series like Richmond and Bristol are often way more action-packed than Indy or F1 road courses. Not as a rule, but it happens plenty.
Still, though, nothing beats a good open-wheel race in a top-tier series on a complex road course. Man I hope they make this Bmore Grand Prix happen.
@Tomás – hahahaha “Captain Kirk” – nice!
I love it when that dude shows a little fire. You get the sense that he’s actually having a lot of fun, like he’s angry but kind of happy at the same time.
Aw crap, Guts! Who gave you permission to get hurt???
Guthrie is killing me.
OMG, ALL OUR PROBLEMS ARE OVER: AUBREY HUFF IS CHANNELING WADE BOGGS.
That ‘stache is pure power, it works 100% of the time 67% of the time.
LOL, totally mangled that quote.
“Sex Panther: 60% of the time, it works every time.”
One can only hope he also drinks and eats like Boggs, that would be beyond epic.
Joe Angel just remarked on Guthrie on the bench, looking like a picture of dejection, and pointed out that “he may not be completely healthy.”
It’s starting to seem that way, isn’t it? It’s one thing to underperform a bit or to come up short of “ace” status when your talent is more like that of a #2 or #3. These things happen. But Guthrie is struggling on a deeper level. I wonder if there isn’t something going on, even if it’s as nebulous as “fatigue”
WOW
Mariner’s outfield just channeled the Met’s outfield there.
LUCK-Y BREAK!
5-3 O’s!
O’s up 9-3 in the seventh with one out and runners at the corners, and I’m feeling fairly comfortable turning in. I will knock on wood and throw salt over my shoulder as I do so.
HOLY CRAP, did Luke Scott just notch his seventh RBI tonight?? Maybe sleep is overrated.
@neal s – Yeah I know. I like how my first thought at 7 RBI for LUUUKE was, “I wonder who the lucky bastard is that owns him in TLC Fantasy Baseball…”
@Tomás – I’m sure glad he’s on my yahoo fantasy team, alongside AJ
First of all, a resounding HELLS YES to racing in Baltimore. I don’t watch a lot of racing, but I dig road courses and Indy Car. Why the hell not?
Second of all, man have I been waiting for a game like last night’s for awhile. Good old fashioned BLOWOUT. Luke Scott should not be traded. Cheap. Under control for a long time. Better numbers, arguably, than anyone else on the team (DH is a bitch when it comes to the All Star game). He’s a monster when he’s hot. And although it doesn’t get as much notoriety as the Bedard trade, I bet Houston still kinda wishes they had Luke kicking around.
I think I read that MASN said Guthrie looked a little “green” in the dugout. Hopefully he’s just sick.
Neal, congrats on the Oriole Magazine gig. That’s a slick little magazine, it’s really well done. I’ll definitely pick up a copy.
As for Trembley, I’m just glad in his post game interview, he addressed the fact that people have been saying he’s passive and whatnot. No one knows what the guy does or says behind closed doors or when the cameras are off. Just because he doesn’t blow his lid to the media night after night doesn’t mean he isn’t holding guys accountable, etc.
Trembley did a fantastic job reminding all of us that he’s a badass.
Go get ‘em, Dave!