Orioles-Red Sox: Simply, The Comeback
I’m not going to attempt to fully recount what happened last night. Truth is, the comments on yesterday’s post do a better job than one person ever could. That’s an organic, real, exhilarating read right there. True fans doing what you all do best.
Even in the light of day I feel no less excited. This fan base — the dedicated and frustrated alike — both needed and deserved a night like that. I wish I could eavesdrop in every office building, on every street corner, and in every pub today. For one day, at least, this really is Birdland.
Greatest comeback in Team history. Biggest comeback ever by a last place team against a first place team. Proof that Oriole Magic not only has a pulse, but is prepping for a massive reunion tour.
Speaking of Oriole Magic — I’d say now is a good time to link this again (mp3).
Phew. What a night.
And now we have Day Baseball on tap, with the Berger Cookie (he’s nearly earned that moniker) up against Josh “I have a hemp necklace, brah” Beckett. Let’s go get ‘em.
Interested to see if Pie can have two good games in a row.
Roberts is the key to this game. He has good numbers off Beckett and we’re going to need him on the bases doing his thing. Luke Scott seems to be heating up, and Aubrey is about due for some big hits.
Lost in last night’s craziness was another really solid night from Nolan Reimold. The kid is batting like .300 after a pretty good chunk of ABs in the AL East. Color me impressed. Play him every single day.
I think the key to winning this game is Brad Bergesen. We already know Josh Beckett is going to be good and runs will be scarce. I don’t expect two nights in a row of whipping the Red Sox bullpen, which is just so good. So it’ll be up to Bergesen to hold down the potent Boston lineup.
That’s, to me, the most interesting thing about today – how does Bergesen, who has improved every month to the point where he had an ungodly good June, go against the Red Sox?
Yeah definitely, I mean he’s thrown well against some really good teams so you really like to see how he handles the Sox. Our pitchers are going to have to be able to beat the Red Sox.
Did anybody else see that kid in the orange O’s shirt last night standing up and pointing to his shirt and yelling at a Red Sox fan, who was yelling back at him? They looked ready to fight, I think it was ready after B-Rob made it a 1-run game. I love that shit. FIRE. I commented on Wayward O’s blog to see if he could find the image in the MLB archive since he often does that.
Definitely, Andrew: this one’s all about Brad. It’s getting to be that time where he’s had enough innings that scouts and hitters will start to adjust to him. That happens to all pitchers, of course, and the good ones adjust right back. The bad ones become Josh Towers (who I liked, but he wasn’t very good after his first couple of months).
I’ll count 6 innings or more and 4 runs or less as a successful outing.
Seriously though, can someone explain the origin of those stupid necklaces? They’re the gayest thing since gay came to Gaytowne.
Another baserunning mistake….but the ump blew that call, since Pedroia was holding the ball in his bare hand and tagged with his glove. Come on.
pie with a base running error (or so it seems based on the online play-by-play)
thanks for the details andrew. wait….the umps gave the sox a call in this series? NEVER.
I’m not entirely sure how Reimold held on to that pop up. It looked like he just trapped it between his forearm and his leg….or maybe he dropped it. Another blown call by the umpires? Jesus.
More sloppy baserunning out there….except this time it’s Pedroia walking into an out at third. Dumb dumb dumb.
after all of these blown calls, DT needs a case of diet soda
I wish I was at the Yard today, watching this game in person, rather than watching the pitch-by-pitch online.
Alright, let’s make Beckett throw some pitches here…
@ryan97ou – the damn umpire missed the fact that pedroia had the ball in his bare hand, not the glove.
Nick the Greek! Nick the Greek! Nick the Greek!
Beckett’s already over 50 pitches in the third. Love it!
Walks Scott to get to Reimold? I hope Nolan makes him pay dearly.
solid at-bat for reimold. he got out, but he held off on a lot of close pitches
anyone else notice sportscenter kept referring to him as reemold last night?
Am I the first person to come up with the name Kevin Doucheilis, or is that one already in common usage?
Google says that Doucheilis — and its sister spelling, Douchilis — has popped up here and there. Still, I’m surprised it isn’t more common.
when youk got called out on a close play at 1st on monday….i stood up an yelled to all the sux fans: “youuuuuuu…tooooo…slohhhhhw”
*chuckle*
WIGGITY WIGGITY THWAAACK!
Gary Thorne: “TY WIGGINTON, YOU ARE SO HOT!”
79 pitches already for Beckett, and it’s only the fourth?
Let’s make sure he doesn’t make it out of the fifth.
@dan the man – I totally saw that too. LOVED IT. Even if the O’s do finish the year under .500 I still think a lot of teams (and their fans) are being forced to respect them now.
“The Advantage of Facing the Orioles”
LOL, shit that’s so cute now.
5 Ks for Bergeron so far, I’m liking it.
that was a battle royAL between him and kotsay. nice to see him come out on top
Gig-it-tee. Love the way Bergesen got Kotsay looking on the slider.
Quick work of Varitek. Now let’s finish off Beckett.
Somehow I think Pie was supposed to be one of those bubble kids. The dude is accident prone.
what happened to pie?
@Tomás – I’m monitoring the game via MLB Gameday. What happened to Pie?
@Miles – He ran into Beckett at first and seemed to have hurt his shoulder.
smooth, he is not
I really don’t buy the hate for Youkilis. Again I say, if he were an Oriole we would all be slobbering over him. Does he really mouth off a lot or something that I’m completely missing?
@Andrew – Somebody remind Pie that he isn’t playing football.
Or Hockey.
Or Lacrosse.
@Miles – That’s not fair. Everyone’s complaining about guys not hustling down the line, but Pie did just that. He collided with Beckett because it was a bang bang play. Stuff happens.
Anyway, he’s okay and still out there. You know, he’s mighty respectable as a fourth outfielder. You can do a lot worse than him in that role (for example: Jay Payton, Tike Redman, Jay Gibbons, Luis Matos, David Newhan, Luis Terrero, Tim Raines, Jr.).
The awful umpiring continues, only today it’s been mostly in favor of Baltimore. This whole crew needs to be fired …out of a cannon.
@Andrew – You really do take exception to everything around here, don’t ya?
It wasn’t meant as a shot at Pie. It was meant to be a funny from a guy who didn’t even see the play.
Honestly, how often do you see baserunners collide with the first baseman or the guy covering first base?
@Miles – Heh. Sorry. That’s just my personality, I guess. I like what I like and I don’t understand why everyone else doesn’t like it, too.
Again, sorry.
Did you know that “Felix” means “Lucky” and “Happy” in Latin. He’s been playing much better, and that’s starting to seem apt.
I think that he really wants to be a part of the teamand just tries to do too much at once. He reminds me of a newborn giraffe because he’s so awkward and lanky
Good work DT! Let the boy pitch
@Kevin – hahahahaha that comparison is awesome.
I like Pie a lot as a fourth outfielder/once a week starter/pinch runner going forward. I just think the experiment of “Felix as Every Day Left Fielder” is over and there’s no need to revive it.
Also: BERGESEN.
@neal s – Heck yeah, BERGESEN.
@Kevin – LOL, exactly!
Aw crap. Bring out the Brim Reaper!
Yeesh…this is dodgy.
Wow…two Ks just like that for the Brim.
@neal s – But of course he needs AT LEAST one baserunner to really get the job done. lol
Heh…no kidding. And at 3-1 to Bailey I’m thinking he’s not going to be satisfied until the bases are loaded.
CALM DOWN GEORGE
Jesus on ice skates…does he *really* have to always do this shit?
@Tomás – yes, he does. it makes it all that more enjoyable when we win
how has Bergy not gone into cardiac arrest?