Written by: Peter Coolbaugh
After a very trying year for me personally, I am giving up doing this blog for the foreseeable future.
Our Birds did win 93 games and make the playoffs, but with outside forces pulling me elsewhere, I cannot commit to doing this blog any longer. And in this Internet age, there are many other, and much better Orioles blogs out there.
Thanks for everything.
October 8, 2012
Back In The Driver's Seat
Written by: Peter Coolbaugh
That is right people, the Orioles with another marathon win last night, are tied for first place once again with the Yankees who were idle due to a rainout. At 84-64 (it is 2012 right, not 1997?) the Orioles are masters of their own destiny from here on out.
Tonight they face King Felix and then we are off to Boston. It seems that the Birds will easily win 90 games and maybe more. But the wild card picture is very muddled right now. As are all of the AL division races. Even the Texas Rangers, once thought as a lock for the West crown only have a 3.5 game lead on the very hot Oakland A's. Seattle, Boston, Toronto, KC, Minnesota and Cleveland are the only teams out of everything right now. The rest have a chance. At the moment anyway.
The hodgepodge Orioles just keep getting it done. During the Yankees series it was Reynolds. More recently it has been McLouth and Wieters. The hero of the day syndrome as I like to call it. You never know who is going to step it up. But somehow it is working. It may defy all logic, but it is working nonetheless.
There is a lot of time left. The Orioles are in control. But even if they happen to come up just a bit short this year, it was worth the ride. And with the right pieces in place for the future, the expectations of continued greatness will be high.
September 19, 2012
That is right people, the Orioles with another marathon win last night, are tied for first place once again with the Yankees who were idle due to a rainout. At 84-64 (it is 2012 right, not 1997?) the Orioles are masters of their own destiny from here on out.
Tonight they face King Felix and then we are off to Boston. It seems that the Birds will easily win 90 games and maybe more. But the wild card picture is very muddled right now. As are all of the AL division races. Even the Texas Rangers, once thought as a lock for the West crown only have a 3.5 game lead on the very hot Oakland A's. Seattle, Boston, Toronto, KC, Minnesota and Cleveland are the only teams out of everything right now. The rest have a chance. At the moment anyway.
The hodgepodge Orioles just keep getting it done. During the Yankees series it was Reynolds. More recently it has been McLouth and Wieters. The hero of the day syndrome as I like to call it. You never know who is going to step it up. But somehow it is working. It may defy all logic, but it is working nonetheless.
There is a lot of time left. The Orioles are in control. But even if they happen to come up just a bit short this year, it was worth the ride. And with the right pieces in place for the future, the expectations of continued greatness will be high.
September 19, 2012
Here Come The Rays
Written by: Peter Coolbaugh
A series split with the Yankees was all we got. And one of those was stolen according to instant replays. But 2 out of 4 is decent. And being 14 games over .500 is even better.
The loss of Nick Markakis is going to hurt. A true leader who had excelled in his new role as a leadoff hitter is impossible to replace. We have enough decent role players to carry us through to October, but the road to the postseason just got a little tougher. Our patchwork pitching staff is holding its own on the starting end, but the infirmary lineup we have keeps me shaking my head sometimes. How many guys sit on the roster now that were not here in April? A good bunch for sure.
Buck deserves A.L. Manager of the year for what he has done. Everyone thought Baltimore was doomed for another 90 loss season. Now we are looking at 90 wins instead. And Boston is the one in last place. Excuse me while I laugh out loud. I've earned it.
Tampa will be here tomorrow for three. Even with some throwback prices to 1992, I do not think big crowds will arrive. Joe Maddon and his boys are always tough. Always. Especially in the weeks prior to October. I fear them. And then we go to Oakland. It is never easy.
The Orioles are still in the hunt. With Lew Ford and Nate McClouth on the team. They are getting it done, but for how long? October baseball is still a reality and even if it does not happen this year, it has been a hell of a ride.
September 10, 2012
A series split with the Yankees was all we got. And one of those was stolen according to instant replays. But 2 out of 4 is decent. And being 14 games over .500 is even better.
The loss of Nick Markakis is going to hurt. A true leader who had excelled in his new role as a leadoff hitter is impossible to replace. We have enough decent role players to carry us through to October, but the road to the postseason just got a little tougher. Our patchwork pitching staff is holding its own on the starting end, but the infirmary lineup we have keeps me shaking my head sometimes. How many guys sit on the roster now that were not here in April? A good bunch for sure.
Buck deserves A.L. Manager of the year for what he has done. Everyone thought Baltimore was doomed for another 90 loss season. Now we are looking at 90 wins instead. And Boston is the one in last place. Excuse me while I laugh out loud. I've earned it.
Tampa will be here tomorrow for three. Even with some throwback prices to 1992, I do not think big crowds will arrive. Joe Maddon and his boys are always tough. Always. Especially in the weeks prior to October. I fear them. And then we go to Oakland. It is never easy.
The Orioles are still in the hunt. With Lew Ford and Nate McClouth on the team. They are getting it done, but for how long? October baseball is still a reality and even if it does not happen this year, it has been a hell of a ride.
September 10, 2012
Welcome to September - And 1st Place
Written by: Peter Coolbaugh
After decades of being on the receiving end of a lot of jokes and taunts, the Baltimore Orioles are closing in on a .500 season and potentially the postseason. Thanks in large part to their own play and to the collapse of the once-mighty New York Yankees, the Orioles are as of today, tied with NYY at the top of the AL East. The September surgers known as the Rays are right on their heels. No one is safe at the moment.
The Orioles have been masterful at filling in the holes. When guys like Reimold or Hamels go down, you bring someone up or sign a new person. When your starting rotation is not cutting it, you find someone who can get the job done. Pundits laughed under their breath all summer at what Buck and Dan were doing. Everyone felt a meltdown was coming. It never came.
And while not all fans are convinced yet, it appears that these Birds are the real deal. And while lack of playoff experience may hurt them, this Baltimore club will be around for years to come. Adam Jones is leading the charge and a resurgent Nick Markakis is getting it done (and then some) at the top of the order.
Defensively, the team has turned it around as well. Errors are fewer and the wins are increasing. See the correlation?
Even fan voodoo doll Mark Reynolds, who has not exactly been loved around here, has turned his statistical season around too. The HR barrage in the last two weeks has been amazing and his play at 1B is of the gold glove caliber. Throw in Machado, Hardy, and a bunch of other role players and you have the makings of a superior club for many years.
As someone who follows the Orioles and all their affiliates, I recently completed my tour of Birdland by getting to my last minor league game. Since June I have gone to (in order): Frederick, Aberdeen, Bowie, Delmarva, and Norfolk. Actually went to 4 games at Aberdeen. And add in 40 games at the Yard, I personify the term of die-hard fan. This season has been a wonderful ride, and while I do not expect us to hoist a trophy in November this season, the groundwork has been firmly laid. Take notice American League. We are not going anywhere.
September 4, 2012
After decades of being on the receiving end of a lot of jokes and taunts, the Baltimore Orioles are closing in on a .500 season and potentially the postseason. Thanks in large part to their own play and to the collapse of the once-mighty New York Yankees, the Orioles are as of today, tied with NYY at the top of the AL East. The September surgers known as the Rays are right on their heels. No one is safe at the moment.
The Orioles have been masterful at filling in the holes. When guys like Reimold or Hamels go down, you bring someone up or sign a new person. When your starting rotation is not cutting it, you find someone who can get the job done. Pundits laughed under their breath all summer at what Buck and Dan were doing. Everyone felt a meltdown was coming. It never came.
And while not all fans are convinced yet, it appears that these Birds are the real deal. And while lack of playoff experience may hurt them, this Baltimore club will be around for years to come. Adam Jones is leading the charge and a resurgent Nick Markakis is getting it done (and then some) at the top of the order.
Defensively, the team has turned it around as well. Errors are fewer and the wins are increasing. See the correlation?
Even fan voodoo doll Mark Reynolds, who has not exactly been loved around here, has turned his statistical season around too. The HR barrage in the last two weeks has been amazing and his play at 1B is of the gold glove caliber. Throw in Machado, Hardy, and a bunch of other role players and you have the makings of a superior club for many years.
As someone who follows the Orioles and all their affiliates, I recently completed my tour of Birdland by getting to my last minor league game. Since June I have gone to (in order): Frederick, Aberdeen, Bowie, Delmarva, and Norfolk. Actually went to 4 games at Aberdeen. And add in 40 games at the Yard, I personify the term of die-hard fan. This season has been a wonderful ride, and while I do not expect us to hoist a trophy in November this season, the groundwork has been firmly laid. Take notice American League. We are not going anywhere.
September 4, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
| Orioles Mix blog featured writers | Anna C.,Peter Coolbaugh |
| Write about the Orioles | We believe that you the avid fan, student journalist, and or freelance writer deserve to be heard. Avid fans have a strong desire to hear from the common (or not so common) "man" as well. You are always free to write about the material of your choice, in your own unique style, and on your own schedule. So vent,enlighten and share with us! Contact us at: writers@sportsmixed.com |
| Enjoy Orioles rumors, news, talk? | Please help us spread the word on the Sports Mixed Network by letting friends, and family know about it. The more we grow our community of avid fans, the more features we can add. So please send a Tweet, Facebook message or better yet tell them in person.
|