Baseball 2014

Don, I think your point about having no safe harbor in the outfield is understood, it's just that you're having trouble finding anyone to agree with you. Add me to the list. I agree with Heather and Jump. They'll win with good pitching, regardless of the park. If you could point to a season where they had good pitching and failed to make the playoffs, I think you'd have a point.

If you build a team around pitchers who are better at inducing grounders, than those 81 games become an advantage, not a disadvantage. This season, the O's are 28th in k's/9 innings. So they're getting outs w/o giving up homers. As noted in Heather's stats, Camden is 30th in runs allowed and 22nd in hrs conceded. The O's are 11th and 2nd in those stats respectively. That shows they're getting good pitching. Is it enough to beat the staffs put together in Oakland and Detroit, probably not, but it's looking like we'll see.

Assuming they close this thing out, thats' 2 trips to the postseason in 3 years. "Something magic happens..."

 

Two words:

Buster Posey.

 

I'm a lifelong fan and they're making a strong run. Figured I'd make a show of support. Haven't been many opportunities to do that.

 

LET'S GO O'S!

Also this is probably a perfect segue into what I wrote for CCN where I mention Buck Showalter a lot. Go read!

http://cravencottagenewsround.wordp...an-hired-felix-and-why-hes-still-our-manager/

 

The better question is why you're copying and....aren't you a sawx gal?

 

Timmy, that was a great article. Nice job and thanks for the good read. Now if the Giants can only go 20-10 in their last 30 games, they may make the SECOND wild card spot. This after being 9 games up in June....

 

Will be in Baltimore for a wedding the weekend of Oct. 11. The town should be buzzing with the O's in the playoffs, just too bad Machado is out. Interesting article Timmy, and without a doubt Showalter has mellowed.

My Angels have the best record in baseball heading into a monster 4 game series with the A's. Like the O's and Machado, losing rising star and staff ace Garrett Richards might be too much to overcome in the quest to win it all. Hoping the Halos avoid the wildcard game, which if it was against Seattle would mean a one game winner takes all against King Felix...ugh.

 

Oh wow SoCaJoe, my birthday is the 10th. Lets grab a beer if you have time

 

Really hoping the O's have a game on Thurs. the 9th. Would be great to go to a bar and get that playoff vibe. Will keep you posted Timmy.

Huge win for the Halos last night since the pitching match ups the next 3 nights (Angels don't even have an announced starter for Sat. game) favor the A's.

 

Whatever you do while you're there Joe, you HAVE to chow down on some blue crabs.

Good call on Felix. I don't think anyone wants the M's right now. Their whole staff is pitching well.

 

I wouldn't want the Brewers (why are they not my favorite team?) now either, but alas, my crippled Giants will host them this weekend. D'oh!!!

 

It's after Labor Day, and El Birdos are trying to salvage what has been, for them, a mediocre season. Today's 1-0 walk off against the Buccos to complete a 3 game sweep extended their modest 4 game win streak. Don't know if they'll make the post season, but if they do, don't discount them. They've shown a knack in recent years for overcoming the team's seasonal weaknesses during the playoffs. The '06 champs may well have been, as many opined at the time, the worst World Series winners in the game's history. I hope history repeats itself.
Nev, let me know when you go to Busch, if you haven't already. I've got the 411...and if I don't know, I'll just make it up.

 

Speaking of birds with St Louis connections, following the O's has been a blast this year. Walking away with the division despite Davis's struggles & Machado's injury. Every random sub Buck sticks in the lineup has come through when they get their chance. Seems like it's strong pitching and long balls every night and tonight was no exception.

 

I, for one, would like to see Baltimore in the post season again. It's been too long. And we need somebody besides the big spenders in the division to do good again.

 

You must have one big family. It's hardly uncommon for players to progress through the minors en route to the bigs. It's not like SA is a single A or lower independent team.

 

It wasn't a criticism. I was just pointing out that the Missions have sent a lot of players to the majors. In their history, they've sent up over 700 players including countless great players and Hall of Famers. It probably has slowed a bit over the last 20-30 years, but you still have active greats like a certain King in Seattle.

It's funny you mention the emotional/illogical aspect. ESPN Classic has been re-airing the 79 World Series over the last week or so. I was 7 when that happened and it was the first time one of MY teams played for a championship. Watching one of the games this past week, I was hit with nostalgia overload. From former favorites like Al Bumbry, Rick Dempsey, Scotty McGregor and Eddie Murray to the afros spilling out from under ballcaps (on black and white players alike), it was like stepping into a time machine emotionally. Coincidentally, one of those players is the current Missions manager (Rich Dauer).