Showing posts with label Orioles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orioles. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Congrats Orioles



 
The Orioles playoff run ended with a whimper last night as they were defeated 7-1 in Texas and unceremoniously kicked-out of the playoffs. 

It was sad and heartbreaking loss, but we, the fans, need to focus on the incredible season which saw our Orioles complete the biggest two-year turn around in Major League Baseball history: from 110 losses in 2021 to 101 wins in 2023!

They wound up with the best record in the American League and won the tough American League East which sent the Orioles and two other teams into the playoffs. 

While there is sadness in Birdland this morning, there is also much joy and hope. The Orioles got their noses bloodied by Texas and I hope it will be the spark that gets them back into the playoffs and into the World Series next season. 

I predicted that the Orioles would finish with 84 wins and a wild card playoff spot. Well, I underestimated the team way back in March. And the exciting news is that there are more potentially great players in the pipeline to fill the holes. 

Pitching and hitting with runners in scoring position was the Orioles undoing! It was frustrating to see the team which had done so much right during the season fail to execute in the playoffs. I chalk it up to playoff experience. 

I am already excited for next season.




-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, September 29, 2023

Magic 100


 Last evening the Orioles clinched the American League East Division for the 10th time in the history of the team. 

It was a hard fought game with the O's winning 2-0. 

There remain three games in the season, but the Orioles faithful can take a deep breath knowing that the team has made a statement to the baseball world--from worst to first in two years!

Reportedly yesterday the O's also signed a new 30 year deal to remain at OPACY! 

With the win last evening the Orioles get to skip the Wild Card round of the playoffs and so their first playoff game will be Saturday, October 7th. At OPACY.

I am going to take the day to celebrate!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday, September 28, 2023

One--it is the Magic Number!

 With four games remaining in the Orioles regular season, they begin a series against the Boston Red Sox at home tonight. 

The team's Magic Number is 1. 

That means the Orioles need 1 win or 1 Tampa loss during the remaining games of the season to claim the AL East Division AND the best record in the entire American League for the season. 

And remember, two years ago the Orioles lost 110 games during the season. This year they will, hopefully, win 100 games or more! Their record is currently is 99-59.

Tampa is off tonight and a win by the Orioles gives them the division and first place for the playoffs.

The celebration could begin as early as tonight at OPACY. (Orioles Park at Camden Yards)

Do not expect the Red Sox to roll over and allow the Orioles to win. There is history between the teams in that the Orioles helped to prevent the Red Sox from making the playoffs at the end of the 2011 season by winning 3 of the last 4 games and thereby allowing Tampa to make the playoffs. That season ending series win meant the Red Sox finished 90-72 and suffered through the 2011 Boston Red Sox September Collapse.

The Red Sox will be sending one of their best and most experienced pitchers, Chris Sale, to battle the Orioles tonight. It will not be a cakewalk!   

This year marks the first season since 1966 when neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox made the playoffs--this excludes 1994 when there were no playoffs. 

Should the Orioles notch their 100th victory, it will only be the 6th time in their history that the team has won that many games in a season!

American League East Standings
Including Games through September 27, 2023

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Dog Tired

Dog Tired
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2023

 At the end of a full day, it is good to be dog tired. 

Finnegan helped me to understand the meaning of dog tired yesterday. He had a full day in cladding a 1.5 mile walk and then walking back to the assisted living center forepart of the afternoon to spend time with the residents. When he got home, he collapsed on the stair leading to the bed. He was too tired to even finish climbing the stairs and curling up on a pillow, as he normally does. 

Stormy Evening Sky
Tequesta, FL
September 18, 2023
It was a good Monday for sports. The Steelers won their game and the Orioles managed to scrape out another victory after blowing the game in Houston. The final inning heroics are becoming the hallmark of the team. It took three runs in the top of the 9th inning to secure the win after leading 3-1 in the 4th inning. The Orioles increased their division leading lead to 2.5 games, because Tampa was idle. The Orioles have played one less game than Tampa and so hopefully the additional game, like last night, will also be a win. 

Well, I was so dog tired that I did not see the end of either game. 


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, April 14, 2023

Turning 18

Me, Ethan, Chris
Odenton, MD
April 13, 2023

 It is a momentous day; turning 18. 

We celebrated Ethan yesterday as he crossed over to adulthood. 

It was quite a day. 

Ethan's favorite football team, Washington, announced that a deal to sell the team had been reached. 

WASHINGTON -- Dan Snyder has reached a preliminary nonexclusive deal to sell his Washington NFL franchise to a group led by Josh Harris, who also co-owns teams in the NBA and NHL, for a record $6.05 billion, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday. (ABC13)

But wait--there is more.

Ethan was given tickets to the afternoon Orioles game against the Athletics. It was game 4 of a 4-game series and the Orioles needed the win to secure the series 3-1.

It was a rough day on the mound for the Orioles starting pitcher. After 5 innings the game was tied 7-7 and the relievers for both teams were called in to settle the batters. No runs were scored by either team until the bottom of the 9th when, with the score still tied, the Orioles' first batter of the inning walked to the plate. It was, of course Adley Rutschman, the Orioles catcher. Adley is Ethan's favorite Orioles player. Adley was hitless for the day (0-4) and in danger of ending his consecutive games with a hit streak at 6. Orioles Magic was back in the park at that moment. Adley hit the second pitch over the fence for a walk-off homer to end the game, 8-7. Ethan was seated 7 rows from the field right next to the Orioles dugout and felt that he was part of all of the action.



But wait, there's more! How could a birthday be complete without a massive dinner to cap the momentous day? And there was. A visit to Fogo de Chao, the Brazilian Steakhouse, was in store for the evening. And the meal was grand; of course there was far more food than can comfortably be consumed. But it was perfect for celebrating an 18th Birthday.

Wow! Happy Birthday Ethan. What a day.


-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Baseball Returns

Roger Dean Stadium
Jupiter, FL
February 25, 2023

 The first Spring Training games of the brand new MLB season were played yesterday.

Chris and I along with our friends visiting from Maryland were in attendance as the Washington Nationals came to town to play the St Louis Cardinals!

Baseball is Back!

Jupiter is a baseball city. Two MLB teams conduct Spring Training here and there are two Minor League teams that play here after the MLB teams head north. 

Yesterday's game was exciting and enjoyable. The only real problem was the two teams playing both wore red and so it was Red on Red. The only visual difference in the uniforms was their pants. The day was blessed with beautiful weather, 80s and clear. The game was close, but I have to admit the crowd seemed somewhat subdued. The game felt more like a late season MLB game with both teams out of contention for the playoffs. 


There were two distinct parts to the game. The Cardinal starters beat the National starters 2-1 during the first 5 innings, but the Nationals Spring Training invitees defeated the Cardinal invitees 2-0 for the final 4 innings, making the final score 3-2 Nationals. I took the image of the scoreboard before the game was complete, but it accurately depicts the final score.

It was baseball and I was there to enjoy it. 

Roger Dean Stadium did have some opening day security issues. The lines were over 20 minutes long to gain entrance to the stadium. We missed the first half inning and the National's first run because of the lines. I am hopeful that the security processing issues will be solved as the season progresses. 

In other Spring Training news, it should be noted that the Orioles defeated the Twins 10-5 in Sarasota. 

Go O's!


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Orioles Dog

 Sadly, the Orioles managed to trade one of my favorite players yesterday, Trey Mancini. 

Makayla, Orioles Fan
Elkridge, MD
August 1, 2022
Baseball is a business, I need to remember that. The Orioles are building for next year and the future beyond that and Trey is 30 years old and that means he is coming to the twilight years of his baseball career. I am happy that he was traded to a contender--although the Astros are a bit of a pariah in baseball because of the sign stealing scandal of a few years ago in which they might have stolen a World Series away from the Dodgers. But, in good news, this may be a late-season "rental" as Trey is a Free Agent and the Orioles may resign him for next year! It would be really cool if the Astros manage to win the Series and Trey gets a ring, returns to the Orioles, and then leads the team to the playoffs or even more! Oops, I'm dreaming again. 

Nonetheless, Makayla and I remain Orioles fans. Makayla even rocked her hat yesterday! I thin she was smiling as I took the picture of her. She likes the straw hat because it protects her ears from the sun and now that she has been shaved, she needs a bit more protection. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Orioles Magic in July

 I have to write about the Orioles because something really exciting happened last evening--the Orioles are no longer in last place in the division. The Red Sox claimed that wit their loss and the Orioles win. 



The Orioles continue to play solid baseball and are winning the close games. For instance last evening the O's came from behind with 3 runs in the 8th inning to defeat the Rays, 5-3. 

And it is a team effort with different guys leading the team every night. 

Trey Mancini
Sadly, one of the guys which has been leading the resurgence of the Orioles, Trey Mancini, is rumored to be on the trading block. He is mired in an 0-22 slump which has seen his batting average fall to .266, but his WAR is still 1.6--which is not shabby but well below his 9.7 career WAR. He is THE clubhouse leader and I believe his loss would hurt the Orioles overall. But then, I thought keeping Chris Davis was a good idea--until it wasn't.

For now, the O's are fun to watch and root for. They are actually winning games. But beware--August is at hand the and Orioles slumps begin in August as the long baseball season begins to take its toll on the players. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Friday, July 15, 2022

10 Straight

A 10-game winning streak has not happened for the Orioles since a 13-game streak during the 1999 campaign. 

All of the teams in the AL East are OVER .500.

American League East Standings
As of Play on July 14, 2022

That has happened before, but not very often. More importantly, despite the Yankees being the untouchable team of the season, the O's are just 1.5 games out of the Wild Card position. They actually gained a half-game last night because both Boston and Toronto lost.

The Orioles are on a road trip and head into the Trop (Tropicana Field) tonight to face the Rays.

The O's no longer are tied for the longest win streak in baseball as the Mariners played last night and extended their streak to 11 games, but so what, the O's have played themselves into contention and now begin a stretch, broken up by the All Star Game, of 10 games--7 against the Rays and 3 against the Yankees! It is time to see what this team is really made of!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Magic Returns

As the Game Begins Angels vs O's
OPACY
July 9, 2022

 
It has been over a month since I attended an Orioles game. The team has matured significantly and has become a force. They are currently on a seven-game winning streak and they are fun to watch. 

Yesterday afternoon's game was played under gray skies with intermittent rain, but Orioles Park at Camden Yards (OPACY) was as full of screaming Orioles fans, all dressed in Orange, as I have seen it in many years. In fact, the paid attendance was over 32,000. That was , I believe, the highest attendance since Opening Day when over 44,000 paid to see the Orioles begin the season. 

After the Victory
Sea of Orange
OPACY
June 9, 2022

The Orioles are actually in the playoff hunt! They are just 3.0 games out of the a Wild Card playoff spot! They are also 42-44 on the season, sitting at just 2 games below .500. Not only that, but the O's are on a seven-game winning streak for the first time since August 2017!

It was a close game, with the Orioles defeating the Angels 1-0. I guess it was a pitching duel, although it did not seem that way. I did see some great defensive baseball and was treated to a rare 5-3-5 double play. That would be a ball hit to the third baseman and thrown to first for the first out and then back to third to tag the runner for the second out. Inning ending double play!

Unlike my last outing to OPACY, the magic is definitely back. And the crowd stayed until the end of the game.

I noticed a few things about the park, however. They were not prepared for the crowd that came to see the O's. Concession stands ran out of food and drink. Also, there was a lack of police and traffic control on the streets which resulted in some of the worst traffic tie-ups I have seen. I did get my Orioles Aloha shirt, which was the giveaway for the day.

I had fun and the team is fun to watch. 

Being part of a surging throng yelling, "Let's Go O's" was something I did not expect, but yesterday it happened and I loved being part of the noise and fun of Major League Baseball. I was reminded of playoff baseball and victories past at OPACY. Maybe, just maybe, the team is ready to compete again.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Three Game Winning Streak?


 This is just shocking and exciting. 

American League East Standings
May 11, 2022

The Orioles just won their first game of a road trip against the Cardinals with a rookie pitcher on the mound that threw 11 strikeouts and completed 7 innings. 

That win gives them three wins in a row. 

The win also propelled them into 10th among the 15 American League teams. They are also in 4th place in the AL East with Boston below them. 

Just a note--they are also now tied for 19th among the 30 MLB teams.

This is so different!

I have become accustomed to the team being 28th, 29th, or 30th among the MLB teams and at the bottom of the division. 

This is exciting and different; I am happy that I have already been able to attend two games this season. My game attendance record if 1-1.

Let's Go O's!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, May 1, 2022

A Different Ending

 

The View from Suite 72
20 minutes before first pitch
OPACY, Baltimore, MD
April 30, 2022
I attended the Red Sox vs Orioles baseball game last evening at Orioles Park at Camden Yards (OPACY). I was lucky to have been invited into a suite complete with food and beverage.

What did I discover? 

The Orioles have unfortunately become a second rate baseball/entertainment organization.

On the field the Orioles have the lowest payroll in MLB. I looked it up. Their 2022 total payroll is listed as $46.5 million. Last evening the Orioles played the Red Sox who have a total payroll listed as $202 million. The league average is somewhere about $147 million. Is it any wonder that the Orioles have a losing record?

It is now easy to see why the stadium which can hold about 46,000 only had just short of 20,000 in attendance last evening. In the past, Red Sox games were almost guaranteed sell outs, although the fortunes of that team are low right now and not many Red Sox fans are traveling from Boston. I did not see the usual squadron of busses parked along the stadium roads as I walked to the game.

But wait, there is more. I had been invited to a suite to enjoy the game. The Orioles somehow managed to fumble the reservation for the suite and the food and beverage was not provided until the person who made the reservation provided the confirmation email to the concessions manager and then it took 45 minutes to stock the area. Once stocked, there was only beer and soft drink for beverages and the entree consisted of hot dogs or pulled pork. Compared with my experience at Nationals Park last season, the Orioles are way behind in providing an exceptional fan experience. National Park provided London Broil, plus numerous other entrees, a salad bar, dessert bar and a full open bar. 

On to the game.

Amazingly, the Orioles won the game 2-1. It was a 10th inning, walk-off error by the Red Sox that allowed the Orioles to scrap out a victory. The Red Sox scored in the first inning and the Orioles did not manage the tying run until the 8th inning. 

The 10th inning is when the game became interesting. The Orioles managed not to surrender a run to the visitors during the top of the inning. The Red Sox, for their part tried an interesting approach by intentionally walking the lead-off batter which put runners on 1st and 2nd. Remember, in MLB extra innings now begin with a runner on 2nd. This set up a double play possibility. But, the Orioles bunted in an attempt to move the runners over, but the Red Sox committed an error trying to get the lead runner at 3rd. The pitcher, who fielded the bunt, overthrew the 3rd baseman and the baserunner who had started at 2nd base, scored! 

A walk-off error. Orioles Win! Orioles Win!

That was a different ending, for sure.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Hail on the Orioles

 

The view from 332
OPACY, Baltimore, MD
April 16, 2022

Happy Easter!

The sun is shining although, at 46 degrees, it is a bit cool this Easter morning. 

Last evening Chris and I attended an Orioles game. It was our first Orioles game in two years! I have to admit it felt good to be back at Pickles before the game and then to enter the stadium to see the team. We ate a pork sandwich from Boog's before the game and even had seats in the section where I used to have season tickets.

Looking Out of the Tunnel at the Hail Storm
OPACY, Baltimore, MD
April 16, 2022

The game suffered a rain delay before beginning--it was not much of a storm, that was to come later in the evening. The weather radar was not kind to the Orioles on this Springtime evening. After securing a 2-0 lead, I experienced something that I have never experienced before at an MLB game--a true hail storm. 

Walk to the Car
Baltimore, MD
April 16, 2022

The hail continued for some minutes and actually collected on the field, then it turned to rain and dampened our spirits. We waited for a break in the action, as it was getting late, and made our dash for the car--which was parked about 3/4 mile away--a distance we covered in less than 15 minutes.

We did not run as the rain, fortunately, held off. 

The Orioles ultimately lost momentum, likely due to the rain, and then lost the game 2-5 to the visiting team from the North, whose name will remain unwritten. 

It was good to be back in the park and, I have to admit, there was not a COVID-19 related mask in sight--all night. It was like old times (OK, it was like 2019): the Orioles losing a baseball game and no one seemingly concerned about a pandemic.

Again--Happy Easter to all. May you enjoy the blessings of this special day wherever you are. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Birthdays!

Chris and Ethan
Odenton, MD
April 13, 2022
We enjoyed a birthday celebration last evening. 

Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States was born April 13, 1743! Most people don't remember his birthday, but I do

because . . . 

sharing a birthday with the 3rd President is our own oldest grandson. They are a few centuries apart, fortunately.

So we enjoyed an April birthday party and watched the Orioles snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 

But more importantly, Happy Birthday Ethan!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

6 More

There are but six games remaining in the disastrous Orioles season. The Orioles are tied for the worst recored in all of Major League Baseball at 50-106. If this were the Premier League, they would be facing relegation--and deservedly so--they have been the worst team in baseball for too long.

This is supposed to be a rebuilding period, but it seems to be a "no" building period. The worst team in Orioles history, and the last one with veterans to take the blame were the 2018 Orioles who finished at 47-115. AN embarrassment. Upon entering the official team rebuilding or retooling, it has not become much better. 

Since then:

2019: 54-108

2020: 25-35

Not a team that is getting any better. 

It is very difficult to want to go to the games to see a team that is so poorly performing. 

Well, there is always next season. But, is there, really?

I will visit Sarasota during the Spring and see the team at least once. It is an over 3 hour drive, so there may be an overnight in there somewhere as well. Maybe, just maybe next season the real Orioles will emerge and we can stop calling them the baby-Birds.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Not in Last?


In an amazing feat of baseball, the hapless Orioles have been victorious in 4 of their past 5 games!

That includes taking a series from the Yankees in New York for the first time since early 2019 and now winning 2 of 3 from the Royals at home in OPACY. Tonight they go for the four game series win, but can do no worse than a split if they lose. 

Maybe September will new kind to the Orioles. They are 4-3 so far during the month. A 50 win season is definitely almost possible as they stand 45-93 and are no longer the worst team in Baseball. That honor has shifted back to Arizona who are 45-95. 

The baseball season is rapidly drawing to an end and the big question for Orioles fans is: when will rebuilding be complete? 

Soon, I hope. 

I am looking forward to driving to Sarasota for some Spring Training games in February and March and hoping to see a team ready for major league competition rather than trying out for a spot in the College World Series. 

Finishing 42 games out of first has become nauseating and does not encourage me to go to the park--although I did enjoy my visit to the Nationals last Friday. I miss competitive baseball. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Note - OPACY: Orioles Park at Camden Yards

Friday, August 27, 2021

Two in a Row

 

AL East Standings as of Games Through August 26, 2021

For 19 straight games the Orioles found creative ways to lose baseball games, and now they actually have a two game winning streak.

The Orioles wine for the second time in as many tries yesterday. It was the longest winning streak of the month! During August, the Orioles have managed to amass the worst record in baseball. They are the 30th best team in the league--there is no number 31. 

But the team enters a stretch of 10 games against divisional opponents starting tonight. They could start another 10 game or longer losing streak--but, time will tell. 

A disappointing season continues. But, the Orioles need to get to 47 wins to avoid taking over the 15th position on the all time worst teams in the modern baseball era. With 36 games remaining, I wonder if that is possible?


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Standing on 38

The Orioles streak continues--19 in a row!

Amazingly, that is how many consecutive games the Orioles have found a way to lose. 

And it has not been pretty. 

In fact, I has been downright disappointing.

The Orioles have had 38 wins since I can remember. All hopes for a 60 win season are gone--there are only 38 games remaining in this disappointing season. Given the current stretch even making it to 50 wins would be an accomplishment.

In fact, it is possible that the 2021 Orioles could finish with less wins than the 2018 Orioles who managed 47. They might take over 15th on the all time list of worst MLB teams in the modern era.

For a rebuilding year, I had much higher hopes. 

I am sure the Orioles also had hoped for a better outcome.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Orioles Update After the All-Star Game

 


Is there hope in the land of the Bird?

It seems so, the Orioles have managed to win 3 of 4 baseball games since the All Star Break. Last night they beat the Rays 6-1 and now have managed a rare three-game winning streak. 

The starting pitching has shown up to play and the rest of the team has calmed down a bit after having a four-day break for the All Star Game. 

The stars of the team, as if a team residing at the bottom of the league had any stars, are producing hits and runs and even the much maligned Matt Harvey pitched six solid innings on Sunday.

There may be hope that the team can finish solid and provide some positives for next season. I am tired of looking to next season for the Os to do something other than play the part of doormat for the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox.

But maybe--just maybe. They did beat the Rays last night. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Orioles Mid-Season Update

 


I have to admit that at one point I was thinking of a weekly Orioles update, but as the season progressed it became clear that there was nearly nothing to update. The Orioles are without a doubt the second worst team in baseball. That means that of 30 terms they are number 29! Ugh. 

There is not a lot of excitement. The big question is how badly will they lose tonight?

Standings as of July 12 ,2021


The excitement of the season so far have been the no hitter by John Means and Trey Mancini's making it to the finals in last night's Home Run Derby. Aside from these two highs, everything else has been pretty low.

To recap: the Orioles have catchers who should not be in the Majors, the relief pitching is uneven, the offense cannot produce runs against the best pitchers in baseball, and base running has been awful. 

So at the All Star Break, it can hopefully only get better.

I hope that some of the young stars of the future begin to arrive from the minor leagues to restart a sense of baseball to the team. 

I really need something to cheer for!


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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