October Baseball September 30, 2008

October baseball.
 
It just sounds right, doesn’t it?
 
Even before we start on the magical road through the postseason, Alexei Ramirez and the Chicago White Sox started the celebration on the penultimate day of September. Tied with Detroit in a game that they needed to win, the White Sox got an early holiday gift from Gary Glover [...]

That Really Got Out Of Hand September 24, 2008

On Sunday in Kentucky, when people yelled “boo” it was a good thing. The American team, with Boo Weekley, won the Ryder Cup in a tremendous upset against the favored European team.
 
On Tuesday night in Maryland, when people yelled “boo,” it was a bad thing. The Orioles, providing clutch hits for Alfredo Simon in his [...]

Crazy Eighth September 24, 2008

Pitching a nearly perfect game so far against the best team in the division, Alfredo Simon finally looks like a pitcher with an 8.10 ERA.  Grooving a fastball to Evan Longoria in the 8th inning, the Tampa Rays star hit a 410 foot bomb off of Simon to cut the O’s lead to two runs.
 
Simon [...]

A Late Lead September 24, 2008

Hey, they’re winning.
 
In front of an announced 15,215 people at Oriole Park, the O’s take a 3-1 lead into the 6th. Getting a very good start from Alfredo Simon, Baltimore looks to utilize the small ball method of baseball to parlay six hits into three runs and a lead late in the game.
 
In six [...]

Upper Deck September 24, 2008

Most of the concession stands in the upper deck aren’t open before the second game of the doubleheader. I’m guessing my arrival had nothing to do with this. The top level at Oriole Park looks like a hotel foyer at 3 in the morning. There are three sketchy people in a cavernous area and someone [...]

The Three Amigos September 24, 2008

They sit at the very top of where sections 372 & 374 meet. Three teenagers, two girls and a guy, occupy two sections with only three people. “Up here, you can see everything,” says one of the girls. She claims she’s an avid baseball fan and her knowledge of the team with 89 losses is [...]

Ballgame September 23, 2008

Dioner Navarro makes the final out as Ramon Hernandez pops out to his fellow catcher at 7:49 PM. The Orioles never threatened in the late innings and the Rays drop their magic number to 4 after the 5-2 win.
 
Usually in the middle of a doubleheader, the majority of fans stream out of the seating [...]

Next! September 23, 2008

Rolling over nicely in the home half of the 8th, the Orioles look like a team with 88 losses. Tampa only leads by three with one last chance for the O’s in the 9th, but ask anyone if Baltimore has a chance to climb back in this and they will laugh at you. Currently, with [...]

Bottoms Up September 23, 2008

The bottom of the Tanpa Bay lineup continues to maul the Orioles pitching. Eighth place hitter Jason Bartlett will likely finish the first game with three hits and 9th place hitter Fernando Perez just popped up a bunt attempt that reliever Alberto Castillo couldn’t grab. Ben Zobrist came in for the 5th Tampa run. Perez [...]

7th Inning Stretch (Part One) September 23, 2008

It looks like Carlos Pena just delivered the knock out punch in the first game. Singling through the left side of the infield (you’ll never guess who had a chance to make a play), Pena allowed Fernando Perez to score Tampa’s fourth run of the afternoon. The Rays have scored in each of the last [...]