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Ridgway22

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Posts posted by Ridgway22

    I have to admit. I'm an addict.

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    Quote
    47 minutes ago, Roy Firestone said:

    I have to admit.
    I'm an addict.
    I'm an addict not of booze or drugs.
    I'm an addict for baseball ....
    It's still THE game for me and I love almost any team sport.
    But for me, when it's great, it's still the greatest game of them all.
    I hate to say it, but when my team wins ...it's like a hit of crack or coke and I have never and will never try those drugs.
    This one is a better high anyway.
    It's an adrenaline rush for me. It comes from my heart and soul.
    Like the other night in Anaheim I sat transfixed on the game.
    I dont need to look at the silly shell games on a scoreboard, nor hear what the players favorite singer is.. or eat a lot of junk, but I DO have to have my bag of peanuts.
    The Orioles were clinging to a one run lead, when, with the bases loaded, Mike Trout stepped up to the plate...a single and the game is tied...an extra base hit and the Orioles lose.
    Our pitcher Craig Kimbrel had to throw a strike to one of the all time greats, and somehow, someway, Trout looked at a third strike and the Orioles won.
    I lept into the air as if I had a million dollars on the game.
    I never bet on sports, but this was a better high than winning any bet anyway.
    Because it is pure and it comes from my deep place of caring when the 'Birds' win.
    Today in Anaheim, another nail biter, the game was in the ninth with two out and a runner on first. Suddenly the runner broke for second and catcher James McCann threw a strike to second base.
    Gunnar Henderson covering, made the tag and the ump called the runner out.
    And the game ended that way. Bang Bang.
    Personally I thought it was a blown call, but after review the call was upheld and the Orioles won another nail biter.
    I dont watch many other games, but every night I hit the crack pipe" of baseball.
    It's my addiction.
    I also love watching fantastic performers. Mookie Betts is an electric ballplayer . can do anything at the plate and in the field.
    The Orioles' Henderson is a must see ballplayer like Betts is.
    On Wednesday he hit a home run, a double, a single, drove in 3 runs got hit by a pitch , stole a base and made two game saving plays in the field.
    Baseball is a team sport but it's also watching the brilliant, mesmerizing individual performances. It's watching the best players in the world do what I think is the most difficult thing in sports , hit a baseball, throw a baseball, and field a baseball.
    It's hard to do.
    Anyway,it's still just April and it's a long, long season.
    Bryant Gumble once had a great line about the difference between football and baseball.
    He said "Baseball, is a never ending romance, but football is a one night stand."
    Yep, I'm an addict, a baseball junkie, and I make no apologies for it.
    I'll never go to rehab for my baseball addiction.
    I don't NEED to be cured.
    And I never will be.
    Jim Bouton said it best in "Ball Four" his great book.
    "In all the years you grip a baseball...you suddenly remember, it's really the other way around"
    Exactly.

     

    Nicely stated Roy. Every since I was 9 years old and saw the O's vs. the Tokyo Giants in Tokyo in 1971, I've been infected with the Orange/Black virus. There is no cure and I don't want one. You and I sat at the lunch table with Jim Palmer at the 1970 World Series Champs reunion, and its still one of my enduring baseball memories. You said I looked like Carlton Fisk!


    I was at all 3 games in this Angels series, right behind the O's dugout. I got to see all our boys, and just simply love to watch this team play. And in true baseball fashion, the one game on paper we should have dominated (GRod vs. 8+ ERA Channing), we end up down 7-0 and lose. But watching Gunnar's homers, his electric triple, and he made a fantastic play today on a ball that went under Westburg's glove, Adley do Adley things, Cowser, holy crap.

    Kimbrel v. Trout with bases loaded, bottom of 9th, 2 outs, down by 2? That was fun. Next game Trout bats leadoff and torches a GRod fastball for a homer to the opposite field. 

    An observation.... If you didn't know anything about the team, and you only watched game 1 batting practice, you'd think Cowser and O'Hearn were the studs of the team. Mountcastle was taking BP with the reserves and he put on a show as well. 

    Home after 3 straight days watching this O's team, so jealous of the Balt fans in Balt that get to see the team with regularity. It's a special bunch.

    • Upvote 1
    • Like 1

    4/21 @ Royals

    in Game Threads

    Posted · Edited by Ridgway22
    typo

    So much fun watching guys like Cowser and Westburg grow into themselves. You can see the difference in confidence, body language, and most importantly, the results.

    • Upvote 1

    MLBTV/VPN

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

     

    14 minutes ago, ChuckS said:

    I meant to say when I have it turned *off I'm blacked out.  When it's on I can't even access the games. 

    MLB seems to read that I have a VPN regardless of location, and blocks me from accessing my account. 

    Having same issue. All the combinations that worked in the past are failing. Grrr. 

    Which minor league players who won’t reach the majors in 2024 most interest you?

    in Minors

    Posted · Edited by Ridgway22

    14 hours ago, Frobby said:

    We have a raft of guys who will start the year at Norfolk and are pretty likely to play at least some games in the majors this year.   But of the players who almost definitely won’t play in the majors, who will you be following most closely?

    Basallo is the best of these, but the one I think I’ll be following most closely is Bradfield.  His trajectory will have a ton of impact on how the team plans for 2026 and beyond.  If he can hit at all decently, he’s the easy CF solution for the future.   But if he struggles, that could change a lot of things going forward.  

     

    This is a great question. I'm very interested in who spends the bulk of the time at Bowie this year (succeeds /  struggles), and who leaves early (Basallo?) Bradfield's range of outcomes between a Mateo/McKenna type and Pierre / Lofton dream is one of the most intriguing storylines I'll be following. I'm flummoxed about our starting pitching prospects, no GRod predigree, but Bradish didn't have that expectation. As much fun as Jax, Mayo, Norby feathering into the Major League team will be, I'm going to be training a keen eye on the next wave. Ain't the beer cold.

     

    Orioles close to acquiring Corbin Burnes (Update: Acquired for Joey Ortiz and DL Hall)

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    The whirlwind of the last couple of days has my head spinning as if the Strat-o-Matic set just arrived from UPS when I was 16.

    Perfect storm of Elias not having any budget and employing a tanking strategy that pays off just has he's about ready to be handed a proper budget? Oh hell yes. (Allegedly)

    Now, sign Montgomery or Snell, and trade Kremer and Cowser for Cease, damn it.

    Sorry, my baseball boner has drained blood from my brain.

     

    • Haha 1

    Puck News: Orioles sold to Rubenstein

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    Tonight, there will be quality adult beverages served to spouse and guests that is normally reserved for Cowboys losses and the day the Yankees season ends.

    The crack of dawn.... coming up over a young, exciting, and talented team, of which their agents are sharpening pencils and perusing the Robb Report.......

    Praise Baby Cheeses!

    • Upvote 1
    • Haha 1

    Re-drafting 2019 draft

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, now said:

    For all his hype and well-deserved early fame, I feel Adley flies under the radar a bit when compared to this level of competition, since he doesn't dominate with a top hit tool or power tool. At least, I confess to undervaluing him somewhat for that reason. But this stat from MLB's latest feature is eye-opening:

    Rutschman is the first catcher in MLB history with at least a 125 OPS+ in each of the first two seasons of his career (min. 400 plate appearances in each).

    That is impressive.......

    Bloomberg: Carlyle Group/David Rubenstein In Talks To Purchase Orioles

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Pickles said:

    I know about the guy, well in advance of these rumors.  Don't forget guys, I grew up in DC too.  I know how the town works.

    I'm not trying to get too high and mighty here, belive it or not.

    I'm just skeptical, and no, I don't believe ANY ownership change is automatically GOOD ownership change, as seems to be the default setting around here.

     

    I really, really hope you poured one too many of the good stuff this fine December eve, in anticipation of holiday cheer, because that will give you reasonable cover. I'm only halfway through this thread, and you've generated excess cringe value. If cringe could be express as Cwar, you've generated 2.8 in a very short cup of coffee.

    It's always interesting how people who don't have money are experts on how people with money are / were / will be.

    • Upvote 2

    Other Teams Playoffs Thread

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Nite said:

    I feel like MLB is going to be pressured to tweak the playoffs should Atlanta go down tomorrow. 

    The top 3 teams all getting ambushed and looking flat after a week off isn't a good look. 

    Cannot disagree with this. As of tonight, top three regular season teams in baseball are 1-8, including 1-5 at home. Something ain't right.

    You play 5+ months under one set of rules that gives rare days off, then in the postseason, completely different scheduling, where teams sitting around for a week are suddenly forced into a best of 5 with a team that just won, at a minimum, 2 of 3. If they're going to keep this format, get rid of the days off before and after the best of 3.  Hunger games!

    • Upvote 1

    O's Payroll could go down in 2024

    in Orioles Talk

    Posted

    1 hour ago, ThisIsBirdland said:

    I think the difference is we hadn't seen any of those MIF guys (Westburg/Ortiz/Norby) in the majors yet and they were all RHH. We have seen Kjerstad and he looks like he belongs and deserves regular at-bats. I love Santander, but I think we're about to find out if Elias is going to rotate guys out who are at the end of their team control period while they still hold trade value. 

    I've really grown from being ambivalent to enjoying watching and having Santander on the team. I'm afraid he might turn out to be of those guys you don't really appreciate until he's gone.

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