How we get to .500

I know alot of people don't care

but I do. At least get to eighty wins, thats a nice round number, especially in the AL East.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 14, 2008 3:18 PM EDT 0 recs

its unlikely

but it’d be nice. if for nothing else i’d like not have to answer my friends questions of “how many straight losing seasons is it now?”

"I’m sure glad he didn’t try to bunt." - DD on Melmo's game winning double, 6/17

by daveh873 on Aug 14, 2008 3:21 PM EDT 0 recs

the anwer is always

“not as many as pittsburgh”

"You have to discipline yourself so you don't come out with something just to say you made a trade. You have to make sure you come out better than you were before." - Andy MacPhail, 7/31/08

by getxstoked on Aug 14, 2008 4:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

The Pittsburgh Pirates

our rust belt brothers in bad baseball.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 14, 2008 4:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

It’s not going to happen.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Aug 14, 2008 4:29 PM EDT 0 recs

Not even close

“10 more at home vs. Oak, Cle, Min: We win 7 of 10. 75-74”

That’s not gonna happen.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 15, 2008 9:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

man, i would rather have the high draft pick

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 14, 2008 4:40 PM EDT 0 recs

The baseball draft is so unscientific

high picks don’t matter nearly as much as they would in the NBA draft. I mean prospect signability is as big a deal as anything in factoring in the decision to draft a particular player or not. Its a crapshoot.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 14, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's somewhat true

Signability allows some players to drop, but there’s definitely some significant tiering in talent.

If you break up the first round into 1-5, 6-15, and 16-20, the top 5 group has a much better chance to turn into an impact player than the other two groups. There’s a dropoff from the 6-15 to the 16-20 group, but it’s not as big.

At this point, the Orioles would have to go into one of their patented late season swoons to get a top 5 pick, so picking anywhere between #8 and #18 shouldn’t make a huge difference.

There is one wild card: if the Orioles end up signing a type A free agent this offseason, the #16 pick turns out to be significantly worse than the #15 pick. When you sign a type A free agent, you forfeit your first round pick, UNLESS you have a top 15 pick, in which case you forfeit your second round pick instead.

They are currently in line to pick #12, so I’d really prefer them to stay in the top 15 so they have the flexibility to sign a premier free agent if one falls into their lap.

by dkdc on Aug 14, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up 1 recs

Now thats an f'ing breakdown

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 14, 2008 5:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

hahahahahaha

by Birdfan01 on Aug 14, 2008 6:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

I WANT A #5 PICK!!!!

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 14, 2008 7:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Where the hell has tanking september actually got us in the last ten years with this franchise?

Lets try winning ballgames late in the season, let these guys finish with a winning taste in their mouth.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 14, 2008 9:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Where the hell has tanking september actually got us in the last ten years with this franchise?

It brought us Matt Wieters.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 14, 2008 11:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

And it looks like

Brian Matusz as well.

"I wasn't here for the losing years. But it feels a little like the days with Earl in charge and John Lowenstein smashing birthday cakes in the middle of the clubhouse with a bat." - John "T-Bone" Shelby

by duck on Aug 15, 2008 9:53 AM EDT up 0 recs

+1

The last time we didn’t have a top 10 pick:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2005&round=1&draft_type=junreg

1 Justin Upton
2 Alex Gordon
3 Jeff Clement
4 Ryan Zimmerman
5 Ryan Braun
6 Ricardo Romero
7 Troy Tulowitzki
8 Wade Townsend
9 Mike Pelfrey
10 Cameron Maybin
11 Andrew McCutchen
12 Jay Bruce
13 Brandon Snyder

by dkdc on Aug 15, 2008 9:56 AM EDT up 0 recs

I don't want to tank,

its that simple, especially not for something as uncertain as a fifth pick. Tanking is bad karma. I’d much rather have a lot of picks.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 15, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

man, that's a strong top 12

Townsend and Romero look like the only busts.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 15, 2008 1:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

also note...

ellsbury and matt garza were picked later in that round.

foghat goes with everything--birdman, 5/16/08

by j.q. higgins on Aug 15, 2008 2:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

i should note Gordon is moving towards a bust

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 15, 2008 2:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

He probably should be better than what he is at this point

damn shame. “The next George Brett”

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Aug 15, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

is he?

by what measure? his offensive numbers show improvement as, if ever so slightly, do his defensive numbers.

is there a case to be made that maybe he was rushed? if so, is there a lesson for the o’s re: wieters?

foghat goes with everything--birdman, 5/16/08

by j.q. higgins on Aug 15, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gordon

His defense has been terrible. Worst among 3Bs according to baseballthinkfactory. His offense isn’t anything to crow about either. 7th out of 9 3Bs in the AL according to ESPN. Overall, his bat is passable (101 OPS+), but this isn’t what the Royals, or anybody, had in mind for Gordon. People were expecting Evan Longoria out of Gordon, not Melvin Mora (actually Mora is better).

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 15, 2008 3:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

is there a case to be made that maybe he was rushed?

He torn up AA. He was ready. I don’t think AAA would have done anything for him. I don’t think there’s any lesson for Wieters. Blue chips prospects sometime despite proper handling. Although, i wouldn’t give up Gordon yet.

Wolf, wolf, wolf.

by birdman on Aug 15, 2008 3:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Orioles offense: (MASN)

Courtesy of MASN:

Orioles Batting Notes:
Hernandez: Hitting .314 with 12 RBI in second-half
Huff: Has 3 HR and 6 RBI last 4 games…..Batting .376 over 21 games
Markakis: Over nine games batting .444-3-18………8-12, 8 RBI this series
Millar: 1-12 at bat
Mora: Over 11 games batting .426-2-14…..32 RBI since All-Star break
Montanez: In his three starts is 6-12, 2 RBI
Payton: Batting .333 during 7-game hitting streak
Roberts: 14-game hitting streak ends Wed……..31 doubles last 62 games
Scott: Batting .455 during 7-game batting streak

O’s Offense
*Last 6 games: .336 average, 44 runs, 16 doubles, 8 homers
*Second-Half: .303 average, 5.8 runs/game, 56 doubles, 34 homers

by Y Not on Aug 14, 2008 4:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Who cares?

Not that losing’s acceptable by any means, but fer Pete’s sake…enough with the W-L record. I defer to the Mysterious Machinations of MacPhail until 2010.

78-84. Bank on it.

I always say follow your dreams...even if they're about a giant spider with your father's head, and he keeps stealing your p*nis!

by Ghost of Floyd Rayford on Aug 14, 2008 6:25 PM EDT 0 recs

you're on crack

let’s hope it happens, but it won’t

"We might as well just win this game." -Adam Jones

by exitfare on Aug 14, 2008 8:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah....

that’s not happenin’. Good try.

Kevbo: [to George Sherrill] George, you look a lot like Vin Diesel...

Flatbill: Let's get somethin' straight... Vin Diesel looks like me.

-From "The Making of Orioles Magic"

by dayzd toe on Aug 14, 2008 9:49 PM EDT 0 recs

YOU...

Kevbo: [to George Sherrill] George, you look a lot like Vin Diesel...

Flatbill: Let's get somethin' straight... Vin Diesel looks like me.

-From "The Making of Orioles Magic"

by dayzd toe on Aug 15, 2008 11:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

Going .500

Is basically one the last remaining reasons for me to watch the team. Pardon me, not a “reason” , more of an “excuse” …. esspecially since Adam Jones got hurt.

We have an easier August and September than most team, esspecially in our division. I think we lead the Al East in the number of days we have off from here on out.

The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST

by the fix is in on Aug 15, 2008 9:31 AM EDT 0 recs