Recaps of last night's ....wait, drat. There wasn't one. Man, it's gonna take a few days to get used to that.
2010 Postseason | MLB.com: Schedule
Here's the complete playoff schedule.
Jeff Zrebiec grades the 2010 Orioles - baltimoresun.com
"The fairest way to evaluate the Oriole players probably would have been to assign two different grades – a B.S. one for "Before Showalter' and a U.S. one for "Under Showalter." WARNING - it's a slide show with 30+ slides.
Kevin Cowherd: With fans once again invested in Orioles, it's up to Andy MacPhail to cash in - baltimoresun.com
"Now it's up to you, Andy MacPhail."
Showalter's presence keys O's turnaround | orioles.com: News
"As Buck Showalter frequently pointed out, "no one had all their bullets" in the season's dwindling days, but the Orioles finally started to play like the team that multiple national outlets predicted in the spring to be a plucky club."
Veterans needed to complement young core | orioles.com: News
"Assuming their young core continues to develop, if the Orioles make the necessary moves this winter -- avoiding filler-type moves -- they could start a turnaround that was supposed to come in 2010. But can they compete against baseball's best in the AL East?"
Orioles Insider: O's will pick fourth overall in 2011 draft
So now the question becomes whom to pick.
Optimism in Birdland as Orioles close out 2010 - Carroll County Times: Orioles
"I am happy with the last two months," MacPhail said. "I don’t think we’re to the point where we think everything’s rosy and this is the way it’s going to be going forward. We know that there are issues that we need to address and we know we can’t ignore the first four months of the season."
Showalter, Orioles seek to extend success in 2011 - USATODAY.com
"It shows you what we have and what we're capable of doing," right fielder Nick Markakis said. "We've got a great group of guys and we have great talent. It's just a matter of putting it together. When we put it together, we can play with anybody."
Showalter for president - baltimoresun.com
"Before Baltimore becomes swept up entirely in Ravens football (as impossible as that may be given the first place team's comeback win against the dread Steelers on the road), a tip of the cap is due to Buck Showalter and the Orioles ."
This Losing O's Season Somehow Feels Like A Success- About.com
"They made sparkling plays in the field. They avoided errors. They hustled. Their starting pitchers were phenomenal. The bullpen held leads. Hitters came through in the clutch. Fans had something to cheer about."
School of Roch: The real standings
Sure enough, if the season started Aug. 3, the O's would have won the A.L. East by 3.5 games. But Opening Day in August seems weird.
World Series ads on FOX will cost $450,000 per 30 seconds | HardballTalk
And they've sold 90% of their ad inventory. What recession?
New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has a chance to show what he's really worth - ESPN New York
"Twelve million dollars over two years, maybe $10 million over two," one former GM said. "But I think he'll probably get a lot more than that." The Yankees are about to vastly overpay for an aging middle infielder. Serves 'em right.