Baltimore Orioles

I’ll tell you right now that it’s not better than viewing it as any other person. 

I’ll also tell you that even though it’s the summer, we still maintain some of the college atmosphere here in Salem.  A lot of us Salem Staters have off campus apartments so we get to see each other even when school is not in session. 

Continue reading "A College Student’s Perspective ..."

Boston Red Sox Bullpen Blows a 9 Run Lead!!
So last night the 42 year old John Smoltz would get his second start of the year!!  In the last game he pitched he gave up 3 runs in the first inning, but then he was lights out. So I believe it was because it was his the first start and 1st inning jitters, so I didn't know what to expect. Well he was on point again and looked great. He only gave up 3 hits, 1 earned run and had 2 strikeout-- awesome! But the story is far from over. Meanwhile the Red Sox bats looked like they where going to explode, scoring 9 runs giving Smoltz a 9-1 lead, but that's when the rain came and this was big trouble for Smoltz and the Sox.(rain always seems to be trouble for the Sox).

Continue reading "BoSox Bullpen Blows a 9 Run Lead!!"

Manny's quite an upgrade over Juan Pierre...

5-Baltimore Orioles: RF-Nick Markakis, CF-Adam Jones, LF-Luke Scott

This one may be a little surprising to some fans, but Markakis and Jones represent one of the best, young outfield duos in the game. Markakis is unorthodox mechanically at the plate, but he produces and plays fine defensive outfield in right. He ranks second at his position, just barely behind Vladimir Guerrero for the top spot.

Continue reading "MLB's Top Five Outfields"

mprovement of Tampa Bay, unfortunately for the Jays and their fans, Toronto will look more like the Baltimore Orioles in ’09.

Toronto boasts one of the game’s premier pitchers in Roy Halladay, and there’s no reason to think he won’t put up Cy Young caliber numbers yet again, but the rotation following the ace leaves much to be desired. Shaun Marcum may miss the entire season due to Tommy John surgery leaving Jesse Litsch (13-9, 3.58 ERA in ’08) and the unproven David Purcey (3-6, 5.54 in 12 career starts) with a lot of responsibility, and the team’s once stellar closer, B.J. Ryan, can’t find 90 MPH on the radar gun. The Jays’ offense was putrid in ’08 as the team finished in the lower third of the AL in runs, hits, homeruns, RBI, batting average, and on-base and slugging percentages. Only Vernon Wells had 20 homeruns, and Alex Rios led Toronto with 79 RBI. The Jays are hoping for big things from young outfielder Travis Snider (who could make a run at ROY if David Price spends a lengthy amount of time in the minors) and need big things from Wells, Rios and bounce back seasons from Lyle Overbay (possible) and Scott Rolen (highly unlikely).

Continue reading "The Sports Don Returns with His 2009 ..."

I have to admit, this edition of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings was harder for me to compile than the previous two weeks. Maybe it’s because I’m still bull over Steven the Black Jack Dealer cheating me out of all of my money at Foxwoods or perhaps it’s because I’m trying to remember to DVR Dark Days in Monkey City. Either way, I still managed to ramble on especially long this weekend so I’ll keep the words typed in the remainder of my intro to a minimum...here it is.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: Volume III"

With the MLB playoffs set to begin, there is a subtle difference in the air compared to start of any other postseason. In the NHL, fans can potentially look forward to a great Canadians/Bruins series that is not only exciting, but has a historical kick to it. Likewise basketball fans always have the chance to see if the Suns can finally get past the Spurs and football fans love seeing the rivalry of the Eagles Vs the City of Philadelphia when the Eagles so much as get tackled for a loss.

Continue reading "The Ups and Downs of the MLB Playoffs"

Entrance into the Hall of Fame is the highest individual honour that baseball has to offer. Getting into Cooperstown means that without a doubt you are one of the greatest players of your generation and have earned the right for children to stare at your plaque as parents tell tall-tales of your abilities for years to come.

Continue reading "What makes someone a hall of famer?"

The Red Sox were in action tonight, looking for the sweep of their interdivision foes the Baltimore Orioles and looking to perhaps gain some ground on the elusive Rays in the AL East standings. These games are especially big for the Red Sox because, with the Rays and Yankees playing each other, if the Red Sox win, it would guarantee that the Red Sox either gain a game on the Rays in the AL East or add a game to their lead over the Yankees for the Wild Card.

Continue reading "Red Sox Report 9/3"

be clear:  the Red Sox faced the three teams they have had trouble beating all year.  The Baltimore Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays and obviously the New York Yankees have been a thorn in their side all year.  These three teams have been a major contributing factor as to why the Sox road record was so poor.  After tonight, they are one game under .500 on the road, and are looking to sweep the Yankees in what will be their last game ever in the old Yankee Stadium.

Continue reading "Up Up and Away!!!"

Last night's ninth inning was almost an afterthought, what with the ejection of both Dustin Pedroia and an irate Orioles fan within about 10 minutes of each other. In fact, the eighth featured the home plate umpire barking into the Sox dugout, Pedroia chirping at both the first base and home umpire, Pedroia getting tossed and the Orioles fan jabbing back and forth with Coco Crisp before battles with two ushers and a pair of Red Sox fans on the way out of the stadium.

Continue reading "The Manny we still have"

With the Olympics dominating every cable channel I seem to turn to this week, I offer this analogy:  Watching the Red Sox over the last seven days has been like trying to eat Jello with chopsticks.

Continue reading "EVERYONE is to blame!"

Why do the Red Sox tend to forget that? I'm not taking anything away from their performance at Fenway this weekend. They outright and embarrassingly beat the Sox this weekend, but seriously? The Red Sox just seem to suck game in and game out against the Blue Jays all the time for some unknown reason. They're 2-6 against them on the season. Great! Does anyone know what was Josh Beckett's problem yesterday? Doesn't he realize after the outstanding numbers he put up last year that it's strictly against the rules to suck on any ocassion? Who didn't include him in on that memo? Also, Paul Byrd, your performance has caused me to not make any concrete judgments on you. I'll analyze you at a later date.

Continue reading "THE BLUE JAYS AREN'T GOOD."

of first place in the tightly packed American League East which is currently lead by the surprising Baltimore Orioles who do not figure to hang around much longer.

Things looked like they were about to get really bad after the Red Sox got swept in Toronto and capped off the second series of the season by committing four errors during a game in which ace Josh Beckett looked very ordinary in his return to the mound. Since getting swept, however, Boston has won 5 of the next 7 against such projected American League powerhouses as the Yankees, Tigers and Indians. Little by little, the Red Sox that we saw win the World Series last season are coming back.

Continue reading "Red Sox Should Feel Good About The Season So Far"

This time I’ll look at the key questions for each team in the American League East.

Baltimore Orioles

Is Adam Jones ready to be a star?

The only difference the answer to this questions might make is whether the rebuilding Orioles lose 100 games or only 95. The 22 year old Jones, who was the centerpiece for the Erik Bedard trade, is still not quite ready for primetime. He is however, immensely talented and has shown flashes of brilliance so far in spring training. This is the same player, though, who struck out 21 times in only 65 at bats in his brief appearance with the Mariners last season and Baltimore should expects similar periods this summer where he struggles as he makes the adjustment to playing in the big leagues. Jones should succeed in teaming up with fellow outfielders Nick Markakis and Luke Scott to provide some punch to what will otherwise be a listless Orioles offense and give the fans some hope that this rebuilding project has a bright future ahead.

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview: American Leauge East"

The American League East has been a two horse race for as long as I can remember but I think this year it becomes three-team battle.  The Toronto Blue Jays are as talented as most teams in the league and if they can stay healthy they can definitely contend.  The Rays and Orioles will again bring up the rear of this division but the top should be a fun and wild ride all year long, beginning with the Yankees-Blue Jays to open the season next week.

Continue reading "Part VI: AL East"

I am thoroughly looking forward to the Hank Steinbrenner Era. It seems he is hell-bent on replacing his father as the most obnoxious loudmouth, know-nothing owner in baseball. After watching the display he put on this winter in the Johan Santana Sweepstakes and his recent comments about the existence of Red Sox Nation, I don’t believe there is a bigger blowhard in sports today. All we need is for him to revive the Billy Martin routine with Joe Girardi, a possibility that may not be that farfetched as it appears Girardi not necessarily that easy to get along with. Little Stein seems to be unpredictable and impatient and not only expects the team to win now, but to do so in spectacular fashion. Earlier this year, Hank implied that general manager Brian Cashman would be on the hot seat if the plan to hold on to their young pitching instead of going all in for Santana didn’t pan out. If Steinbrenner allows his arrogance and impetuousness to take over the organization, I envision a return of the Yankees to the "glory" years of the 1980's when George was the show.

Continue reading "Looking Forward to the Hank Steinbrenner ..."