Bird's Eye View

Leading Off

What more can we say about our excitement? It’s Opening Day – baseball is back in Baltimore. The guys barely contain their excitement as they run through the Drink of the Week and Medical Wing before opening another installment of the TWotT. This Week on the Twitters:

* PED rule changes

* Cities that baseball left behind

* Self-proclaimed roster announcements

* Bud Norris is not a local

* Orioles finalize their roster

* General Twitter excitement for Opening Day Eve

 

The Lineup

The Orioles waited until the last minute to finalize their roster, but the lineup announcement would be even longer. Most of the the contents are known, but Nick Markakis’ health status put the whole thing up in the air. Without the starting right fielder (and projected leadoff man), what might the lineup look like? The guys break down the possibilities, and prove, once again, why they aren’t the ones writing the lineup card.

 

Opening Day Traditions

Ozzie Smith has been championing the cause to turn baseball’s opening day into a national holiday. But around these parts, Orioles’ Opening Day is practically a religious holiday, already. Even when the team was in the midst of a 14-year losing streak, Opening Day was a time to stop and celebrate our love of the O’s. Whether you go to the game, or wear your orange tie to work, all Orioles fans have their own Opening Day traditions. They guys share a few of their own.

 

Fantasy Boss

The Fantasy Boss segment returns. Each week, Jake and Scott go head-to-head on… something. Since Jake predicted more of the roster correctly, he gets to pick first. This week’s category is:

Pitches seen by a batter.

Who do you think will be the most patient hitter in the first week of the season? Weigh in on Twitter, on Facebook, or comment below.

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivalent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

Are you listening to this show on iTunes? Are you subscribed? You totally should be! And while you’re there, be sure to leave a review of the program. Love it? Hate it? Confused? Let us and other listeners know. As always, we appreciate the support.

Also be sure to connect with us on social media.

Leading Off

Episode 70 begins, per usual, with a quick review of our Drink of the Week and the Medical Wing, before settling into the TWotT. Here’s what’s happened This Week on the Twitters:

* March Sadness

* Prepping Camden Yards for another magical summer

* Updates from Sarasota

* Aroldis Chapman’s gruesome injury

* Chipper Jones tells today’s players to get off his lawn

 

New to Eutaw Lombard Street

The Orioles continued their late-offseason makeover by adding Maryland native Steve Lombardozzi. With Lombardozzi in the mix, speculation has run rampant over what it means for Jonathan Schoop, Jemile Weeks, and Alexi Casilla. Lombardozzi could start at second base, or he could serve in that super-utility role that Buck Showalter loves so much. Whether Lombardozzi will contribute to a playoff run in Baltimore is unknown at this time. What is clear is that Dan Duquette is still working on making the club better.

 

Behind Enemy Lines: Red Sox Alley

We take a few minutes to go “behind enemy lines” to talk with Robert Goodwin from the Red Sox Alley podcast (one of the many great programs listed at Baseball Talk Radio). Though we usually have “flattering” things to say about Boston, it’s nice to talk to an actual Red Sox fan, rather than some bandwagon pink hatter from Glen Burnie. Our discussion focuses the Boston Red Sox, as well as a rival’s look at the Orioles. How dangerous is this Baltimore club, from the perspective of the defending World Champs? Additionally, what are the key matchups in the season’s opening series?

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivalent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

Are you listening to this show on iTunes? Are you subscribed? You totally should be! And while you’re there, be sure to leave a review of the program. Love it? Hate it? Confused? Let us and other listeners know. As always, we appreciate the support.

Also be sure to connect with us on social media.

Leading Off

St. Patrick’s Day represents the two-week mark from the start of the regular season. As Spring Training continues, the guys return to their promise (threat?) to bring recipes for the Drunk Gary Thorne. Here are this week’s candidates:

The Drunk Beary Thorne

1 lb orange gummy bears

2 cups spiced rum

Combine gummy bears and rum in a bowl and set to soak overnight. Place fruit-infused rum in ginger ale, and snack (carefully) on rum-infused bears. DON’T creep people out at the store trying to get a pound of gummy bears in a single flavor.

The Drunk Crab

1.5 part habanero-infused tequila

1 part orange juice

1 part triple sec

Coat rim of glass with Old Bay. Drink until it makes you say “Oh, MERCY!”

 

After running through the Medical Wing, it’s on to the TWotT:

* NFL free agency

* Rival teams scouting the Orioles

* Local teams’ fates in the NCAA tourney

* Chris Tillman takes the ball

 

Tales from a Moron

Sam Dingman from the Baltimorons (an amazing sister-wife program on the Baltimore Sports Report Network) shares his thoughts from his recent trip to Spring Training. Sam discusses the magic of baseball, the intimacy of Spring Training ballparks, and general adventures with “Cateracts in Cadillacs.”

 

Predictions: We’re Bad at This

It’s enevitable: Spring Training makes you jump to conclusions. Though we can’t make too much from what we see and read from the Grapefruit League, we’re bound by our honor to make fools of ourselves. For the third year running, we make predictions that we know full well won’t come true. We remember fondly previous terrible predictions, like Jake proclaiming that the O’s would lose 100 games in 2012, and Scott asserting that Matt Wieters would contend for the AL MVP in 2013. Needless to say, we’re terrible at this. Here are three predictions for the 2014 season:

Jake:

* Tommy Hunter loses the closer role to Ryan Webb

* Establishing value in 2014: Chris Davis good, Matt Wieters bad

* Orioles attendance increases by 500,000 over 2013

Scott:

* Zach Britton rises to become the third starter

* Nick Markakis makes his first All Star appearance

* The O’s go .600 against the AL East EXCEPT the Rays (.400)

 

We also predict the standings, playoff picture, and key league awards. Enjoy the bonus baseless opinions.

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivalent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter,

Leading Off

Spring Training continues, with many happy returns for Orioles fans. After running though their usual crap, the guys reignite their quest for the perfect drink to dub the Drunk Gary Thorne. Jake will have his first suggestion next week, but in the meantime, we beg you – the listener – to provide your recipes. The only requirement is that the drink be orange and pack a punch. Come on, Birdland, we know you can come through on this!

Also, be sure to spend next Sunday with Scott, as he represents Bird’s Eye View, at the Section 336  One Year Live Show. A good time will be had by all! Congrats to our sister-wife podcast on their paper anniversary.

Here’s a quick run through The Medical Wing:

*

Manny Machado: it’s a lateral move

*

Close calls of the combacker kind: Zach Britton and Miguel Gonzalez

*

Alexi Casilla’s hamstring

*

Egmar Escalona shut down for 3-4 months… he gone

 

And a questionable segue into the TWotT (This Week on the Twitters):

* Media selfies

* Jim Palmer on Twitter?

* Tampa Bay Rays have a sense of humor

* Section 336 #SlurredLines

* Drunk Gary Thorne vs. Canada

* F*&! Face visits Ed Smith Stadium

* Adam Jones leaving the team on Tuesday

 

A Visit with the O’s Sunglass Guy

The O’s Sunglasses Guy is kind enough to drop in and share a few thoughts about the offseason,the upcoming regular season, and the beauty of wearing shades at night. The O’s Sunglass Guy is a great follow on Twitter (@OsSunglassGuy), and an even better guy to talk baseball. Make sure you buy him a beer next time you see him at the Yard.

 

Propagation of Errors

Fangraphs wrote an article on WAR that Jake actually read, and the guys discuss it at excessive length. What does the opponent WAR projection mean for the Orioles, and where does the team stack up statistically with the rest of the league? Also, how much do we hate the WAR statistic?

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivalent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.

 

Leading Off

Orioles Baseball has finally kicked off – in Spring Training format. Balls are being thrown, bats are being swung, and there is FINALLY something to talk about. After Dan Duquette managed to right the ship in the offseason, now hope springs eternal that the club he’s put together can compete in 2014. The guys start off, as always, with This Week on the Twitters (TWotT):

* Updates on Spring Training games from Sarasota

* New foreign translator, new translator tweets

* MASN ends its Reign of Terror (combined BAL/WAS broadcasts)

* Henry Urrutia’s growth

* Nolan Reimold’s career, in microcosm

* Johan Santana comes to Orioles camp, at 81 MPH

* This team gives me the puns

 

Wear Orange Wednesdays

Nancy Cook of Wear Orange Wednesdays joins the guys to discuss the start of the movement, and how Orioles fans can get involved. Nancy picked Wednesday (hump day) because she thought that a little fan support could help the Bird’s “get over the hump.” Having started right before the 2012 season, it’s clear that the grassroots campaign is working. Check out Wear Orange Wednesdays on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Not a Second Time

Jake and Scott thought that the discussion for starting second baseman was one-sided: the job was Ryan Flaherty’s to lose. After the first couple of Spring Training games, it is clear that the field is wide open between Flaherty, Jemile Weeks (who we will try not to blame for the Jim Johnson trade) and Jonathan Schoop. Matt Lund of the BSR Podcast joins us to talk second base, and predict who will come north with the team on March 31st.

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivlent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.

Leading Off

Scott fails to exert his editorial control, as Jake gets a little poetic in the show’s opening. After a… distinctive… beginning, the guys review their Drink of the Week, and dive into the TWotT (This Week on the Twitters):

* Not everyone “got” our interview with Suk-min Yoon. We blame Dean.

* The ups and downs of the Olympics

* We wish Buck were our history teacher

* Dickie V, DIAF.

 

2:00 with Brittany Ghiroli

OK, the segment may run a little longer than two minutes, but we were told there would be no math. Britt Ghiroli, mlb.com reporter on the Orioles beat, was kind enough to spend a few minutes with us discussing Spring Training, and a few of the O’s recent moves.

If nothing else, feast your ears on hearing a real professional for once on this podcast.

 

Who Are These Guys?

The guys break down their picks for who they think will make the Opening Day roster, and argue as to why the other is an idiot. Though they have many picks in common, there is plenty with which to lay pride on the line. Whoever gets the most 25-man roster spots correct will get the first say in this season’s You’re the Boss segment. Then again, the Orioles like to throw wrenches in the best laid of plans, so… we’ll see.

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivlent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.

Leading Off

As per usual, the Orioles found a way to torpedo the Bird’s Eye View script for Episode 65 just hours before recording. “Sources” (including MASN’s Roch Kubatko) are reporting that the Orioles have reached an agreement with free agent Ubaldo Jimenez on a contract in the neighborhood of 4 years/$48MM. This contract, as always, is pending a physical. The guys talk about the Jimenez signing, and what it means for the offseason, the ball club, and for the fan base.

All this, naturally, after covering the Drink of the Week, and running through another edition of the TWotT (This Week on the Twitters):

* Adventures in Ravens fandom

* Ray Rice – an (upper)cut above the rest

* Terell Suggs contract extension

* Orioles fans, and the search for starting pitchingPop culture potpurri

* Arroyo

* Burnett

* Yoon

*

* Yeah Jeetz

* Ubaldo Jimenez: Twitter explodes

 

Spring Training

The guys take a look at Spring Training topics of the day. With pitchers and catchers reporting back on February 13th, the top stories so far mostly revolve around pitching. Questions include:

* Who is a starter?

* Can the Orioles find room for the guys without options?

* Can big personalities fit on this club?

* Medical Wing

* Skills competitions

Many position players have also reported early (full report date is February 18th), and the storylines so far have revolved around infielders and fringe roster spots.

 

Introduction to Suk-min Yoon

Dean Eastlake of the fantastic Orioles Spastics podcast joins us to welcome newly acquired Suk-min Yoon to the Orioles. Dean, you may remember, was the mastermind behind the Twitter phenomenon known as #ChenTweets. With any luck, he will grace us with his linguistic skills for Suk-min Yoon.

Dean assists with an interview of the new Orioles pitcher in one of the dumbest segments we’ve ever recorded.

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivlent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.

Leading Off

Episode 64 opens with a nod to four lads from Liverpool (shocking, we know).  The guys remind you that Bird’s Eye View is a proud member of the Baltimore Sports Report Newtwork, before diving into This Week on the Twitters (TWotT):

* A.J. Burnett speculation

* Translator Timothy Lin leaves Baltimore

* There was this “Superbowl” thing.

* Ravens hired Gary Kubiak

* Mike Preston gets people riled up

* What do fans really know?

* Good news on Manny Machado

 

Orioles Fan Fest Recap

Orioles Fan Fest is basically Comic Con for baseball nerds… and that’s… OK. There is no wrong way to root for the Birds, and this event has a little something for everyone. That doesn’t stop the haters (as we saw first hand), but Fan Fest drew 15,000+ fans. Here is what we like:

* Stuff we don’t really care that much about

* Memorabilia

* Autographs

* Pictures with players, media

* Stuff we don’t take advantage of yet

* All the kids stuff

* Stuff we like

* Free sh**

* Fan Forums

* The atmosphere – O’s enthusiasm in January

 

Operation Hagy

The guys are joined by Sean from Operation Hagy – a grass roots effort to get Orioles fans engaged on a whole new level. Whereas the movement doesn’t have a ton of specifics yet, the goal is worthy, and we want to be sure to support fans who want the Camden Yards experience to be great. Check out Operation Hagy at the following:

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivlent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, a

Leading Off

Episode 63 opens with a rousing edition of This Week on the Twitters (TWotT), as the guys examine:

* BEV was briefly followed by a Baltimore Oriole!

* MLB Network’s Face of the Franchise

* Adam Jones

* Benjamin Franklin

* Alex Rodriguez

* ARod vs. Baseball

* MLB’s replay system

 

Ticket to Ride

The Orioles are oft criticized for their PR mistakes, and ticketing is proving to be no exception in 2014. The Orioles are ruffling the feathers of Birdland’s faithful by raising ticket prices, moving to variable pricing, and limiting the availability of Opening Day tickets to its season ticket holders. We’re even having a hard time getting a hold of Fan Fest tickets! After eliminating the Holiday ticket package, the Orioles have either been extremely successful at selling season tickets, or they’re sitting on a horde of Opening Day tickets.

Scott shares his conspiracy theory on where those tickets are going. Jake sits by helplessly.

The guys also discuss the recent NFL ticket kerfuffel where the Seahawks made it difficult for California fans to get a seat for the NFC Championship game. As fans who have too often sat in the minority in their own park, the BEV guys have no problem with this policy.

 

An Objective Look?

After trashing the Orioles for their offseason inactivity, Jake tries to explain why he thinks two reasonable moves could change the entire tenor of the conversation. Minor signings would be background noise, rather than in danger of being the Birds’ signature move of the ovseason.

As usual, Scott has to step in and tell him he’s full of crap, and the two try to navigage some middle ground. The Orioles still have time to salvage their offseason, but time is ticking, and there is so much to lose.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivlent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.

Leading Off

First, we want to congratulate our friends at BaseballTalkRadio for their successfull rebranding! BaseballTalkRadio is one of the best places to find genuine, passionate shows about baseball from a broad persective. Bird’s Eye View is one of the many great podcasts listed on BaseballTalkRadio – check them out to get your fill on all the information you need outside of Birdland.

Happy New Year, to one and all. In the first BEV of 2014 Jake and Scott move away from trying to understand the Orioles’ lack of resolutions, and break from their (OK, Jake’s) thoroughly negative attitude from the last few episodes. They start, as always, with the Drink of the Week, before diving into TWotT (This Week on the Twitters):

* Orioles activity with @OriolesUncensored

* Twitter erupts over HOF voting

* Ravens’ season comes to and end

* The “death” of baseball, as seen through the lense of the NFL

 

New Year’s Resolutions

A new year is a time for new beginnings. What can we resolve to for the new year, when it comes to Orioles fandom? Jake and Scott are joined by BSRN sister-wives for some Orioles-related resolutions.

What are your Orioles resolutions? Feel free to comment below, or tweet us @birdseyeviewbal.

 

 A Little Positivity

Jake has been whining for weeks. We get it: the offseason hasn’t gone as he would have liked. Isn’t there ANYTHING positive to be said for this team? Without diving into apologist mode, the guys walk through the facets of the team that should provide a glimmer of hope for O’s fans.

* Solid nucleus of talented young players

* Industry-recognized prospects in the system

* No more flirting with 100 losses

* Oriole Park at Camen Yards

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly.

 

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, the guys end on a weak note with anything that didn’t fit into the episode, or something they want to get off their chests. It’s our equivlent of taking the ball, and pulling a Kevin Gregg.

 

Notes and Nags

You can find Bird’s Eye View all over the web, including iTunes. Be sure the check for the show, and leave us all sorts of favorable comments and ratings. Flattery will get you everywhere, you know.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like our Facebook page.