Leading Off

Another great week of Orioles Baseball capped off by another frightening Manny Machado knee injury. The guys try their best not to overreact, while FREAKING OUT over Machado’s injury. They collect themselves enough to take a trip through the Medical Wing and dive deep into the TWotT:

* @Buster_ESPN calls the Orioles the hotness.

* @CrushD19 explains his  Zach Britton ball flip.

* @89SteveSmith embraces Charm City.

* @Roarfrom34 regrets that Baltimore gets stupid during a Ravens game.

* @CamdenDepot invokes the P Word.

* @SimplyAJ10 retweets a little something.

 

Define “Good”

The guys discuss Jon Bernhardt’s article on Sports on Earth, which asks How exactly are the O’s sitting atop the AL East? More than detailing the Orioles and their run, this article serves to highlight another point: Baltimore sports fans simply cannot handle criticism of their team. Bernhardt’s piece had all the right ingredients:

* Call a couple of fan favorites “overrated.”

* On the rotation “at best, unconventional”

* In summary, the Orioles are “not that impressive a team”

* Excuse success as “weak division”

* Uses the dreaded “L Word” (luck)

The guys debate whether this this good Orioles team is really “special,” and if it can win in the post season.

The Art of Argument

Is the argument an endangered species in baseball? The advent of expanded replay has led to far more cordial conversations between managers and umpires. Both sides are committed to the “theatre” of it all. The umpires position themselves so that the managers can get the thumbs up/down from the dugout. Managers try to make small talk until the call comes in from the Replay Czar.

In Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, the Orioles got a force out at second overturned by replay, after New York determined that… the Transfer Rule is not something that can be identified correctly by anyone, anywhere. Buck went apoplectic (including requesting that he be allowed to get on the phone with the officials in NY), and was tossed.

Treasure it, Birdland, it might be the last of a dying breed.

 

Fantasy Boss

Jake actually won this week, having correctly predicted that Delmon Young would best Manny Machado on LD%. That or, like Orioles’ critics claim, he just got lucky. The score tightens to 10-6-2.

This week’s category is sacrifice flies – which player will have the most sacrifice flies? If tied, the tie breaker will be strikeouts. After that, the guys will enter the Thunderdome.

Scott takes Nelson Cruz and Jake selects Nick Markakis.

Who will own it?

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a tough 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 for the week.