Good morning, Camden Chatters.
It’s time for the World Series. And for the 43rd consecutive year, the Orioles will not be participating. They don’t want to be greedy, you know. Those World Series spots are pretty coveted, and the O’s prefer to hang back for a few decades and let everyone else have a chance. It’s pretty generous when you think about it.
While the O’s rest on their three-championship laurels, another team is about to win its first. Either the Milwaukee Brewers, who have been around since
1970 (plus one season as the Seattle Pilots in 1969), or the Tampa Bay Rays, who came into existence in 1998, will add a long-awaited World Series title to their trophy case. That’s pretty neat! Again, both teams owe a debt of gratitude to the Orioles for graciously stepping aside — by playing terrible baseball — to give them this opportunity.
Game 1 is tonight at 8 PM on Fox. Do you have a rooting interest, Camden Chatters? I’m pulling for the Brewers, mainly because their fans have had twice as long of a wait as the Rays. Think of all the long-suffering Orioles fans, many of whom have never seen their favorite team win it all, and then add another 13 years to that. Let these folks experience some joy after all this time.
Whichever team ends up winning, this should be an exciting, hard-fought series (if not exactly a TV ratings bonanza). The 103-win Brewers and the 98-win Rays were the best teams in their respective leagues this season, and both play the kind of high-quality, crisp baseball that is unfamiliar to O’s fans. Each team has its share of young, homegrown stars — Jacob Misiorowski, Jackson Chourio, and Brice Turang for the Brewers; Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda for the Rays, among others — proving that it is actually possible to develop talent that can succeed at the major league level. Who knew?
Both these teams are fundamentally sound on defense and grind out great at-bats on offense, showing excellent plate discipline and delivering big hits when they need them. Their rosters are well-constructed and cohesive, and of course, the vibes in the dugout are off the charts. And both teams are succeeding without being particularly big spenders; according to Spotrac, the Brewers’ payroll of $146.2 million was just the 19th highest in the majors, and the Rays’ $95.6 million was 28th out of the 30 major league clubs. (The Orioles’ $167.0 million mark ranked 17th.)
The Brewers and Rays have proven — not just this year, but for many years running — that a team can be a perennial contender on a smaller payroll by making shrewd trades and canny, low-cost free agent signings, and by building a prospect-rich organization and doing an excellent job of developing them. It’s a formula that Mike Elias has tried — and mostly failed — to replicate with the Orioles these past eight seasons.
Maybe it’ll finally happen in 2027. Otherwise we’ll be looking at a 44th straight Orioles-less World Series at this time next year.
Links
A scout’s take: An O’s top 30 pitching prospect that can fly under the radar – Steve Melewski
I’m finding it hard to get hyped about Nestor German, but I am intrigued by a potential future Orioles team that includes German, (Ike) Irish, and (Drew) French. Let’s build an entire roster out of European demonyms.
Questions and answers with Orioles pitching prospect Patrick Reilly – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Patrick Reilly seems to have a good head on his shoulders. And, also importantly, a now-healthy arm attached to that shoulder.
Wondering about possible and unlikely returnees to Orioles in 2027 – School of Roch
Send ’em all packing. Pete Alonso can stay.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three players in Orioles history were born on this day: outfielder Dylan Carlson (28), right-hander Kyle Gibson (39), and the late infielder Vern Stephens (b. 1920, d. 1968).
Nothing has really happened on Oct. 23 in Orioles history, but in Orioles-adjacent history, the Dodgers hired Davey Johnson as their manager on this day in 1998. The former O’s player and skipper landed his first managerial job since he abruptly resigned from the Orioles in November 1997, on the same day he was named AL Manager of the Year. Johnson would last just two years as the Dodgers’ manager — the same length as his Orioles tenure — and failed to make the playoffs either season.
