Good morning, Camden Chatters.
In the absence of any Orioles news for the time being, we’ll continue to focus our attention on the MLB postseason, which kicked off the Championship Series round last night
with Game 1 of the ALCS. The visiting Mariners — just two days removed from a 15-inning marathon to finish off the Tigers, followed by a 2,000+ mile flight to Toronto — overcame a sluggish start to steal the opener from the favored Blue Jays, 4-1. The M’s gave up a leadoff home run and then kept the Jays off the board for the rest of the game, while scoring four unanswered runs starting in the sixth for the comeback win.
For a while, it looked like the story of the game would be Kevin Gausman, the former Oriole who hadn’t pitched well in the postseason since his three relief appearances for the 2014 Birds. Gausman carried a shutout into the sixth inning last night before the 60-homer man, Cal Raleigh, tied the score with a two-out dinger. Gausman walked the next hitter, was pulled, and watched helplessly as the inherited runner came in to score, saddling him with a tough-luck loss. Two innings later, recent Oriole Seranthony Domínguez — the only player from the Birds’ trade deadline fire sale this year who is still alive in the playoffs — was tagged for two Seattle insurance runs.
While I don’t have any particular animus toward Gausman or Domínguez (or fellow ex-Oriole Anthony Santander, who went 1-for-3 last night), I do enjoy watching the Blue Jays lose. The Mariners have ripped away Toronto’s home-field advantage and have taken a important first step toward a series win.
Tonight the two clubs will play Game 2 at Rogers Centre. Meanwhile, the NLCS gets under way with the Brewers hosting the Dodgers, and I’d imagine most fans will be more inclined to root for Milwaukee — which has never won a World Series — rather than their high-payroll opponents who won a championship just last year. My personal preference for a Mariners/Brewers World Series is very much on the table. Let’s see if those two teams can do their part.
Links
Saying goodbye to a dear friend and long-time sports reporter in D.C. and Baltimore – Steve Melewski
Melewski gives a touching tribute to Craig Heist, who was a local media staple for a decade and a half before his passing this weekend. I’ve spent a lot of time in the Oriole Park press box over the years and I always appreciated that Craig took the time to say hello and have a quick chat, even with an antisocial dork like myself. It won’t be the same without him.
Does Jeremiah Jackson replace Ramón Urías in utility role? – School of Roch
Offensively, Jackson can certainly replace (or improve upon) Urías. But one good thing about Ramón is that he could field capably at multiple positions. I’m not sure that Jackson is a quality defender at even one position.
A guide to the early part of Orioles’ offseason – BaltimoreBaseball.com
Rich Dubroff offers a rundown of what’s on the Orioles’ agenda this offseason, and…yeah, the O’s have a whole lot of work to do. I’m really not sure how they’re going to address everything they need to address.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Just two former Orioles were born on Oct. 13: right-hander Hayden Penn (41) and the late lefty Ron Moeller (b. 1938, d. 2009).
The Orioles are 3-2 on this date in their postseason history. Their losses came in Game 4 of the World Series in 1971 and Game 5 of the ALCS in 1996. No need to discuss those further.
In 1970, the Orioles crushed the Reds, 9-3, in Game 3 of the World Series to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. O’s pitcher Dave McNally not only pitched a complete game but also hit a grand slam! His unexpected bases-loaded blast in the sixth inning turned a 4-1 Orioles advantage into a total laugher. Former Red Frank Robinson burned his ex-team with a 3-for-4 performance and a homer, and Paul Blair went 3-for-3. Leadoff man Don Buford added a homer as well.
On this day in 1979, in World Series Game 4, the Orioles pulled off a comeback win over the Pirates, 9-6, thanks to a six-run eighth inning. Pinch-hitters John Lowenstein and Terry Crowley each delivered two-run doubles, and even relief pitcher Tim Stoddard got in on the action with an RBI single. Stoddard also picked up the win with three scoreless innings. The win gave the Orioles a 3-1 lead in the series, and without looking it up, I’m just going to assume that everything turned out fine.
And in 1997, the O’s temporarily staved off elimination in the ALCS with a 4-2 win in Cleveland in Game 5. Starter Scott Kamieniecki, making just his second career postseason start, came up big with five scoreless innings, and Jimmy Key worked three scoreless frames in his first relief appearance in five years. An Eric Davis homer and RBI singles by Geronimo Berroa and Cal Ripken provided all the offense the Orioles needed.
