Good morning, Camden Chatters.
We’ve arrived at what could be the final day of baseball for the 2025 season. The Toronto Blue Jays are a win away from their first championship since 1993, and they’ll look
to seal the deal in front of their home fans at Rogers Centre tonight. Former Oriole Kevin Gausman will be on the mound for the Jays’ potential clincher. But the Dodgers and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who has thrown an unheard-of two complete games this postseason — could still have some fight left in them as they attempt to force a Game 7.
It’s still funny to me that this Blue Jays team that’s on the verge of a World Series title started their season by getting blown out by the Orioles on their home turf. Remember that? The Orioles crushed them 12-2 on Opening Day in Toronto, hitting six home runs and looking like a more complete team in every facet of the game. Ah, good times. Never has there been a more obvious example that one game does not define a season. Boy, did the Jays improve their fortunes in a hurry, and boy, did the Orioles go in exactly the opposite direction.
So, Camden Chatters, how are we feeling about the possibility of the Blue Jays winning the World Series? I certainly don’t like it, although this current Jays roster is not as unlikeable as the José Bautista-era club. I suppose I would feel happy for ex-Orioles Gausman and Anthony Santander getting a ring, even though Santander barely contributed in the regular season and has missed the World Series with an injury. The two of them were pretty easy to root for when they played for Baltimore.
Maybe one of these days, we’ll see some popular Orioles players actually win the World Series with the Orioles instead of having to wait until they’re on a different team. A guy can dream, right?
Links
Orioles sign Rico Garcia to 2026 contract (also Luis Vázquez) – School of Roch
The Orioles have made their first two signings of the offseason. 2026 playoffs, here we come!
Guardians broadcaster talks about Craig Albernaz and his impact in Cleveland – Steve Melewski
The more I hear about the new O’s manager, the more I like him. Whether that will mean anything in terms of the Orioles’ win-loss record remains to be seen.
How aggressive will Orioles be for free-agent pitchers? | MAILBAG
I don’t think you’d like my answer to this question.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! A whopping eight former Orioles were born on Halloween. Spooooky! The most prominent of that octet is the late Orioles Hall of Famer Dave McNally (b. 1942, d. 2002). The three-time All-Star southpaw spent 13 of his 14 MLB seasons in Baltimore, posting a 3.18 ERA in 181 games, and had four consecutive 20+ win campaigns. He helped lead the Birds to championships in 1966 and 1970, and his 184 wins are second only to Jim Palmer in O’s history.
Other ex-Orioles born on this date include infielders Tony Kemp (34) and Yamaico Navarro (38), outfielder David Dellucci (52), left-hander Tim Byrdak (also 52), righty Steve Trachsel (55), catcher Matt Nokes (62), and righty Mike Smith (also 62).
On this date in 1979, Orioles lefty Mike Flanagan was voted the AL Cy Young Award winner, garnering 26 of the 28 first-place votes. Flanagan led the league with 23 wins and five shutouts, allowing him to nearly sweep the balloting. Flanagan’s 3.8 WAR was well below some of the other competitors for the award, but fortunately for him, WAR was not a thing back in those days.
