ORIOLES

James wrote:
O's: 35-39 since their hot start.

The Orioles were 18-9 (.667) in August (12-4 at home, 6-5 on the road), marking their most wins in any month this season.

According to Elias, the Orioles' winning percentage was the best in the majors in August and marked the first time the Orioles have produced the majors' highest winning percentage (or tied for it) in any month in which every major league team played at least 10 games since May 1997, when they were 20-8.

"Let's go O's" chant at Yankee Stadium today.  Beautiful.

The Orioles and A's continue to do their best to prove you wrong.

vansmack wrote:
I'm not alone in this line of thinking, and I'm certainly not saying this without a lot to back it up. I'm not just trying to piss off Orioles fans, because I rather like them.

This will come down to pitching, and neither the A's nor the Orioles have a single pitcher with 170-200 innings pitched in a single season (save for oft-injured Brandon McCarthy who did it only last year and has spent 2-months on the DL this year and Bartolo Colon who hasn't done it in 7 years).  The longer the season goes, the more these tired arms are going to start showing kinks in the armor.  Only a foolish man would bet against (LAA) Weaver, Wilson, Haren, Grienke or (TB) Price, Shields, Hellickson and Moore or (ChiW) Sale, Floyd, Liriano, Peavy or (Det) Verlander, Fister, Scherzer, Porcello.  The AL Wild Card Race is deep with strong arms….the question is who's the odd man out between the White Sox, Tigers, Angels or Rays?  My hope is that the Central teams beat each other up and only one makes it. 

I'm sorry, but I just don't see how Oakland's staff or Baltimore's staff has the horses to go the last 45 games.  Especially the Orioles - they're the only team in baseball with a +.500 record and a negative run differential, and it's not even close at -43.  That stuff catches up to you eventually.

The NL race is a little different.  The Pirates actually do have some arms with experience in Burnett, Coreia, Bedard and Rodriguez.  Even Karstens and Macdonald have thrown 170 innings in a season.  They just might not have the offense to contend with Atlanta or St Louis.  The Giants pitching staff is coming around and Dodgers all of a sudden have some depth.  I would love to see the Pirates break the drought, but I think Lincecum will save the Giants and the Cardinals and Braves battle it out for the second spot.

But hey, I've been wrong once.  Ask hutch.

James wrote:
The Orioles and A's continue to do their best to prove you wrong.

Believe me, nobody is more aware of this than me.  I really thought the Angels were toast when they were swept by Tampa, then they rattled off their first 9-2 stretch that I predicted would happen soon, yet gained a half game.  Then they gave that half game right back with that loss to Seattle.

The only positive sign is 7 games against Oakland (6 now after yesterday's win) and 3 against Detroit and the White Sox. Everyone else plays each other a lot too though, which means ground gained on one team is not gained on others.

We're now at the 160 innings mark for most starters, and my theory will now be put to the test.

Chen is the only Oriole at 160.  Nobody else is even close.

Tillman is at 154, and look where that got him.

Shemp wrote:
Chen is the only Oriole at 160.  Nobody else is even close.

James wrote:
Tillman is at 154, and look where that got him.

Shemp wrote:
Chen is the only Oriole at 160.  Nobody else is even close.

He's at 61 with the Orioles, though.  You're looking at minor league innings as well? 

James wrote:
Tillman is at 154, and look where that got him.

Shemp wrote:
Chen is the only Oriole at 160.  Nobody else is even close.

Inflammation, but no structural damage per the MRI today.

Beltway series!!!!!!

As long as the O's stay "lucky" they have a shot.  Right, Bobby V.?

I am, but it was Vansmack's theory. So ask him!

Shemp wrote:

James wrote:
Tillman is at 154, and look where that got him.

Shemp wrote:
Chen is the only Oriole at 160.  Nobody else is even close.

He's at 61 with the Orioles, though.  You're looking at minor league innings as well?   

+12 run differential tonight

What's up first place

FIRST PLACE.

Anyone else going Thursday for Cal Ripken night?

ORIOLES MAGIC FEEL IT HAPPEN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o1xcQuXdII

K8teebug wrote:
FIRST PLACE.

Anyone else going Thursday for Cal Ripken night?

ORIOLES MAGIC FEEL IT HAPPEN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o1xcQuXdII

I'll be there - left field lowers.

3rd base terrace box…

Shemp wrote:

James wrote:
Tillman is at 154, and look where that got him.

Shemp wrote:
Chen is the only Oriole at 160.  Nobody else is even close.

He's at 61 with the Orioles, though.  You're looking at minor league innings as well?  

Tillman threw 92 innings in the minors this season.  I'd imagine that's where Rhett got the total of 154.  And yes, minors league innings take a toll on one's arm when it comes to fatigue.

Shemp wrote:
Chen is the only Oriole at 160.  Nobody else is even close.

The only thing worse than having to worry about tiring young arms is having a number of unknown quantities, and the Orioles, by virtue of having to play musical chairs with their rotation all season (masterfully, I might add) is the lack of confidence in what to expect going down the stretch.

That being said:

Chen, first year in MLB.
The aforementioned Tillman.
Tommy Hunter 121 innings in the bigs, 29 innings in the minors (150)
Jason Hammel 109 innings in the bigs, coming off the DL, though he has averaged 174 over the last 3 seasons, so that's a plus.
Jake Arrieta 101 in the bigs, 56 in the minros (157)
Brian Matusz 89 in the bigs, 47 in the minors (136)

Hey, beat the Yankees and everyone's happy.  And truthfully if the O's are the team that beats out the Angels for the second WC, that would be the best worst case scenario for me, even if I have to hear about it on this board for all of eternity.  But I'm still not betting on the O's.  Or the A's, because history and the stats tell me not to.

Don't forget about Britton.

K8teebug wrote:
Don't forget about Britton.

He's only at 110 combined and threw 150+ last season, I was less concerned about him, but I'll be honest, I don't know much about his injury history.

Though Gonzalez at 110 is maybe worth a mention as he's never thrown anything near that in 5 years.

And obviously I didn't need to mention Saunders and Wolf who probably have no innings limit, they're just serviceable journeymen.  I'm VERY familiar with Saunders…