The Guardians were not up to the task, so Orioles fans (or at least this one) must turn to the NL.
Hello, friends.
The Yankees are going to the World Series. This is not a particularly exciting sentence for an Orioles fan to have typed. They will be back playing for the championship for the first time since their last title in 2009. It’s been 15 years and hopefully it will go on for longer, but they haven’t been stopped yet in this postseason and now only the National League’s champion, which could be decided tonight, can stop them.
In the final account, the Guardians had their season halt a lot like the Orioles did. What had been a strength of the team failed them on the way out the door. The Guardians were built on an elite bullpen and that bullpen gave up multiple runs in every one of the four ALCS losses. Top-flight closer Emmanuel Clase blew it in Game 3 of the series (which the Guardians turned around and won anyway) and again in Game 4. In Game 5, Hunter Gaddis, who had a 1.57 ERA and 0.763 WHIP in the regular season, was the big loser.
There’s no way to have a feel-good postseason series exit. That has to be among the tougher ones. The Guardians title drought that goes back to 1948 continues. There are 29 teams who won’t win the World Series every year and they’ve made it longer than most before putting their names on the list, but here they are all the same.
The Mets and Dodgers series could be settled tonight, if the Dodgers win Game 6 now that they’re back on their home turf in Los Angeles. They’ve got a 3-2 edge, so the Mets would have to win both on the road to do the thing. The Mets did not win either of the LA games previously. It’s an 8:08 Eastern start time for NLCS Game 6.
Around the blogO’sphere
Ryan O’Hearn’s club option: Pricey or reasonable? (Steve Melewski)
One of the early offseason decisions that awaits the Orioles is the decision on bringing back Ryan O’Hearn on an $8 million team option.
Three ways the teams remaining in the playoffs are different from the Orioles (The Baltimore Banner)
Danielle Allentuck breaks it down as: They had more veterans, they spent money, and they added bats at the deadline.
Orioles prospects poised for big things in 2025 (Orioles.com)
Members of the Brandon Young fan club will be pleased to know their guy is prominently featured here.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2019 pitcher Ty Blach, and 1968-70 infielder Bobby Floyd. Today is Floyd’s 81st birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Victorian-era British prime minister Lord Palmerston (1784), actor Bela Lugosi (1882), baseballs Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle (1931) and Juan Marichal (1937), musician Tom Petty (1950), and rapper Snoop Dogg (1971).
On this day in history…
In 1740, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI died at age 55. A number of European powers who had previously consented to the succession of his daughter, Maria Theresa, as empress, did not honor the deal after his passing, leading to the War of the Austrian Succession.
In 1803, the Senate formally ratified the Louisiana Purchase, essentially doubling the size of the United States.
In 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee launched its now-infamous investigation into alleged Communist infiltration in Hollywood.
In 1973, then-attorney general Elliot Richardson and deputy attorney general William Ruckleshaus were demanded in turn to fire Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Upon each refusal, President Richard Nixon removed the two from office in the “Saturday Night Massacre.” Solicitor General Robert Bork eventually fired the independent prosecutor.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on October 20. Have a safe Sunday.