The Orioles can’t end the Red Sox season today, but they can sure put a hurting on Boston’s chances.
Hello, friends.
After everything, we are down to the final four games of the Orioles season. We all know the stakes that remain even though the O’s chances are long extinguished. The Orioles could still play the role of spoiler in the wild card race, first in tonight’s finale against the Red Sox and then for three games against the Blue Jays this weekend. Who the Orioles beat and who they don’t will go a long way to determining who hosts the game and who makes it at all.
As things stand after Wednesday’s loss, the Yankees have the home wild card spot by one game over the Red Sox. Boston would be the road wild card team. With Seattle’s win last night, they’re a mere half-game behind the Red Sox, and the Jays are only one game behind Boston.
For the not-so-lovely totals from the O’s failed attempt to keep the spoiler party rolling from Wednesday, check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the loss. Zac Lowther only gave up one run in five innings, so at least that’s something. Although if you were watching, you know he gave up a bunch of loud outs and probably deserved worse. As ever, deserve’s got nothing to do with it.
The fate of the Orioles quest for the #1 draft pick was also settled late out west last night. Arizona, who took the lead for the top pick by losing when the O’s won on Tuesday, lost again to the Giants. They still have a game edge over the Orioles. This one is going to come down to the wire. I’d rather the Orioles ruin the Red Sox party than get the #1 pick, but if they can’t keep Boston or New York out of the postseason then I kind of hope they get the #1 pick. I guess we’ll see.
The O’s close out this series against Boston tonight with a scheduled 7:05 start. Alexander Wells is set to get a final audition start for the O’s, with Nick Pivetta pitching for Boston. Maybe the Orioles can do better against Pivetta than they did against Nate Eovaldi last night.
Around the blogO’sphere
‘Like an absolute rock star’: Broadcaster Melanie Newman’s rise from the minors to a major future (The Athletic)
Dan Connolly took the occasion of Newman’s appearance on ESPN’s all-female broadcast booth last night to profile the Orioles broadcaster and how she got to where she is now.
Mullins on his 2021 season and moving forward (School of Roch)
Cedric Mullins addressed Orioles media after being honored with this year’s Most Valuable Oriole award yesterday. Mullins said he thinks he can serve as an example to younger players following after because they will know he struggled and came through it successful on the other end.
Ryan Mountcastle talks hitting (Fangraphs)
FG’s David Laurila gets good interviews out of just about every player he talks to. Honing in here on the Orioles rookie home run record holder is no exception.
Cowser among 2021 draft picks with strong debuts (MLB.com)
Nothing is guaranteed by Colton Cowser having a good pro debut, but it doesn’t hurt to keep an excited feeling about the draft class going.
Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries
Today in 2012, the Orioles clinched a postseason spot for the first time since 1997. Their 6-3 win over the Red Sox had them on the cusp of a spot and the team lingered on the field after the win with Rangers-Angels on the Jumbotron. Nate McLouth, J.J. Hardy, and Chris Davis homered for the O’s in the win, Joe Saunders pitched 7.1 innings and got the win, and Jim Johnson converted his 50th save.
An Angels loss would have clinched for the Orioles in front of their fans, but Texas blew a late lead in the first game of a doubleheader. The Rangers won game 2 after the Orioles were already on a plane and O’s fans had gone home.
There are several former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2017 outfielder Seth Smith, 1995 outfielder Curtis Goodwin, 2002 reliever Yorkis Perez, 1995 two-gamer John DeSilva, and 1962-65 pitcher and Baseball Hall of Famer Robin Roberts.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: poet Rumi (1207), chewing gum magnate William Wrigley (1861), drummer Buddy Rich (1917), writer Truman Capote (1924), author and Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel (1928), actor Christopher Jackson (1975), and rapper T-Pain (1984).
On this day in history…
In 1791, Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute had its premiere performance in Vienna, conducted by the composer himself. It was the final one of his operas to premiere before his December death; he was only 35.
In 1935, the Hoover Dam was dedicated. It took nearly a year after this for the lake to fill up enough to generate hydroelectric power.
In 1947, the World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers began. That year’s edition of the championship had a number of firsts. Since Jackie Robinson was on the Dodgers for this season, it became the first World Series with a Black player participating. This was also the first televised World Series.
In 1968, the first Boeing 747 jet was shown to the public. The jet model has been in service since 1969, though it was retired from its last US-based carrier in 2017. The final 747s are expected to be produced and delivered next year.
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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 30. Have a safe Thursday. Go O’s!