October baseball is among the best things we have in sports.
It’s a god damn grind to get there but man does it feel good to be there.
It’s a thrill man, it really is.
The Orioles kick off another playoff run after their 91-71 rollercoaster of a season.
It’s simple, best of 3.
All the games in Baltimore, winner gets a trip to New York to see the Yankees.
I can’t look at that Royals logo without getting that awful taste from 2014 out of my mouth.
That was the year.
They’re just the first bump in the road now, it’s time to drive right over them.
First to 2 wins takes it and there’s no reason why the O’s can’t advance on.
This team is good.
91-71 on the season and were in a dogfight for the division until the end.
A small miracle after how they had played a few weeks earlier.
The lineup couldn’t hit, they couldn’t field and they could’t pitch.
It’s slowly come back to form and it couldn’t come at a better time.
The Os ended up going 41-41 in their last 82 games, the same record as the 2023 Rangers.
The O’s also won both series vs KC this season, 2 out of 3 both times.
Gunnar hits, that is what he does.
He’ll have a major impact at the top of the lineup.
Ryan O’Hearn will get his pinch hitting spots off the bench and probably start vs Lugo.
Their lineup as gelled so well with Westburg returning, he completes this team so much.
I think he has a big series too, just a hunch.
I also think we see an O’s walk-off win this round, no clue why.
That is the biggest thing for me, healthy and hitting.
If there is one part of the Orioles I worry about, it’s the bullpen.
They got lefty Danny Coulombe back in the pen and he’s been lights out.
Everyone else kind of scares me and that is a recipe for disaster in October.
Seranthony Dominguez has been the closer for a few weeks now but looked a bit shaky down the stretch.
He gave up runs in 4 of his last 10 appearances but still went 4/5 in saves.
The rest of the guys haven’t been their best but are trending in the right direction.
The O’s had a 5.31 ERA in September, 29th out of 30 teams this month.
Royals fared a bit better at 2.77 ERA.
This could and will come down to the final 9-12 outs.
Royals do have the advantage in the pen, that’s scary.
Rotation is a dog fight.
Corbin Burnes/Zach Eflin/Dean Kremer vs Cole Ragans/Seth Lugo/Michael Wacha.
My god man, this is a legit matchup.
This guy is itching to go, he’s ready for playoff baseball.
Dean Kremer, I love ya my guy but I don’t want to see you until New York.
Kremer has cemented himself in this rotation and really has stepped up big down the stretch.
For him, I hope it’s New York where he gets his playoff revenge after last year.
Get to their starters early and you have to try and break the pen.
Short series, getting after a guy in Game 1 can ruin a season.
This really should be a fun matchup.
Can’t let him get on base and run wild, you’ve got the option to’t.
Don’t let Witt Jr or Salvy beat you.
Make a surrounding piece make a play, put the pressure on them.
The O’s have more DUDES in their lineup, they’ve got dudes.
We’ve seen it with Gunnar, the rest follow.
Orioles jumped into the playoffs while the Royals kind of backed their way in.
The bats have been alive lately and I don’t see that stopping.
I think the Orioles are the hotter and better team, I think they win this in 2.
Westy with 2 big games, that’s my call.
The lineup is healthy and I will take these 2 starters up against almost anyone in a shorter series.
See you at Pickles, see you at the Yard.
Get me to 4:08 with SVP throwing out a first pitch and Natty Boh flowing through my veins.
Crank the song to 13.
