Replace (8/8/23, 1 p.m. ET): Kevin Brown will probably be returning to the Orioles sales space on Friday, in line with The Baltimore Banner, in a improvement that appears conspicuously timed following the widespread and unanimous criticism aimed on the group. It stays clear, although, that John Angelos is a complete crybaby loser with a paper-thin ego.
It’s a uncommon achievement to get baseball to unite on one thing. Even throughout labor stoppages, when it’s apparent the homeowners are warping the sport all of us knew and liked into one thing that solely advantages them, there are nonetheless many water carriers for a cabal of billionaires that may piss on all of them for 5 bucks. Something controversial that goes on with baseball is normally tiptoed round on broadcasts, announcers fearing their overlords each inside the group, the networks, and the league workplace.
However step on considered one of their very own, and baseball announcers will come for you.
The Baltimore Orioles would have been excessive on the listing of groups you’d anticipate to fuck up in probably the most petty and laughable method potential. They’ve already handled us to an enormous manbaby combat of their possession group, betrayed their followers when the group merely turned too good too rapidly and the entrance workplace was instructed to principally ignore that truth, and even put out whispers about transferring to Nashville despite the fact that they play in what remains to be one of many crown jewels of the league, Camden Yards.
They in some way acquired sadder after they “suspended” TV play-by-play man Kevin Brown for merely stating in a pregame stand-up that the Orioles’ file in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays the earlier seasons wasn’t precisely glittering and improved this 12 months. Apparently, pisshead failson John Angelos didn’t like listening to how he’d been within the captain’s chair whereas the group fielded a weak excuse for a Triple-A group in current reminiscence, and Brown hasn’t been heard on TV since. That information leaked out final evening, and the response was common:
Boy, if solely we might get them united on the silly runner in additional innings!
The one a part of this that makes it comedic is that Brown’s word concerning the Orioles’ file in opposition to the Rays put the Os in a superb gentle! It’s a measure of the best way the group has improved previously couple seasons, in opposition to what has been the usual bearer within the division, together with the Yankees. It actually signifies that the Os have been trending in the correct method.
However that wasn’t sufficient to be thought of Orioles Pravda for Angelos, apparently. Definitely nobody within the manufacturing truck thought a lot of it, seeing as how they’d a ready-made graphic to go together with Brown’s ideas. Which suggests it went by a pregame assembly and nobody raised the concept that it will be controversial in any method.
In what needs to be a feel-good season for the Orioles as an thrilling younger roster has charged up the standings and levels of relevance to be atop the AL East for the primary time in eternally, particularly as they give the impression of being to make themselves at dwelling for the following few years. And the play of Adley Rutschman or Gunnar Henderson or Felix Bautista actually has made the rounds in baseball circles. But it surely’s all the time been matched or outshone by no matter hillrod gong present is happening within the proprietor’s field, or the cash they received’t spend and the trades that received’t allow them to make, and what the Os could possibly be however up to now have chosen to not be. Orioles followers actually deserve higher, however not less than they’ve discovered a legion of announcers to take up this trigger together with them. However contemplating who John Angelos is, it’s probably that disgrace isn’t one thing he’s geared up with.
Now, to the lighter facet of baseball:
Keep in mind youngsters, there’s nothing on the market you’ll be able to’t have if you’d like it unhealthy sufficient.
On the sphere, it’s value questioning if the previous few days haven’t tolled the bell for each the Angels and Padres.
The Angels blew a ninth-inning lead final evening to the Giants to lose their seventh-straight recreation, all within the week after they did what they may to make a cost for the playoffs. They didn’t simply blow it and lose a squeaker, however went full Three Mile Island in giving up six runs in that body to show a 3-2 lead into an 8-3 loss.
The Padres misplaced three of 4 to the Dodgers at dwelling, capped off by getting clubbed on Monday 13-7. That leaves them 11 video games again within the NL West, and 4 video games from the wildcard with 4 groups to leap over. The Angels are 11.5 again within the division, in order that’s that performed, and eight video games again within the wildcard additionally with 4 groups to climb over.
It doesn’t imply both group was unsuitable to do all the things they may to win, as a result of that’s the purpose. However typically a group simply will get the ass finish of baseball’s whims.
Comply with Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @felsgate.bsky.social
