The Orioles (2023)

[imref]

Quite the season debut for Rutschman yesterday. 5-5, HR, 4RBIs

[imref]

Orioles beating up on the Yankees. I hope we’re about 2 years behind them in development.

[welch]

The Browns should move back to St. Louis, which has baseball fans.

[welch]

The Baltimore Orioles greatest game came when they were still the Browns.

A quick glance at the box score of the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns game on Aug. 24, 1951 would suggest that nothing was out of the ordinary. It seemed to be a typical Friday game, between two teams who were far out of playoff contention.

But with Bill Veeck at the helm of the St. Louis Browns, that game was anything but typical.

On that day, Veeck orchestrated “Grandstand Managers Night,” a promotion which allowed fans to vote on key decisions during the course of the game, using placards which read “yes” or “no.”

Over 1,000 “grandstand managers” sat in a special section behind the Browns dugout, while Browns manager Zack Taylor relaxed in a rocking chair in the next box over, in casual clothing and a pipe in his mouth, as he enjoyed his night off.

The fans began their short-lived managerial careers by deciding the lineup of the game. They wrote their choices on lineup cards, delivered to the Browns prior to the game. After tallying fan responses, a lineup was decided on.

Philadelphia Athletics’ manager Jimmy Dykes was far from amused, telling the Associated Press that Veeck was “making a farce of the game.”

But the controversial Veeck saw his promotions as a way to raise fan experience to a whole new level. He would later explain to Sports Illustrated that, “the fan comes away from the ball park with nothing more to show for it than what’s in his mind, an ephemeral feeling of having been entertained. You’ve got to heighten and preserve that illusion. You have to give him more vivid pictures to carry away in his head.”

https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/grandstand-managers-night

[imref]

This has been a fun game. Almost a playoff atmosphere

[GburgNatsFan]

This has been a fun game. Almost a playoff atmosphere

Glad you enjoyed what all that Nats broadcast revenue can do on the field in Baltimore. 

[imref]

Glad you enjoyed what all that Nats broadcast revenue can do on the field in Baltimore. 

Yeah, the Orioles aren't exactly spending that revenue.  I caught the first inning of today's game, another good crowd though.

[rileyn]

Yeah, the Orioles aren't exactly spending that revenue.  I caught the first inning of today's game, another good crowd though.

Over 50% Yankee fans

[Natsinpwc]

Read the write up. Bunch of walks and hit batsmen. And a three base error by the CF. The first pitcher had two outs before the runs scored.

[Dave in Fairfax]

Ryan Mountcastle with two home-runs and 9 RBI.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ryan Mountcastle with two home-runs and 9 RBI.

.711 SLG this year, .422 ISO. But 30% Ks.  He's figured out that if you aren't putting the ball in play and your BABIP is < .300, you can help your average by hitting a lot of homers.

[GburgNatsFan]

Yeah, the Orioles aren't exactly spending that revenue.  I caught the first inning of today's game, another good crowd though.

Imagine the Orioles without it.

[Senatorswin]

It seems like 8-7 games are going to be the norm for the O's this year.

[imref]

camden looking empty for the Tigers game tonight.

[IanRubbish]

camden looking empty for the Tigers game tonight.

They have a great team and are still being outdrawn by our lowly Nats.   Market's too small, and their reliance on a welfare check from DC is getting tenuous as cable subscribers drop.

[HalfSmokes]

They play in a park designed to attract visiting fans. As generic as nats park is, the sighlt lines are great, the concessions are easy to access quickly, and it’s just a better place to spend an evening

[imref]

They play in a park designed to attract visiting fans. As generic as nats park is, the sighlt lines are great, the concessions are easy to access quickly, and it’s just a better place to spend an evening

Yep

[JCA-CrystalCity]

They play in a park designed to attract visiting fans. As generic as nats park is, the sighlt lines are great, the concessions are easy to access quickly, and it’s just a better place to spend an evening

was listening to Pirate fans talking up the entrance via Half Street, how there's nothing comparable.

Nats Park is downright ugly and the between innings stuff only works for the ADHD, but the sightlines are good, concessions and rest rooms are easy to get to, and the views from the park to the Anacostia are nice too. Metro is an asset. All in all, tough to drop the experience even when they stink.

As for concessions, I think the trick is mostly avoid generic ballpark food and drink, which are rip offs, and go for microbrews and better eats, which are fairly priced. My flank steak with sprouts and creamed parsnips was $17, which is less than most restaurants for a similar dish.

[Dave in Fairfax]

Orioles beat the Braves 9-4, becoming the first team in 50 years to win their first 11 series openers.

[rileyn]

Are the Orioles going to make my life miserable and win the WS this year? 

[imref]

Still 4.5 back

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Their division is sick.

[imref]

Yep. Yankees are 10 back

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yep. Yankees are 10 back

in last and over .500

[KnorrForYourMoney]

A special thread following the BOs.

In the words of JMad: GTFOHWTBS