Official 2012 Baltimore Orioles Thread

[DjTj]

SI has an article talking about the win, and particularly about Reynold's RBI-single:

Reynolds' picture-perfect -- and wholly unexpected -- inside-out swing drove home Wieters with a single, providing the essential insurance run behind a stellar outing from starter Wei-Yin Chen as the Orioles went on to win 3-2 in Game 2 of the ALDS to tie the Yankees at one game apiece.

"I was actually trying to do that," Reynolds said. "After Wieters led off the inning with a double, it actually crossed my mind to bunt. I know how big every run is in these kinds of games."

Bunt? That'd have been so unbelievable that an identity check would have been needed to make sure the man wearing Reynolds' uniform wasn't an imposter. But such a thought process shows how well the Orioles have bought into the team, a group whose sum is greater than its parts.

In the jocular nature of the baseball clubhouse, however, no out-of-character good deed goes un-joked upon, so when Jones brought him his glove on the field between innings, he told Reynolds, "Atta, baby, your fourth groundball to second base all year." When Reynolds returned to the dugout, second baseman Brian Roberts quipped, "It looks like your first round of B.P. every day. Why don't you do that more often?"

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz28pcZIwoJ

[RonArtest15]

I originally shared your thinking with this, but have come around for a couple reasons:

1) You generally bunt to get a guy INTO scoring position for your best hitters...by Hardy doubling to lead off the inning, we had that already established.
2) I don't know where to find the numbers, but I would think you have a better chance to drive in a runner at 2nd with 0 outs than you do a runner at 3rd with 1 out (assuming the bunt is successful).

If you think about it, you have 3 tries to get a single vs. 2 tries to get a single + 1 try to get a fly ball. With the rate our team strikes out, I'd trust 1 of those 3 to get a base hit over a 1-time shot (Wieters) to situationally hit a fly ball. I know you can't use what happened to prove what would have happened, but neither of the following at-bats would have driven in Hardy from 3rd. To me, the real crime was Jones not putting the ball in play there, not the decision to let him hit.

Totally understand your POV...now that I think about it, you are 10000000% right in what you said (the part I put in large print).

[balki1867]

I haven't been impressed with Jones' at-bats in the playoffs. He seems to be swinging too hard and is too impatient, swinging at a lot of bad pitches (I actually think this started during the Tampa series).

It's actually been a general trend on our team. Both CC and Pettitte got through 3 innings in under 30 pitches, whereas both of our pitchers were at the ~45 pitch mark. That being said, our hitting and pitching both seem to get better by the second time through the line-up. Chen and Hammel both looked pretty settled and pitched some pretty efficient 4th-6th innings. Likewise, our hitting seemed to push up the Yankee's pitch count and get on base more in those innings. Hopefully yesterday's win has gotten the nerves out of our system and we can be more competitive earlier in the game.

[TheDoyler23]

The Orioles will win tomorrow. 6-2. Just a hunch.

[RememberOsaka]

Was at the game last night as well......what an exciting night! One thing I noticed on the scoreboard...in last night's lineup 6 of the 9 Yankees were batting > .270 for the season.....only 1 Oriole hitter in the lineup was over .270....yet they know when to get the hit that matters or go yard when needed. I have faith they'll win tomorrow evening and wrap it up on Thursday.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

The Orioles will win tomorrow. 6-2. Just a hunch.

If that happens, I will start to get VERY excited about our chances to take this series!

---------- Post added October-9th-2012 at 09:08 PM ----------

Totally understand your POV...now that I think about it, you are 10000000% right in what you said (the part I put in large print).

I've never been 10000000% right about anything (even if you add up my entire life)!

[Hitman21ST]

The Orioles will win tomorrow. 6-2. Just a hunch.

If we take game three, we're taking the series.

[abdcskins]

I haven't been impressed with Jones' at-bats in the playoffs. He seems to be swinging too hard and is too impatient, swinging at a lot of bad pitches (I actually think this started during the Tampa series).

Completely agree with this. The same could be said for Wieters. Seems like Matt has chased the first pitch at least three times, including last night with the bases loaded.

Such a big game tomorrow, really pumped.

[Ellis]

Noise Source Decibel Level
Jet take-off (at 25 meters) 150
Aircraft carrier deck 140
Military jet aircraft take-off 130
ORIOLE PARK @ CAMDEN YARDS (10/9/2012) 121
Thunderclap, chain saw. 120
Live rock music 108

---------- Post added October-10th-2012 at 10:47 AM ----------

[thecardiacrll]

So PUMPED about tonights game. I really feel if we win tonight we will win the series. And I think the starting pitching matchup favors us in game 3 and 4. Don't want to get to game 5 with CC back on the hill. We need to jump on them quick and shut the crowd down early. LET'S GO O's......ORIOLES MAGIC

[TD_washingtonredskins]

So PUMPED about tonights game. I really feel if we win tonight we will win the series. And I think the starting pitching matchup favors us in game 3 and 4. Don't want to get to game 5 with CC back on the hill. We need to jump on them quick and **** the crowd down early. LET'S GO O's......ORIOLES MAGIC

Exactly how I feel. If we can figure out how to grab tonight's game...look out! One thing that I think is possible if we win tonight is that the Yankees would throw CC tomorrow.

[thecardiacrll]

Exactly how I feel. If we can figure out how to grab tonight's game...look out! One thing that I think is possible if we win tonight is that the Yankees would throw CC tomorrow.

Thats okay with me I'd rather face him on short rest and not in an elimination game for us.

[pjfootballer]

Anyone see the article I posted about Jim Johnson on the previous page? The Janitor.


I guess not. Just wondering what you guys thought of his nickname given to him by the team.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Thats okay with me I'd rather face him on short rest and not in an elimination game for us.

Good point. I really hope we take tonight's game!! 5 hours to go!

[Maxito]

Exactly how I feel. If we can figure out how to grab tonight's game...look out! One thing that I think is possible if we win tonight is that the Yankees would throw CC tomorrow.

Girardi (sp) already said that Hughes would pitch tomorrow... But he could always change his mind..