Confession time: I’m a total loser and all I think about (outside of my family) is sports.
And since it’s baseball season and my favorite drink during the summer months is a nice, chilled “Orange Koolaid” beverage, my attention is squarely on the Orioles. So while I was watching my five-year old son play soccer I thought about how many potential Orioles could grace Citi Field with their presence come Tuesday July 16th. Here are my thoughts.
It’s almost a lock that the captain and leader of the Birds, Adam Jones, will be patrolling center field for the American League, based on his position in the votes as of now.This is a deserving nomination for my fellow San Diego native and shows that his talents are being seen from coast to coast now.
Chris Davis is another lock to start at 1st base. Davis “crushed” his 28th bomb last night (4th in the 7th inning this season) and is hitting .333 and has 72 RBI’s. But it’s been his stellar play in the field that has “almost” impressed me most. My boy Chris Tillman (more on him later) should buy him lunch for a week just based on his performance last night.
J.J. Hardy has been on fire in June. Maybe because of that or because Orioles nation is killing it on the Internet/stuffing the ballot boxes at Yards, he leads the Tigers Johnny Peralta by over 700K votes for the starting AL SS position. The “Hardy Party” has raised his average to .265 with 15 bombs and 45 RBI’s. But its his .972 fielding % (only 6 errors in 318 chances) that makes him an All-Star starter, IMO.
If there was one guy that I wish I had the juice to put on the team, it would be Nick Markakis. But I might not have to as he is currently sitting in 3rd place among AL outfielders, but only less than 1K ahead of Jose Bautista.
Listen Orioles Nation, I pray that you put this Orioles lifer on your ballot every time you vote. No one deserves this career achievement more than him.
If it wasn’t for Miguel Cabrera being the second coming of Jimmy Foxx, then our 20-yr-old phenom Manny Machado would have the 3rd base position on lock down. Machado has surpassed any Orioles diehards expectations and if he isn’t selected by that chain smoking Jim Leyland as a reserve, I’m going to go Aaron Hernandez on someone (too soon).
Another way he could get there is the new “fan vote” where 5 players are selected to be voted on after the starters are announced. Either way, Manny goes to his first of many All Star games.
A lightning rod in the 410 area code is Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. His lackluster performance at the plate (.228/10/38) isn’t exactly Mike Piazza. I get it, Nestor.
But what he does behind the plate can’t be measured by seam-heads doing sabermetrics in their moms basement (no offense, Zach). Ever heard of the quote, “Don’t ever run”? This guy who was touted as “Jesus in Cleats” is one of the most important players on the Orioles roster and if not voted in as a starter, will probably be added as a reserve.
As those one-hit wonders, Semisonic sang, “Closing Time”, it’s time we talk about Orioles closer Jim Johnson.
Yes, I’m “that guy” who wrote on this amazing site that the closer position is the most over rated in sports today. But if you have to take one or two for the AL Star game, then Johnson should be one of them.
Of course, Mo Rivera is going. Not just because he’s the greatest of all time and has been almost flawless again this year after missing almost all of last season. But because he is retiring at the end of the season and a la Cal Ripken, will get the invite. But after that, who? Joe Nathan? Addison Reed?
Please, as Dikembe Mutombo says “get that weak stuff out of here”. Johnson deserves it.
Finally, this is where my Orange Koolaid drink is just a bit spiked. But please hear me out. After last nights win over Cleveland, Chris Tillman is 9-2 with a respectable sub 4 ERA (1.30 WHIP) pitching in the AL East. And outside of maybe Miguel Gonzalez has been the Orioles most consistent starting pitcher (not exactly saying much, but truth). He is 6-0 on the road and hasn’t lost a start since Preakness weekend (May 19th).
I understand his pitch counts have been maddening at times and he always seems to say after starts that, “I just didn’t have my good stuff tonight“. But numbers don’t lie and based on those Tillman should be at least considered for a spot on the AL roster, IMO. Here comes the tweets.
So if my fuzzy math does play out, then the Orioles would have a Yankee/Red Sox-like eight guys on the A.L. All-Star squad. And if you include the fact that Davis will probably be entered into the HR Derby, you might say that this All Star break could be worth the watch even with Chris Berman trying to ruin it with his tired, old schtick.
Plus, the winner of the actual game gives the home-field to the World Series participant….I’m not saying, I’m just saying…
Follow Jabby Burns on Twitter, @JabbyBurns
I find it more likely to see the O’s get 4. Jones, Hardy, Davis and Manny. I think Markakis will lose to Bautista/Hunter in a late surge. Jim Johnson is deserving, but having the most blown saves in the league may prevent him from getting the recognition.
Confession time:
Mystery Man – I’m a total loser
Dude – I’m a total loser
Red Sox Fans – I’m a total loser
Aaron Hernandez – I’m a total loser
Sergio Kindle – I’m a total loser
Roger Clemens – I’m a total loser
A-Roid – I’m a total loser
How great would it be to see all our boys make it. This team is really on the cusp of something big.
That first paragraph Spy could have wrote. If he did it would go like this.
Confession time: I’m a total loser and all I think about is Chow.
And since it’s baseball season and my favorite drink during the summer months is a nice, tall, chilled glass of “CreamOfSumYunGuy”, my attention is squarely on the love of my life, Chow. So while I was watching Chow romp around my Man-Cave in a tube top and leggings I thought about how many potential men could grace my living room come Tuesday July 16th.
You must dream about chowman every night and you are obsessed with me,,,,,,,,,,,IT’s a real compliment to know one of my fans has my interest at heart , the only problem is my dreams of my man cave include Kate Upton and me,,,,,,,,,,,,it doesn’t get any better than that,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,My first sentence would actually be ” I’m a total loser , I don’t care for gays , that leaves you out diceshooter” by the way , what does ‘diceshooter ‘ stand for , I know===you and chowman playing tummy stick and shooting each others dice at the same time , now that is a dream I’m sure you have often,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,now back to dreamin’ of Kate…………………..
By the way , it sure is fun watching the O’s spank the Yanks this weekend , keep it up boys,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,This spanking is almost as fun as spanking Kate Upton in my mancave,,,,,,,,,oh what fun that would be…………….
Seriously the O’s in 2013 are lights out and my hope was to stick in to the man (lets face it the fan voting system is a joke). That said lets manipulate the system and have all eight starters in the all star game, but my cry for BSR to lead the charge will probably fall a bit short. With that in mind, Davis, Jones, Manny, JJ and Tillman are not too shabby. Seriously Matty is having an offensively poor first half, second base is a farce, Nate is good but not great as is Nick in the outfield scheme and Johnson is having a troubled first half. The Orioles should represent well and show the world that Baltimore is alive and kicking in 2013.
No problem Jabby , I guess I’m a lose also , the two things I think about most are sports and sex……………………I love my family but I don’t think about them all the time , sports and sex , I do……………..