In what will be a very emotional weekend up in Boston, the Orioles open what is their biggest roadie (to date) of the 2014 season, IMO.
And before I get all the comments like, “it’s only early April”, “you can’t win a pennant in April” type rhetoric, please back away from your computers.
The view through these orange kool-aid soak glasses is the Orioles have made Fenway Park: Camden North of late as was brilliantly pointed out by our Mark Zuckenberg of BSR this morning.
Since 2012: Orioles are 25-15 against the Red Sox. 12-6 in Fenway. #CamdenYardsNorth
— BalSportsReport (@BalSportsReport) April 18, 2014
And as if this series in the town of bean isn’t already catching buzz in the 410 area code, it looks like it will be featured prominently throughout the Easter weekend on all types of viewing platforms.
Tonight, MLB Network is carrying the kickoff game to the four-game series as my boy Chris Tillman matches his second ranked ERA (0.84) with Red Sox starter John Lackey who is 14-5 with a 3.33 ERA lifetime vs. the Birds. Tilly has posted a sparkling career 2.37 in his five starts at newly named Camden North.
Saturday’s 1:35 PM start will be carried locally on WJZ and MASN of course, but will be the “game of the day” on MLB radio. That one pitts Bud Norris (0-1, 3.75 ERA) and hefty, lefty Felix Doubront (1-2, 6.75 ERA). This one could be the highest scoring of the four games (#over).
Sunday the Birds return to Primetime as ESPN brings it’s 40 broadcasters to Fenway for Sunday Night Baseball (7 PM. first pitch). This one will match Ubaldo Jimenez (0-3, 7.31 ERA) and Jake Peavy (0-0, 1.93 ERA 20 Ks). “Ubaldimore” needs to show Orioles-Nation that these first three starts are just a slow start as he has shown in the past. A solid start in a hitters friendly ballpark could give all the nervous nelly’s in Birdland a little Easter evening treat.
Finally, in what could be the most emotional Patriot Days in recent history, Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.76 ERA) will oppose Clay Buchholz (0-1, 5.51 ERA) in the 11:05 AM first pitch on MLB Network (MASN too). This one could feel like a playoff type atmosphere as they/we remember what took place one year ago on this day at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
As one who doesn’t exactly have warm and fuzzy feelings (sports wise) for the city of Boston, my heart will go out to those who were directly effected by these tragic and terrorist acts of violence. And for the guy who thought it was “funny” to plant a backpack with a pressure cooker full of confetti at the finish line this past week during an emotional remembrance, I hope you receive the same fate as the 2012 Red Sox. You are a loser.
In closing, from an actual baseball on the field prospective this weekend, I’m catching a good vibe for the team with Baltimore written across their chests. Winning three out of four games at Camden North would be a tremendous way to show the defending champs who they will be chasing all year — but a sweep — well let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. #OrangeKoolAid
Image Credit: Keith Allison