The 2023 Baltimore Orioles keep doing things on the field we have never witnessed. Luke Jones and Nestor rub the sleep outta their eyes and look toward a homestand with big promise as the AL East crown is in sight.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
game, orioles, pitch, good, henderson, playing, talking, gunnar, night, team, grayson, ravens, rodriguez, innings, great, rotation, year, series, city, thought
SPEAKERS
Luke Jones, Nestor Aparicio
Nestor Aparicio 00:01
What about W en s t test the Baltimore, Baltimore positive I am back from the beach but youโre going to hear lots of stuff here this week as we took the Maryland crabcake tour on the road down Ocean City. We read the Ocean City Convention Center on Thursday and Friday for the Maryland counties conference. Good times. Lots of great conversation stuff about virtually everything in the state. We had senators Ben Cardin, as well as Chris Van Hollen, on Mayor Brandon Scott lots of other guests lots of other promises including next week when the crappy October church the Glen Burnie weโre gonna get Pappas grab as all are brought to you by our friends at the Maryland lottery in conjunction with the friends at winter nation we have a wind nation shirt rockin here, windows, sidings, doors 866 90 nation make sure you take care of them as well as all of our sponsors. It is our 25th anniversary. Look what do you think of the new logo man? You like it? I mean, you know, I feel like cupcakes and fireworks feels very well Disney to me.
Luke Jones 00:57
Yeah, very celebratory and plenty to celebrate as it pertains to not just wn St. and Baltimore positive but the Baltimore Orioles continuing to roll and a West Coast trip that felt like it lasted three weeks in some ways. But the difference this year compared to recent years. You got the sense there was still plenty of juice and people following even late at night, you know, maybe not as crazy as when itโs a 705 game, of course, but people were very interested and the Orioles continue to play. Not just interesting baseball but good baseball and they did exactly as they should against the worst team in baseball and Oakland over the weekend. They took care of business and they took care of business in pretty emphatic form other than I guess Saturday night with the extra inning when but certainly they took it out on the Aโs on Sunday afternoon with Gunnar Henderson and company leading away.
Nestor Aparicio 01:49
Well, I mean, we could weโll get on Bradish in a minute. We could talk about God or Henderson sort of passing the cycle the cycle and too easy. Iโll take the double. Iโll come back and do that later. The things theyโre doing historically, right. I saw stat about 620. Ball. Right and the 69 Orioles, famously, were very, very successful. But in the history of the franchise, weโre talking 97 wire to wire 79 Orioles were really good. The 83 Orioles were pretty good. The 81 Orioles were, you know maybe better than any of them in the split season and did he make the playoffs? But this team where it stands against the franchise, going back to 66. What happened in 64, and even 60 with some near misses when they only let one team for the American League in. And itโs 7070 134 very, very good teams under Earl Weaver this thing at 620. And by the way, it took Kevin Brown and Ben McDonald, this could speak to the broadcasting I talked to that every day. But that it sounded like they werenโt allowed to talk about how bad Oakland was. And they didnโt even mentioned the leaf any that look. Oh, theyโre getting eliminated today. And itโs August 20. And theyโve won 39 games and theyโre going to lose 100 before theyโve won 34 games, excuse me, theyโre going to lose 100 before they went 40. Thatโs also hard to do, you know, only really awful teams have done that. But the Orioles are on the edge. And dude, itโs August 20. And theyโre not going to play the Yankees and the Red Sox 14 times with big payrolls where itโs lopsided, theyโre playing a relatively sort of normal schedule, theyโre gonna have to go to the West Coast again. And we were talking about this in May, when we knew they were good, like, hey, schedule makers donโt like the Angeloโs family, theyโre gonna like do whatever they can do to owsm because they are because they are at the bottom of the bottom of the pecking order of getting favors from the legal and scheduling. But that being said, theyโve also been so irrelevant, that send that out to the West Coast three times in August and September. Who cares? Well, they just went out to the West Coast and clean clocks. And now theyโre gonna come back home to fanfare and we are ramping up now playoff ticket sales, you know, a different kind of mojo for how good the team can be. When whereโs the ace? Oh, itโs only been Kyle Bradish for two months.
Luke Jones 04:15
Yeah, exactly. I mean, kind of radishes has pitched excellent baseball since April. And remember he had the weird start and down in Texas. He gets hit on the fluid. He goes on the Il. Thatโs what brought Grayson Rodriguez back to the major leagues after the rails had initially sent him down. But since that opening month, and heโs just been on a roll, and I thought it was interesting over the course of the road trip. Kyle Gibson not pitching his best right now. Heโs the veteran that theyโre kind of leaning on from an innings perspective. Right. Jack Flaherty since his first start, it hasnโt looked great. But meanwhile, Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez, who of course will see as the homestand begins against the Blue Jays here this week. Theyโre the ones pitching the best ball right now and Dean Kramer, itโs been a little more up and down. But Dean Kramer pitch well as last time out. So we keep talking about the young guys in the innings and the workload and beyond how many innings they have left, how effective theyโre going to be down the stretch, and they continue to get the job done. But Kyle Bradish, especially first time through the order on Sunday, I mean, he was sensational. I mean, it was one of those starts that those first three innings, youโre thinking are we gonna be sending out a WNS T text alert in the sixth or seventh inning, of course, gave up you know, gave up a couple hits. But then he hit a guy. Yeah. But he pits so well. And thatโs, thatโs what you want to see. You get an early lead. Pitch aggressively, you know, donโt walk people donโt nibble, donโt get into trouble and put a bunch of guys on base. But itโs just been so good to see him pitch the way he has. And Grayson Rodriguez pitch the way that he has since returning from triple A Norfolk. So again, theyโre theyโre in the six man rotation right now. Theyโre trying to manage that. I understand that. You know that thatโs, I donโt know if trepidation is the right word. But thereโs I think thereโs some anxiety in terms of how thatโs all going to work out. But you said it, and it was something I was going to bring out, bring up as the Orioles come home 30 games above 501st time theyโve been 30 over since the end of the 2014 season. I mean, you mentioned 1997. I mean, I think the highest that team finished 98 and 64. I think they got up to 38 over at one point in time. I mean, thatโs the kind of territory weโre talking about at this point, you know, the rest of the way. And as you mentioned, the schedule the rest of the way now, you donโt want to get complacent, you donโt want to relax, certainly Tampa Bayโs right there with three games out, and it has stayed right on their heels for the most part. But theyโre 38 rengay remaining games. 18 of those are slated to be against teams that are sub 500. So we know the Orioles have played really well against tough competition. But when you see roughly half of your remaining games or against sub 500 teams, thatโs that makes you feel a little more confident that theyโre gonna continue to roll and yeah, they might have to manage their rotation a little bit. And weโre, you know, theyโre still trying to figure out whoโs going to pitch high leverage in the bullpen. And theyโre even some thereโs some scuffling over the course of the road trip with relievers not named Felix Batista. And weโre kind of used to that at this point in time, but, you know, theyโre figuring it out. And theyโre winning ballgames. And at this point, as weโre almost five months into the season, theyโve earned trust, you know, theyโve earned trust that theyโre going to be okay, and, you know, whether theyโre gonna win 100 games, whether itโs gonna be 98, whether theyโre going to win the division, or whether theyโre going to be the top wildcard, however, it shakes out here over the last six weeks and certainly they want to win the division and they want to be the number one seed but however it shakes out, youโre fully confident that theyโre going to be there standing and theyโre going to be playing in the postseason now and weโre going to be talking about Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez being in a postseason rotation and you know, whereโs DL Hall potentially fitting into this Whereโs John means fitting into this as he started his rehab assignment so you know, theyโve got some other options theyโve got some moving parts theyโve got some guys banged up on the position player side you know, Santander with the back and Hicks back on the i l but they just theyโve earned their trust they played so well for so long now that we can continue to talk about these issues and we will because weโre still trying to project what itโs going to look like come October but in the meantime, they just keep winning. And itโs not always the prettiest or itโs not always a blowout like it was on Sunday, but boy, they just keep on rolling and youโre 30 games over 500 As your 10 days to go in the month of August. Youโre really doing a lot of things right even if you do have some question marks that will linger as we get closer and closer to playoff baseball.
Nestor Aparicio 08:54
Luke is here he will be there with ravens all week. They have two games this week. The Oriole star games try against Toronto and home. Nice little homestand here after going out on the west coast for 10 days playing all night. I was down in Ocean City watching him every night had secrets 11 oโclock at night playing the Padres playing the Aโs on Friday night as part of our Mako coverage you can find Luke at Baltimore Luke. Anywhere the good internet is served Blue Jays first and the Rockies look for for you with the pitching. And with beach. Itโs me saying Are you satisfied? Give me your temperature on polarity Mooji these pickups You were always the voice of reason like these guys get picked up and sounds great. We could pick them up on August 31 Or even August 18 or whatever it was that they grabbed Fuji youโre like, well, these are the additions. And meanwhile itโs August 20. And weโre talking more about Bradish and more about guys in the system and more about DL Hall and more about John means and I know Givens thatโs not happening now, but from where Sin, how are you feeling because when I give the ball to Fuji late in the game, I mean, Flaherty takes his turns now every fifth day, heโs got a ways to go to earn some trust here. And there is the point where Grayson Rodriguez started to emerge as the guy we thought he was going to be, and the lights are gonna get glaring, the lights donโt get glaring until game one, when you take the ball, like, I think the rest of the way here, the lights will be bright people becoming to the games and you get banged around a little bit, youโre 30 games over 500. You donโt want to lose the vision. But Iโm also not going to lose my head because the guy coming over from St. Louis, it hasnโt worked out great so far. Again, he might be the dog in game three, going seven innings and beating the Astros because these guys have a little pedigree for that I do have a level of you say trust, I have a level of confidence that they can compete.
Luke Jones 10:55
Yeah. And as far as the young guys, and weโve talked about this concept before, I know Iโve talked about it with Dennis, I mean, they play with such a confidence. And I mean, Gunnar Henderson is a great example of this. Weโve talked about this with Adley rutschman. From the moment he arrived last May, that thereโs almost that sense of you know, theyโve they have that healthy ignorance about them. They donโt know any better, but they donโt know any better. But itโs just like, hey, this is what weโve been doing since more fun. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And look, I donโt know how long that will carry them. I donโt know if that will be the World Series. But I think that can carry them through at least a series or two. So who knows, but But to go back to what you said. I mean, clearly Fujinami I mean, itโs, at best a coin flip pop proposition. And we even saw the fact that he pitched the ninth inning on Sunday. And Braden heights talked about this. So itโs not as though thatโs out of left field. But heโs talked about the fact that heโd like to give them some low leverage to kind of work things out, see if he can get a better feel for that split. And, you know, he throws hard, you know, you see the velocity, but now he got burned on a splitter over the weekend, and heโs trying to work on the cutter a little bit. So that is what it is. I think deal Hall is going to be in this bullpen sooner rather than later whether itโs going to be sometime in the next 10 days or whether itโs going to be when rosters expand on September 1. So, you know heโs looked good since returning to Norfolk. Is he gonna be a one inning guy to winning guys? Can he pitch some back to back? I mean, those are questions about him. But certainly heโs going to figure assuming he stays healthy. So heโs an intriguing arm. I think heโs someone who, depending on how he pitches, and this goes for anyone. I mean, this goes for anyone that is in their current bullpen. I think as much as weโve focused on Fuji because he was the shiny new toy. I mean, take a look at what Webbโs done even though he got into some hot water in the 10th inning on Saturday night. Heโs been really good for them, you know, and he showed some stuff that, you know, I think has been impressive. So
Nestor Aparicio 12:55
heโs earned the confidence of the manager at the moment, right?
Luke Jones 12:58
I mean, at least for right now. And we can see how that changes. You know, certainly, you know, you look at canola, I mean, I think theyโre still hoping that you and your canola can get back to closer to where he was earlier in the year, not that they donโt have confidence in him anymore. But weโve seen it hasnโt been as consistent the last 678 weeks. So you know, other than Batista, itโs kind of sitting right there for these high leverage situations for someone to grab it. You know, weโve seen el Perez since Danny coulomb had to go on the aisle, weโve seen Perez, do well. And some, some spots that would have been would have gone to coulomb normally, so you have that pay some dividends. But, you know, thatโs where theyโre still, you know, thereโs still a lot of moving parts to this, you know, whether weโre talking about a John means coming back, and what role he would potentially fill. And again, Iโm not saying you count on that, but itโs
Nestor Aparicio 13:45
not plug and play, but when youโre playing the a team thatโs got 34 wins at the end of August, it is time to like, you know, take the car for a ride a little bit when you get those opportunities. And, I mean, theyโre gonna have a couple more of those kinds of series that maybe they sweep or when two out of three, because the other team just stinks. And then theyโre gonna have these more competitive goes like theyโre gonna have the next couple of nights it gets Toronto and a couple of weeks from now against Tampa, right.
Luke Jones 14:15
No question about it. And look, some of those let you know, you just mentioned some of the lesser opponents. Thatโs where you have you hope you have a few more games like you had on Sunday. Where Yeah, when itโs 10 to one, you can experiment a little bit, so to speak, right? I mean, you can throw a guy out there in a spot that No, itโs not high leverage, but it gives Fujinami a chance to, to work on some things against some major league hitters. Well, I use Major League loosely when talking about Oakland safer a few guys in Atlanta, but you get my point. And they are in that position theyโve earned the right to be in that position where you can look at some of these games against sub 500 teams and look they have to take care of business. Now. You donโt want to be in a position where you drop series or suddenly, youโre given Tampa Bay a chance to really do Not that theyโre out of it at three games out, but you donโt want to let them even up with you. You know, and of course they play in mid September in Baltimore for game set, which thatโll probably be as close as they get to postseason feel before actually getting to the postseason
Nestor Aparicio 15:16
time they got Rockies and you know, yeah, White Sox, these teams that are playing 350 400 ball like next they should eat well on this homestand. And, you know, not withstanding, theyโre gonna see Gasman, you know, all that stuff, but not withstanding this. This is these are the good days, man, this is this is fun, get out to the ballpark before the kids go to school. Yeah, no question
Luke Jones 15:41
about it. And look, theyโve done well, even against some of these tougher home stands theyโve had for the most part theyโve been able to eat. So you certainly would hope for that. You donโt assume that? You? You know, you canโt take your foot off the gas, so to speak, but, you know, weโve seen it. I mean, they have a six man weeps. Thatโs like 24. No, yeah. And they havenโt been unbelievable, right. And weโve talked about this, this crazy stretch where they havenโt been swept since before Adley rutschman was called up. I mean, thatโs just extraordinary when you really think about it. I mean, every team in baseball gets swept a couple times, you know, I went back and looked at the 83 Orioles, they were swept four times that year, that to seven game losing streaks that year. I mean, that happens. So for them to. And itโs almost you know, itโs taken on a life of its own, you know, the stretch, you know, you hear about it mentioned on the broadcast, and fans are mentioning it on Twitter every time they win the first game of a series that they wonโt be swept for another series. But it really does speak to the mindset. We just we just joked a couple of minutes ago about, you know, some of these young guys having that healthy ignorance of not knowing any better that theyโre not supposed to be this good because they donโt theyโre not experienced enough, right yet. Right. But it is that is a perfect example of their ability to and buckshaw Walters, best teams did this as well. Any great team does this. Really good teams do this. Theyโre able to mitigate those struggles, you know, you drop the first couple games of a series, you come out and win the next day, you donโt let losing you know, go back to right before the all star break, you know, right around the Fourth of July when they dropped what six of seven, you donโt let dropping six out of seven suddenly morphed into dropping 12 of 15. Theyโve had a hideous
Nestor Aparicio 17:24
losses. I mean, the Grand Slam with Batista. I mean,
Luke Jones 17:27
theyโve had a couple of like, they got punched in the face a couple times. But But everyoneโs going to have some of those the differences. How do you respond to that you come out the next night and youโre not thinking about that anymore. And you go out and win. And thatโs thatโs what theyโve been able to do. And the not being swept streak is such a you know, it epitomizes that mindset that, you know, theyโre happy when they win. But itโs not this big celebratory thing. And when they lose Iโm in that clubhouse yet. The musicโs not playing after a loss, but theyโre not freaking out. And thatโs the way theyโve been. And thatโs, you know, thatโs the good teams know
Nestor Aparicio 18:05
them well, because thereโs a 5050 chance thereโll be Owen one in game one. And that thatโs, thatโs when the poop hits the fan. I mean, and for everybody out there I remember this vividly and talking about this back in 14, nothing matters until game one, you know what I mean? Like they and the way the format is set up. I hadnโt really put a lot of thought into it, Luke when they installed it, because Iโm like, worried about learning the new format when the time comes, you know, and even things like looking at ravens game, you know, in October and home games and who would get preferential treatment and whether they play at one oโclock or eight oโclock or, like as an example, the Billy Joel Stevie Nicks concert is going on at the football stadium like the first weekend of October, that would be a weekend where if they get the buy, they would have a game one or Game Two, almost moved to an afternoon game was like thereโs their scheduling issues here. I remember the Kordell Stewart issue. Back in 97, when we had a playoff game downtown, and the the Ravens were still playing Memorial Stadium back in 97. So thereโs only one parking lot so theyโll have to figure that out on nights when Billy Joel is in town. Because these are firstworldproblems for the city, and for the parking lots and for the football team. My thought on all of it, though, is still game one. Everything changes with the playoffs in the short series and anything they get experienced to do. So if theyโre losing three to nothing in the second inning, and the crowd gets quiet and Verlander is on the other you know, whatever that experience is that theyโre going to be able to overcome that because theyโre not just gonna Cakewalk to the World Series bro. You know what I mean? Like bad bad stuffs gonna happen? No at
Luke Jones 19:57
all and theyโre not going to because they havenโt played that way all year. Theyโve played close games and things have been a grind at times. And my goodness, weโve been talking about the bullpen falling apart for like two and a half months now. Itโs held together and it hasnโt been pretty. And
20:11
all of a sudden here comes the yo Hall John me just the way I wrote it up. Right, right.
Luke Jones 20:15
Or Tyler wells and John beans goes, it goes in the rotation and someone else goes in the bullpen. So they still have some options and that way, and look, theyโre gonna have to figure that out. And Iโm not, no one should assume that John means is going to be able to help them but now that heโs actually making rehab starts, you can think about it right? You can think about Dr. Hall, because heโs back at triple A, and heโs striking out a bunch of hitters at triple A and yeah, the velocity maybe isnโt peak, but itโs certainly better than it was earlier in the year when he was dealing with the back issues. So youโre trying to figure all that out in the meantime, six man rotation theyโre trying to massage these innings these workloads for these young guys who, by the way, as weโve said with Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez had been their best starters recently Bradish all season but you know, in the case of Grayson Rodriguez, I mean, letโs start he had against the Padres last week was he looked like an ace. Anyone who watched that game, you know, his mentality missing bats gave up the home run and then comes right back and strikes out what three in a row right after that. So itโs kind of stuff that you expect from a top of the rotation kind of guy. But Bradish has pitched that way since May, you know, so theyโre trying to figure it all out in terms of managing the workloads, managing the innings, giving these guys an extra dayโs rest. You made mention every fifth day, itโs every sixth day for these guys at this point. And even with the off day, Monday, theyโre staying in turn, so it shows you theyโre really trying to stretch that out as much as they can give it a five innings. That helps. Well, I was just gonna, I was just gonna say, in order for that to work, you need Corbin to be competitive. And heโs been able to do that his couple times through the rotation. And weโll see how that continues. Weโll see. You know, weโve talked a lot about you know, I made mention of Gibson, you know, his last couple of times out and you know, itโs, you know that last time that was not good, you know, and he was staked to a lead in that game too. So, you know, youโre hoping you get Jack Flaherty as heโs more acclimated more comfortable in his surroundings pitching for the Orioles and, you know, all the things the Orioles do from a, you know, a biomechanics standpoint and their lab and Bel Air and all the analytics. Now youโre hoping you can still get him to pitch a little more like he did in Toronto, his first start, and he can Heโs certainly capable of doing that. But, you know, these are the same things that every other contender is talking about right now, every other contender in the American League, you know, whether itโs something with their lineup or you know, their outfield, their bullpen? Everyone needs starting pitching. So thatโs not you know, thatโs not unique. But, you know, the Orioles are are not different in that way than any of those other teams where they are different is they have a better record than all those other teams. So from that standpoint, you look at where they stand right now. 3030 over 500 With what 38 games to go. I mean, their path to winning at least 9697 9899 games. Yeah, thatโs what they do the work they have to do to do that. Thatโs not a you look at that on paper. Thatโs not an intimidating a hurdle. Itโs a cross. I mean, thatโs, you know, thatโs very realistic for just what theyโve done all year. I mean, whether theyโre gonna win 100 Or not, weโll see. Even that, you know what theyโre trying to
Nestor Aparicio 23:24
win 23 Then is it play be 23 and
Luke Jones 23:27
cheating? Yeah. Which which is pay, thatโs a thatโs a good stretch, but thatโs what theyโve done all years. So can they do it? Sure. Will they do it? Weโll see how it plays out. But everything about this team, and you know, Iโd be remiss because you mentioned Gunnar Henderson in passing, Matteo had the inside the park home run. Letโs give Ryan mountcastle some credit, because there are lots of people, myself included, looked at where he was and look to vertigo. How much that was impacting him. Maybe even before he landed on the aisle, who knows but mountcastle Heโs got a 26 game on base streak. Best streak the Orioles have had in that department since Jonathan scope back in 17, when he was an all star went down to Miami and covered him that year at the All Star game but mountcastle has been one of the best hitters in baseball since the all star break and you know so so to get that to get him back on track and weโve seen it in the past when he swings well and thatโs not to say heโs gonna do it the rest of the year because heโs been a very streaky hitter, to a maddening degree at times, but to see what heโs done. In addition to rutschman moving into the leadoff spot, I think thatโs been a nice boost for them with his own day stability. Gunnar Henderson doing what he continues to do. I mean, I thought it was so cool. And I saw you made mention of it on social media as well that he crushes that ball inside the first base bag. It would have been really easy for him especially a 10 to one game. It would have been easy for him to just say oh, Iโll just stay at first. Thatโs thatโs not how he plays though. I mean Eat a kid plays so hard. Brandon Hyde even talked about this. It was at the end of the last homestand. He talked about the fact that Gunnar Henderson one thing that concerns him about Henderson is how hard he runs into first base and puts his foot on the first base bag trying to trying to beat out a ground ball. Itโs something that Hyde has actually talked to him about and said, Hey, we want you out here for 150 plus games, you know, every year there are times where that we want that but there are other times where dude, you gotta be thinking about the big picture also, and I think Gunnar Henderson DOING what He did on Sunday where needs a single for the cycle. And now he goes into second base hard. Itโs a blowout game. And
Nestor Aparicio 25:43
I had to tell him Lamar Jackson not to run in the linebackers for five minutes, too. So you know, itโs but itโs just
Luke Jones 25:49
what what a great and you know, Iโll even this sounds a little corny, but so many young people, you know, so many kids that are getting into the Oreos and everything. You see that example right there where he could have just yeah, he could have pulled Manny Machado a little different. And look. And to be clear, I donโt think Gunnar Hendersonโs the only guy on this team that would do that. Iโm not saying that. But you see an example like that you say, hey, you know, thatโs, thatโs a pretty cool example to see, you know, one of the best young, bright future stars that thatโs an Oreo right now. And the rest of the league is quickly finding out about this kid, you know, for him to do that in that spot. So thatโs pretty cool. And oh, by the way, he just, you know, instead of the cycle he had to settle for four extra base hits in one game.
Nestor Aparicio 26:33
No one would it be grudged them stopping at first base and they would cycle itโs cool. Nobody would have you know, thereโs no argument on that right literally.
Luke Jones 26:42
Yeah, well, Iโm Brandon Hyde joked after the game. He said, Well, maybe gunner was just trying to elevate his Oh, PS a little bit more, you know, get the extra base hit.
Nestor Aparicio 26:49
Oh, thereโs a part of it. Respecting the game to you know, play played out. Play the game out. Look, Joe, just here. Weโre playing the game out. Heโll be playing the game out late night with the Ravens this week as well as early night with the Orioles playing 705 games. Finally,
27:03
howโd you do with the toothpicks in
Nestor Aparicio 27:04
your eyelids? I mean, I was in Ocean City, dude. 72 hours, three days in Ocean City. I was never even on the side of the coastal highway where the beach is. Thatโs how that I saw as much beach as you and I did the two times weโve done Super Bowls in Miami, and Tampa. And anywhere else there was a beach.
Luke Jones 27:27
Iโll say that the nice thing about the West Coast trip is gone at least now right now. And maybe thatโll change in the future. Gone are the days of those 1035 starts. I mean, remember that 1035 starts. I mean, especially pre pitch time or pre pitch clock. When these games were starting to go. Three 315 330 I mean, that would be rough especially. And letโs call a spade a spade. 2018 2019 2021 wasnโt even tried. Yeah, Iโd watched it first couple innings and then Iโll watch the highlights on MLB Network. The next workout after Johnny Carson is what? But yeah, but But itโs been nice. I mean, these games have been more 940 You know what the one game the last game in San Diego was actually an 840 star. So so thatโs, you know, thatโs not too bad. But I admittedly I dosed once or twice, you know, long days in Owings Mills covering covering practice on the backfields even though the weather has been pleasant in that regard, but, but itโs you know, itโs been fun. And thatโs the one thing Iโd say about the San Diego series, Iโd be remiss because you know, weโre not going to you know, weโre focusing on Oakland and just the the West Coast trip in its totality. I will continue to say it is amazing to me that the Padres are as mediocre as they are record wise when you watch them even for three nights. That right there is underachieving the anti Orioles right now letโs say you know compare it to the Orioles who feel like theyโre getting everything they possibly can out of their talent that letโs letโs not misconstrue theyโre very talented, but theyโre still young and theyโre still ascending and you. You still feel that these guys are Gunnar Henderson is going to be better two months from now and two years from now than he is right now. Whereas you look at the Padres and say, Howโs that team under 500? Howโs that team? Not neck and neck with the Dodgers in the MLS? Well, yeah, the Orioles lost two out of three, not the end of the world, certainly. But that was the one thing that you know, one of my takeaways from this West Coast trip is that boy the Padres should be way better than they are because you see him just for two or three nights and you see the talent and how little theyโre getting out of that in the win loss column.
Nestor Aparicio 29:36
My takeaway was I need to go to San Diego next year see the Orioles play. Heโs Baltimore Luke. You can follow him out on the interwebs I have been at Mako and Ocean City, promoting our friends at the Maryland lottery as well as when donation and and really having some great conversations spent time with the governor. We spent a lot of time with Ben Cardin as well as Chris Van Hollen talking about federal stimulus money, things going on with the city. Whatโs out sitting there, Carl Anderton who is the delegate Republican delegate from the Eastern Shore, whoโs the big sports fan big Oriole, raving fan always sort of in the know we had had a month for extended visit, as well as Odette Ramos from from our city here talking about making things better around here and going down to Annapolis and looking for West to help out. So lots of political stuff around here this week. Youโll hear that mixed in with some Oriole stuff as well as the ravens and the residue from the Washington commanders. When you spend time in DC with montgomery county people and Prince Georgeโs County people in Southern Maryland, maybe Charles get all Hey, theyโre gonna change the name of the football I donโt care. As long as they lose is all I care about the Governorโs Cup, I think is what they call it. They used to call it this I think, Phil we own all that. We have baseball around here all week. The Blue Jays are in town Luke will be there. Colorado Rockies and I will be here and you can find me anywhere the internet travels. Add on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Iโm Esther weโre wn st am 1570 Towson Baltimore. Little Orioles, little ravens and a lot of Baltimore positive.com. Stay with us.