O's From the Booth 6/11 - O's Take Phils Series in Extras Again / 2012 team Comparison to 1989 "Why Not" Team. Enjoy!!!

Good evening Orioles fans.  What a weekend in Baltimore.  A lot of Philly fans made the 90 mile south trip to Baltimore for the weekend.  Friday night was the only night they left happy as The O's won in walk off style on Saturday and Sunday.  

The last place Phillies and their fans could drive back north.  I heard quite a bit through the grapevine that the Philly fans were their typical obnoxious, in some cases very rude fans.  The Phillies jumped out to a 4-1 lead as Jason Hammels was a little shaky early on with his command.  Typically this kind of lead is insurmountable against veteran south paw Cliff Lee. This O's team though always believes they can come back and win.  

In the 4th after a Reynolds walk and a Steve Pearce double, Steve Tolleson belted a 3-run home run to tie the game at four.  Jason Hammels pitched a gutsy six innings and turned it over to the Orioles bullpen and as they have all year they shut the door and gave the O's a chance to win the game.  

To extra innings it went where the O's have been a dominant 8-2.  In the bottom of the 10th after Adam Jones reached on an error by former Oriole Ty Wigginton, Matt Wieters doubled off the wall in right and Adam Jones was able score to win it for the O's for their ninth consecutive extra inning win.  The O's won the series and sent the Philly fans packing.  They are still a game out of first as the Rays and the Yankees both won as well on Sunday.  

The O's will face the Pirates starting Tuesday in a three game series.  The Pirates are winners of 12/16 and are playing great baseball as well.  WOW, the Pirates and the Orioles both fighting for first place. Crazy!!!! None of that We are Family stuff this time, lets send then packing too!!! 

You know this team is getting a lot of comparisons to the "Why Not" team of 1989.  I truly think this team is more talented than that team was.  This team has the same we can win attitude as the 1989 team did.  Why don't we have a little fun and compare the two teams.

1989                                                                 2012

Outfield                                                             Outfield

Phil Bradley                                                       Nolan Reimold (DL)

Brady Anderson                                                Adam Jones

Steve Finley                                                       Nick Markakis 

Mike Devereaux                                                Endy Chavez

Joe Orsulak                                                       Steve Pearce

If you look at the outfield of these teams, if Reimold, Jones, and Markakis start I think the talent lies to 2012. If any other variation starts I think you lean towards 1989 as all 5 of those guys can get it done.  That was a darn good list of outfielders from 1989.

Infield                                                              Infield

1B Randy Milligan / Jim Traber                        Mark Reynolds / Chris Davis

2B Billy Ripken / Tim Hullett                            Brian Roberts / Robert Andino

3B Craig Worthington                                      Mark Reynolds /Wilson Betemit

SS Cal Ripken                                                 J.J. Hardy

Utility: Rene Gonzales                                      Steve Tolleson

If you look over the infield obviously the legendary Cal Ripken stands out among all the names.  I think you find more talent on the 2012 squad. Craig Worthington was kind of a one year wonder.  A lot of people thought he was the best defensive 3rd baseman the O's had since Brooksy. That did not last.  If the O's can get Brian Roberts, J.J. Hardy, Robert Andino, and Mark Reynolds at first this year at the same time I think you will see a much more solid defensive team. 

Catchers                                                          Catchers

Mickey Tettleton (Fruit Loops)                         Matt Wieters

Bob Melvin                                                      Ronny Paulino

Obviously Matt Wieters has the most talent of this whole group but man did Mickey Tettleton have a great year in 1989.  For those of you who do not remember, Mickey's wife leaked a story that he had eaten Fruit Loops one morning for breakfast and had a great game so he kept eating them.  The nickname stuck all year. That brings back some memories. Bob Melvin was not a great hitter but a student of the game,  He was a very smart catcher and now manages the Oakland Athletics.  

DH                                                                  DH

Larry Sheets / Jim Traber                                Mark Reynolds/Chris Davis/Ronny Paulino

The days of the player that just DH's for the team are long gone.  The salaries are too high today for the players such as Harold Baines, Jim Dwyer, Terry Crowley, Etc.  The DH's of today need to be able to play a position as needed at anytime the manager calls.  That is just the way it is now.

Pitchers                                                             Pitchers

Bob Milacki                                                       Jake Arrieta

Jeff Ballard                                                         Wei-Yen Chen

Dave Schmidt                                                     Brian Matusz

Pete Harnisch                                                     Jason Hammels   

Dave Johnson                                                     Tommy Hunter 

Bullpen                                                                Bullpen

Mark Williamson                                                  Dana Eveland

Kevin Hickey                                                       Troy Patton

Mark Thurmond                                                   Luis Ayala

Brian Holton                                                         Darren O'Day

Mickey Weston                                                    Pedro Strop

Gregg Olson                                                         Jim Johnson

This year's bullpen has a strong edge in talent and has been the backbone of this team.  The Orioles are not where they are right now without this bullpen.  A lot can also be said about the 1989 bull pen.  Mark Williamson was a work horse and Gregg Olson was one of the best closers in the game that year.  As all you die hard O's fans remember, Olson lived and died by that deadly curve ball.  One got away in the Toronto series that gave them the lead late in the game that clinched the division for the Jays and burst the bubble of the Cinderella Orioles of 1989.  

The two teams have a lot of similarities. Different guys would always seem to come up big at different times such as Dave Johnson and Mickey Weston.  Then you had rising stars in Brady Anderson, Steve Finley, and Pete Harnisch.  This year you have guys like Steve Tolleson, Ryan Flaherty, Robert Andino, and Steve Pearce coming up big.  

Then pitchers like Wei Yen Chen, Jason Hammels, and the whole bull pen.  This years O's are a lot of fun to watch and you can just see there will to win. They have not let the injuries if this team get them down. They just keep plugging the holes and finding ways to win.  I really think this team will keep winning more than they lose.  They just have heart and they play hard. Those kind of things can not be taught.  I hope they keep it rolling!!!!  Let's Go O's!!!!!!!!!