SB Nation User Blog: punkrawka

Shouting "O" at the Nats stadium?

punkrawka — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:01:11 -0000

So I'll probably be at Saturday and/or Sunday's O's-Nats games at the new Nationals stadium. And I'm already wondering -- is it OK to shout "O!" during the national anthem? I have several disconnected thoughts about this:

- Shouting "O!" should be OK since I will be decked out in O's gear and this is a form of supporting my team.

- Shouting "O!" is discourteous, similar to the Boston/NY fans getting up chants for their teams and generally being asswipes at OPACY.

- Shouting "O!" at Nats games is normally ignorant since it's an Orioles thing, but is OK since the Orioles are actually there.

What do you think?

Poll

Is shouting "O!" during the anthem at the Nationals stadium acceptable or rude?

Scream until your lungs give out!

61 votes

Don't be that guy!

9 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

Freddie Bynum is NOT birdland

punkrawka — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:25:02 -0000

So, as of the close of yesterday's game, our starting shortstop INCREASED his hitting line to a robust .207/.255/.261. His OPS+ now sits at a stunning 40. I'm glad we got rid of Luis Luis and all, but is this supposed to be an upgrade? All we can really say about Bynum is that he's average with the glove and decent on the basepaths, and those are both strengths I'd rather have on the bench.

Freddie is not a prospect. Freddie is not our shortstop of the future. This is not Adam Jones, taking his lumps in order to learn for next year and beyond (and even Adam Jones is better than this, anyway). Freddie Bynum vs. Alex Cintron makes no difference whatsoever to the future or present fortunes of this ballclub, so seriously, it's time for the slightly less embarassing Cintron to take over.

This all hit rock bottom for me when Bynum struck out on three straight breaking balls out of the zone last night, swinging at all three. The dude just doesn't have it at the dish, and we have no reason to wait around and see if he ever finds it.

And so, I cry with mock enthusiasm, CINTRON FOR SHORTSTOP! THE TIME IS NOW, THE PLACE IS NOW!

"O" car magnet anyone?

punkrawka — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:39:49 -0000

I went to today's game, and while I was out on Eutaw St, a lady was giving away surplus "O" magnets. I picked up two and I think I still have two or three extra from opening day as well. Anyone want one? PM me your address and I'll drop it in the mail.

Since I'm not up to 75 words yet, today's game was beautiful but very frustrating as a game. Could you imagine anything worse than owning both Capps and Sherril on the same fantasy team this weekend?

O's opening day tickets available

punkrawka — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:53:52 -0000

So, the team didn't publicize this, since it's kind of embarassing, but tickets for Opening Day (Monday) are now available as single-game tickets. Previously you had to buy a six-pack to get one Opening Day ticket.

Just go to the official website and click Schedule, then click the ticketing link next to Opening Day. Hope this helps someone out, I know I was excited to stumble across it. I'll be there!

Payton to Chicago with Roberts?

punkrawka — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:12:18 -0000

OK, so two disclaimers: Heyman is frequently full of shit and this is pretty thin on details. Nonetheless, here goes:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/specials/spring_training/2008/03/03/heyman.robert s/index.html

According to Heyman, Payton may be accompanying Roberts to Chicago, which is great. Redman is just about as good for a fourth outfielder, and way the hell cheaper. I thought Chicago already had four outfielders, but hey, not our problem. Hopefully this happens and nets us a whole slew of prospects... even though I will miss B-Rob. Also, I would love to see us pull Sean Hill if adding Payton makes that viable.

Update [2008-3-4 5:57:7 by punkrawka]: Sean Hill is not a person. I meant Rich Hill.

In other big Orioles news...

punkrawka — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:55:24 -0000

Buried at the bottom of this AP article abuot the Tejada trade was the juicy tidbit that we re-signed Tike to a one-year deal. I have no particularly strong feeling about this, but I think most of us would agree that we like Tike as long as he doesn't actually, you know, play that many games for us.

Value of O's franchise up?

punkrawka — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:14:12 -0000

I'm not sure why this qualifies as a rumor rather than a report, but it's interesting to see that the value of the franchise has gone up so much as the team sits in the crapper and attendance plummets year after year. Is MASN alone propping up the value? Advertising? Merchandise?

Anyway, maybe the money will be enough for Petey to sell... a guy can dream, right?

Spare part notice: O's acquire Novoa

punkrawka — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:10:52 -0000

This isn't an earth-shattering move by any stretch, but it's good to see the O's trying to bolster the bullpen with cheap scrap-heap guys instead of overpriced scrap-heap guys. The way I see it, relievers (except for the elite top 5%) will always be a crapshoot, so picking up 10 cheap guys is better than 2-3 expensive ones, since you'll probably get 2-3 workable guys on the cheap anyway.

Like I said, not earth-shattering, but I'll take five more Novoa-esque signings this offseason over one more Baez.

Regarding our bullpen

punkrawka — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:14:05 -0000

I just noticed how well this guy is doing for himself this year. Isn't it amusing that our multi-million dollar investment has blown up in our faces while a bargain guy we gave up on is doing quite well for a contender?

Now I'm not saying the FO wasn't justified in giving up on this guy after all the injuries and poor performances even when healthy, but still.... argh.

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but...

punkrawka — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:35:47 -0000

Is HBP normally counted as part of an on-base streak? Everyone's saying that Kevbo broke the record for consecutive games reaching base on a hit, walk or HBP, and there's no denying Kevbo's awesomeness, but I thought a traditional on-base streak was just hits and walks, same way OBP is calculated.

Now arguably, maybe HBP should be counted in both, I'm just wondering whether it normally is as far as Kevbo's accomplishment is concerned.