Good morning Everybody!
Everywhere I go people are talking about the heat. Yes it's hot and humid, this is Baltimore in the dog days of summer!!! people love to complain, soon it will be too cold. Thank you God for everyday, I'm glad to be alive!
E that is one cool case you got there and custom made to boot, congratulations!
Garry I love the Schlitz car and as always seeing pictures of your masterpiece layout.
Schlitz was sold in every establishment, then my generation said it was crap, same thing happened with Baltimore's National Boh. I think my generation just did now want to drink their fathers beer.
I had the good fortune of being able to talk to Brew Masters from both Anheuser-Busch and G. Heileman breweries when I worked at Memorial Stadium and they both told me "there is not much difference between true lager beers, most people could not taste the difference" I suppose it's all a matter of what people believe. I don't get it, reminds me of today's political scene, facts don't matter, many people just ignore them. Many people believe what they want to believe.
OJ is a source of aggravation, mixed emotions and bitter sweet memories for me. I idolized him when he was a player. He was the best running back of his day, top 3 all time. Week after week we knew Buffalo was going to feature him and he still wore out defenses. No matter what my Baltimore Colts did they could not stop him. Later he was funny in the movies and even TV commercials. Then we find out he is a coke fiend and more than likely a murderous thug. What a disappointment he turned out to be, to say the least, he makes me sick.
Boris I can't explain what has turned the bats around, other than maybe reaching a low point the are now listening to the hitting coach. The hitters are not chasing, they are getting deeper into counts, fouling off tough pitches with 2 strikes and best of all letting the ball travel, driving it to the opposite field. Good hitters let the pitcher determine where the ball goes and now our hitters are going with the pitch! We still left 14 runners on base, but we had more than our share of clutch 2 out hits.
Miley is his own worst enemy. He has become too predictable. He goes 3-1 (as usual) to Napoli then like always throws an off speed pitch in a fastball count. Napoli was looking for it, he recognized the curveball and hit a 3 run HR. The other 3 starters trusted their stuff and challenged hitters when they got behind in their last start. With all this advanced scouting you have to be unpredictable. I would not have been upset if he had tried to throw a fastball down and away and walked him. The guy behind him is flirting with the Mendoza line! Walks are not so bad if you keep them to 1 every three innings or less. Miley is walking more than 1 every 2 innings! He is a lefty who throws in the low to mid-90s! WTF are you doing!!!
If I were Buck I would pull an Earl Weaver on Miley. Earl was known to show up his players by screaming at them on the field when he needed to make a point. I think Buck recognizes what it takes to gently coax these over paid cry babies. The days of men like Earl are long gone. I remember when Earl retired for the second time after the 85 season, he said, "I can't work with this generation"
Speaking of Buck, I trust him, he is brilliant! When Brock came in for the 8th I was thinking "oh no, is this a good idea? Britton is still in spring training mode". But I thought "ok Buck, you know best" I think Buck was thinking we have to get Britton back to last years form if we are going to make a run. I'm not saying we can't if Britton remains shaky, but it sure will be easier!
Ok, we swept Texas, they are not the best, but to sweep any big league team in 4 games is an accomplishment.
Now we face the closet thing to "murderers row" the big leagues has this year. Houston is leading the AL in every major offensive category. The are for real and they could win it all, but they can be beat if you can out pitch them, same as any team. I'm really looking forward to this series, lets see just how good we are.
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