If you have been following our Baltimore Drought Bracketology tournament over the past couple weeks, then you’ll know that it has become a much bigger hit than we anticipated. Over the first two rounds (48 matchups), we have drawn in a total of 11,073 votes between ESR and Orioles Uncensored. I have appeared twice on 105.7 The Fan’s Vinny & Rob Show to advertise the tournament, and I am truly grateful for that opportunity.
We have some very exciting matchups coming up, including some great ones in the Sweet 16 featuring Jay Gibbons vs Luis Matos, Miguel Tejada vs Kevin Millar, and Luke Scott vs Felix Pie over on O’s Uncensored.
Enough babbling from me. Let’s get to the good stuff…
Presenting the Baltimore Drought tournament Sweet 16!
Sam Perlozzo region
(1) Melvin Mora
After pulling off a fairly easy first round upset over 8-seed Jay Payton, 9-seed Corey Patterson ran into the metaphorical Kentucky Wildcats of the tournament in Melvin Mora and had his Cinderella hopes and dreams shattered, 105-8. As Mora, our #1 overall seed, advances to the Sweet 16, he remains the favorite to take the crown. Next challenger: Ramon Hernandez.
vs. (4) Ramon Hernandez
A battle of catchers hoping to advance to the Sweet 16 ended with the higher seed Hernandez defeating 5 seed Geronimo Gil by a score of 72-40. Ramon will have to draw in some major voters if he wants to advance past Mora.
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(2) Jay Gibbons
Gibbons received quite a scare last round from 7-seed Javy Lopez, narrowly winning 58-55. We’ll see if his connection to steroids hurts him as he matches up with dark horse Luis Matos in the Sweet 16.
vs. (6) Luis Matos
Matos came through with an upset last round, defeating 3-seed Larry Bigbie by a score of 62-48. One of three 6-seeds remaining in the tournament, Matos will look to continue his success against another popular outfielder in Gibbons.
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Dave Trembley region
(1) Miguel Tejada
Over the first two rounds, Tejada has defeated his opponents (Josh Bell and Sidney Ponson) by a combined score of 503-31. Impressive. This round, however, he will face a truly tough test in Kevin Millar.
vs. (4) Kevin Millar
Millar ended 12-seed Cesar Izturis’ Cinderella aspirations with a 93-21 victory in the round of 32. Clearly a fan favorite, Millar now has a chance to knock off 1-seed Miguel Tejada. I think this will be our best Sweet 16 matchup.
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(2) Erik Bedard
After a strong, Rob Long-induced push from 7-seed Rodrigo Lopez, Bedard escaped defeat in what was our closest matchup thus far, 59-57, last round. Here in the Sweet 16 he faces a tough opponent and fellow lefty in B.J. Ryan.
vs. (6) B.J. Ryan
Ryan forced us to say goodbye to Tony Batista and his wicked cool batting stance with a 72-39 victory in the round of 32. He looks to advance to the Elite 8 as he faces off with Bedard.
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Don’t forget to head over to O’s Uncensored to vote on the Mazzilli and Hargrove regions of the Sweet 16 and matchups like Guthrie vs Sherrill and Roberts vs Conine.
As usual, find me on twitter @ryguyblake with any questions, comments, feedback, etc.
Thanks for continuing to follow along!
