The O’s had their third seven-game winning streak of the season stopped right there – just like both previous iterations – in Seattle, but with Boston idle and Toronto losing, they still carry a 5-game AL East lead into the weekend.
Here’s to plenty more fireworks courtesy of the Birds’ bats not only this Independence Day weekend, but all through the month of June.
Let’s see what everybody is saying about the O’s today…
The Orioles are Bashing Their Way to the Top of the American League
The Orioles just set a new record for home runs in June (watch all 56 in 30 seconds here), and NumberFire’s John Stolnis says that the long ball could well power the O’s to a division title.
Planets Aligned for Orioles to Match Monthly Mash Mark
ESPN’s Eddie Matz, perhaps the biggest fan of alliteration you’ll find in the sports writing world, posted yesterday about all the reasons that the O’s were likely to break the June HR record. Somehow, this didn’t jinx it.
The Orioles Aren’t Winning the “Right” Way, but They’re Winning
If you’re anything like me, your knee-jerk reaction to that headline is something along the lines of, “well, that’s stupid.” But remember, writers don’t write headlines; editors do. Don’t blame Vice Sports’ Jon Bernhardt (O’s fan!) for that stupid, stupid title. This is a very good synopsis of how the O’s have gotten to this point.
Hyun Soo Kim has Been a Revelation
NA NA NANANA! It looked like the O’s might not break the June HR record after all, as they were held scoreless through six innings in Seattle, but then the unlikeliest of heroes, Hyun Soo Kim, came through. Hell, maybe it’s not all that unlikely though, as Kim now has homers in each of his last two games. Camden Depot’s Matt Kremnitzer explores just how awesome the O’s Korean import has been.
Who Will Hate Robot Umps the Most?
This isn’t an “O’s Link” per se, but a baseball link. Eno Sarris of FanGrahs talked to a bunch of major leaguers about the prospect of robot umpires calling balls and strikes. A very interesting post that explores some ramifications I hadn’t considered, this article had me convinced by the end that robot umps would suck. Then, as if on cue, last night’s home plate ump in Seattle screwed Chris Tillman out of four or five strikes in the first two innings, and just like that, I was back on the ROBOT UMPS! bandwagon.
Happy Fourth, Birdland!
