Orioles Win Series Against Yankees, Looking For a Sweep

The Orioles have started their season off well, winning their first two games of the season against the hated New York Yankees at sit in first place in the AL East. Now they look to sweep the Evil Empire tomorrow night. Yes we all know this is only two games out of 162, but Baltimore sure is happy tonight. They have the chance to win their first three games for the first time in over a decade.

The two Baltimore starters, Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara, both earned wins. Each game involved a destruction of the Yankee starter, either C.C Sabathia or Chien-Ming Wang. Neither lasted more than 4.1 innings and neither notched a strikeout. The O's bullpen has had its shaky moments, but in the end they have at least held to win each game.

But this team seems to have developed some character and an image. Some were wondering if the departure of Kevin Millar and the depression of last season would hurt the clubhouse. But this team seems to be having a good time. From Gregg Zaun learning some Japanese to help Uehara to Adam Jones smiling in the outfield to a strange Aubrey Huff catch, to Dave Trembley working well with the team, this team seems to be enjoying themselves and not being afraid of their opponents. This could be because of the winning, but it is a nice sight to see considering last season. The fans are also getting more into the game. Despite that it was clear a Yankees contingent was in Camden Yards, the park was clearly in the hands of the Orioles fans. The constant booing attack on Mark Teixeira has clearly bothered him during this series. All in all, this has the look of a different Orioles team.

But make no mistake, this season has just started. Guthrie and Uehara are Baltimore's most reliable starters, and the O's don't have anyone else that is proven in the long term. Starters like Alfredo Simon and Mark Hendrickson will need to be ready. The bullpen has held on in the end in both games, but if the back of the rotation does not hold up, then the bullpen will fall with it. The Orioles look good to start, let's hope they can continue the success.

Tomorrow Alfredo Simon gets the call against A.J. Burnett as the O's go for the sweep.

(Photo credit: Baltimore Sun)

Mark Teixeira Deserves The Oriole Fan Treatment

Sure it was for the money. Sure the hometown team did not give a great offer. Sure everything about the circumstances makes sense. The Severna Park native did what any player would do when offered 20+ million over eight years, take the money and play. But Mark Teixeira should expect everything he gets at Camden Yards forever.

Before the game, Teixeira said that in a perfect world he'd be an Oriole and that he has a lot of respect for the organization and loves the city.

Odd that it comes after he stated that he always wanted to be a Yankee and that he would wear Yankees gear to games.

The fact is that he is speaking both sides and expecting just the status quo to happen, Orioles fans booing him because he is a Yankee. Not from a local kid who was constantly saying he would love to be an Oriole before this season then says completely opposite things when he signs with New York. Nothing was going to stop booing from Orioles fans, but it is not helped at all by his statements or his attitude. He has not handled it well and he can't expect Orioles fans to understand that.

The fact is Orioles fans have a right to boo him incessantly for the rest of his career. Mark Teixeira should not be blamed period for taking the money, but for all the things he said teasing the city, he deserves any booing or harsh treatment he gets. Welcome to Baltimore Mark Teixeira, enjoy your stay.

(Photo credit: Baltimore Sun)

Orioles Won't Drop Ticket Prices

On the Baltimore Sun sports digest, Jeff Zrebiec reports that the Orioles will not drop their ticket prices for the next season.

Some of these prices that will at least remain the same include $9 for LF upper reserve and standing room for a normal game, $15/$23 for the bleachers, $55/$75 for a club box seat and$55/$80 for a field box seat, all according to the Orioles website.

More brilliance from Peter Angelos. First off, it is true, that lowering prices and getting more fans is not where the money is in athletics. It is in sponsors, TV deals, and MLB revenue. But if you are consistently losing attendance, this past season the lowest in Camden Yards history, sponsors will leave and your TV contract will lose value. Not to mention that the team has shown no reason for the average baseball to attend games. If it weren't for the Yankees and Red Sox games being near sellouts, then the Orioles would like have the worst attendance in baseball.

Remember when the standing room seats were three dollars each? Sure that was years ago and we are in a different time, but that was when the team competed. Andy MacPhail is doing a solid job trying to rebuild the farm system, but that will take years and the average fan isn't going to care about that. In the mean time, the ownership has to prove that the Orioles are trying to get back in touch with fans plus get people back in the stands. You'll be hard pressed to do that by keeping up high ticket prices. But Angelos doesn't care; he never has.

(Photo credit: MLB)