Happy to have another O's win, but really sad to hear about Jim McKay.
I grew up watching him and he will always be on my list of the greatest sports broadcasters.
Goodbye Jim.

Roch,

Do you ever wonder how things may have been different had Dauer somehow grabbed that shot off the bat of Stargell? I remember crowley's pinch hit double down the right field line in game 4 - it was at that point I thought they were going to win...which created even greater hearbreak when they lost

If Bynum catches the relay and fires to first for the dp then all Trax had to do is retired 1 more hitter anf the game is over. This time I can't fault Trax for a bad performance. I put the blame on Bynum. It was nice to get Guthrie the win. Now I hope they let Sarfate get on the next flight and get him home to see his new baby born. What a great story he has going for him. I think they can do with out him for a game. Now they have most of their bullpen ready for tomorrows game. Remember they are on an 8 game losing streak on Sundays.

RIP Jim McKay. I remember all those Wide World of Sports that he announced but he will be remember most is how he presented the news at the Munich Olympics for all the athletes assassinations.

I agree Roch.

That team was my favorite as well. Still don’t know how they blow a 3-1 series lead, with Flanagan, Palmer and McGregor starting the next 3.

Remember how they started the year 3-8? Then Palmer pitched a shutout in NY, and they were on their way. Went 99-49 the rest of the way. Wow!

As a footnote, the Pirates won only 83 games in 1980, while the Birds won 100. It is pretty clear which team was better. As they say, anything can happen in a short series.

Dear Mr. Angelos,

If you haven't heard yet, I may be available to rejoin the Orioles' pitching staff soon. I come with a 4-1, 25 K, 3.88 ERA, and a really good clubhouse attitude. (Okay, I was kidding about that last part, but that's not a so big deal, is it?)

Best of all, I'm positive I can push the team over the top, will come cheap, and haven't punched out any judges lately. Interested?

From the Dallas Morning News, in their article about the release of Sidney Ponson:

"Club officials spoke with Ponson, 31, about comportment after the incident and reiterated the "one-strike" stance they took when they signed him in March..."

Can you just imagine Ponson's response: "Comportment? Hey, that's where I keep my flask...in my car in the glove comportment."

Hoping the Yankees resign Ponson myself.

Definitely a meloncholy day, huh?

The Birds rough up another one of the ’Jays' aces, but Baltimore and Maryland lost a great man today ... ironically on Belmont Saturday, as McKay was so well known for his Triple Crown work.

McKay has perhaps the most recognized soundbite from the Olympics that only Al Michaels’ “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” could rival.

However, for completely different emotions, McKay will always be associated with: “They’re gone. ... They’re all gone,” while covering the Munich Games in 1972 when terrorists gunned down Israeli athletes.

Back to the Orioles (I didn’t want to sully the respects for Jim McKay with trivial transaction notes), but is this a clensing of past pitching ghosts with Armando Benitez and Sidney Ponson being DFAd on the same day the Orioles crept back over .500?

Jim McKay (1921-2008, RIP) -- For as great and celebrated a sportscaster as he was, it's a pity that only his remarks at the Munich Olympics and "...thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat" are readily recalled. He deserves better.

Check this out.....there are only 5 teams in the AL that have won more games than the Orioles.

"t" as in future Title Town!

Roch:
Ponson is his own worst enemy, so good riddance from Texas.
Now, I'll ask the question that I have asked on this blog 5 times in the last year, plus, and have never seen the answer: "What is the status of Sir Sidney's arbitration case with the Orioles? Was it ever settled and if so, for how much?
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At last check, it's still unresolved. - Roch

Does anyone remember the version of "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" that WBAL used to play during the '79 season, playing dramatic O's highlights everytime that phrase was sung? That was one special season.

I wonder where I could get a copy of that version of the song?
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I remember it like it was yesterday. - Roch

Trax needs to go

Jim McManus was on channel 2, partnered with Bailey Goss on a daily afternoon sports show. He changed his name to McKay when he went to NY because there already was a Jim McManus there. A little like Tim conway who grew up in Cleveland as Tom, but changed to Tim because there was a movie guy named Tom Conway. Jim McKay had a wry sense of humor and was as much a gentleman off the air as on. In those days that style was not as uncommon as it is today.

I can relate to the geek-issue. I became a fan on June 22, 1979 when Doug DeCinces hit the sudden death homerun of Tigers pitcher Dave Tobik and thus spawn Orioles magic, and like you, Roch, I taped recorded the highlights of just about every Orioles win thereafter to about the 1985 season, believe it or not. Many of those old cassette tapes have bit the dust, but I still have a few, including Tom Marr in the O's dugout in 1979 when they clinched the division. I can still hear him saying, "And Dennis Martinez has a hose!" as DM had decided to take things up a notch when dousing Tom with champagne got to be too boring.
As for the heartbreak of '79 (I believe my brother still has his orange 'Baltimore Orioles 1979 World Series Champions' t-shirt, printed just a wee bit prematurely), I may be wrong about this, but did we not have Steve Stone at that time? I think he had joined the Orioles later in the '79 season and, of course, would go on to win 25 games in 1980. So you've got the '79 Cy Young on the mound, Hall of Famer Palmer, McGregor who'd win 20 in 1980, and the '80 Cy Young award winner sitting forgotten in the bullpen and yet we still lost? Must have been destiny, and ya can't fight destiny. That '79 team was a very streaky team hitting wise, and unfortunately, we just hit stretch where we stopped hitting. And don't forget Kent Tekulve--oy VEY I had NEVER seen anybody throw submarine like that! You'd think I might have sore feelings and get ticked whenever I hear that Sister Sledge WE ARE FAMILY, but it's a catchy tune and I like it because, mark my words, one day the O's and the Pirates WILL face off again in the Series and we WILL win at that time, and we WILL rock the Yard, bopping and movin' to WE ARE FAMILY as Baltimore's combined way of saying STICK IT Pirates fans (not unlike how the O's sang "NyaaNyaaNyaaNyaa, HeyHeyHey, GOODBYE," the White Sox "fight" song in 1983 when we eliminated them in the playoffs (oh whither Tito Landrum? I don't think that ball he hit off Britt Burns has come down from the sky yet!)
Glad the O's are playing so well. Sad about Trachsel, he does look like he's about at the end of his career. I can't see how Trembley can go to him with any amount of confidence when it seems even an 8-run lead isn't safe with him on the mound. Granted, it wasn't entirely his fault, but it's like the captain of the ship--he's pitching, he's responsible, he is the guy who put those men on base. Well, hopefully he's been saving his money and has a good 401K plan!

Yeah, we need to just release Traschel. As the Luis Hernandez move was obvious, this move is too.

I was very surprised that we actually are in 3rd place. If we can pull off the rare sweep, and get the series in Boston, we can really climb up the standings. We gotta get on a very good winning streak.

Offense needs to keep it up. They are smoking as of late.

The passing of Jim McKay is so sad, but he left a legacy of broadcasting that ranks at the top of his profession. Like Chuck Thompson and so many others who are worthy of being in the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, McKay was the consummate pro who could convey the essence of the games he covered. The job he did at the Munich Olympics has to be one of the signature moments in all of sports reporting.

The 79 World Series was a repeat misery for me of the 71 WS. Same team, up 3 games to 1, same results. I hope they sweep them in a few weeks just for old time revenge sake even if it's 29 years later. :)

Trax needs to go

Hey, I just checked into my hotel room here in Toronto. What a game! Forget about Roch travelling with the team, I need to get on the team charter. I have attended two road games this year, and they have been the two highest scoring road games this season (the other being the 12-2 at Yankee Stadium.)

Had nice seats, right behind the O's bullpen in right. Jays fans were riding our guys pretty hard. In the bottom of the 8th, only Cormier was vulnerable (Johnson and Sherrill had jackets on hiding their names, so were left alone completely. And I don't know where the others went.) He was getting it bad, but, when it was quiet for a second I yelled down to him, "Lance! Lance!" He turned around, and I asked him loud so everyone could hear, "I can't remember, was it you guys that coughed up 6 runs in the 8th last night, or was it those guys over there?" (while pointing across at the home bullpen over in left, and looking over at the hecklers.) He nodded and pointed over. The hecking quieted down considerably. I'm glad I didn't get punched afterward (I had no backup), and maybe I almost jinxed our guys, but it was so, so worth it.

Heading home, via Cooperstown, so won't be at tomorrows' game. Cormier and Albers (who was getting it earlier and was going back and forth with the hecklers a bit) will be on their own. Go O's!

And another thing, Sarfate is expecting a girl, according to Cormier.

wow. checked out the last two blogs(including this one), and there wasn't one "hater" post about Jay Payton after he gets 5 rbis...shocking. its really amazing. there are so many fair weather Oriole fans out there, its ridiculous. payton has a bad game, he gets ripped( more than any player on the team, and TMNA i'm talking to you), burres has a bad game (or two) he gets ripped and shouldnt be a starter(after being included in every posters rotation all year), millar has a bad game he gets ripped, Jones as well, etc etc. you can go on and on. hell, i've done it with Mora and Millar myself. but when any of the above players has a good game, then its "oh, he's the greatest!". i guess its the nature of the beast, but come on people. if someone who you hate (but really like) has a bad game, take a deep breath, stay off the computer, go to bed. if you feel the same way about him the next day, then by all means spew it out.

p.s. the "revenge" against Benitez posts were pretty stupid. yeah, he blew games for us, but he didn't do it on purpose. if jeffrey maier or richie garcia were pitching, then that would be payback. get over it.

Where do we go from here? How about 5 games over .500 so we can lose a few in a row and not feel like the sky is falling? Perhaps that will be a treat reserved for next season. Great road trip and a few day wins so far.

Gotta think sweep here as the Jays are in a little tailspin.

Trachsel is a nice, hardworking man. His WHIP (walks and hits per inning) is over two. I've never seen this before. That means his AVERAGE inning has has two men on or the bases loaded - that's every inning! I'm sure there are some nice, hardworking auto mechanics - but they shouldn't be part of the O's pitching staff. It's way past time...

Jim McKay , i want to say thank you for all the memories . Bless you and Goodbye =(