Episode 203: Things Look Pretty Bleach

Published by Bird's Eye View at May 31, 2017

Leading Off

Quick, with the exception of Monday’s game, do you remember the last Orioles game you enjoyed? It’s been a rough stretch, with the Orioles losing seven consecutive games, and looking nothing like the club that jumped out to an early lead in the AL East in 2017.

Host Scott Magness takes a well deserved day off, and Friend of the Program, Charlie Hoppes, steps in to deal with the week that was Orioles baseball.

The Medical Wing

The Medical Wing is at full capacity this week It’s absurd how many people are hurt, and how significant some of the injuries are.

Zach Britton – shut down 45-60 days with forearm discomfort
Ryan Flaherty – strained right shoulder
Adam Jones – ankle, hip

This Week on the Twitters

I wonder if Chris Davis thinks some of his swings are deferred as well.

— Alex Conway (@AlexConwayCC) May 24, 2017

Not sure what the Orioles were thinking inviting thousands of children to a snuff film

— Josh Sadlock (@JoshSadlock) May 24, 2017

Facebook commenter says you cannot trade Mancini because he is a "proven Hitler". A bit harsh.

— Camden Depot (@CamdenDepot) May 25, 2017

I can confidently say the Orioles are currently playing the worst baseball in all of MLB.

— Bryan Mannarino (@bohlieve83) May 28, 2017

Once again, the negativity on this platform forcing me to look away. I miss what twitter used to be. Or maybe what I perceived it to be.

— Ryan Wagner (@rwags614) May 27, 2017

Orioles are now 25-23. They currently have a 7-game losing streak, and have lost 13 of their last 16 games.

This is the opposite of fun.

— Dillon Atkinson (@DAtkinsonOU) May 28, 2017

Hello, my name is Jake

*hi Jake*

And I'm coming to grips with the fact that my favorite baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, might be bad

— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) May 28, 2017

How Bad Is Bad?

Embed from Getty Images

Charlie (@CharlesHoppes) and Jake try to decide how bad this Orioles slump has been. Neither of them can qualify as “optimists,” though as usual, Bird’s Eye View tries to find the silver lining in every bit of smog.

Sure, it’s been bad. But is this the team that we have to root for, or is it a case of “you’re never as good as you look when things are going good, and you’re never as bad as you look when things are going nuclear?” And of course, this conversation wouldn’t be complete without wondering what an Ubaldo Jimenez is.

We think that’s how the expression goes.

Shame Wow

Jake finds some ridiculous products that might just help draw the team out of its collective funk, and maybe even dig up a few dollars to direct toward those big free agent contracts that are coming up.

Charlie is having none of it. What other products might we sell? Let us know what you’ve got via Twitter @birdseyeviewbal.

Deep Cuts

Scott has replaced our old Fantasy Boss segment with something he can hope to win. After having had his doors blown off in successive seasons, he unveiled Deep Cuts, a segment that pits Jake’s love of old, obscure music against Scott’s desire to talk stats.

The concept is simple. Scott presents a deep cut each week (usually something from the 60s to the 80s), and if Jake can’t name the artist and song, then Scott’s stat talk goes on as planned.

It’s a brutal game. C# Major vs. Barrels.

Who will own it?

Blowing the Save

Most podcasts try to end on a high note – the perfect coda to a quality program. That’s just not our style. Each week, we’ll end on a weak note, blowing the save with an item that didn’t quite fit into the episode, or something they simply need to get off their chests. It’s our version of taking the ball and pulling a Kevin Gregg.