Episode 222: Philosophical Participation

Published by Bird's Eye View at December 11, 2017

Leading Off

Remember us? We used to podcast about the Orioles. We decided to get together to discuss the Orioles’ Winter Meeting doings.

But since that isn’t actually a thing, we just recorded an episode of Bird’s Eye View, like always.

Join us for The Drink of the Week. Don’t forget to drink socially with us on Untappd.

This Week on the Twitters

Here is what is happening in the world of Orioles Baseball, in 280 characters, or fewer:

Giancarlo Stanton's advice to Marlins fans: "Maybe watch from afar if you’re going to watch."

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2017

Seeing Derek Jeter react to getting the first critical news coverage of his life is pretty hilarious.

— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) December 11, 2017

Dipoto, itching neck: "Come on, you got more IFA cash. I gotta get more. Just a little taste."
Baltimore: "We're out, man. Our supply is gone. And I think you've had enough"
Dipoto: (Throws phone and starts swinging Nick Neidert by ankles) "I'll TELL YOU WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"

— Christopher Crawford (Not Adrian Beltre) (@Crawford_MILB) December 7, 2017

Mike Fiers has agreed to 1 year, $6M deal with #Tigers pending physical. #Orioles had offered 2 years. @anthonyfenech first reported it was close.

— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) December 8, 2017

I think I could swallow Manny to the Cardinals. At least it isn't Philly or NY

— This is Birdland (@Os_Birdland) December 11, 2017

Jimenez-Miley-Hellickson-Tillman have to set some kind of record for Worst Group of Pitchers to Leave a Team But the Team's Pitching Projections Still Get Worse.

— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) December 9, 2017

What Are the Stakes?

I've been an Orioles fan since a toddler, like 35-37 years or so. But when there's a point a team doesn't care about you as a fan or share any of your baseball values, are you really a fan? Until current ownership is gone or does a 180 on team philosophy, I'm out. pic.twitter.com/1sVnCpPUpH

— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) December 11, 2017

Look, we love Dan. He’s an ESPN contributor, the creator of ZiPS, and a Bird’s Eye View guest. But his tweet got our juices flowing (maybe that was the point?). What do we, as Orioles fans, think about the way things are going, and what do we do about it?

If you don’t agree with the way your team is going about things, and you say “I’m out,” how does that differ from being a fair-weather fan? On the other hand, how do you continue to pour your emotions, time, and treasure into a team that just refuses to operate intelligently?

We talk ourselves in circles, and piss everyone off in the process. It’s what we do best.

Philosophical Participation

#Orioles GM Dan Duquette confirms that the team did NOT make a presentation to Shohei Ohtani, "Because philosophically we don't participate on the posting part of it." pic.twitter.com/IIyL2oDTrM

— MLB Network Radio Sirius 209, XM 89 (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 10, 2017

Yeah. Dan Duquette actually said that. You could spend some time trying to wrap your brain around why a human being would say that, or you could do what we did: try to think of what else the Orioles (or rather, specific Orioles) might fail to philosophically participate in.

Let us know what we missed by tweeting us @birdseyeviewbal with #PhilosophicallyParticipate (hey, you get 280 characters, now).

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.