Battle of the Beltway 2008: Part I

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May 16, 4:23 PM

by Pete Sabatini, Baltimore O's Examiner

 

 

What better way to greet the regional rivals at home than hot off a dramatic two-game sweep of the Red Sox. 

The three game weekend series gets started Friday night at 7:05 with hot handed Garrett Olson (2-0) taking on the rebounding righty Shawn Hill (0-0).

The Nats come in as the NL East cellar dwellers 18-24, a full three games behind the Braves in a much-hyped and underperforming division. 

That Nationals advertising team made quite an entrance via the inner harbor with mascot and founding father in tow.  Give them credit; the Orioles should get that creative.

There’s been no update from the warehouse just yet on the status of Melvin Mora’s shoulder or if he’ll be available this weekend.  It’s a safe bet that Ramon Hernandez won’t make an appearance as last word on his wrist was he physically couldn’t swing a bat on Thursday.

I like the looks of Aubrey Huff at third so I’m not too worried about the Mora situation, but with a Sunday day game after a night game on Saturday, it could be a stretch for Quiroz to catch all three. 

After taking two against the Sox and winning five of their last six, the Orioles have climbed back up into the thick of the AL East with a 21-19 record.  This puts the Birds ahead of the slumping Jays and Yanks, two and a half games behind the first place Rays and one and a half from the Sox.

Speaking of slumping Yanks, with their loss to the Rays Thursday night the Bronx Bummers are now pulling up the rear in the East. 

Brian Cashman appears to be on the hot seat in New York while the promising young rookies he opted to hang onto instead of trading for Johan Santana are struggling mightily between triple-A and the DL. 

Meanwhile, Santana with his 3.10 ERA and 52Ks in 52 innings is taking the mound for the cross-town Mets against said Yankees Friday night at Yankee Stadium.  It’s a crime that this game won’t be broadcast nationally, but anyone with the MLB Package should check it out between Orioles innings.

The weather outlook is looking worse in NYC than it is here in Baltimore (should clear up here by game time), but should make for an interesting game whenever it gets played.  Real luck would be for Santana to get scratched Friday night and penciled in for Sunday which is on ESPN, but that’s a long shot.

This will help you get in the mood as Orioles gametime approaches:

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