Episode 43: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times

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Leading Off

And… we’re back at full strength! Scott returns from vacation, and leaves the bell back at the beach. The Brian Roberts Watch (3:05) highlights Brian’s week: great defense, but slow week at the plate. From there, a trip through the Medical Wing (5:43) shows that the Orioles are getting healthy at the right time.

Wei-Yin Chen – Joined the team in NY. Will probably rejoin the team this week.
Steve Johnson – Threw 35 pitches off a mound today, good command, no setbacks.
Steve Pearce – No change… soreness in left wrist is nearly gone, hasn’t been cleared for baseball activities
Wilson Betemit – no change – nowhere near a return

The BEVys

Thanks to our friends and colleagues who have provided categories for the BEVys (11:16). The BEVys Awards Show episode will air on Thursday, July 18th. We’ll review first half highlights, and hand out awards for first-half greatness. Thanks to our friends from:

Baltimorons
Section 336
Orioles Uncensored
Eutaw Street Report
Orioles Spastics
National Discourse

Be sure to tune in for our first annual awards show.

All Star Voting

The Orioles will be well represented at the 2013 All Star Game (12:53). This is the Birds’ best showing since 2005. Jones, Davis, and Hardy will Start, and Machado will serve as an alternate. Nick Markakis was a near miss, and Nate McLouth (5th among AL All Star OFs) was not selected.

Scott worries that such great All Star representation will lead to a mid-season downfall (15:10). The guys debate whether the MLB All Star game is the best all star game in professional sports, and whether the NBA counts as a major sport (22:42).

Get Some Perspective

Scott gets his positive thinking on, and takes Orioles fans to task for complaining about the results of the past week (29:10). Scott tells those of us who are on ledge to “chill the F out.” Back-to-back series losses is definitely a bad thing, but those have been few and far between for the Orioles. As bad as the Yankees series was in New York, the Orioles went 4-2 against the Yankees within a week (32:30).

At this point in the season, the Orioles are keeping themselves within striking distance even through rough patches (35:13). Jake wonders aloud if social media, and Twitter specifically, drives overreaction (35:45).

Potpourri

Potpourri returns, with a cleaner version of the Alex Trebek intro. Scott is benevolent, and leaves The Bell at home. Here are the topics that can’t stand alone on their own:

Buck’s celebratory leg kick (40:18)
Manny Machado and “the play” (41:26)
Yankees pick up Travis Ishikawa (43:17)
Minor League trade for Alex Liddi (46:56)
“Hammerin’ Hank” Urrutia promoted to AAA (48:13)
Eddie Gamboa aslo hoping that his knuckler can continue against AAA hitters (50:04)

BEV: Fantasy Like a Boss

Jake unveils the first category for Fantasy Like a Boss (52:10), and pits his guy against Scott’s.

This week, it’s OBP. Scott took Nick Markakis, and Jake went with Manny Machado.

Scott is pretty sure he’s going to win. Jake is pretty sure he’s right.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Who had a great week? Who had a terrible week? Who made us ashamed to be Orioles fans? Find out in this week’s GB&U. The guys run through their Good, Bad, and Ugly (55:25).

Listen to BEV on iTunes!

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