September 17, 2024 • 7 mins
'Stan The Fan' has been a respected voice on the Baltimore sports skyline as long as I can remember. I'm just a few years young than Stan Charles so I certainly remember him covering the Orioles and Colts even before Charm City turned purple in 1996 with the Ravens.
These days, he is one of the faces of both, Press Box, a Baltimore sports publication AND the even more instaneously updated and interactive PressBoxOnline.com, where you'll find sports blogs and vlogs (video sports content) featuring commentary from fans and pros alike.
Today, Stan shares comment with me on his recent PressBoxOnline.com column "What went wrong in Birdland this Summer?" and reaction from Oriole's alum and 20 game winner Ross Grimsley on the lack of offense from the O's bats since early July. Finding themselves at a possible breaking point in a chase for a Wild Card spot chasing the Yankees in the American League East, what's next for the Orioles?
Stan The Fan tries to keep me from throwing in the towel on this season on this edition of The Michael J Podcast.
I look forward to Stan becoming a regular fixture both on my 93.1 WPOC Afternoon show around 5:25 pm AND here on the Michael J Podcast! Michael J
These days, he is one of the faces of both, Press Box, a Baltimore sports publication AND the even more instaneously updated and interactive PressBoxOnline.com, where you'll find sports blogs and vlogs (video sports content) featuring commentary from fans and pros alike.
Today, Stan shares comment with me on his recent PressBoxOnline.com column "What went wrong in Birdland this Summer?" and reaction from Oriole's alum and 20 game winner Ross Grimsley on the lack of offense from the O's bats since early July. Finding themselves at a possible breaking point in a chase for a Wild Card spot chasing the Yankees in the American League East, what's next for the Orioles?
Stan The Fan tries to keep me from throwing in the towel on this season on this edition of The Michael J Podcast.
I look forward to Stan becoming a regular fixture both on my 93.1 WPOC Afternoon show around 5:25 pm AND here on the Michael J Podcast! Michael J
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is this Stand the fan.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
This is Stan the fan. How you doing, Michael J.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Pretty good? It's Michael J. The Fan.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
You and I have a lot in common because we
both bleed orange. You know that, yes, And Uh, I
want you to know that I've been watching your videos.
I've been checking out your articles at pressboxonline dot com.
I was just listening to Ross Grimsly say what he says.
He thinks that the that the league has really adjusted
(00:30):
to the O's listen.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
I think we talked about it earlier off the air
that I think the league has made adjustments to the
to the hitters with the Orioles, they're doing some different things.
And I mean, if you don't change and make an
adjustment when the other when the league makes an adjustment,
you're going to have some problems. And we're seeing that.
I mean, the guys are still swinging for the fences. Uh,
you know you're struggling there. They're making some adjustments there.
(00:53):
The other team they are throwing breaking balls and change
ups and get you looking for that. Then they slipped
the fastball by you. And you're seeing that more and more,
and he seeing guys swinging more more bad pitches and
not make the contact, the hard contact they were making earlier.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yeah, he makes a good point. There we are. We
are swinging at bad pitches.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
There's no question we're swinging at bad pitches. And I
got to tell you something, and I mentioned that earlier
on that podcast Earl Weaver back in nineteen eighty six,
when he was back managing the Oriols. It was the
first that first full season back because he had come
in in June of eighty five, two players went on
(01:33):
a tear under Earl Weaver. They were Floyd Rayford and
Mike Young, and the following season, Eddie Murray and Ripkin
were off the bad starts. And on my talk show
on FBR, I was bringing that up a lot, and
I was critical, first person in town as somewhat critical
of Eddie Murray. And one day we were Sauners up
(01:55):
to me and he says, I listened to your show
last night. He goes, do you think I give a
damn what Murray and Ripkin are hitting here? On May
the first, he goes, the two guys you gotta worry
about are those two guys And he pointed at Rayford
and Young. He says, they've never done it before. And
I think we're seeing a little bit of that with
(02:16):
the Orioles in the case of not to pick him
out particularly, but Ryan O'Hearn, who had such a great
year last year and started off this season so tremendously
and now they've adjusted to him and he better ad
just soon or he's going to be looking for another dick.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Hmm.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You know, I read your whole article what went wrong
in Birdland this summer, and you hit a lot of
high points, but I think you left one thing out,
or maybe I'm just I'm just really hung up on
the closing roll. Our closing role is a knee. I mean,
it's just been a mess that didn't.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Work out well.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
You know, it's really interesting. I wrote a piece back
in May about Kimberrel right when he was having that
first speed bump to his season, and at that time
Brandon Hyde was using him and I know you can't
project totally in the first month, but he was using
him on a rate to pitch ninety innings where last
(03:20):
year he threw sixty eight innings with the Phillies, and
he was fading at the end of the season. I
think he started pitching very, very well right about the
time that Brandon got a hold of that and didn't
use him too often. And then there's a fine line,
Michael j between using a relief pitcher too often and
(03:43):
not enough. In that Cup series at the beginning of
July or right before the All Star break, the Oriols
didn't get a lead, we got clobbered in all three games,
and then the Yankees came in and cloppered us a
couple of games. It was incumbent of von Brandon Hide
at that time to get Hide get Timberl in a
(04:05):
game that he couldn't get a save in, and I
think he got a little obsessed with not using him,
and he's never been the same after that. So there's
no question he had a good twenty two to twenty
four game stretch, Timbrel, but he's he's just he's been
nonexistent the second half of the season, right.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
And that's really been the problem. The whole team has
been in the dumper since early July. So do you
have any hope? I mean, obviously we're still in the
hunt for a wild card spot, but I mean I'm
just not feeling hopeful.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
I'm not feeling hopeful myself, but I will tell you
this when it comes to predicting things in the game
of baseball. Last year I write a weekly power rankings column,
and at the end of the year. Last year, I
took the twelve teams in the playoffs and I ranked
them one to twelve. Who who had the best chance
to win the World Series? Right? You know who? I
(05:03):
had number twelve last year? The Texas Rangers. Wow, that
they had zero chances to win the World Series? Right?
And boy did some people's stuff that calum down my throat. Well,
you know you're not It doesn't look it doesn't look good,
Michael J. But it ain't over till it's over.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Well, I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I mean, I'm die hard, so I'll root to the
very coldest day in October, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
But uh, I just I don't know. I'm just worried.
But maybe, you know, maybe this is the bridge.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Maybe next year we get Batista back, you know, maybe
we can find some some pieces. And I don't know.
I'm eternally hopeful, That's just who I am.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I'm eternally hopeful too. And I think there's one other factor,
the new ownership here. I think Mike Elias knew what
he wanted to do this year, but what he could
what would he But what he could do was different
from a financial standpoint, right, And I'm not talking back
going out and spending money like the Yankees and the Dodgers,
(06:03):
But I think he'll have a little bit more flexibility
to go out and get better arms than he had
and maybe better bench than he had, and those things
add up, especially when those injuries mounted. You know, you
can't underestimate how much the injuries are.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
At the club this year, no kidding. I mean we've
had so many, so many. So hopefully next year we
got everybody back and well, I don't know. I don't
want to give up yet.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Don't give up, don't give up just yet. Enough there's
enough there, there's enough there that they can still piece
something together. But it would be really nice if they
don't end on a down note. I'm always a big
believer that you build a bridge to the next season.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yep, I'm totally with you, Stan the Fan.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
It is awesome having a chance to talk with you
here on ninety three point one WPOC press boxonline dot com.
Everybody needs to go there and take a look and
keep up because you are without a doubt.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Stan the Fan.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Looking forward to talking to you, Michael Jays.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
All right, buddy, see, I give you yet another reason
to follow and like and share and stick your head
out the window and holler that you listen to the
Michael j Podcast.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
It's available everywhere to get your podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
So thanks for keeping in touch with me, and it
really is good to have Stan the Fan now a
new member of our family. So remember Michael jpodcast and
Pressbox online dot com.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
We'll talk again soon
Is this Stand the fan.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
This is Stan the fan. How you doing, Michael J.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Pretty good? It's Michael J. The Fan.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
You and I have a lot in common because we
both bleed orange. You know that, yes, And Uh, I
want you to know that I've been watching your videos.
I've been checking out your articles at pressboxonline dot com.
I was just listening to Ross Grimsly say what he says.
He thinks that the that the league has really adjusted
(00:30):
to the O's listen.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
I think we talked about it earlier off the air
that I think the league has made adjustments to the
to the hitters with the Orioles, they're doing some different things.
And I mean, if you don't change and make an
adjustment when the other when the league makes an adjustment,
you're going to have some problems. And we're seeing that.
I mean, the guys are still swinging for the fences. Uh,
you know you're struggling there. They're making some adjustments there.
(00:53):
The other team they are throwing breaking balls and change
ups and get you looking for that. Then they slipped
the fastball by you. And you're seeing that more and more,
and he seeing guys swinging more more bad pitches and
not make the contact, the hard contact they were making earlier.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yeah, he makes a good point. There we are. We
are swinging at bad pitches.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
There's no question we're swinging at bad pitches. And I
got to tell you something, and I mentioned that earlier
on that podcast Earl Weaver back in nineteen eighty six,
when he was back managing the Oriols. It was the
first that first full season back because he had come
in in June of eighty five, two players went on
(01:33):
a tear under Earl Weaver. They were Floyd Rayford and
Mike Young, and the following season, Eddie Murray and Ripkin
were off the bad starts. And on my talk show
on FBR, I was bringing that up a lot, and
I was critical, first person in town as somewhat critical
of Eddie Murray. And one day we were Sauners up
(01:55):
to me and he says, I listened to your show
last night. He goes, do you think I give a
damn what Murray and Ripkin are hitting here? On May
the first, he goes, the two guys you gotta worry
about are those two guys And he pointed at Rayford
and Young. He says, they've never done it before. And
I think we're seeing a little bit of that with
(02:16):
the Orioles in the case of not to pick him
out particularly, but Ryan O'Hearn, who had such a great
year last year and started off this season so tremendously
and now they've adjusted to him and he better ad
just soon or he's going to be looking for another dick.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Hmm.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You know, I read your whole article what went wrong
in Birdland this summer, and you hit a lot of
high points, but I think you left one thing out,
or maybe I'm just I'm just really hung up on
the closing roll. Our closing role is a knee. I mean,
it's just been a mess that didn't.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Work out well.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
You know, it's really interesting. I wrote a piece back
in May about Kimberrel right when he was having that
first speed bump to his season, and at that time
Brandon Hyde was using him and I know you can't
project totally in the first month, but he was using
him on a rate to pitch ninety innings where last
(03:20):
year he threw sixty eight innings with the Phillies, and
he was fading at the end of the season. I
think he started pitching very, very well right about the
time that Brandon got a hold of that and didn't
use him too often. And then there's a fine line,
Michael j between using a relief pitcher too often and
(03:43):
not enough. In that Cup series at the beginning of
July or right before the All Star break, the Oriols
didn't get a lead, we got clobbered in all three games,
and then the Yankees came in and cloppered us a
couple of games. It was incumbent of von Brandon Hide
at that time to get Hide get Timberl in a
(04:05):
game that he couldn't get a save in, and I
think he got a little obsessed with not using him,
and he's never been the same after that. So there's
no question he had a good twenty two to twenty
four game stretch, Timbrel, but he's he's just he's been
nonexistent the second half of the season, right.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
And that's really been the problem. The whole team has
been in the dumper since early July. So do you
have any hope? I mean, obviously we're still in the
hunt for a wild card spot, but I mean I'm
just not feeling hopeful.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
I'm not feeling hopeful myself, but I will tell you
this when it comes to predicting things in the game
of baseball. Last year I write a weekly power rankings column,
and at the end of the year. Last year, I
took the twelve teams in the playoffs and I ranked
them one to twelve. Who who had the best chance
to win the World Series? Right? You know who? I
(05:03):
had number twelve last year? The Texas Rangers. Wow, that
they had zero chances to win the World Series? Right?
And boy did some people's stuff that calum down my throat. Well,
you know you're not It doesn't look it doesn't look good,
Michael J. But it ain't over till it's over.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
Well, I'm with you.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I mean, I'm die hard, so I'll root to the
very coldest day in October, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
But uh, I just I don't know. I'm just worried.
But maybe, you know, maybe this is the bridge.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Maybe next year we get Batista back, you know, maybe
we can find some some pieces. And I don't know.
I'm eternally hopeful, That's just who I am.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
I'm eternally hopeful too. And I think there's one other factor,
the new ownership here. I think Mike Elias knew what
he wanted to do this year, but what he could
what would he But what he could do was different
from a financial standpoint, right, And I'm not talking back
going out and spending money like the Yankees and the Dodgers,
(06:03):
But I think he'll have a little bit more flexibility
to go out and get better arms than he had
and maybe better bench than he had, and those things
add up, especially when those injuries mounted. You know, you
can't underestimate how much the injuries are.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
At the club this year, no kidding. I mean we've
had so many, so many. So hopefully next year we
got everybody back and well, I don't know. I don't
want to give up yet.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Don't give up, don't give up just yet. Enough there's
enough there, there's enough there that they can still piece
something together. But it would be really nice if they
don't end on a down note. I'm always a big
believer that you build a bridge to the next season.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Yep, I'm totally with you, Stan the Fan.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
It is awesome having a chance to talk with you
here on ninety three point one WPOC press boxonline dot com.
Everybody needs to go there and take a look and
keep up because you are without a doubt.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Stan the Fan.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Looking forward to talking to you, Michael Jays.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
All right, buddy, see, I give you yet another reason
to follow and like and share and stick your head
out the window and holler that you listen to the
Michael j Podcast.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
It's available everywhere to get your podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
So thanks for keeping in touch with me, and it
really is good to have Stan the Fan now a
new member of our family. So remember Michael jpodcast and
Pressbox online dot com.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
We'll talk again soon
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