Oct 23, 2021; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; The Atlanta Braves celebrates beating the the Los Angeles Dodgers in game six of the 2021 NLCS to advance to the World Series at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
If Oriole fans are looking for a connection to the World Series, they’ll have to search diligently. None of the players on either the Atlanta Braves or Houston Astros has ever been an Oriole.
Three coaches have connections to the Orioles. Atlanta pitching coach Rick Kranitz worked for the Orioles from 2008-2010. Braves catching coach Sal Fasano played 64 games for the Orioles in 2005. And Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron was with the Orioles for 61 games in 2008.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde might have a rooting interest. His brother-in-law is Houston bench coach Joe Espada.
Had the Los Angeles Dodgers beaten the Braves in the National League Championship Series, fans could have watched Evan Phillips, a one-time offseason Uber driver who had a 7.36 ERA in 44 games for the Orioles from 2018-2020.
Phillips, who was released by the Orioles on August 2nd and signed by Tampa Bay, moved on to the Dodgers and tossed three scoreless innings against Atlanta in the NLCS.
The best Oriole connections were with the Chicago White Sox, who lost to the Astros in the American League Division Series, and the San Francisco Giants, who were beaten by the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
Chicago featured Gavin Sheets, a first baseman from Baltimore’s Gilman School who was chosen in the second round of the 2017 draft. Sheets’ father, Larry, played for the Orioles from 1984-1989 and has been a longtime baseball coach at Gilman.
The Giants had former Oriole pitcher Kevin Gausman, minor leaguer Mike Yastrzemski and outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr., an Owings Mills resident who attended St. Paul’s School in Brooklandville and the University of Maryland.
The Astros and Braves feature two excellent managers, Houston’s Dusty Baker and Atlanta’s Brian Snitker.
There have been memorable moments in the rounds leading up to the World Series, and forgettable ones.
Atlanta’s walk-off wins against the Dodgers and Houston’s pitching that shut down the Red Sox after the first three games were highlights. Lowlights have been the length of games; the four-game Division Series between the Astros and White Sox averaged four hours, six minutes per game. That’s not a way to build an audience.
Starting pitchers rarely worked past six innings in the playoff, and the use of openers and bullpen games with multiple pitching changes needlessly lengthen the games and detracted from the play on the field.
Attendance at postseason games has been strong, but I’m not sure there’s that much interest nationally. In addition to the long games and the absence of star pitchers, Major League Baseball has allowed key postseason games to be broadcast on cable channels that casual fans aren’t familiar with: FoxSports1 and MLB Network.
Baseball is still popular regionally, but are Oriole fans going to be interested in a Braves-Astros matchup.
Despite watching many non-competitive Oriole games this year, I enjoy the postseason. I especially enjoy watching the National League teams that I don’t see during the regular season.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who will play in Baltimore next April for the first time since 2003, had an entertaining team featuring reliever Josh Hader, a one-time Orioles minor leaguer who went to Millersville’s Old Mill High School. Atlanta ended Milwaukee’s season.
By now, fans know all about Atlanta outfielder Joc Pederson’s pearls and Baker’s pursuit of a World Series title.
Pederson wasn’t wearing the pearls when the Braves swept the Orioles in Baltimore from August 20th-22nd. That last game was the Orioles’ 19th straight loss, marking the second-longest losing streak in franchise history.
The Astros swept three games in Baltimore from June 21st-23rd, and the Orioles swept three in Houston the next week.
I’ll be watching the Series beginning on Tuesday night, and Dubroff’s Diner will be open for the Fall Classic.
Diner Question: Will you be watching the World Series?
Note: Outfielder Kyle Stowers, who had been playing with the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, has what the Orioles are calling “a minor lower back injury,” ending his season. Stowers, who shared the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year award with catcher Adley Rutschman, hit .200 (2-for-10) in three games with Mesa. The Orioles want to give Stowers more time off to rest before spring training.
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I will be following the World Series but not watching as we've cut the cable cord long ago. Rooting for Atlanta primarily for one reason...
Atta boy Hummer ... Rich .... a slice-o-pie for this man on me, please.
And a tall glass of Pepsi as well.
Go Braves
I live in Atlanta and will be attending Game 4 on Saturday with my son. I'm an O's fan first, but it's still fun to have the local team in the postseason, and who knows how many opportunities there will be to attend a World Series in one's lifetime. We went to Game 1 of the NLCS (Braves walkoff win) and it was great fun. One day I hope to see my O's back in the postseason and to maybe even attend a game. As a side note, judging by secondary market ticket prices, there is no lack of interest around here!
No dog in the fight, I’ll watch, after all it’s the WS, will not be rooting for Asstros…go O’s…
No Rich ..I may check in from time to time, but I won't be actively watching the world series. ( though I still pay for cable)
Drink Pepsi.
Won’t be watching. The O’s were baaad and I have no more interest for baseball in general since the big boy games have started (football). MLB needs a salary package like football so all teams will (or has the potential) to be on equal footing
Amen to an MLB salary cap!
I’ll probably watch it so I can see the future shortstop of the Orioles Carlos Correa. Hopefully the orioles will be on this stage very soon.
I was living in Atlanta as Dale Murphy was going out and the likes of Ron Gant, David Justice, John Smultz, Bobby Cox etc started to bring baseball in that town back to life. I’ll be watching and rooting for LA…..Lovely Atlanta!
I will be watching out of the corner of my eye. Won't be hanging on every pitch though.
What is even more interesting is that the Dodgers and Red Sox went down in flames in the baseball post-season, a very beautiful thing to behold. Take the Dodgers; they sign Trevor Bauer to a 3 Year $102M Contract--turns out he's MLB's version of Desean Watson. Their stalwart future HOF'er Clayton Kershaw has an injured forearm---very concerning for his immediate future. They trade for Max Scherzer--he has an injury issue and couldn't make the start of Game 6 of the NLCS...oyyy.
The Red Sox get knocked out by the Astros...I am always happy when they lose. Always. Not sure what I dislike more; their Players, Management, fans or that bandbox they play in...I will go with their insufferable/obnoxious/arrogant and ignorant fans for $1,000 Alex..
So this presents a problem for MLB and the National Media Pundits who LOVE the Boston and LA Teams....only team they like more is probably the Yankees....and the WS is going to be held in Atlanta--wonder if the crooked MLB Commissioner has thought about moving Atlanta's home games to Denver yet..
Truth can be more beautiful than Fiction. Poetic, actually.
I will be happy with either team winning.
If you are paying attention and a fan of the Baltimore Orioles, you are happy that two of the big money teams will be watching things from the sidelines and that Joe Buck will be having to choose which team he really wants to see win--what a phony that guy is.
I just wish we were being kept up to speed on how well the Orioles fabulous core of future stars are doing in Sarasota...I may drive there and get a drone to check things out. I will see if Rich wants to drive down with me... I will let you all know what I see...
Although the very biggest money teams didn't make the World Series this year, its not exactly the revenge of the low budget teams either ... Atlanta has the #10 payroll in MLB at $135 million, and Houston is #11 at $120 million -- a long ways from the O's miserly $22 million payroll.
I can't stand Joe "High Road" Buck either.
Guy was born on Third Base and he thinks he's a Home Run Hitter.....
That's too funny ....awesome line. And a perfect fit for Buck.
Permission to borrow that one some day?
Sure.
Mike and Ken, I have never understood fans’ hostility towards Joe Buck. He works hard, knows baseball and football well, and when you hear him, you know it’s a big game.
It's a difficult thing to specifically point to, but I never watch a game that he broadcasts where there is a clear undertone of who he is pulling for. This is especially in baseball, where he clearly gets more excited when the Yankees, RedSox, Dodgers (all the National Glamour Teams) hit a HR, make a great play, strike out an opposing batter, etc... It's disgraceful in my mind.
Here's a guy who would be lucky to be a UPS driver were it not for the fact that Jack Buck is his dad. I don't like him....
While I'm on the subject, I would also point out that Gary Thorne was totally in-the-tank for the Red Sox also....don't miss him one bit.
That's right---I said it!
Mike, I wish I was as good at my job as Joe Buck is at his. Yes, a broadcaster is helped by having a parent in the business. You learn things by watching them that it takes people who don't have parents in the business years to learn. He's more accomplished than his father ever was. and wouldn't keep getting great assignments if he wasn't good.
Rich. We can agree to disagree on this one.
Have nothing against him personally. But his Dad was one of the the top 3-5 broadcasters in the game in the last 50 years.
The bias that he poorly disguises is always tilted heavily to the teams in the given League’s favor.
That’s all I’m going to say.
Rich, rarely have listened to Buck do baseball. I don't watch a lot of non-Oriole games ..and face it ... how many times have they been on national TV over the past 20 years?
95% of my exposure to him is from his NFL broadcasts. He comes across as a self righteous as well as an arrogant man. He ALWAYS takes the high road on any social issue in the game and is a total sychophant when it comes to his interaction with Troy Aikman.
Basically, he's a bit stuffy for me and his forays into humor simply aren't humerous. (and I'm an expert in that area)
AND I don't like the fact that he's a baldy like myself and has spent years getting hair plugs implanted. (see ... now that's funny ... not me...the hair plugs)
You are an American Classic BRR....
Rich, I'll be watching, it is baseball after all, and the last few games for six months. Will be pulling for the Braves in 4 or 5 games just so that fool Manfred has to step onto the same ballfield that he took the All-Star game away from to award the WS trophy.... Go Braves!!
Nope, no interest, but the cable cord has been cut here, too!
Rich,
I will be watching. I am a long time Orioles fan and my wife is a long time Braves fan. We also root for each other's team unless they are playing each other. I will be rooting for Atlanta.
That’s a smart man. Happy wife, happy life. Hell, I’ll even root for the Braves for you too, tho I won’t be watching any of it. I’m surprised I didn’t see any of the usual Monday comments about “at least now I can watch the Ravens.” Oh wait, I just looked at the scores from yesterday, now I understand.
Ha!
I have been watching the World Series since the early 60's and plan to continue to do so. The Braves are popular here in MB. They were the Braves affiliate for a number of years. Freddie Freeman played here and Brian Snitker managed here as well. So I'll be rooting for the Braves.
My family has been going to MB for about 15 years or so now but I’ve never been to Doug Shaw stadium. I hope I have that name correct. What level minor league are they and which team are they affiliated with? I’ve been tempted to go many times but unfortunately the years I could’ve had time to go they’ve been on the road.
My wife & I went to MB Hurricane games years ago, played at Coastal Carolina, saw the “Chicken”, I think $5 box seats, it was great…go O’s…
The Pelicans are currently associated with the Cubs and are a low A level. Prior to that they were a Rangers affiliate and for a long time the Braves. Both were upper level A. The stadium is nice and holds a little over 6,000 seats. Doug Shaw is the home field for Mytrle Beach High School. There are state playoff games there too. High school football is big down here.
Wow,woe--cord cutters are unable to watch the WS? Whether one likes the WS or not not being able to watch it because of limited streamiing devices seems counterproductive to me. Netflix,Discovery can't be THAT good. Rich I'll glance,not glued to it. When I'm not watching a team I care about(O's) the sport exposes it's blah flaws. Couple of questions--why are these big name pitchers dropping like flies when it's crunch? Kershaw's had a bad back and isn't useful,Bauer can't keep his attentions where they should be, now Scherzer comes up lame and misses the biggest game of the year. If I were a GM I'd start thinking about pocketing that money. AND--I guess Atlanta's ok to hold a WS in now huh? Coca Cola and the fanatics decided to thrown the city a bone I guess. How decent of them.
Al, last year’s shortened season has hurt many pitchers.
I’ll keep an eye on the series, nice for Atlanta to be back after so many years. As for Houston, while I don’t like the team, I do like Dusty Baker. Also, I’d we believe Elias is following a process that is similar to Houston’s then I suppose the Astros making their 3rd appearance in 5 years is something we should be interested in.
I will be watching -- as CalsPals says, it is the World Series, so as history it is worth watching.
No real strong feelings regarding either team -- I am mainly an AL guy now, so will have a slight leaning towards the Astros. Not concerned about the cheating angle -- most of the guys from that team are gone now.
I have already got an early Christmas present with this World Series -- no Yankees, no Red Sox, no Dodgers.
Hoping the O's will be relevant soon -- maybe wishful thinking, but pulling for a strong playoff run by 2023 -- 2024 at the latest.
No. Don't care which of these two teams wins or loses. Know very little about both.
Maybe your worldly view is more of a regional view - sorry I couldn’t resist WV :)
BS, I concede that a regional, non-worldly focus is partly responsible for my being blase about these WS teams. So,don't you think that given this indifference, my time will be better spent catching up with the televised professional axe-throwing and cornhole-tossing tournaments that I ignored during the Orioles season?
Touché
Of course the playoffs were great and what baseball fan doesn’t watch the WS. I did stop watching football though
I’ll root for who I was hoping would have been traded to the O’s for Machado back in ‘18; Fried and/or Anderson. Didn’t happen, of course, Dandy Dan thought the Dodgers could offer more. Oh well.
Meh. I’ve disliked the Braves for decades. I’m not really an Astros fan, but I’m glad they beat the Red Sox. All the teams I was interested in seeing go deep into the playoffs exited pretty early.
All four of the outrights elected free agency. Praise God! However, nobody else will want them, so we might take one back like the prodigal son! Syre hope not,those ships have sailed!
I’ll definitely be watching, but with the sound muted. I can’t stand the Atlanta chant, nor the insufferable Joe Buck.
I don’t care which team wins, just wanna see some well played games and baseball drama. My prediction is Atlanta in 6.
I am rooting for the braves mainly because MLB screwed them over with the all star game. Can’t wait to see the commissioner’s face when he presents the trophy to the braves.
I won’t be watching. Can’t imagine listening to Joe Buck, especially when the games last 4 or 5 hrs. Way past my bedtime. I’ll return to watching baseball when the O’s take to the field in Sarasota.
I don’t know if Charlie Morton is a FA or not this winter but if he is and Elias doesn’t offer him a contract I’ll be pissed. I mean, he signed Harvey and King Felix last winter. Morton has pitched in 3 of the last 4 WS. Give him an offer if he’s available.
Agree, he’s not though, signed a one yr extension w/club option for 2023, finished the inning w/a broken leg…wow…go O’s…
What’s with all the Atlanta hate?