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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

ESPN Page 2: Step aside Yankees Universe and Red Sox Nation

Page 2 invites you to take a closer look at the next great sports rivalry … Orioles-Rays:

....

Just off Interstate 95, not all too from Florence, S.C., is a little place called Manning. In the giant battle zone that is the Orioles-Rays rivalry, this unassuming way station on the great coastal corridor just happens to be the very front line. Sitting equidistant to Baltimore and St. Petersburg, Fla., it represents the physical demarcation line of loyalties in this epic encounter of enmity. All those to the south of Manning are in the Rays’ camp. All those to the north side with the Orioles. Any deviance from this geo-fandom would be a betrayal of the natural order of things.

..
(greatest games in Orioles-Rays)
6. April 11, 2002: O’s win 15-6
The Orioles scored 12 runs in the sixth inning. The rally included back-to-back homers by Geronimo Gil and Mike Bordick, followed by a rare cameo by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Funniest thing ESPN has done in years.

Gamingboy Posted: April 30, 2008 at 02:12 PM | 24 comment(s)
Related News: General, Baltimore, Tampa Bay

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1. Alex Gordon's #1 Fan Posted: April 30, 2008 at 02:41 PM (#2764389)

I was just curious and found that 1992 was the last year neither Boston nor New York finished in the top two in the AL East. It was Toronto and Milwaukee, with New York in 5th and Boston dead last.

At Royals Review (a tremendously witty site), there is a series with mock rivalries like this. Right now, the future of Enid, Oklahoma is at stake as the Royals take on the Rangers. They even went as far as proclaim some town in Wyoming at stake when the Royals played the Mariners. Its a pretty funny series.

2. Dan Evensen Posted: April 30, 2008 at 02:47 PM (#2764398)

Great article, thanks for the link.

I'll have to check out Royals Review.

3. Mike Maddux Mike Posted: April 30, 2008 at 02:50 PM (#2764404)

I was just curious and found that 1992 was the last year neither Boston nor New York finished in the top two in the AL East. It was Toronto and Milwaukee, with New York in 5th and Boston dead last.

Toronto finished 1 game ahead of the Red Sox in 2006 and New York won the division.

4. Sometimes it Rains (sj) Posted: April 30, 2008 at 02:51 PM (#2764407)

Toronto finished 1 game ahead of the Red Sox in 2006 and New York won the division.

Yes, but New York still finished first.

5. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: April 30, 2008 at 02:52 PM (#2764410)

neither Boston nor New York

6. Mike Maddux Mike Posted: April 30, 2008 at 02:54 PM (#2764414)

And, Boston was 4th in 1997 and 3rd in 1996. Baltimore won the division in 1997, and in 1996 they finished 2nd -- remember Jeffrey Maier?

7. fear and loathing in birdlives Posted: April 30, 2008 at 03:06 PM (#2764435)

Number 5 is pretty good.

http://imagesource.art.com/images/-/Sidney-Ponson-Photograph-C10125442.jpeg

Ah yes, that's why we called him Shamu.

8. Bob Dernier Ressort Posted: April 30, 2008 at 03:07 PM (#2764436)

Mike, we need a review session on "neither ... nor" :)

9. Gary Geiger Counter Posted: April 30, 2008 at 03:45 PM (#2764480)

Were they burning Huff in effigy at the Trop last year?

10. Bad Doctor Posted: April 30, 2008 at 03:57 PM (#2764491)

The losing pitcher was Esteban Yan, who was immortalized by Bart and Milhouse in a game of baseball in the park, still the best random sports reference in the history of "The Simpsons."

It's a terrific random sports reference, no doubt, but the best still has to be the King Kong parody where the Skull Island natives say, "Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!" (translated: The blue-haired woman will make a good sacrifice).

11. Alex Gordon's #1 Fan Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:07 PM (#2764500)

The losing pitcher was Esteban Yan, who was immortalized by Bart and Milhouse in a game of baseball in the park, still the best random sports reference in the history of "The Simpsons."

It's a terrific random sports reference, no doubt, but the best still has to be the King Kong parody where the Skull Island natives say, "Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!" (translated: The blue-haired woman will make a good sacrifice).

I did like the random 1974 A's cameo on the Simpsons by Gene Tenace, and I think Joe Rudi and Sal Bando?

12. Misirlou in a Gleaming Alloy Air Car Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:07 PM (#2764502)

I was at the Trop last Friday. Judging by my one game sample, there is plenty of excitement there, over 30,000 in attendance. I found it a little strange however that everybody was wearing red and the two loudest chants were "Let's go Red Sox" and "Yankees Suck!"

13. TVerik Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:08 PM (#2764503)

I was just curious and found that 1992 was the last year neither Boston nor New York finished in the top two in the AL East. It was Toronto and Milwaukee, with New York in 5th and Boston dead last.

And the last full year that neither Toronto nor New York finished in the top two in the AL East was during the Reagan administration - 1988. Fourth and fifth.

The Red Sox won it that year, with a powerhouse 89-73 record. Only two games in the standings broke my streak; otherwise we're talking about 1983.

14. fear and loathing in birdlives Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:42 PM (#2764537)

I found it a little strange however that everybody was wearing red and the two loudest chants were "Let's go Red Sox" and "Yankees Suck!"

Yeah, Camden Yards can get that way too.

15. Will Young Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:42 PM (#2764538)

I remember when the writer of Royals Review went on Looking Landing to talk up the rivalry with the M's. It was hilariously funny. "Do you know what happens when the Royals get four hits in an inning?" That's right, a ####### run. You better be prepared!"

16. DKDC Posted: April 30, 2008 at 04:46 PM (#2764542)

Yeah, Camden Yards can get that way too.

I still maintain that this problem can be fixed with proper fumigation.

17. Gamingboy Posted: April 30, 2008 at 06:33 PM (#2764597)

Geomidpoint calculator

Notable Rivalry Geographic Midpoints:

Yankees-Red Sox: Near Pocotopaug Lake in CT.
Yankees-Mets: Rikers Island (for now, it'll be slightly different next year)
Cubs-Cards: Outside of Heyworth, IL
Cubs-White Sox: West Kinzie Street
LA-LAofAnaheim: Santa Fe Springs in a Train track yard bordered by Florence Ave. (s) and Telegraph Rd (N).

18. fear and loathing in birdlives Posted: April 30, 2008 at 07:16 PM (#2764625)

I still maintain that this problem can be fixed with proper fumigation.

Winning would help too.

19. Misirlou in a Gleaming Alloy Air Car Posted: April 30, 2008 at 07:25 PM (#2764630)

Geomidpoint calculator

Notable Rivalry Geographic Midpoints:

Yankees-Red Sox: Near Pocotopaug Lake in CT.
Yankees-Mets: Rikers Island (for now, it'll be slightly different next year)
Cubs-Cards: Outside of Heyworth, IL
Cubs-White Sox: West Kinzie Street
LA-LAofAnaheim: Santa Fe Springs in a Train track yard bordered by Florence Ave. (s) and Telegraph Rd (N).

Coincidently, the midpoint for the Marlins and Rays, is a place called fisheating creek.

20. Bob Dernier Ressort Posted: April 30, 2008 at 07:36 PM (#2764637)

The midpoint between the Mariners and the Rangers appears to be in a completely uninhabited part of Colorado. Emblematic of the number of people who care.

21. Jonah Keri Posted: May 01, 2008 at 12:11 AM (#2764801)

Good call on the Mosi Tatupu reference, that's an all-time classic. Of course I had to pump up the Ohka-Yan ref due to its Expos connection.

I also enjoyed the episode where Homer's skipping church and dozes off to exciting coverage of the CFL draft. In the background, we hear the announcer say: "The Saskatchewan Roughriders, who scored only four rouges last year..." (Important note: I am currently wearing what may be the only Saskatchewan Roughriders sweatshirt in existence. For real.)

22. Fear & Whisky keeps Phil Coorey going Posted: May 01, 2008 at 12:14 AM (#2764804)

I saw the article on ESPN and hoped it would be linked, it was awesome.

23. RoyalsReview Posted: May 01, 2008 at 10:30 PM (#2766074)

I did this a year ago, with Royals/Mariners. Considering this was posted on Buzz day, I'm kinda bummed out and feeling weird.

24. Nasty Nate Posted: May 01, 2008 at 10:42 PM (#2766092)

See that ship over there? They're re-broadcasting MLB with implied oral consent, not express written consent -- or so the legend goes.

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