General Sports Water Cooler

I hate the angels

Can't expect help from the likes of the Mariners and the Twins.

Tomorrow is going to be awesome. Just wave after wave of game that we can root for all day leading up to the Ravens game.

BTW,do we have any idea on the times of the WC games? Is it like 6 and 9? 5 and 8? 4-7? If we are playing on the West Coast I would assume the game is like 9 or so.

Since they'll be the only 2 games that day, you won't see any late starts (9 or later). Probably 4 and 8, or something close to that. They'll also put whatever game they think will draw better ratings on in primetime, no matter what coast the games are on.

If it is a choice b/t atl v stl and oak v Balt, there s very little chance we play in prime time.

Already mentioned early in the thread last night by FTN, but both AL West games are this afternoon.

That's what I was getting at. Even though we'd be on the WC, Oakland/Baltimore would likely get the 4pm (1pm local) start.

It's definitely possible. But I sure hope that doesn't happen. I'd rather face Texas than LA right now.

So yeah... I love Jim Thome.

If the season ended today, the O’s would host the Athletics in the wild-card game, and Thome, 42, would appear in his 10th postseason, seeking his first World Series title.

“It would be a dream,” Thome said. “That’s why I’m still playing. Not for individual things. To get the opportunity to look into your teammates’ eyes at the end of the year and celebrate.

“That’s what it’s all about. It’s what it should be all about. It’s what I’ve dreamed of since the ’90s when we were in Cleveland.

“You get the opportunity once, it’s addictive. But I realize the process. You can’t really think about it too much. It just has to happen.”

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Instead, he reported to the Orioles’ spring facility in Sarasota, Fla., determined to rehabilitate his injury and resume playing. Showalter said Thome gave him regular updates, followed the team closely, even asked jokingly for the Orioles to play some quicker games so he could go to bed earlier.

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And, Thome being Thome, he made time for every young Orioles player in the Gulf Coast League and Instructional League, according to team officials.

“Sometimes, you’re just dealt the card you’re dealt,” Thome said. “It’s up to you to be positive, not to be depressed, moping. The kids see that. I realize that. Their watchful eyes are on you.

“It was important for me to go down there and interact with the kids, be somebody to them like Eddie Murray was to me as a young guy when I was with Cleveland.”

Funny thing, though: Thome knows when to be reserved, too.

When Showalter asked him to address the Orioles upon rejoining the club, Thome replied, “Let me get a few games under my belt, get some credibility.”

He still hasn’t spoken to the club and probably won’t, Showalter said, preferring to talk to teammates individually.

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“It’s a unique team,” Thome said. “You’ve got enough young guys who are so hungry, it rubs off on the guys in their fifth, sixth years of service time. And the veterans, it helps them as well.

“There is a definite sense of urgency. Look, the sky’s the limit. Would anyone have thought we’d be in the position we’re in? You have to ask yourself that. Believe it. Go with it. Don’t think too much. Ride it out.”

7 (or 6) games left and no one in the AL has clinched as spot. No one can clinch after today either. In the NL, 4 of the 5 spots are locked up. Just a matter of seeding out there.

And STL has a 4.5 game lead for the final spot in the NL with a week to go. No drama in the NL.

any chance TOR vs. NYY is on tv tonight?