This is when it gets fun!

     It's late August. Summer is winding down, fall and its cooler temperatures are just around the corner, the kids are back in school, Ravens regular season games are about to start and.....the Orioles are three and a half games back from the Yankees for the AL East Division lead?! Um, what?

     Yes, let's go over that last bit again. Your Baltimore Orioles are just 3.5 games from the overpaid but fairly dominant New York Yankees. How..did...this...happen? Well, looking at the roster would make most people scratch their head. Most people would only be able to name 1-2 players, and the others would just be guesses.

     It's to their tremendous credit what Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette have assembled for a team this year. I'm pretty sure some duct tape and a bit of spackle may be involved, but its holding its own and taking names along the way. Mike and I have made no bones about us growing up as Red Sox fans, and for that matter, I still am with all my heart. As a side note for the record, I am thrilled with the unloading of Beckett, Crawford, and Gonzalez. Originally I was keen on seeing them all signed, but just because you have big name players doesn't mean that translates into a winning team.

     This year's Orioles squad, for that matter, reminds me very much of the early 2000's Red Sox teams. Sure a couple big names, but getting work done and winning as a cohesive group through good starting pitching, some excellent and patient hitting, good defense, and a superb bullpen. The fact they are playing as a team, has me excited about the possibilities ahead. Will they win a World Series this year? Let's not get ahead of ourselves as yet, still some great series and baseball to be played.

     This weekend's matchup against the Yankees, then playing the Rays, Yank again at home, and Red Sox at the end of September are still big obstacles to overcome. Don't think for a second that Red Sox team will forget what happened last year and would love to play spoiler to Baltimore's chances of making the playoffs, much as the Patriots defeated the Ravens from making the Super Bowl.

     Stay excited though, get out to the Yard and support these boys when you can! They've earned it by now and I'm pretty sure no matter what, the dreams of this summer and what the Orioles are doing will carry into the future.

- Greg