[ballcoach15]

Baltimore Orioles have clinched a playoff berth. At last report, the Yankees are hovering somewhere near bottom of AL East standings.

[AATL]

Heck of a season for the O's. I hope they can make a significant postseason run while the core is still together.

[JK37]

Lemme see Braves vs. I’d in the series. That would be fun!

[Sly Fox]

Let the record show that the 'Stros core remain intact ... if they don't run out of gas before the finish line.

[ballcoach15]

Sad day in MLB. The Orioles have announced Brooks Robinson has died.

[Baybird]

My favorite player growing up as a kid in Baltimore. The first game I saw was a loss to the Cleveland Indians in July 1966, and Luis Aparicio was the player I came out liking but by 1970, I was ALL Brooks! Had a chance to meet him in an elevator at Mercy Hospital and talked for a minute while he was on his way to see his wife. After drawing blood from 2-3 patients, I saw my next draw was from Constance Robinson...we talked several times in the next few days. In later years, he always referred to me as the "Vampire." Last talked to him in 1999 and he was still just a down-to-earth, regular guy who happened to be a legend. Although I never heard him speak of the Lord on a regular basis, he attended a Bible study hosted by Storm Davis and gave a testimony that he walked the aisle and was baptized by immersion as a child.

Great memories and he will be missed.

[ballcoach15]

Baltimore Orioles, your 2023 American League Eastern Division Champions

[Cider Jim]

The Orioles clinched the AL East by winning their 100th game of the season last night, a 2-0 shutout of the BoSox .

[JK37]

Next goal: best record in baseball for home field advantage through World Series.

[Cider Jim]

Seven long years have passed since the Orioles were in the playoffs, but they are finally playing again in October and are hosting the Rangers at 1:05 today.

The playoff game is being televised on FS1.

[Sly Fox]

The Rangers have an amazing track record of choking down the stretch. The O's should be well-positioned to advance to the ALCS where one team will feel at home regardless of stadium.

[thepostman]

I think the O's are positioned well to do well against the Rangers. The Rays were a shell of themselves by the time the postseason rolled around and the Rangers took full advantage of that. They won't be so lucky against the O's. Plus who would want an Astros/Rangers ALCS!!?? I may be in Texas now but I haven't completely lost my mind!

[Ill flame]

The Rangers have an amazing track record of choking down the stretch. The O's should be well-positioned to advance to the ALCS where one team will feel at home regardless of stadium.

That reminds me, it's about time to rewatch highlights of the 2011 world series. One of the biggest chokes of all time in any sport.

[flamehunter]

I think the O's are positioned well to do well against the Rangers. The Rays were a shell of themselves by the time the postseason rolled around and the Rangers took full advantage of that. They won't be so lucky against the O's. Plus who would want an Astros/Rangers ALCS!!?? I may be in Texas now but I haven't completely lost my mind!

This isn't aging very well. O's in a huge hole.

[thepostman]

Nope. Not aging well at all. I wasn't shocked the Rangers blew through the Rays but this is shocking me.

[LUminary]

Wish all the playoff series’ were best of seven, for several reasons. Going to be extremely difficult for the Birds to dig out from 0-2. What a great regular season they had.

[thepostman]

It's wild with how strong the AL East was all year and now it looks like all 3 teams from the east will have early exits.

[Cider Jim]

My bar is pretty low now. I just want the Orioles to win Game 3 in Texas. They have not been swept all year long.

[flamehunter]

Wish all the playoff series’ were best of seven, for several reasons. Going to be extremely difficult for the Birds to dig out from 0-2. What a great regular season they had.

Agreed. I also am not a big fan of the three wild card teams. I'd prefer 1 wild card team getting in to even things out and then 2 seven game series before the world series. Do away with the wild card round.

[JK37]

I’m torn. I like the extra urgency and importance at the end of the regular season when there are more spots available and more teams in the mix.

But the shorter a series, the less it matters who the best team is, and the more it’s just whose hot at the moment. In the current format, there is a distinct disadvantage to being one of the top two and getting a bye. Nobody wants to sit for that long not playing.

I’ve seen my team benefit greatly from just being hot after being the last team in. And I’ve seen my team shot in the foot for clinching so early.

[jmclaughlin]

Huge Rangers fan here. Shocked at the upturn in performance of Texas in the playoffs but that is what this team is, streaky! Hat tip to the Baltimore fans. The crowd has been electric for games 1 and 2 in what is IMHO, the best baseball park in the country. They have been incredible.

[Ill flame]

Camden yards is definitely on my list of parks i want to see but i have no motivation to visit Baltimore outside of that so it may be awhile before I find an excuse to visit that part of the country again. I bet experiencing it in a playoff atmosphere really adds to the appeal though. I've been to the pirates and rangers stadium which are both nice venues but attendance was lacking so it kind of takes away from the atmosphere.

Outside of the pitch clock rules I really don't like what MLB has done to the game. 12 out of 30 playoff teams is too many for a sport that has a 162 game regular season. Allowing the DH in the NL, the new extra inning rules, not requiring pitchers to throw 4 balls on an intentional walk and 26 man rosters don't make the game better.

[AATL]

Camden yards is definitely on my list of parks i want to see but i have no motivation to visit Baltimore outside of that so it may be awhile before I find an excuse to visit that part of the country again. I bet experiencing it in a playoff atmosphere really adds to the appeal though. I've been to the pirates and rangers stadium which are both nice venues but attendance was lacking so it kind of takes away from the atmosphere.

Outside of the pitch clock rules I really don't like what MLB has done to the game. 12 out of 30 playoff teams is too many for a sport that has a 162 game regular season. Allowing the DH in the NL, the new extra inning rules, not requiring pitchers to throw 4 balls on an intentional walk and 26 man rosters don't make the game better.

I'm really not a fan of the wildcard format with extra teams and three-game series. I think the prolonged break has done more harm than good for the top seeds the past two years. You spend tons of energy and adrenaline clinching a division to end the year and then shut down for a week before playing again and have to ramp back up to game speed.

[Sly Fox]

Meanwhile on the other side of the ALDS bracket, Twins pitchers still keep pitching to Yordan Alvarez. Pobrecitos.

[Sly Fox]

Now beginning to look a Lone Star ALCS.

Congrats to the Oa fans.