Here are some random remarks, sometimes known as snide comments, less frequently as astute observations, as baseball passes the one-third mark of the 2016 season this weekend:
- After watching three of the four games draw less than 22,000 during the Boston series May 30-June 2, some observers are beginning to wonder if the Orioles' multi-tiered ticket system hasn't outpriced Red Sox and Yankee fans. Early season midweek games have always been a tough draw in Baltimore, and that seems to have extended to the Yankees, who proved to be no attraction during a three-game series May 3-5, and the Red Sox, who played to near capacity on Memorial Day but a half-empty Oriole Park at Camden Yards the next three nights.
- I doubt it was even on his list of possibilities at the start of spring training, but I think O's skipper Buck Showalter might have found a leadoff hitter (Adam Jones) by default. And watching right fielder Mookie Betts put on his own power show as the Red Sox leadoff hitter probably didn't do anything to discourage the notion. Having a home run hitter at the top of the lineup isn't the worst-case scenario. And, for those worrying about Jones' propensity to strike out, it is noted he's "only" sixth in that category, and only Manny Machado (the other most popular leadoff candidate) has a better per at-bat ratio, and it's so slim as to be almost unnoticeable.
