Baltimore Orioles Press Release October 19, 2007:
Going into the 2007 World Series next week, some people believe the Boston Red Sox deserve to represent the American League because they won a bunch of games in the playoffs. Others point to Boston's regular season wins, ERA and run differential--all tops in the league--to suggest Boston is the strongest team going forward.
But one needs only to consult the 1889 AL Charter to see that it's really up to the AL owners to decide who should represent their league in (what's now called) the World Series. An obscure clause clearly states that a three-fourths supermajority of AL owners may strip a team of its credentials (including, for example, an AL Championship) in the event of "criminal misconduct or extreme impropriety [...] including blatant and repeated cheating."
While Boston has not cheated, as far as we know, the last few weeks have raised serious questions about their viability in the World Series. In light of these events we, the Baltimore Orioles, believe the owners should appoint us in their stead to face the honorable and patriotic Colorado Rockies.
AL owners must consider two things before dismissing Baltimore's claim to representing the AL in the World Series:
- Wins are important, but wins on the weekend against National League teams are most important. Moreover, one must score more runs than the opponent in order to win a game. Boston's run differential on weekends against National League teams is just +8 in 5 games (4W, 1L) not including one cancellation due to rain. Baltimore's run differential in 6 inter-league weekend games (4W, 2L) is +9. Since fully four of seven World series games are scheduled to take place on the weekend against a National League team, AL owners should seriously considered the total run differential* metric, which Baltimore rightfully won, before it passively ratifies Boston's AL Championship.
- Although we feel Boston's players are good and decent men, we also know Colorado's fans will heckle and boo Boston at every opportunity. They will use a host of unfair and specious attacks, including David Ortiz's recent comments that Chinese food is "typically greasy," to try and take them off their game and sway the umpires. We Orioles are the stronger team to field such character assaults given our higher average age and reputed toughness.
Please see the addendum for a comprehensive list of all the Red Sox players' questionable associations and misstatements which we fear might be used against them in the World Series.
Oh, and we had more stolen bases than Boston too.