Bob Costas, the venerated voice of baseball, recently stirred the MLB pot on The Rich Eisen Show. He boldly crowned the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees as the frontrunners for the World Series title, leaving many fans and analysts buzzing.

Costas’ assessment does not come without nuance. He acknowledges the potential of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team often considered a powerhouse in the MLB. However, his reservations about their current form were quite palpable.

“If the Dodgers and so I haven’t seen this yet, really because the Dodgers have pitchers who haven’t come back yet. They’re waiting on Walker Buehler… they’re waiting on Clayton Kershaw, who they’ll have to use in a different way than in his prime; they’re waiting on a number of other people; now Mookie Betts is out, Max Muncy was out for a period of time… When you look at the Dodgers, it’s hard to discount them.”

Despite their star-studded roster, the Blue Crew’s pitching woes have left them vulnerable, according to the revered sportscaster. The absence has created a void that the team has struggled to fill, leading him to shift his focus to the Yankees and Orioles, who have been consistently impressive throughout the season. The Bombers, in particular, have been a pleasant surprise for Bob Costas.

“Their starting rotation has been surprisingly good even without him,” he said, referring to team ace Gerrit Cole. Cole’s recent return to the mound, where he pitched four solid innings, further solidifies the Yankees’ formidable pitching staff.

Yankees’ dynamic duo shines, and the Birds soar on modest budget as Bob Costas snubs Dodgers

Costas has been particularly effusive in his praise for the pair of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, describing them as “as dynamic as any duo you can point to in Major League Baseball in the second and third spot in their lineups.” Their combined power and skill at the plate make the Yankees a daunting opponent for any team. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles, often overlooked in national discussions, have earned Costas’s respect with their remarkable performance this season.

“They were lousy for so long… but all that time they had all those high draft choices, and they never missed on any of them,” Costas observes. The Orioles’ roster is filled with number-one draft picks like Gunnar Henderson, who have become key contributors, leading the team to a winning record that rivals even the Bombers.

Bob Costas is particularly impressed with the Birds’ ability to build a competitive team with a relatively modest budget. “Their payroll is around 100 million; the Yankees is over 300 million. The Orioles are right there with them in the American League East,” he notes. This “moneyball” approach, targeting smart drafting and player development over big-money signings, has proven to be quite effective for the Orioles.

While Costas acknowledged the Philadelphia Phillies’ strong pitching staff, his focus remained on the Birds and the Bombers, seeing these two teams as the most complete and well-rounded in the league, with the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Bob Costas concluded his analysis with a note of caution for those who might underestimate the Orioles. “They’re playing better than 600 baseball… it looks like they’re going to be good for a while because they can hold that core together,” he warns. This team has a bright future, and their success this season is likely just the beginning of a new era of Orioles baseball. It looks like this year’s contention for the Fall Classic will be one hell of a ride!