Observations from 2 Baltimore Orioles Fans
Posted in: Fandom
If you expect certain outcomes to occur, regardless of the circumstances surrounding them, you are being set up for failure. Last year after the All Star Break, the Orioles dropped to 45-42, putting them in third place behind the Yankees and Rays. What happened after that? Lots of wins, enough for 93 total to close the season.
The Orioles 11-game, 11-day west coast road trip opened up last night with a 10-2 win against the A’s. It’s a nice start to a road trip that has been unkind to the Orioles in the past.
I often muse about the fact that following sports is kind of silly when there are so many more important ways I could be spending my time, especially with my family. But sports teach us so much about life: you have to hold on to hope when all hope seems lost, control your emotions when the most frustrating things happen so you don't make things worse, and not let the exhaustion and tension wear you down so much you have trouble functioning as best you can. And they mirror life in a million other ways too.
From Brittany Ghiroli's April 15 article on Nick Markakis:
Markakis addressed the team shortly after the injury, encouraging his teammates to pick him up with the hope that he could return for a deep playoff run. Baltimore went on to post a 93-69 season, advancing to the AL Division Series before losing to New York, and sure enough, Showalter got a phone call at home during the World Series. It was Markakis. "Just to let you know," he told his manager, "I would have been ready.
Another interesting note regarding TV ratings. Per @MLB_PR on Twitter:
Sunday night's @orioles @yankees game on @espn was highest-rated regular season game on ESPN ever in Baltimore (8.4 local rating).
— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) April 15, 2013
Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com talked to Buck Showalter before tonight's game about the minor car accident that Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez were involved in.
The cab transporting pitchers Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez to Fenway Park today was involved in a "little fender bender," Showalter said. "Somebody kind of bumped them from behind. They came in like they were whiplashed, both of them laying on the table.
"They said the worse thing was the cabbie took off after the woman. They said the worst part of it was the three-mile chase. Only Tilly. They had some fun with that."
Sounds like a buddy comedy to me. MASN is probably in need of more off-season programming.
Last nights game felt very similiar to game 10 of the 2012 season. Trailing the Chicago White Sox on the road 4-2 in the 9th inning, Nolan Reimold and Adam Jones hit solo home runs to get the game to extra innings. In the 10th, Matt Wieters delivered a grand slam to give the Orioles the 10-4 victory. This was in the middle of a three city, cross country road trip that ended with the O’s going 6-4 after opening the season 3-3 at home.
Unrealistic expectations usually lead to disappointment.
The beginning of each baseball season brings new hope for all 30 major league clubs. As a fan, if you don’t have new hope and passion, what’s the point? At the same time, its important to understand the length of the season and understand that 162 games are a marathon, not a sprint. In today’s society, where instant gratification is almost demanded, patience has become even more of a prized commodity.
"Ever Forward" - a phrase often said on the greatest radio show of all time, Don and Mike
The Orioles finally posted the “We’re Glad You Came” video and with that, I’m finally ready to recognize that the 2012 season is over.