The Baltimore Orioles have been awarded 70 Gold Gloves, recognizing defensive excellence, since 1957 – the most in the American League and second only to the St. Louis Cardinals.
For 17 hours this week, the Baltimore Orioles led the American League East. Ahead of the New York Yankees. Ahead of the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
It was a nice 17 hours, although, truthfully, several of those hours were in the middle of the night when I couldn’t really enjoy it fully.
They say one shouldn’t live in the past, but I hope you won’t mind if I just …
May 2, 2014
What a whirlwind, crazy, exciting ride it was.
The Orioles promptly lost their next two games.
No more number one.
(I believe at one point today as the Orioles were losing to the Minnesota Twins I said they “suckity suck suck.” This is the clever kind of thing that baseball fans say when they’re being betrayed by the players they love.)
There is a week that comes in every baseball season, when a private, quiet kind of panic begins to set in for fans of teams that are not number one.
This is that week.
A week ago, Editor/Husband and I went to our first Orioles game of the season. (Yes, it is a six-hour round-trip drive. He is the best.)
The scrappy Orioles played the equally scrappy Kansas City Royals.
We lost 9-3.
But, the sun was shining. 3,500 Little Leaguers were there. I took these pictures. So really the day wasn’t a total loss.
Here’s Orioles Pitcher Chris Tillman out by the bullpen. Four days later, against the Pirates he would throw 49 pitches in the top of the first and walk in two runs. The Orioles won anyway.
And, as a big fan of the bullpen and relief pitchers, I’m delighted to see they’ve dressed up the place with flowers.
These are ducks just behind center field.
These are Little Leaguers. More than 3,500 of them paraded around the ballpark before the game. It took more than an hour. The Orioles said “hi.”
Once again, I am besieged by protective netting. Let’s play “Guess The Infielder!”
Gold Glove Shortstop J.J. Hardy.
Second Baseman Steve Lombardozzi.
It’s a trick! It’s Right Fielder Nick Markakis playing first base, subbing for the injured Chris Davis.
Obligatory bullpen shot. Hi fellas, stay warm!
Orioles backup catch Steve Clevenger, born in Baltimore in the nearby neighborhood called Pigtown.
This is a kid who’s excited to be at a baseball game. He is a wide-eyed innocent who believes in his team and in a world that is just and fair.
This is a kid whose favorite team is rolling over to the Royals. I think he’s aged a bit this afternoon, and from here on out every smile will be tinged with just a hint of sadness.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy knew that if he stopped mid-game to pose for my photo he would get to appear in this post twice. Congratulations, Mr. Hardy.
OK, maybe it’s too early to panic.
We’re number two.
Photos: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland. April 27, 2014.
On Tuesday, the Baltimore Orioles lost and were eliminated from the playoffs. Their season ends Sunday. Time for huntin’, fishin’, or whatever it is that these fellas do when they’re not swinging at bad pitches. (See, Orioles’ Pitchers … it’s not always your fault.)
After last season, I discovered that baseball in October is more fun than I ever could have imagined.
October in Baltimore (2012 edition).
It’s amazing.
Sigh.
But, instead, the Orioles are done. (Although Manny Machado is going to be ok. Hakuna Machado!)
So, here’s how I spent my first day out of the playoffs.
1) One of my cats pooped. On the kitchen counter. I came home and there it was. Poop. On the kitchen counter. I spent my first day of meaningless baseball super-bleach-sanitizing the kitchen. I may just have to burn it down. (I can forgive certain cat things. She’s old and sort of frail. But, the boxes were clean. This is a felony.)
Smokey Jo. Felon.
2) At my Yoga studio, I have beautiful windows overlooking a courtyard that is used by the nearby restaurant. It lets in lovely light. As I was teaching yesterday, my students were practicing and I look up to see a guy – all tattoos, beers, and facial hair – coming up to my window, making eye contact with me, and then vomiting. Profusely. All over. It seemed to last forever. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I worried he might try to come into the class and vomit some more. He heaved up about a gallon of his insides, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and staggered away. I’m still traumatized.
3) I broke the space bar on my laptop. Doyouknowhowimportantspacesbetweenwordsare? Veryveryimportant.
And, here’s what I learned.
1) Cats really don’t care about you.
2) You can become hypnotized watching someone vomit.
3) Ineedaspacebar!!!!!!
I love my Orioles. I’m proud of all they did this season. I’m proud of the homeruns. The amazing defense. The pitchers. I’m proud of each and every Oriole. (I may tease ’em, sure, but I love ’em.)
And, I’m soaking in these last few games. They may be playoff meaningless, but they’re never meaningless to me. They won last night! They had a winning season!
But, this October is going to be awful – just endless poop and vomit – if I don’t find a backup team soon.
So, there you go.
In a comment on one of my earlier posts, Don Of All Trades put in his pitch for me to root for the St. Louis Cardinals.
So, just by virtue of his promptness (and flattery), the Cardinals are off to a quick start.
The Oakland A’s could be ok … after all, to go from O’s to A’s is just gentle vowel shifting. It could be quite easy for me.
But, the door is wide open.
Is your team still in it? Add a comment. Give me your best pitch.
Since only you and three other people actually read this thing, chances are good I’ll go with your team if you take the time to ask me. Think of it as a baseball date. Sure, we’ll break up in November, but we could have some fun in October, right?
The Baseball Bloggess 