Ravens hangover
A couple of observations, roughly 24 hours after the Ravens completed one of the more thorough ass-whippings they've administered in a while ...
At BWI this morning, at the baggage claim where dozens of fans and a handful of media types were waiting, a trio of baggage handlers were killing time by tossing around a toy football, having more fun that anyone should be having at 10 in the morning on a Monday at BWI. One of our colleagues from another paper noted, "It didn't take much to get people fired up about football.''
My reply: "They're sure not tossing a baseball around, and it's probably been a while since they did.''
That theme was highlighted when I got home and checked the emails. Along with the reactions to the Ravens' rout, there were a fair amount from Orioles fans who had thrown in the towel. A couple of them reveled in the fact that the Orioles' loss on Sunday mathematically eliminated them from playoff contention. Not that this is an unusual occurrence - that makes it nine wonderful years in a row - and not that we were running a magic number on the front page of the Sun sport section, but it's interesting that fans took specific note of it this year. As for magic numbers, it's two for the Orioles to clinch a ninth straight losing season as well.
One reader, Joe Cierniak of Glen Burnie, has had it, if this letter to the Sun sports editor (and to all the columnist) is any indication:
"As we approach the ending of a ninth losing season in a row the Oriole
organization becomes something far worse than disgusting...the word is
uninteresting, with boring running a close second. My suggestion is that any article
about the Orioles, rather than being included in the sports section, should
appear in the Help Wanted, For Sale, or Obituaries sections of the Sun.''
Again, not that this is a stunning revelation or anything, but the proof just keeps rolling in that the Orioles are killing the national pastime in historically one of its most loyal outposts. An NFL team that went 6-10 last year is once again snatching the city's hearts, based on one lopsided win.
Comments
It's not just bad baseball, or even boring baseball, but the same baseball. The same, small things bad teams do over and over to lose ballgames - failing to move runners over but instead hitting a hard grounder to short, swinging at the first pitch and not allowing your best base stealer to steal second, hanging a slider for a two run double after the batter looked foolish flailing at your sinker, failing to hit that fly ball deep enough to score the runner from third. This is what loses ballgames, and what we've become accustomed to watching for the past nine years. This is what needs to change as much as getting a front line pitcher or a clean up hitter. Until then, the Orioles will continue to be nothing more than a diversion between January and August.
Posted by: Mike Herbert | September 11, 2006 7:35 PM
Sorry, just another comment about the Orioles. It breaks my heart to see what they have become - from being a respected and feared rival to becoming the laughing stock of the American League East. My family and I went to Sunday's game and it was a crying shame that there were more Yankees fans there than Orioles fans. I NEVER thought I'd see the day when Yankee fans would overrun our ballpark (Red Sox fans, too). How does that make our players feel? Mr. Angelos needs to go (he reminds me of Robert Irsay - remember what he did to the Colts?). Gee, I wonder how badly he'll dismantle the team in the offseason and again ignore the pitching - namely the bullpen. As a lifelong Orioles fan, enough is enough.
Go Ravens!!
Posted by: Dee Dee | September 11, 2006 9:05 PM
I've lost all feeling I had for the Orioles. After 20 years as a season ticket holder, someone else will be sitting in my seats next year. The Ravens are this city's team. Until there is a new owner the "Maryland" Orioles are off my speaker and screen.
BFK
Posted by: B Kozlovsky | September 11, 2006 10:19 PM
It's not too late for the Sun to catch up on the Orioles' "magic number" stuff. They can always start a chart on the Orioles' magic number for mathematic elimination from the 2007 race pretty much anytime they want to.
Posted by: The Pompetus | September 12, 2006 12:20 AM
agree with you 100% David... go Ravens and thank God for football season!
Posted by: Monique | September 12, 2006 2:00 AM
It is so sad. I grew up in Ednor Gardens, a stone's throw away from Memorial Stadium and was 9 when the O's acquired Frank Robinson from the Reds. The next 20 years of Orioles baseball were glorious. I believe we had the best won lost record in modern day baseball at the end of that run. Where's Jerry Hoffberger when you need him? Yo! Jerry! Baltimore needs you! (Impersonations of Mr. Hoffberger, if they are as effective, are most welcome.)
Posted by: California O's fan | September 14, 2006 11:33 AM