I hate the Yankees

Since MLB released the 2008 schedule, I've been looking forward to September 21st, 2008. The scheduling gods had giving my Baltimore Orioles a blessing - a chance to ruin the last game at historic Yankee Stadium. The O's could have gone 1-161, so long as they beat the Yankees in the last game at that stadium. 

But that assumed that the Yankees didn't make the playoffs, which would never happen.  Even if they didn't win the A.L. East, thay would defiantly the Wild Card, right?

Well, when I went to my first and only game at Yankee Stadium last October, against the Cleveland Indians, I told my girlfriend that would be the last playoff game at Yankee Stadium as we walked out following the Yanks loss to the Indians that eliminated them from the playoffs. 

 Little did I know I would be right.  As this day drew close, I realized that this would basically be the Orioles playoff game- the Atmosphere, what they were playing for, would all generate a playoff atmosphere. And the Orioles would be on Sunday Night Baseball in late September for the first time since 1997. The Nation would actually be interested in a late-season Orioles game. 

It was tough to watch the O's jump out to a 2-0 lead and then lose 7-3. To see those damn Yankees celebrating and the O's not coming through in the biggest game they've played in since they lost to the Indians in the ALCS back in 1997. I so wanted the O's to beat the Yankees - the team that use to be in Baltimore before moving to New York in 1903. 

I think what really bothers me about the entire night isn't the fact that the Yankees beat the O's. What is really sad is that Yankee Stadium is a). going to be torn down and b). represents the death of baseball to the common fan. 

The House that Ruth Built was a first - a first 3-tier stadium, the first stadium that packed in fans from all walks of life. Yankee Stadium is a cathedral to baseball but it was also the site of the birth of the modern NFL with the 58 Championship game, it was the site of the first papal mass in the Western Hemisphere, site of some of the best boxing matches ever. So what replaces this sports museum - the House that was made into a home?

The death of baseball.  The death of the common fan.  The furthering of corporate America's intrusion into sports.  $2,500 seats PER GAME for baseball, insisting on having luxury boxes and thus needing a new stadium.  The New Yankee Stadium represents everything that is wrong with our world - the only thing missing is a corporate name on top of that new stadium.

Way the ghost of the Base haunt their new stadium and prevent them from ever winning another championship - punishment for tearing down a true sports and baseball cathedral.

death of sports - house that Ruth built - common man, no more.

welcome in an era of greed, corporate america  - onlything missing is corporate name.

Orioles Ushers Suck

This might or might not be a surprise to you, but the ushers at Oriole Park suck. I had a horrible experience with the ushers last year, who yelled at us for cheering for the Orioles. Yes, that's right - for root, root rooting for the home team. A Phillies fan (the O's were playing Boston that day, just so you know) was yelling at us for cheering. This stupid troll usher comes over and yells at us and threatens to make us leave. And after yelling at us, goes and sits with that same Phillies fan! I complained to the Orioles, but the troll was back again this year, sadly.

Back to the original reason for this post, which is yet another incident involving Orioles ushers. At the game on Tuesday, part of our season ticket package, there was a group of kids, probably 19-20 years old. These kids aren't harming anyone - they're cheering, trying to start the wave, etc. RANDOMLY one of the head Orioles ushers (wearing his green shirt - I've seen this guy before - he's a d-bag) goes down and starts asking these kids for their tickets (they were sitting in the lower section of left field, next to the O's bullpen). After discovering they all had tickets for the section, he left them alone for a while.  Next thing we know, the usher is back, this time with the "Alcohol Compliance Supervisor."  They start checking these kids ID's to make sure they're 21. Now I know they have a job to do in terms of enforcing under age drinking, but it was clear these ushers were going down a list of ways to try to get these kids out of here because, GOD FORBID, they cheer for their home team. 

I started a "Let them cheer" chant and yelled at the ushers and told them they're part of the reason why the Orioles only draw 20,000 fans/game these days.

If you get a chance to go to an O's game, make sure you stand and cheer. If the ushers tell you to stop, tell them, as I did multiple times, that you pay their salary. Then call the Orioles front office and complain about the usher. Make sure you get their name and what section they were working in.  Pictures/video also can help your cause.

The breeze has died...

Again the Orioles lose despite having the game in hand late in the game. The O's have lost 4 straight, dropped 2 games below .500 and over his last 5 games, George Sherrill  has only converted 1 save.  The breeze has stopped blowing in the Orioles sail.  Right now, the All-Star break can't come fast enough for the O's . Now having to go to Boston for 3 games, the Orioles need to take 2 of 3 from the Blow Sox and stabilize themselves.  The Orioles can either recover from their recent struggles or they can lay down and get swept by Boston. We'll learn a lot about this team over the next 3 games. 

Overall, the O's have more than exceeded expectations during the first half of the season. Will they continue this trend? Not if their starting pitching only goes 5 innings and the bullpen continues to get burned out.  No one needs this break more than the bullpen, who has been overworked drastically over the last month. Losing several starting pictures to injuries has really hurt the Orioles.  Cabrera and Guthrie are the only pitchers in the rotation who the O's can count on to normally go at least 7 innings every game.  Unless Burress, Liz and Olson pick up their games after the all star break, look for the O's to continue to struggle. 

Its really a shame because the Orioles offense has been fantastic, especially over the last 4 games, when they've averaged over 7 runs per game and sadly are 0-4.

Do you think the O's should try to keep gunning for a winning season or should they try to sell off and continue the rebuilding phase? I don't think any can doubt Andy MacPhail after all he's done thus far, but I'm curious for other's opinions. Please vote to the right...

Please come back Orioles Magic!

Orioles Magic, Feel it Happen!

After beating the Red Sox AGAIN yesterday, you can't help but think there is some Orioles magic about this season and this team. Its like the team's decided to restore the "Oriole Way" back into the organization has resulted in a resurgence back to the great Oriole teams of yore. This team is fun to watch, is entertaining, and they're going to go down swinging, no matter what. As Brian Roberts recently said, teams are going to have to work to get all 27 outs against this group. Its also good to see the fan base starting to get re-energized. Orioles fans have suffered through a lot over the last 10 years with the only real bright spot being Ripken's induction into the Hall of Fame. At the game on Tuesday, I heard Orioles fans were fighting Boston fans because they were tired of them trying to take over Camden Yards. Although I don't condone fighting (well, off the record I do), its nice to see that passion returning to Oriole Park. (video below)



This team, according to "experts", was suppose to be dreadful, losing 100+ games, finishing in last in the A.L. East, etc. I believe Vegas put the over-under on the number of games they would win at 64. But this team has shown that the so called "experts" really just have their heads shoved too far up their own asses to really make a reasonable prediction about a season before it starts. These are professional athletes and telling them they're going to suck has only fueled their fire and passion. So thank you, all you National sports writers, for making my home town O's better. You all look like idiots now and are eating crow, some of you even having the audacity to say that the O's will STILL lose 100 games. Swallow your pride and do some insightful reporting for once.


Onto another topic, The "Oriole Magic" song, which was a creation that arose out of the 1979 (thanks for the correction, Michael) season, and was a staple at the start of every home Orioles game since that season. But at the start of the season, the song was stopped from being played at the request of the players. They thought it was linked too much to the past. Well, after yesterday's come from behind win over Boston, the song was back, but with a new, updated version featuring the Orioles of the past and current team members as well. Kevin "Dr. Feel Good" Millar has lead vocals, and Adam "looks like Eric Davis" Jones is on drums.



"Something magic happens, every time you go, you make the magic happen, the magic of Orioles baseball! When the game is close, and the O's are hot, there's a thundering roar from 34 to give it all they got. And you never know, who's going to hear them call, every game has a different star, that's the magic of Orioles baseball! Orioles magic, feel it happen, Orioles Magic, feel it happen, O-R-I-O-L-E-S. Magic, magic, magic, magic!

Cabrera does it again

Just what the struggling Orioles needed - a trip to Kansas City to take on one of the few teams that has been a worse organization than the Orioles over the last 10 years. And the Orioles were not only awarded with a win, but got a 6th consecutive quality start out of starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera. What did Cabrera do? Pitched a complete game, 3 hitter, striking out 7 and only walking 1, while giving up just 1 earned run.

No, I'm not dreaming and yes, I am talking about the same Cabrera that led the league last year in walks, ERA and losses. I think it is now safe to say that Daniel has turned the proverbial corner and could be another building stone for the franchise.

(Image courtesy of "Keith" on Picasa Web Albums)