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!

Up Your's, Beckett

Oh sweet mercy do I hate Josh Beckett. So when my Orioles tagged him for 5 runs in their 5-4 win tonight, I couldn't have been happier. If you go back and watch the game tonight, there were several times when Beckett was shown cursing, at one point saying "Fuck you!" to someone.

The Red Sox might be my most hated of sports teams at the moment. They are total douchebags and so are a lot of their fans, especially the fair weather ones who buy worn "B" hats and pretend like they suffered through the 80+ years of not winning a World Series. Losers.

I was glad to see Camden Yards full tonight with mostly Orioles fans. I think that says a lot about this year's team and how Baltimore fans feel about this influx of young talent. And how much we hate Red Sux fans.

Tyree Evans

Recently, Maryland signed high-baggage basketball recruit Tyree Evans for the upcoming basketball season. This represents something Gary Williams hasn't done in his 15+ seasons at Maryland - brought in someone who has been all over the police blotter. Does it show a desperation in Gary Williams? I don't think so. I think Gary has finally realized a few things. First, he can't rely on 4 year projects anymore as a coach. His recruiting style is going to have to change for him to survive in the future. Gary is fantastic at finding diamonds in the rough (Juan Dixon, Lonny Baxter, etc) and turning them into stars. But since the NBA started requiring players to be 19 before declaring for the NBA draft, several high school stars (Kevin Durrant, Reggie Love, O.J. "I pulled a Chris Webber" Majo) are now playing for college teams for a year and then leaving. Gary has mostly avoided the one and done guys because that doesn't work in this 4 year player development style. Sans Chris Wilcox and Steve Francis, Maryland has mostly avoided the one and done crowd. The problem is, that since these players are now staying for a year, teams further down on the recruiting food chain are now able to sign better players who would have been at some of these schools that have signed one of these one and done guys. So you see more parity in college basketball as a result. Why hasn't Maryland landed some of these big name recruits, especially some of the ones in their own backyard? (Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, etc?) I'm not sure. There are probably a number of reasons but the fact that they would only be around for a year or two should be one of them. After all, look at Gary's recent strategy - recruiting JuCo players who, for the most part, are only in school for 2 years. Granted, Gary has done a fantastic job at bringing in some JuCo talent (Steve Francis, Boom Osby) but should I school who went to back to back Final Fours and won the National Title 6 years ago be relying on JuCo transfers?

Maryland is going to struggle in the front court this year, especially while they wait for Gus Gilchrist to become eligible to play at the end of December. So it appears that Gary is loading up on guards and might be running a lot of 4 guard sets come November. I think Gary knew that with Walker transferring and with losing Gist and Osby to graduation, his team might again not be an NCAA tournament team. Solution? Go get a guy who has fantastic talent, but doesn't have a halo over his head. Only time will tell whether or not this gamble was worth it for Maryland. I think if the Terps are back in the NCAA tournament and make it to the sweet 16, you won't hear much out of some of these fair weather Maryland fans who are in an uproar over this. If Maryland stumbles, you'll not only hear that Gary made a mistake, but that AD Debbie Yow allowed him to and that Gary should lose his job. If you read this blog, you know how stupid I think that thought is, but I fear some of the donors at Maryland who pay the bills might have a lessened opinion of Gary after signing Evans. He'll be under a microscope for his two years at Maryland - pray he lives up to expectations while keeping out of trouble.

I'll do another post on why Maryland has struggled since 2004 to constantly play at a high level and how 1 bad recruiting class coupled with Dave Dickerson and Jimmy Patsos, two of Maryland's best recruiting coaches, leaving, has hurt the Terps.

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)

Shame on you Media!

I’m not too into the NBA or NHL, since Baltimore have never had a team in either league since I’ve lived there. But I do cheer for the Wizards and Caps. I’ve gotten much more into the Caps, especially after their magical run this season. And I started watching Wizards games a few years ago after they drafted Juan Dixon in the first round in 2002. But if the Wiz or Caps lose, I don’t get that upset or frustrated as I would if it were the Terps, Ravens or Orioles.

That being said, I thought it was necessary to write about the Wiz-Cavs playoff series that is currently going on (Cleveland leads the series 3-2). This thing is getting heated! Darius Songaila and LeBron got tangled up on a play (below) and Songaila was T-ed up and suspended for game 6 tonight (the fact that he got suspended is ridiculous). But the whole reason I’m writing this post is because of the Cleveland Fans. Watch the clip below and listen to their fans chant “Asshole, asshole, asshole.” But I thought only naughty students in College Park used bad words like that! FALSE! It happens everywhere. And I’m tired of UMD being the media’s punching bag for this shit. Why does no one say anything when this happens at a PROFESSIONAL sporting event. At least in College you can say its stupid college kids. Folks, this is the NBA and most college kids aren’t attending NBA playoff games because, quite frankly, they can’t afford to. So these are adults chanting this and its clear as day on this youtube clip. Where are you now media, to chastise ADULTS who are doing this on National TV? WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN! WON'T ANYONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!?
Check it out below.

Walker gone, Georgetown added to Old Spice

According to the University of Maryland, Freshman forward Shane Walker will be leaving Maryland and transferring to another school. I'm still not sure how I feel about this. I think Walker has a lot of potential and is very good under the basket, boxing out and grabbing rebounds, so in that regard, I'm sorry he's leaving, especially since Gus Gilchrist isn’t eligible to play until the end of December. The real question now is, what do the Terps do with an extra scholarship? A few weeks ago, it seemed like the Terps would have loved to have an extra scholarship so they could give it to Bobby Maze. The Terps have signed Tyree Evans and Sean Mosely, so at this point signing another guard would seem pointless, as Maryland is in desperate need of front court help, especially until December when Gilchrist becomes eligible.

In other Terps basketball news, as many people know Maryland will be playing in the Old Spice Classic down in Orlando over Thanksgiving Day weekend. But the team to replace Memphis, who backed out, in that tournament is none other then…GEORGETOWN! Sweet mercy do I hate Georgetown. Not only is the school full of a lot of douchebags who think their money automatically makes them better people, but their basketball team and program is full of cowards. Maryland and Georgetown are separated by 10 miles

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(at least from the Verizon Center to the Comcast Center…just as a side note there, the fact that each school’s arena is sponsored by rival telecommunications companies should be proof that this is a rivalry between the schools) and yet they haven’t played each other since 1993. Do you remember what happened in 1993?


That was the last time Maryland was scheduled in the regular season to play Georgetown. I think the last time we played them though might have been in 2001 in the Sweet 16, on Maryland’s run to the Final 4.


Maryland use to play Georgetown annually from 1943-1980 (Maryland leads the all time series 36-25) but a dispute over revenue has soured the series since 1993. It is suppose to be Georgetown’s turn to come to College Park in the series, but they refuse. I guess they don’t want to get embarrassed. But it is a shame that these schools don’t meet on an annual basis because they have a good rivalry and they’re so close to each other.

O's beat Seattle - Has Cabrera turned the corner?

Daniel Cabrera has pitched great over his past 2 starts, including last night when he pitched 8 innings, struck out 5 and probably most importantly, walked no one. He only gave up 2 runs and 5 hits over those 8 innings and kept the O's in the game and picking up the win after Nick Markickass hit a solo homer in the top of the 8th to break a 2-2 tie. Manager Dave Trembly brought in Sherrill to close out the game, which he was able to do, while earning his 7th save (4 of which have come against his former club).

There are a few questions now that arise for the Orioles and one of them is, has Daniel Cabrera finally turned the corner and started to become the dominant pitcher that the Orioles have said he could be for the past 3 years? Over his past two games, he's pitched 14 innings, only walked 2 batters, and given up 2 earned runs. There are two very important things to consider here - Cabrera's lack of walks and the fact that the Orioles have worked with him to throw his fast ball more, which seems to have helped tremendously. Over his last 3 starts, which was the start of his new "throw your fastball more" philosophy, Cabrera's ERA is 3.74. Its also important to note that the Orioles have won every game Cabrera has started this year. And although he only has 2 wins in the 5 games that he's started, he has no loses and 3 no decisions and has kept the Orioles in the game, a far cry from last year when he led the league in loses, walks allowed and ERA.

Only time shall tell if these is a new Cabrera who will consistently be good and who has turned the corner to possibly future star.

One last note - the O's trade with Seattle seems to be bette and better for the Orioles as time goes on. As someone who was initially opposed to the Bedard trade, I now think MacPhail is brilliant! Don't believe me? Go read Seattle blogs and message boards about the trade and how Seattle fans think they gave up too much...and they're probably right!