Let’s face it. The Orioles have stunk since 1998. Chances are, they will stink this year. Yet every year, Opening Day brings anew sense of optimism. In fact, before last year’s opening day loss to eventual AL champion Tampa, the O’s had won seven straight to open the season.
But for many, the fanfare around Opening Day just isn’t the same. Whether it’s due to the Orioles’ losing ways, the economics of baseball, or even the shift of allegiance to the Ravens, it seems like baseball is becoming an afterthought locally. Sure, they’ll sellout today, and maybe even have more O’s fans than Yankee fans, but that will all change in a couple of weeks.
True Oriole fans have a lot to be optimistic about. Matt Wieters should be up from the minors at some point this season, and hopefully he will be bringing some of his young battery mates. Andy MacPhail has done a magnificent job changing the direction the team has been heading, electing to drafting, developing and stockpiling pitching in the minors.
But is it too late for the fans? What’s your take?
Guthrie being the #1 and the state of the pitching doesn’t bode well, but the batting should be powerful this year. I’m expecting some high-scoring Orioles games in 2009.
Don’t know about the offense. It’s going to be tough for Huff to put up the numbers he did last year, and if he doesn’t, Markakis is going to suffer. They are weaker offensively at catcher and left field (if pie plays the majority), and Mora is ancient.
I’m not feeling good about Guthrie. I think he may be hurt. His fastball has lost some zip and ALOT of movement from what I have seen this spring. Uehara will be good the first half, and Eaton and Hendrickson are just plain terrible.
Haha, Nice pic from the stadium:
I haven’t been to an O’s game since they signed Albert Belle. How many years ago was that, 15? To me, his signing indicated the end of the “Orioles Way” and the beginning of the narcissistic “it’s all about me” era. On a happier note, I did hear that the boos for Joe Biden throwing out the first pitch were equal in intensity to the boos for Mark Texeira. Go Ravens, Go Dagger!
Orioles Magic! Beating the Yanks is always great. Good thing I was wrong about thee CC v. Guthrie matchup!
O’s looked good…until the relief pitching came in.
The top 3 in the batting order are phenomenal. Adam Jones is going to be a superstar.
I was surprised Ray struggled, since his spring era was 0.00. Maybe it was nerves that made him through the ball right down the middle to matsui.
I was happy that Johnson stepped up as he was awful this spring.
Guthrie looked pretty good, after an up and down spring. I think, with all of the bats the O’s have assembled, there will be a lot of 9-8 games this year. With any luck, the hitters can build a 4-5 run cushion for the starter before the bullpen has to get up. Nobody who came out of the ‘pen looked especially sharp yesterday.
Eighty wins from this crew seems like a bit of a stretch.
Headline in today’s New York Post: ” BIRDBATHIA – CC a disaster in debut as Orioles belt Yanks”
What a way to start Baseball season in Baltimore…a win at Camden yards, but also beating the Yankees..at home?? on opening day..Wow that is priceless!! Thanks for the article!
hell boys, it’s always good when the O’s win…watched the game on t.v….with the dogs…they played like they knew what they were doing…which is good….
i like the Yankees too…always have liked both teams…day in and day out though, the Final Four and the Tarheels whompin’ Mich State meant a lot…that’s the best b-ball you’ll ever see…
It’s Gold Jerry…Gold!!!
Go ACC! Lifetime of memories. I’ve followed the ACC since the late 60’s. No better basketball in the world Coaches like Lefty, Williams, Smith, Sloan, Coach K, Jimmy V. and players like Jordan, Sampson, Thompson, Lucas, Elmore, Towe, Blake, etc. and many, many more make it the game it is today.
Let me end by asking two ACC questions. From the Jim O’Brien era of the terps, who did we play in the lowest scoring game in modern terp history. Hint: Both coaches are listed above. And seeing that I’ve interjected basketball into an Oriole baseball topic blog, my last question. Who played basketball , in the ACC, and later pitched for the Orioles?