Archive for August 2009

We won! We won!!

21. August 2009 by Crys.

We tried bloody hard not to, but somehow, we did, we won.

I was standing in the kitchen, staring despondently at the limp and dry eggplant that my husband delivered dutifully from the grill, realizing that I forgotten the pre-grill olive oil drizzle. As I was wondering how I might salvage it as an edible accompaniment to my homemade pasta, I heard a sound, most beautiful emanating from my living room, that of Jim Thorne excitedly saying, “Goodbye home run! Brian Roberts hits a grand slam!” The score was 5-1 and I felt uneasy by this new and unfamiliar feeling while watching an Orioles game…it was…it was…joy!

There are some who would think that having a four run lead in the sixth inning would be insurance enough to win the game, but those people are not Orioles fans. In the bottom of the sixth, just to be sure that any remaining Orioles fan felt the familiar feeling of dismay, Matusz made sure that Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer. Okay, back on familiar turf.

Then things got really confusing. In the top of the 7th, Reimhold inexplicably homered with two men on base, making the score 8-4 Orioles. How were we going to get out of this situation? We had five runs yet to surrender and only two more innings in which to do it. Another Orioles sticky wicket!

But worry not. We have exceptional losing skills, finely honed over multiple decades. You see, the Orioles still employ Danys Baez, and he had no problem fulfilling the role of Orioles anti-hero. Despite his best efforts though, he only managed to surrender three of the five needed runs, leaving the Orioles with a one run lead going into the ninth. Johnson stepped up to the challenge relieving Baez, but in the end failed to surrender any more runs, going so far as to strike out Evan Longoria for the final out.

So there you have it. We won.

Fear not, dear reader. Tomorrow is a new day and I’m sure we can return to that old familiar feeling of losing to which we’ve become so accustomed.

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Important Alert: Calendar Available

20. August 2009 by Crys.

I skipped the game entirely last night. I had to attend a meeting with my Drinking Liberally friends and discuss politics and people’s foolishness whilst enjoying a brew. However, while I have no game news, I felt it important to share this very important information with you. The Orioles now have a pet calendar. They might not win, but they sure look good!!!

Enjoy!

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Tampa: Game Post Mortem

19. August 2009 by Crys.

Out of respect for your precious time, I’ll keep this post short. Last night we played Tampa. We were behind by 3. Weiters hit a homer. In the top of the 9th, we had a couple men on base and a good chance to tie the game. We didn’t.

In summary…we coulda won but we didn’t. Let’s not waste time analyzing why and what went wrong. There’s no point. It’s been done to death. Just eat a cookie and have some chocolate and a glass of Tankeray, official liquor of the Baltimore Orioles, and get on with your life.

No, I’m not despondent. Whatever gave you that impression?

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No New Words

18. August 2009 by Crys.

One day it occurred to me that someone outside of my loving mother and the kind but clearly masochistic Mindpinball might read this blog. It is on the Internet, after all. But, prior to that day, I figured that my Orioles focused ventings wouldn’t garner much of an audience (if you can call three readers “an audience”–yes, I realize I am being a little free and loose with the word). I wrote my posts for their cathartic effects, needing an outlet that was not my long-suffering husband who deserves better than to listen to my frustrations about a team and sport that will never capture his interest. When it became clear that Jim Palmer (I love you Jim!) turns to this very blog for its deep insight and wisdom, I turned over a new leaf. Since that day, never wanting to offend anyone, I have tried to post somewhat kinder, if less honest, opinions about each game (except about Red Sox fans, who I really, really hate). Usually, as you might have noticed, that has left me speechless.

If you saw yesterday’s game and the one before it, you might expect that this post is going to be about how utterly discouraging and depressing it is to be an Orioles fan these days. But, on the contrary, I feel more optimistic than ever. Yes, it’s true that we have some challenges with our pitching, but we’re working on that. Our fielding and batting are good and despite our recent crushing losses, the future looks bright.

Or maybe I’m just numb to it all and have lost all expectation of winning.

In other words, yes, we lost again and there isn’t really anything new to say about it. I’m just not that creative–because that sort of creativity is outside the realm of human capability. We’re close though. Really, really, close…

(Look at that! I managed to write an entire post without employing the word “chipper” in reference to an Orioles pitcher. I, too, along with our dear Orioles, am making wonderful progress.)

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Izturis and Matusz

5. August 2009 by Crys.

The Os are playing Detroit tonight and Matusz just made his major league and Oriole debut. It’s only the top of the 7th inning and still premature to post a cheerful review of the game. However, Matusz finished five innings, with five strike-outs (if my math is right), surrendering only one run. He retired the fifth inning with a strike-out that was met by a touching standing ovation from his family members who flew to Detroit to support him.

If you’re reading this, then you understand. You’ll forgive me that though this is only one game, I can’t suppress a small little voice cheering “Woooohooo!” So many promises, so many disappointments, so many chilling Stanhouse flashbacks, so many injuries…Could he? Could he be the real thing?

In addition to Matusz nice debut, Isturis will easily be the player of the game. Stellar fielding, homer, two hits…

In no time, over enthusiastic people will be making World Series predictions about this team. Maybe even tomorrow night at an Orioles meetup in Charlotte.

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Times When A Plane Crash is Warranted

3. August 2009 by Crys.

Yesterday, if any day ever was one, was one of them. Anything to interrupt the game and end the misery. I appreciate the diplomatic title of the article, “Pitching a Problem.” How delicately understated.

I appreciate that the Os never give up though. We may not have pitching, but we have determination. We must have patience. Soon…soon, the AL East will be ours.

Humpf! Some days I’m convinced “soon” is used in a biblical sense, kind of like how “day” equates metaphorically to “millions of years,” the word loosely describes an indefinite amount of time exceeding many human life spans.

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