Archive for the 2009 Category

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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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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Steeling myself for another game…

29. June 2009 by Crys.

Dear readers, today I am facing another difficult challenge. I am forced to attend the Orioles game tonight. Of course, I would much prefer to spend time with my family and maybe listen to the game on the radio (which is an option here - just like the good old days), while my mother, God love her, talks incessantly over the announcers so that I can’t catch even a partial inning. As part of my mission to perform random acts of kindness however, I am obligated to spend the evening in Camden Yards so that there is one less seat occupied by the tuckus of a Red Sox fan. Usually I deny it, but in this case, I’ll admit that I am kind of a hero in my self-sacrificing nature.

Sigh.

But what is a gal going to do? I guess she can make sure she has the zoom lens and beer money.

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Sacrifices

28. June 2009 by Crys.

Dear readers, I have a story to tell you tonight because I am confident that you will sympathize with the terrible situation in which I found myself.

Here I am in Baltimore visiting family to celebrate my youngest niece’s high school graduation. Today was the big party and I attended dutifully as any good aunt would. But then something terrible happened. After the party was over, suddenly, I found myself inside Camden Yards! I can’t explain it. All I know is that by the second inning, I was seated in the upper deck among a whole slew of orange-clad Orioles fans. Then I had to endure one Orioles homer after another, and even, you’re not going to believe this, but a few rounds of “The Wave.” The Orioles cheers were near about so deafening, a person couldn’t hear herself admiring George Sherrill’s capless head through the zoom lens.

It was a very, very hard night for me, as I’m sure you can imagine.

And seeing this…this was the hardest of all…
TRIPLE HOT!!

I won’t bore you with the rest of the gruesome details tonight. I want you to know how much I appreciate your kindness in listening to this difficult tale. Your compassion won’t be forgotten. I am going to try to pull myself together now and get a good night’s sleep so that I can face tomorrow.

Wishing all of you a most wonderful weekend and less difficult travails than I have endured.

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Modern American Tragedies

26. June 2009 by Crys.

On April 6, 2007, when MASN magically appeared in my channel guide, I was ecstatic. After 17 long years without regular Orioles access, I vowed I would never take watching the Orioles for granted again. After I started this blog, my dear college friend Ray commented, “I don’t remember you being this crazy about the Os in college?” He was right. I’m embarrassed to say that in those days, the Orioles were right across the street from me. I could go to a game whenever I wanted. After all, when I was ready for them, they would always be there. I had the luxury of relying on the crowd’s cheering to know when to tune in the radio if I was too busy studying to listen to the entire game — and often I was too busy studying — or doing something else entirely. I never anticipated that I would move away and that watching an Orioles game would be a luxury.

Yet, I have not watched many games this season. It’s not that I have stopped appreciating my unlimited Orioles access. (I have seriously considered sending gift baskets to the staff at MASN, in addition to my semi-annual thank you notes.) The problem is that my husband is defective, owing entirely to his British nationality (bless his heart), and in order to preserve marital harmony, I am trying to be a better wife by not forcing him to watch every game this season. My husband hasn’t openly complained, it’s just that when on Opening Day he uttered a painful, “Already?” in reference to the start of the season, his disappointment was palpable. Even though the problem stems from his unfortunate genetic makeup, it’s still hard to not pity him, particularly since he truly did not know what he was getting into marrying me (otherwise, I’d likely still be single).

At any rate, hope is on the horizon for me. I have been promised a kitchen television whereby I can watch the Orioles whilst baking and my husband can watch Top Gear or soccer or 24 (an odious program I swore off of after the finale a few years ago left me too irate to withstand another season). It’s a win for everyone!

So that’s the update explaining the silence emanating from this url. Plus, the Orioles are so in need of “development” that even I have been unable to forecast any World Series predictions.

I did have the pleasure of watching tonight’s game. On second thought, “pleasure” probably isn’t the right word. While I was happy to watch the game, I have to say that I found myself wondering…and I don’t mean this to be disrespectful…that after today’s sad news about the passing of Michael Jackson, I wasn’t sure which was sadder - the passing of Jackson or the Orioles pitching. Both are pretty tragic as our 11-3 loss to the Marlins reveals. MASN’s coverage dropped just as we scored our meager three runs, cruelly depriving us of the reward of enjoying the one pleasant part of the game after nine innings of rather regrettable pitching. (Those runs occurred during my first batch of chocolate chip cookie sacrifices. Coincidence?? You decide.)

Again, I don’t mean this to be disrespectful, but as my friend Chuck commented on my Facebook page, today’s news warrants the retelling of this old joke:
Q: What do the Baltimore Orioles and Michael Jackson have in common?
A: The both wear one glove for no apparent reason.

Since it seems that our problems are primarily pitching and not fielding, I can think of a variation on that joke, but it’s rather too crude to repeat. If I were to share the variation, which I won’t, the answer would be something along the lines of both having a fondness for those things that create walks. Okay, I know, weak! My husband has informed me on more than one occasion that my jokes aren’t funny. He’s British, what does he know!

The exciting news is that my next post will hopefully be next Monday after attending the first of THREE consecutive Orioles games — for the first time in over twenty years. I am so excited that I think I’m looking forward to seeing the Os even more than seeing my family. That should help to make up for being completely cutoff from the Orioles during my upcoming trip to England during the month of July (do you see the sly, under-handed ways of my husband - what I have to put up with!! SHEESH!). I shall depend on all of you to provide detailed recaps of the games during that time to keep me informed.

Wish me luck that I’m not surrounded by obnoxious Red Sox fans next week and that our Os do well to not make me want to poke out my eyes with a sharp stick.

Have a wonderful weekend, my dear readers!

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No Text Needed

19. April 2009 by Crys.

The picture says it all!! From fans everywhere, thank you Cleveland!

Yankees Suck!

“Game over” is right.

Posted in Yankees Suck, 2009 | Print | 4 Comments »

First

15. April 2009 by Crys.

I know I said I wasn’t going to use words like “chipper” this season to refer to machinery that should be used to ameliorate the ability of our staff, namely by freeing up some empty positions, and I’ve done well so far, don’t you think? (That is what is known as a “leading question.”) You must grant me some leeway here.

You know I have tried to love George Sherrill. I have. And I do. But he is still Triple Shot. In the bottom of the tenth (in Texas) after letting two runs score, he delivered two pitches that were driven into the warning track,with men on base. In the end, our Stanhouse (with a much sexier head) pulled us through, but it was a nail-biter finale. We all know people who grumble that baseball is boring. Maybe forcing them to watch a Sherrill ending would change their minds.

I know this is the same as last year at this time, but still, it’s hard to not feel a little hopeful. In the end, deep down we all know (even me!), it is what it is, maybe it doesn’t really mean anything. Even so, this is so pretty:

os2009-04-15.png

I can only think of one thing that would make that picture prettier.

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