Rule # 53 – Keep an attitude of gratitude always.
At this time period, October is over. Baseball just finished
its second season with only two teams remaining in the end. Alas, not my
Orioles or Phillies. Not this year. I sat back and watched Boston
jump all over St. Louis for the
World Series.
But keeping to the rule, with the O’s not in the postseason,
what on earth do I have to be grateful for from this past year in baseball? So
much… way too much is the answer. Let’s take a look at this past year from the
perspective of the birds of an orange feather.
The O’s are in the toughest division in all Major League
Baseball, with the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays. Out of all five teams,
four of them were within 5 games of first place beyond the All Star Break in
July and even into September. That’s a pretty tight race all season long. And
it was any team’s division to win up until the last full week of play. Two
division teams made it to the postseason, the Sox and Rays.
In past years - as close as 5 years ago - many a year us Oriole fans watched in melancholy as our
beloved birds of the orange feather were eliminated from any postseason hopes
by the Fourth of July. This year, however, we were in it until almost the end.
And even after elimination, the team continued to play their hearts out. After
all, our last series was with the Red Sox. We had to beat those guys on general
principles.
It was a fantastic season to watch. Chris Davis set the club
home run record. Manny Machado had fans lining up to buy him his first legal
beer as he turned 21 during the All Star break. His play at third base was
phenomenal. Brian Roberts came back from injury to share second base duties
with Ryan Flaherty. Both fellows did the position proud, and both fellows
earned their keep in the hitting department. Chris Tillman emerged as a class A
starting pitcher. Don’t forget the best catcher in Matt Weiters. We sent Adam
Jones, Chris Tillman, J.J. Hardy, Manny Machado, and Chris Davis to the All
Star Game. With Davis nicknamed
“Crush”, Baltimore became a
historic site – Mt. Crushmore!
And that’s just the start of it all.
What really put the crabmeat on the mac-‘n-cheese hot dog
was the season tickets. I sat behind one of the upper camera wells. The camera
man was fun to watch when tight plays were called – or more likely, miscalled.
We got to know the folks sitting around us – many teachers and retired
teachers. We got to know our usher and his family. Getting to know names and
faces, seeing the same people each Sunday – making some great new friends –
that was the really great part of seeing an O’s game in person. Ok, I have to
admit it was great hanging at the Irish Pub bar near the elevators and doing a
celebrity watch. Several were on hand for a variety of Sunday games and they
had the suites behind our seats.
I did see the Phillies in action this year, at Nationals
Park in D.C. and at Citizen’s Bank
Park in Philadelphia.
This was their struggle year and it wasn’t pretty at all. Manager Charlie
Manual got bounced from the job in August. Ryne Sandberg took over and the team
showed some promise. But that’s for next year.
So, thank you, Baseball, for a great season. I ticked three
parks off my 32 Pilgrimage list. I am officially a Club Level Brat, since those
seats get access to air conditioning, great food, a party atmosphere, and, oh
yeah, air conditioning when needed. Can’t wait to see other parks and taste
their signature food.
Thank you, Richard Gere, for throwing out the first pitch on
Father’s Day. You make grey look great (I’m still drooling).
Thank you, Kevin Spacey, for spending several Sundays
watching the O’s from the Club Level. I’m still kicking myself for missing the
July 14 game when you threw out the first pitch.
Thank you to our Irish Pub bartenders, who looked at us and
didn’t say a word – they just pulled the Guinness. They knew… they just knew.
Most of all, thank you Orioles. I saw the best games played
in the best park, Oriole Park.
Baltimore has some crazy cool fans
who love the competition. That stadium can rock.
And just in case you are counting…as of this writing, there are 104 days until
pitchers and catchers report to spring training around the 12th of
February. There are only 151 days until Opening Day on March 31.
Guess who the Orioles open the season playing… you got it –
the World Champion Boston Red Sox.
It is so ON, Beantown! It is so ON!
