Mikey D

"We went from worst to almost first, and that's something we're pretty proud of." ~Frank Robinson, 1989 Baltimore Orioles Manager

That is a quote from one of my favorite sports videos- the 1989 Orioles Season, "Why Not?". It is also the quote Kevin laughs at. Yes, those 89' Orioles didn't win the World Series, much less win the division. They finished second in a heated race to the Blue Jays. Still they were a team that was supposed to finish dead last, and somehow ended up spending the most days in first place out of any team in the division (unfortunately they weren't there on the last day, when it mattered).

While the video can be laughed at now, I still admire that team. A bunch of young nothings mixed with a few veterans, and presto, a contending team that just played hard. They were exciting and fun to watch, and the city got behind them 100%. Every night they had a chance to win, even though they might have been on the short end of the stick talent wise. What more could you ask for? One could draw the similarity from them to the 06' Tigers. A perennial loser, but for some reason or another banded together to make a run.

In my mind, those types of teams are more fun to watch than the Yankees or the Red Sox (and perhaps now the Tigers). The fans seem to appreciate the moment more, and the teams aren't composed of last year's hot free agent crop. The players are home grown talents or outcasts that didn't "fit" with the major market clubs. They play with a chip on their shoulders, with something to prove.

Last night I was at the Tigers-Orioles game (heartbreaking, by the way), and I couldn't help but enjoy the way the Orioles played baseball. In fact, I've enjoyed them all year long. Before the season they were supposed to challenge the record for the most losses in a season, and now they are hovering around .500 in a ridiculous AL East. In Baltimore, after ten straight losing seasons, the fans are excited. Not because they feel their team is going to make a run at the division or wild card, but because there's passion and heart on the field, and every night the people know their team has a chance. I think, as a baseball fan, you will take that from your team. I know I'd like to see it from the Tigers...

Last night was also a promotional night. They gave out a DVD entitled, "Orioles Magic". Back in the late 70's the Orioles composed a cheesy song called, well, "Orioles Magic". It's ridiculously awful, but for some reason they've brought it back this year. They play it now as the players run out onto the field to start the game. Not the greatest pump-up, but hey, it brings back some memories.

I watched the DVD with Grace when we got home after the game, and I was jealous. The video is awful, the song is awful...but there is just something in it that makes me wish my team would do the same. The idea for the video came from the Orioles players (Millar and Guthrie) and was directed by them. They got guys, young guys who haven't been Orioles for too long, to be in the video. You can just tell this team has great comradery and enjoy playing together (baseball, not instruments). I would want my team to be a little silly, to reach out to the fans, and act like a team more. I think the baseball would be better, and I think I'd like watching the team more.

~Mikey D