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Giving the Orioles Another Chance
August 8, 2010, 1:35 pm View Comments
This is probably foolish of me, but I’m giving the Orioles another chance.
First, the tough facts. As of last night’s loss to the White Sox, the Orioles’ record is 36–74, which puts them at a win percentage of .327. That’s still the worst record in all of Major League Baseball. The team is 32.5 games back, so even if they won every single game for the rest of the season, they still wouldn’t stand a chance at getting into the playoffs. So, the season is basically over with a little under two months’ worth of games to go.
It’s been a depressing season for Orioles fans. Not only had I written off the team, but I was so disgusted with their on-field display and their poor management I stopped following baseball altogether. If it hadn’t been for the World Cup, I would have stopped following all sports. (I haven’t ruled that out. I’m still not sure the constant heartbreak is worth it.)
But there is a glimmer of light for the future of the Orioles, but it’s brief, faint, and tenuous. Last week, under the new management of Buck Showalter, they swept the Angels and, for the first time in a long while, were able to celebrate a series of wins. They had some great momentum, and we saw something we hadn’t seen the Orioles do for a long time: They worked as a team, not just as a group of individuals looking to up their personal stats.
But, like all good things that happen to the team, the celebration was short-lived. Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe it was the excitement of having a new manager that kick-started them into a string of wins. Maybe it was because the Angels are a middle-of-the-pack team.
Last night, the Birds lost 4–2 in the first game of a series with the White Sox. Despite the fact that the team seems to perform terribly on Sundays, I’m heading to the game this afternoon, possibly fueled by that foolish optimism that’s kept me a fan my entire life. Some call it “Orioles magic”. But it’s starting to feel a lot like an abusive relationship. I’m going back to the team because this time they’ll be different! They’ve shown me how much they’ve changed! They won’t let me down anymore. They won’t break my heart.
I don’t know if I’ve completely given up on the team or not. Can I be accused of being a fair-weather fan even though I’ve suffered through 15 years of disappointment? Will it be worth it to come back next year for another season? One thing’s for sure: I’m not buying a Sunday ticket plan again.
I guess I’ll see how things go this afternoon. Lets go O’s. Sigh.