It’s just one win. It was a great win but only the first of many. We as Orioles fans have been duped in the past with Opening Day wins and empty ballparks in game two. The predisposition of negativity after game one has been beaten into our collective conscious.
“Let’s see where they are in May,” has been the mantra for the Orange less-than-faithful.
“They always look good in April, but they are nowhere to be found in September.”
These statements have been the bane of our existence for many years, but the culture and attitudes of the masses has to change. Last year we saw Oriole magic break loose and go “Buck-Wild”. Cautious optimism has taken over the mentality and hope for a better season is upon us.
Yesterday the Orioles broke out like gangbusters, and by the fifth inning, the game was all but over. The Rays didn’t go away and the O’s had to persevere to secure the win. After Tampa made the mistake of intentionally walking Matt Wieters, Chris Davis crushed a hanging slider that gave them a four-run lead and catapulted them to the victory.
Jim Johnson came in to notch his first of what we hope will be many, many saves in 2013 after racking up 51 last year.
After two more games in this series, the O’s will come home to an electrified and eager sold out Camden Yards.
In past years, game two has usually been as deserted as Yankee Stadium was by the seventh inning during their opening day Monday.
What will the Saturday game hold for us in attendance? The culture and belief has changed. We cannot falter in this. The team has shown that if we show up they can win. There are only three games in the first home stand before heading back out to AL East rivals Boston and New York.
There is no reason that we couldn’t have a sold out three-game home stand against Minnesota. Though it won’t be as easy as we would like it to be, let’s not just show up in droves on Friday and then leave them alone for the rest of the series.
