Today is one of the best days of the entire year. Spring has sprung and the boys of summer return. Everyone has a fresh start and has a chance to make the playoffs and play for the World Series.
There is nothing like walking into Oriole Park at Camden Yards with all the pomp and circumstance of Opening Day, the smell of Boog’s Barbecue, and seeing the stadium packed to the brim in Orange and Black. Kids cut school. Parents skip work. Everyone is excited for the start of baseball.
I have my rituals too. Like wearing orange, even if I am not at the stadium, or watching a couple of YouTube videos on repeat all day, and of course, changing my ringtone.
You have three options, the Orioles theme of “Orioles Magic”:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/9n5laVhlwKU[/youtube]
Or the 1989 Anthem that has sort of made a bit of a comeback over the past two winning seasons, “Why Not”:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/9o1xcQuXdII[/youtube]
There’s another song that I really like from a local band… the players may have changed, but the chorus is still fantastic… “How Bout Dem O’s”:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/LKWDMWnnXvo[/youtube]
So if you want to get excited about the season, watch those on YouTube and make one of them your ringtone, as I do.
Now, for the team. The Orioles set their 25-man roster yesterday.
Chris Davis, Steve Lombardozzi, JJ Hardy, Ryan Flaherty, and Jonathan Schoop are their infielders.
Nelson Cruz, Adam Jones, David Lough, Nick Markakis, Steve Pearce, and Delmon Young are their outfielders.
Chris Tillman, Ubaldo Jimenez, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, and Bud Norris are the starters, while Zach Britton, Brian Matusz, Evan Meek, Josh Stinson, Ryan Webb, Darren O’Day, and Tommy Hunter are in the bullpen.
Their lineup is one of the best in all of baseball.
Defensively, they are the best in baseball, breaking records last year. So there are no problems there. But if you read any predictions from any national baseball site, you’ll see that everyone agrees: the Orioles’ season all depends on how their pitching staff holds up. If they play like they did in 2012, this team wins that AL East. If they struggle as they did in 2013, it might not end so well.
A few “experts” have the Orioles making the playoffs, but not many have them going to the World Series. Michael Knisley of ESPN.com has the Cardinals beating the Orioles in the Series, but he’s outnumbered by most picking the Tigers, Rays, or Red Sox to represent the American League.
And sometimes you even find a believer in unlikely places. Tyler Kepner of the New York Times said, “Do not be surprised if the Baltimore Orioles turn out to be the best team in the league.”
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Today is about the beginning. Game 1. Opening Day! The Orioles have won the last three Opening Day games, and are 66-46-1 in their history on Opening Day.
Today, the Orioles open up at home against the defending champs. Adam Jones said, “We wouldn’t have it any other way.” Most of Baltimore agrees with you Jonesy. We are ready!
“It’s the start of something special,” Jones said about Opening Day. “No one knows what’s going to happen, but on Opening Day everyone has a chance.”
To have a chance is all fans want. The last few groups of Orioles have given fans hope over the past couple of seasons. Baltimore is ready for another. And maybe this year, something magical will happen!
