Posts Tagged Baseball
Offending Sensibilities
Two weeks ago, I received the following email from the BU Alumni Club. Please take note of the highlighted section of the email.
Here are a couple of issues I have with this presumptive email:
- Apparently, I can travel up to Boston on two weeks notice to take in a Red Sox game at Friendly Fenway Park.
- “[Y]our Red Sox”?!?!? The Red Sox were never nor will they ever be my team. Indeed, while the Orioles continue to founder below mediocrity this season, I still will never become a fan of the Red Sox. Of course, the alumni club of my alma mater presumes that everyone who went to BU has become a Red Sox fan.
I will keep this in mind for the coming weekend invasion of Sox fans into Baltimore as the Red Sox come into town. 
Opening Day 2009
Yesterday, I braved the elements to enjoy the Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2009. As expected, it is the one time of year I can look forward to Orioles baseball. I posted some photos from my seats in left field at my Twitpic account. I have yet, however, to upload my photos from my camera to Flickr. (That will happen tonight, though.)
Some of my favorite sights, though, had to be enjoying the dampened spirits of Yankees fans as the Bronx Bombers and their mighty payroll were vanquished by my lowly O’s. CC “Fatty” Sabathia gives up six earned runs, and Mark Texeira was greeted lustily with boos and catcalls whenever he entered the batter’s box. Fortunately, Opening Day was the one time of year in Baltimore when the hometown fans outnumber the omnipresent visiting fans.
I’m a realist, and I know the Orioles are a couple years away from contention with the development of their minor league pitching and the best prospect in baseball–Matt Wieters. Still, it was fun watching Nick Markakis and Adam Jones in the outfield. It’s going to be fun watching them become good ballplayers–Markakis is well on his way there.
As I have always said in the past, the beauty of baseball’s Opening Day is its perfect connection to Spring. There is a renewed sense of hope along with the general sense of renewal. There is hope that my team will defy all odds and hope for a win on Opening Day. At least one of the things I hoped for yesterday became reality.
Sporting Thoughts
Some recent thoughts running around in my head as I enjoy being a mindless sports spectator.
Ravens LosS to the Titans
While I was able to take my grandfather and uncle to their first Ravens game on a beautiful day, I was unable to ensure they saw a win. While I do think the roughing the passer penalty was a bit specious at best, a loss cannot be laid at the hands of the officials alone. The defense stopped pressuring the quarterback late in the game, and that hurt them. Now, the tough road stretch begins. I still am surprised at how the Ravens are doing considering most folks thought they would suck. Ray Lewis is truly playing like a man possessed (and 10 years younger).
Red Sox and Rays in the ALCS
While I sincerely wanted the Angels would defeat the Red Sox in their Divisional Series, the fates and playoff history conspired against me. The Rays, on the other hand, easily handled the Ozzie Guillen-managed White Sox. (Aside: My hatred for Ozzie Guillen is a deep-seated one, and I find his managerial skills to be highly over-rated.) Now, my allegiance swings to the Rays. I would like to see them go from worst to first–even a World Series win. If they do it while beating the Red Sox, even better. Anything that slightly reduces the smug nature of most of the visiting Red Sox fans when they visit Baltimore brings a smile to my face. Besides, I now have a night of drinking riding on this. Go Rays!
College hockey begins
Important only to me, but my alma mater is ranked 2nd in the Hockey East preseason Coaches Poll and ranked 9th in the Division I Men’s Poll. I miss watching college hockey.
The Red Sux (Fans) Are Coming!
In what has become typical of August, the late summer invasion of the Red Sux* fans is underway. It all began yesterday morning on my bike commute into work. I was coming down Conway Street from the Camden Yards Warehouse, crossing Howard Street. What did I see crossing the street just before 8:00 AM? A Sux fan in full regalia–crisp, new Red Sux hat, his Red Sux hat. I was sorely tempted to run into him with my bike just to vent my frustrations over a long period of bad baseball and the annual invasion of these New England nitwits.
On my ride home, there were more of the Sux fans. Many of them wearing their “After 86 Years of Ineptitude, 2 World Series!” t-shirts. It was even worse as I listened to some of the ball game on the radio on my ride home from the gym later in the evening–hearing the “Let’s go Red Sux!” chant.
After heaping scorn and hate upon many Yankees fans, I have truly come to hate and despise most of the denizens of Red Sux Nation. It what was once a nostalgic and somewhat endearing tale when they would come to the precipice of victory in the Fall Classic. Now, they have become pariahs as they have effectively become that which they have rejected so much–the Evil Empire of New England–equal to their arch-nemesis, the New York Yankees.
God, I hope the Rays win the AL East.
* For the uninitiated, my contempt for the Boston Red Sox has forced me to give them a new name: the Red Sux.
Back from The Lou
My journey to St. Louis was a smashing success. It was good to get away, even if it was only for an extended weekend. It was great to catch up with my good friend, his wife, and their young son. I was able to enjoy some baseball on Friday and Sunday night. Behold, the photo from our seats on Sunday night–a game that was also aired on ESPN:
For a good baseball trip, St. Louis has to be included. They have some great fans, and the new ballpark is a great place to watch a baseball game. My lone complaint: Beer, in the city that is (currently) the capital of American brewing, is insanely pricey. Admittedly, beer was more expensive than it is at Camden Yards.
Again, though, a great time was had. Nothing like catching up with a good friend to put things into perspective and act as a nice respite from the usual monotony.
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