So here we go boys and girls… A 162 game marathon begins at 3:05 p.m. on Monday (weather permitting). Opening Day still ranks as my favorite day of the year.   The site is Oriole Park at Camden Yards; 17 years after it opened it remains the greatest place in the universe.

The Yard serves as  a shrine to all  that is good in the game of baseball and our fair town. About a dozen parks have been built since Camden Yards was constructed, all trying to duplicate its charm. They don’t match up;  you can’t top perfection. You can listen to my 2 minute commentary about Oriole Park right now on ESPN1300.com   Essentially,I believe the stadium itself  is a reason to go to a game.

As for the real issue–the 2008 Baltimore Orioles and the overall direction of the franchise. Ten straight losing seasons is hard to absorb. And, even before an inning is played this season,  I can almost guarantee you that this will be the 11th straight losing season, and probably a last place finish in the AL East.

I am not trying to give you the company line and tell you we can’t think about how we got to this point. There are reasons for it, and they are addressed often enough. Right now I want to talk about the future. For the first time in a while, I believe the long term outlook of the Baltimore Orioles is good.

There isn’t a person alive who can tell you that the Orioles are going to be good by 2010. Nor will  they remain bad forever. What I can tell you is that Andy MacPhail is the right man for the job. And he has two rings and an unprecedented baseball pedigree to prove it. He has two immediate relatives in Cooperstown. And he is a star Alumn of Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. (That is important to me, because it also happens to be my alma mata.)

As I have stated in previous blogs, the future is in the farm. The Orioles have actually turned it around down there; it is healthier than it has been in a generation. So this season, I urge you to  follow those prospects as much as you follow the big club.

The truth is that even if the Orioles only win 65 games this year, the season will nonetheless be a success if  Adam Loewen, Daniel Cabrera, Nick Markakis, and Adam Jones perform well.

The Orioles need to see this rebuilding process to the end. They must acquire younger and more able talent. They need to get real ball players.

I also believe Dave Trembley is the perfect manager/coach for this club. He has 20 years of minor league coaching.  He can  stress fundamentals,  day in and day out. Hit the cut off man… learn how to bunt… hold runners on… bring the right attitude to the job and be professional. If they do those things this year, and stress it every day,  I will be satisfied.

It could be a long season. But, listen on the radio, watch on TV, go to the park. Enjoy watching Nick Markakis (he is a one in a thousand ball player), watch Adam Jones, watch the kids that will be joining the club as the year goes on.

Things will get better. They have to, right?

Good Luck to my beloved Birds and I will see you at the Yard.

Posted on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 12:13 pm.
Categories: Orioles.
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