Another Miracle in Maryland last night at College Park, with the Terps beating the stunned Blue Devils and sports again takes center stage in our lives. It just keeps getting better.
And after watching the highlights again… I figured what better action to take on a cold Sunday morning here in Baltimore, than to look ahead and take a sneak peek at what’s going on down south. A good time to bask in the warmth of reading updates on the Orioles Spring Training. Speaking of more miracles.. if last season was a collection of them, this season is full of hope.
Buck and the boys are already at work putting together the squad for this 2013 campaign. And how cool is it to care??!! For the first spring training since before my own daughters were on this earth, the emotions and expectations down in Florida are warm and sunny.
Here’s just one excerpt from the Sporting News online:
Buck Showalter says he didn’t think anyone on his club was surprised with their performance in 2012. “Who was surprised?” Showalter asks in mock indignation, adding with a grin, “I was a little surprised.”
For Showalter, 2012 was just the beginning. Losing in the Division Series to the Yankees didn’t sit well with his club. “There is a pretty good fire that has been ignited,” Showalter says. “No one was satisfied. No one was celebrating after Game 5 with the Yankees. We felt like we’d had a bigger opportunity.”
There are no Cinderellas… but in a private moment, (you have to think) “This is pretty cool, you know. I’m not so old that I can’t take that in and go ‘Wow!’
“There’s many a night where I kind of said, ‘Boy, I’m pretty lucky to be a part of this.
We were all a part of it… even those who NEVER experienced it. Maybe my most favorite personal moment of last season was taking my family to the game on a Friday night… fireworks night at Camden Yards. In the middle of another exciting O’s win, Sophie, (my then 12-year-old), was asking me about the numbers perched just below the upper deck seats in left field. I told her they are all retired jersey numbers from past Orioles players, Hall of Fame players, and in honor of their accomplishments those numbers will never be worn again in Baltimore. I then went down the line and told her stories and stats about each one. Ripken, Murray, Weaver, Brooks, Frank, Palmer. She turned to me and asked, “Dad, how do you know so much?”. I told her “I’ve always known and you never forget, but the O’s have been down so long, for longer than you’ve been alive, there was really no reason to share, now we’re back and it’s awesome.”
That moment with Sophie was about as awesome as it gets. Spring can’t some soon enough.
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark
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