April 15, 2010 Durham Bulls vs Norfolk Tides Game

If you remember, when I purchased tickets for the Rays-Bulls exhibition game, they also came with tickets to the Bulls' opening day vs the Norfolk Tides.

Norfolk just so happens to be the Orioles' AAA team. We were able to see some good prospects while we were there.We were able to get autographs from Robert Andino, Josh Bell and Lou Montanez. Andino and Montanez don't really qualify as prospects, but it was cool to get them. Andino had a conversation with my son Christopher, which was pretty cool. He seemed to be doing pretty well, seeing as he had just been DFA'd by the parent club and passed through waivers. Here is our autpgraphed ball. I got lucky that I had left a few in my car because I left my brand new box of baseballs on the table at home. That's what I get for leaving in a hurry. I'm glad I had a kind of back-up plan, haha.

We were able to see Brandon Snyder (who I am really pulling for to be called up), which was cool. Scott Moore was ejected for arguing balls and strikes; definitely created some excitement late in the ballgame.

Lou Montanez was called up by the O's after the game due to the injury to Felix Pie.

Here are Max, Chris and I watching a fly ball, that may have gone over the wall.

Another minor league game in the books, I hope to catch a bunch this year. Maybe see how many minor league parks I can hit in the area this year. Not a bad plan.

Thanks Jim

My buddy Jim was in the area and decided to check out the Kinston game, that I happened to be visiting, myself. He texted me to make sure I would be there (why wouldn't I, for $2 Tuesdays). Turns out, he had a sweet vintage Brooks waiting for me...

1968 Topps Card Game Brooks Robinson. I definitely did not have this one yet, although I have seen it before. I never had the chance to pick one up. Thanks a lot Jim!! It was really good to see you at the game!!

Also, in case some of you may not have noticed, the Orioles won today behind the pitching of Brian Matusz and the bat of Ty Wigginton. I can breathe a little easier now that the losing streak has been broken. Maybe the team's bats have awoken and a win streak can begin! Woooooooooooooo!!

April 13, 2010 Kinston Indians vs Wilmington Blue Rocks

I have thought long and hard about the Orioles over the past few days and I have decided that, no matter what, I will continue to support them. It is ridiculous on my part to say that I wouldn't after all this time. I apologize to everyone who has had to listen to me complain the last 2 weeks...

Now onto your regularly scheduled blog....

We decided that if I got home in time from being out in the field (in South Mills, NC) my wife, son and I would catch a Kinston Indians game on Tuesday, April, 13 2010 due to it being $2 Tuesdays. $2 gets you in the game, any seat in the house, and $2 for hamburgers. Can't beat that. My buddy Jim also said he was in the area and was going to catch the game. I figured, why not?

It turns out, the Blue Rocks are a KC Royals farm team, and Alex Gordon was rehabbing there. We were able to meet Gordon and get him to sign a ball, which was pretty cool.

Here is Chris meeting the Kinston mascot. He had a good time.

Here is my Alex Gordon ball. Not too bad! He was rehabbing a fractured thumb, I believe.

We also got the night's starter for the Blue Rocks, Michael Montgomery. THis guy was unbelieveable. 13ks in 7+ innings, took a no hitter into the 7th. He was ELECTRIC! I was very happy when he came over and started signing for us after the game.

Since my buddy Jim figured I'd show up, he brought me a really sweet card, which I will blog next. Hope you all enjoyed!!

Jumping Off Point?

The Orioles crapped the bed again tonight, leaving their record at 1-11 to start the season. They held the lead until one out in the bottom of the ninth. A series of bizarre (shitty) plays later, and boom, another loss.

I'm so disenchanted with this season, and we are only 12 games into it. I am ready for the season to be over.

I have no confidence that this incarnation of the Orioles will ever post a winning record.

I am certain Dave Trembley will not be the manager next week.

I am finding myself ready to pile all of my Orioles gear up and light a match to it.

I'm pissed off. I have every right to be. I have bled Orange for 21 years. I don't deserve this at all.

I am ready to file for divorce from the Orioles after 21 years of irreparable damage.

I'm almost past the point of not caring for them. Tell me I'm not a true fan? Try going through what I have been going through the past 12 losing seasons and having all hopes for the 2010 season dashed in 12 games and you tell me if I'm being unreasonable.

On The Edge

As most of you have been able to tell, I have been kind of quiet lately blog-wise. The reason is simple. A 1-8 start to a season, including 2 games decided by blown saves from your new $12 million 'closer', 2 games affected by errors from your new 3rd baseman who has never played third base until this season, a non-existent offense, your favorite player on the DL, etc etc... I have been coming perilously closer to 'the edge.'

I got so mad, I dropped 2 Orioles from my fantasy team already, with some others soon to follow unless the start showing a pulse. Goodbye Garrett Atkins and Nolan Reimold. Cutting Reimold upset me the most because max and I both like the guy and we both sport our Reimold T-shirts on a regular basis.

I came close to dropping Nick Markakis (no longer referred to as STICK until he learns to take the stick off his shoulder), but I still believe he will bust out so I held on to him for a little while longer....

I will not drop Brian Roberts. Also, Brian Matusz will be on my team as long as he is in the majors. I think the kid will throw a no-hitter soon and is probably one of the better pitchers on the team.

I know it is early in the season, but I am already getting tired of people telling me that, and it will be ok, and blah blah blah.

I have watched the team collapse every september since 2001 or 2002. I have witnessed 12-straight losing seasons. I watched them let Mike Mussina sign with the Yankees. They let Davey Johnson go which started a revolving door in the manager's office.

I have invested at least 22 years of my life in this team. I have every right to be pissed off about the state of the Orioles. I have every right to kick my hat across an empty field (which I did yesterday). I have every right to be critical of the players I enjoy. I help pay their salaries.

Personally, I still believe it is just a crappy start and come June, the Orioles record will be much better. You can't argue that their schedule has been brutal 16 straight games without an off day. Playing in series this month against: Tampa, Boston, NY, Twins... Whoever makes the schedule needs to be shot.

Ok, enough complaining. I know they suck. They were supposed to be improved this season. What would really cheep me up would be to see them have a winning record over their 12 games coming up against New York and Boston. That would heal the wounds that the first week of the season had caused.

Check Out My Balls... Again

I love autographed baseballs. I really do. I'd rather have an autographed ball than I would an autographed card, photo, etc. If I met Sigourney Weaver, I'd probably have her sign a baseball. That is, if I were able to speak coherently enough to ask her for an autograph.

So, I finally got my hands on my case of UV protected ball cubes that I purchased from Taylor with CranesCard. Taylor is awesome, he can pretty much get any supplies you need. If you need anything from him, let me know and I'll drop him a line.

All of my autographed baseballs that I obtained prior to January 2009 are in a box in the storage building we are renting. These include 2 Cal Ripken, Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Brian Roberts, Matt Wieters, Brandon Snyder, Elrod Hendricks, Jason Johnson, Russ Ortiz, 2 Dave Trembley etc etc etc. I also have a Wofford College 2003 SoCon Champions autographed football in there as well (thanks to my brother Adam for that).

I have been sitting on all the autographed baseballs I got last year (including the hall of fame autos I sent off for recently) until I could get enough UV protected cubes to store them in. I am a big fan of UV protected cubes, since my wife's Jason Johnson auto we got in 2001 is pretty much faded out, and Chris' Matt Wieters/Brandon Snyder and Matt Wieters/Chris Tillman balls are fading rapidly (I replaced the cubes for Chris' baseballs today and will replace my wife's when I can get into the box at the sotrage building.

I took the non-UV protected cubes (the protected ones have a hologram at the bottom) and put the 2 foul balls I have in there.

Below is a photo of all the baseballs I had in my closet in my apartment: That's 20 baseballs. Scanning the photo real quick, you will see the 2 foul balls on the far right of the bottom row. My Bryce Harper (thanks P.A.) is at the far left of the bottom row. Stan Musial is in the middle of the top row; Bob Feller is directly below Musial. There are 2 Boog Powell and 2 Brandon Waring baseballs. One Boog went to Chris once I was done and one Waring will be sent to my brother Adam because Waring went to Wofford College; Waring was a freshman when Adam was a Senior and Waring told me at a Keys game that he remembered watching my brother play when he was at Wofford.

There are 2 baseballs which I was unable to identify the players. I have a couple emails out to some reliable sources who may be able to dig up a 2009 Frederick Keys roster for me (for some reason, google isnt helping me locate one).

There are 2 baseballs signed by NCSU players (thanks Max), lots and lots and lots of Oriole Prospects, 3 Hall of Famers (Musial, Feller and Al Kaline), one Oriole Hall of Famer (Boog) and one old-time player, former manager and bench coach (Don Zimmer). Pretty cool, don't you think?

Opening Day - and Opened Some Mail

Today should be a national holiday. Opening Day for baseball. Wooo. All teams (except for the Yankees hahahahaha) are starting out in first place. Optimism is high. I am so excited about this season. The Orioles are going to surprise a lot of people. I'm looking for Brian Matusz to dominate and become the Orioles' first Rookie of The Year since Gregg Olson was in 1989.

I also opened some mail Saturday and today. Here is a little bit from the two packages I received:

First off, I got a package from B. A. Benny in exchange for some Mets cards... I've been wanting this Montanez Red Hot Rookie for some time. I'm glad I finally have it. I REALLY want the Reimold next. If anyone has it, send me an email. I will definitely be up for trading for it!!! I love this shot of Lou. I sure hope he caught the ball.

Ooohhhh, a STICK relic. You can never go wrong with sending me Nick Markakis stuff. He is AWESOME! I'm sure I didn't have this one. If I did, thats ok too.

Hey, look, a Cal I didn't have! It is getting so hard to figure out which Cal's I have and which I don't. This is a 1986 Fleer mini. I'm not sure if I have the regular sized one either. For some reason, I don't think I have it...

I bought a few cards recently too and here are a few that I got...

A 1966 Topps Al Kaline. This Kaline was purchased for *ahem* a friend of mine ;). I think he will enjoy it...

A 2010 Topps Opening Day Brian Roberts. I don't anticipate buying any packs of OD, so I went ahead and bought a couple of the cards I knew I'd want.

Got another Nick The Stick as well. I've never been a huge fan of Topps OD. It just seems like an ancillary set (one we can do without).

Has everyone (other than Yankee fans) enjoyed Opening Day of the 2010 MLB season? It's too bad that the Os don't open until tomorrow... Soon enough, I suppose.