I was at an advertising event on Thursday evening when I met a guy from Pittsburgh. I know, sounds like the opening to a really lame joke. I wish.
We got to talking about Baltimore. Our Town. And as usually goes between March and mid-July, any talk of Our Town typically leads to talk of Our Team. Or triple homicides. I asked the guy what he thought of Mike Gonzalez considering the O's new closer got his break in the 'Burgh.
My new friend had four words for me: "He's your problem now."
I'm pretty sure he giggled a little, too.
I'm not one to get down on a player after a couple games (DISCLAIMER: Yes I am) but there's something different this time. For the first time in years, there was a palpable electricity in the air leading up to this season. Fan expectations seemed to beam especially bright.
Having young, bonafide players will do that. Having Adam Jones, Nolan Reimhold, and Brian Matusz healthy will do that. And taking leads late into games against AL East opponents will do that. Enter Mike Gonzalez, the newly-formed black hole of late-innings leads. Gonzalez is to the ninth inning what Kanye West is to awards speeches.
You know, watching his Opening Day implosion from the upper deck got me thinking:
1. Outside of his atrocious mechanics, the guy's back-and-forth Rain Man-ish rocking motion from the stretch is going to make a lot of late-inning drunks nauseous- long before the final score does.
2. Listening to the fans boo Gonzalez mercilessly was exhilarating. So often we hear broadcasters and analysts defending players who embarrass themselves and their teams on the field. It's good to see the fans aren't swayed by that. This is a kid's game, played by millionaires. You forfeit sympathy from me the moment you cash that first fat paycheck.
3. Gregg Olson's 12-to-6 curveball. Man, I miss that.
When he's not heckling from Section 378, M. M. McDermott is here. Email him at mmcdermott@getrenegade.com.