If you are new to Connolly's, if you staggered in the new Orioles' Insider wanting to talk baseball and only baseball, well let me set you up with a free shot and an apology.
Baseball is the main thing here – is and always will be. We'll discuss all aspects of the Orioles, and do it good-naturedly with the occasional rise in temper and spirits (that gives Bubba at the door something to do besides letting in underaged women with fake IDs).
We keep it civil in here, and I think that's what has made this blog work the past two years – yep we are nearing our two-year anniversary. Amazing, eh?
We also talk about other subjects that pass my fancy: Football, Terps, Tiger Woods, the age of the Gilligan's Island women, whatever. It's my blog, my bar, my whims. One frequent topic is music, one of my favorite subjects. So indulge me, newbies, for a minute.
On Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite bands, the Drive-By Truckers, at the Recher in Towson. I know I have pumped them up in the past, but if you have a chance to see the Truckers live, even if you are unfamiliar with their hard-charging Southern rock (and brilliant lyrics), you have to take my advice on this one. These guys are awesome live.
It was probably the 10th time I have seen them and it was one of my favorites, partially because Langhorne Slim opened up for them. I have seen Langhorne headline a show in the past, and his 40-minute set Wednesday was too short for my tastes but, obviously, the right length for an opener.
He probably was as well received as any opener I have seen. He's also one you should check out. You won't be sorry. And if you have any bands I should throw into the old bar jukebox, don't hesitate to suggest. I picked up on M. Ward and The National because of the fine patrons here at Connolly's. (By the way, Ben Harper is at Pier Six next week. I'd love to go, but the tickets are too salty for my tastes. But if you go, let me know how he was. Great, I'll assume).
Now, to the matter at hand: The 1-9 Orioles. I have seen 7 of those games (all losses) up close. Thankfully, I am not on the West Coast swing of this trip (Jeff Z is, so keep an eye on Orioles Insider for his keyed-in insights) but I'll meet up with the team in Boston.
I watched most of the 6-2 loss to the A's, but I really didn't have to watch after the first, when the A's picked up two runs. It's the second consecutive game that was over before it started. And, really, those were the only two losses in which that has been the case.
That's been a big difference with this season than in the past years. As bad as the Orioles' record is right now, they have been more competitive game-in and game-out than they have for much of the past five seasons. I know that is no consolation for the continual losing, but it has made them more watchable during this stretch – at least for reporters.
Any good beatwriter worth his/her Twitter account abhors late-changing games. It's our bane. There's nothing worse than having to rewrite repeatedly on deadline – it is both stressful and a recipe for inexcusable mistakes. Given our druthers, we'd rather have every game's outcome decided in the fifth inning, so we can properly craft a solid story angle.
But I learned long ago, the game doesn't care about me and my deadline.
And being in every game, even though the outcome may be heartbreak, is extremely important for those who play the sport. I had a long talk with Orioles designated Luke Scott about that concept on Wednesday. As painful as this first week has been for the Orioles, Scott said he would take those one-run, gut-punchers every time over the 5-plus-run losses he has dealt with since coming to Baltimore in 2008.
You never want to lose, Scott said, but there's some solace in being competitive within a game. As he put it, getting beat with your best effort is much more tolerable than not showing up at all.
As a fan, though, I am not sure that philosophy sticks. Some friends of mine have told me that this first week was impossible to stomach because there is nothing worse than losing games that should be won. Being close is no consolation. It's actually worse, they say.
I am curious as to your thoughts here. I personally would rather see the Orioles be in every game and lose (and deadlines be damned) than have them get blown out all the time. But I am not invested emotionally into this team.
Daily Think Special: What's worse: Close losses or blowouts?