Is it possible that we are seeing a repeat of the 2014 Aberdeen IronBirds in 2015?
Well, I certainly hope not, but after four games, the song remains the same. Four games, four losses.
I have to believe the IronBirds will be better, but it's not an easy sell.
I was there Friday night for the season opener and for the reasons you play the game, it didn't go well for the home team.
For any longtime IronBirds fan, I mean a fan who was there for the very first opening day, Friday's game was eerily similar.
That night in 2002, the city of Aberdeen, Harford County and the brand new Ripken Stadium were all abuzz about the IronBirds beginning.
The buzz didn't last long.
Aberdeen pitcher Ryan Keefer will forever be linked with Domingo Cuello, a Williamsport Crosscutters second baseman. Keefer, the Aberdeen starter that night, grooved a fastball to get the game started. You might have thought the pitch was a ceremonial pitch of sorts, a pitch that was just that, a pitch.
Uh, if that was the case, someone forgot to inform the Crosscutters, or more importantly, Cuello, the Williamsport leadoff hitter.
As fast as the Keefer pitch came in, it went out and I mean out. The ball jumped off the bat and over the right field wall, stunning the sellout crowd and those of us in the press box. That included some of the IronBirds brass. I can still see Jeff Eiseman's face and hear his reaction when Cuello literally made time stand still.
Now, Friday's opener wasn't quite so shocking, but a tough one just the same. Three batters into the game, Hudson Valley shortstop Michael Russell went down and got a low pitch and lined it over the left field wall. It didn't have quite the same impact as that Cuello blast in 2002, but it set the tone.
Aberdeen starter Jean Cosme settled down after that first inning and quite honestly, pitched pretty well. Defensively, the IronBirds played very well, playing error-free baseball. A couple of throws to the plate could have been better, but no guarantee of an out either way.
The 'Birds were nearly even in hits, collecting nine to Hudson Valley's 10. The difference was Hudson Valley got the most of their swings and Aberdeen did not.
A bigger concern for me and possibly for those in the front office was the attendance. The announced attendance of 5,076 was a 1,000 or more short of a full house.
Way back in 2002, 6,219 fans packed the stadium and in years since, like 2008, a franchise-best 247,836 fans walked through the turnstiles.
Times have changed and we all know that, so the less-than-sellout crowd on opening night really should not be a surprise.
If all you're interested is the win-loss result, then step back the next time you are at the stadium and just enjoy the ballpark and what is has to offer.