The Baltimore Orioles finished the 2008 season in last place in the American League East, arguably the most competitive division in Major League Baseball. So that's forgivable, right? But what's worse than its poor play, the team just didn't look good as it was pounded daily by the likes of the snazzy Red Sox, the pin-striped Yankees and the dapper Rays.So rather than addressing their suspect pitching staff or superstar-less lineup card, the club is improving the its duds.
For instance, the team's mascot, the venerable oriole, will be getting a makeover. According to the Balitmore Sun, the new bird "looks more like a traditional oriole with its head tilted upward and it feathers more outstretched and a more pronounced head, chest and neck area. The bird's feet are also more perched rather than flat."
The biggest change to the Orioles' uniforms is coming to the team's road jersey:
"'Baltimore' will be across the front of the gray jerseys in orange and outlined in black and in lettering very similar to how 'Orioles' is scripted on the home jerseys. The Maryland flag patch on the left sleeve will be surrounded by the text 'Orioles baseball.' On the right sleeve, the 'Orioles' script, which stretches across the home jerseys, will be written in smaller form. The uniform pants will also include orange striping."
This way, when you're watching your home team put the hurt on the orange birds, you'll know exactly which city's fans to feel sorry for. Baltimore.
All of this, of course, begs the question: If you put lipstick on an oriole, will Danys Baez still be 0-6 with a 6.44 ERA in 53 appearances?
Either way they have just as many playoff wins as the Cubs the last 2 years, and more championships then them in the last 100 years. At least there is no chance of getting our hopes up for the same result year after year in the post season.
Kevin Replies: Well, here's something new! Someone referencing the Cubs' ineptitude in the comments section of a blog that has absolutely nothing to do with the Cubs. Nobody does that. There is absolutely nothing cliche about that.
what was the cubs record against the orioles this season?
Kevin Replies: The Cubs played the Orioles this season? In baseball?
I, Steve Bartman, apologize for screwing up the Cubs hopes of getting one championship closer to the three championships the Baltimore Orioles have won in the last 50 years. Alas, I couldn't keep my hands to myself and the Cubs are destined for another 100 years without one...single...World Series title.
As an O's fan I'm totally biased so you can be as dismissive as you want of my comments. Yes, the birds have sucked for a decade. No one denies this. However this is one of the first moves by the Angelos regime that actually addressed what the fans want: Baltimore back on the jerseys. A small market team playing in a big market division needs to keep asses in the seats. This is a start. Next, parlaying some of the sales of these new jerseys and turning it into a Mark Teixeira contract. Or at least a .500 season.