Comfortably Numb

I had to go back and edit my entry after the loss to the Yankees in the 5th game of the year a few days after I posted it. You know the one that ended eerily similar to tonight's loss?

I was ashamed to read what I had written.

So you should expect me to be dropping F-bombs and saying the "O's suck" but what is the point? I already knew that. And after your favorite team loses 3 games by giving up grand slams in 3 weeks, you kind of get used to it after a while. Yeah, I am pissed off right now, but it's not the "throw your remote control through the TV screen" kind of pissed.

It's more like the "crying like Darryl Hunt because you don't know what else to do" kind of pissed. Pure frustration. It's the kind of thing where you just shrug and shake your head and then turn the channel even though deep down you are screaming for help, for someone to hold you and whisper into your ear, "everything will be alright, baby."

But unless you have a wife that cares about how much emotion you invest in the Orioles, you are likely to look for comfort on message forums and call-in radio shows. But there are others like us out there. The numbers are getting fewer and fewer, as has-been fans turn to lawn care and other hobbies to spend the spring and summertime nights. I don't blame them. Shooting Round-Up at the weeds growing from the cracks in the sidewalks is much more fun than watching this team play right now. It's more productive too.

The bottom line is this. The Orioles baseball limbo is not going away anytime soon. Had the O's improved from last year, like we're prone to believe each April, they wouldn't have followed up an impressive 4 game winning streak (and winning 5 out of 6) with an equally unimpressive 4 game losing streak. They would have found a way to keep the momentum going. To stay above .500 for just one more day.

They would have found a way to beat good, tough teams like the A's and Red Sox at home. But no. Same old Orioles. On the road or at home, they just can't seem to get anything going. To show the big dogs that they aren't going to be their doormats anymore.

After tonight's loss puts us at 11-11, it's likely that the O's are below .500 by the weekend as they travel to Cleveland and Detroit. And then they might not make it over .500 again for the rest of the season. Let's see, it's almost May so that feels about right.

I'll still tune in from time to time, but with every heartbreaking, infuriating, frustrating loss, my patience grows thinner and thinner, and the weeds growing through the sidewalk are only growing thicker and thicker. Plus I saw a nice basket of pansies that would look great in my front yard. But where will I plant the hygrangas?

And that is how most people in Maryland spend their summer nights these days.