After Ryan Mountcastle's 9 RBI Game Tonight, I'm Humbly Asking Every Orioles Fan To Cherish How Fun And Good This Team Is
I wanted to blog something quick about the Orioles. Why? Because I simply love the Orioles. I grew up with the Cal, Brady Anderson, Mussina, Ben McDonald, Chris Hoiles, etc guys. I lived through the era when it was only Brian Roberts or Melvin Mora or Miguel Tejada. I lived through that one summer in 2007 with Erik Bedard. 2012-17 was insanely fun just to have 5 years of being competitive (and good).
But now? This is a whole new feeling. For the first time I was excited about the present and the future with the Birds. This is something I haven't felt since, I don't know, the mid-90s? Back when Jeffrey Maier entered my life as one of my 3 all-time personal villains. I still hate that fucker.
This team is young ... and good. I'm not saying they are winning the World Series (I just want to see one in my life. That's all. I'm 36 and have yet to see a World Series appearance let alone a win. Just one. Please.). But they have young talent up and down the roster. We know about Adley and Gunnar and Cedric Mullins. But tonight? Tonight it's Ryan Mountcastle. A ho-hum 9 RBI night including that grand slam and this 3-run homer.
It's not just Mountcastle - obviously the star tonight. Hays got into it too
And you know what? These guys are going to celebrate all over the place. Good. I hope they add celebrations for everything. Pitch clock delay? Go crazy. Fuck it. It's sports. Sports are supposed to be fun. Embrace the dong bong. Embrace the sprinkler which they broke out tonight:
It's only going to get better too. John Means should be back this summer. Grayson Rodriguez is just going to keep getting better. Gunnar Henderson will figure it out. Ryan McKenna will stop dropping game-winning fly balls like he did in game 2. Mullins will not hit .175 all year.
Cherish it. We're a long way from the mid-2000s. Get to Camden Yards and be ready because this team ain't leaving any time soon. And hit the goddamn music: