Friday, February 25, 2011

Sneak Peek at Ed Smith Stadium

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune provides a preview of the Orioles' renovated Spring Training home in the article "Ed Smith Stadium poised to be a jewel." The latest batch of photos from Sarasota Friend of the Blog Norm Schimmel certainly supports that notion.  My personal favorite is the directional sign with distances to all the affiliates.


(Note: Norm Schimmel retains copyright for all of the images below. Please do not use them in any form without his express permission.)











Here are previous Roar from 34 posts that include Sarasota photos from Norm: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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Thursday, February 24, 2011

How have the Orioles fared during your lifetime?

If you're in your 30s, or even younger, and you're still a fan of the Baltimore Orioles, you qualify as a dedicated fan. A diehard even. Words like bandwagon and front runner do not apply. That's because any Orioles fan born in 1974 or later has seen more losing than winning on the baseball diamond.

You have to go back to 1973 before the Orioles' cumulative record through 2010 reaches .500. Since 1973, when Baltimore posted a 97-65 mark - the O's have gone 3,013-3,005 overall.

Obviously, this cumulative misery has been weighed down greatly by the team's current stretch of losing seasons. For example, the Orioles won 90 games the year I was born and didn't experience a losing season until I was 11. During that span the Orioles won 90 or more games seven times and 100 games twice. Things looked so promising. But it's just like a bird to go South. The Orioles' cumulative record during my lifetime is 2,825-2,869 (.496).

Perhaps (hopefully) current teenagers will have the exact opposite luck that I've had as an Orioles fan. Bird backers born in 1998 - they either have turned or will turn 13 this year - have never seen a winning baseball season. The O's are 921-1183 (.437) in that span.

So while dads can tell their sons about having to walk several miles in the snow to school - uphill no less - they can't exaggerate their agony as baseball fans. Those tall tales belong to the young. But take heart, the Orioles are still a winning franchise overall: 4,617-4,405 (.511). And if you're in your late 50's, you can honestly say you've seen it all.

How have the Orioles done during your lifetime? Check the spreadsheet to find out.


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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Hope Springs Eternal: When Sammy Sosa came to Baltimore

There are plenty of good Spring Training updates out there along with projections for player and team performance headed into 2011. For something different, I figure it's interesting to revisit stories of seasons past when, as seems to happen nearly every year, "Hope Springs Eternal" for players and teams.

Thirty-six-year-old Sammy Sosa arrived in Baltimore in 2005 looking for a fresh start after a tumultuous end to his 13 seasons at Wrigley Field. As the Orioles incorporate fresh faces into the 2011 lineup, including a couple of aging sluggers at or around Sosa's age at the time, here's a look back on what was being said about Sosa at the time.

If anything, this story reveals how difficult it is to get an accurate read on those things we're most likely to read about prior to the season -- intangibles like a player's attitude and drive.

The following excerpts are taken from a June 13, 2005, Sports Illustrated article by Tom Verducci.

First, a word from then-Cubs President Andy MacPhail on Sosa following his departure from Chicago.
Says MacPhail, "I do like Sammy. I appreciate all he accomplished for the franchise. To some degree I am sympathetic to him because he doesn't quite understand the depth of the negativity that he incurred."
Next, a Spring Training anecdote that suggests Sosa had lightened up and perhaps changed his early season ways.
On his first morning in an Orioles uniform, an on-time Sosa, the guy who made a habit with the Cubs of showing up--he thought--fashionably late for spring training, busted out of the batter's box and sprinted full-bore for second base, the first in line for what he thought was a team baserunning drill. When he looked back, however, he saw his new teammates standing idly or walking back to the dugout. He'd been set up. But he laughed and lit up one of those smiles that for many people will always take them back to the sweet summer of '98 and the great Home Run Race.
And finally, some words on how Sosa's fall from baseball grace perhaps introduced some humility to his persona.
What is remarkable about Sosa this season, though, is what he is not. In Baltimore he is not the captain, he is not the best player in the room, he is not the diva with club officials and personal valets at his side, he is not the clubhouse deejay oblivious to the annoyance of his infamous boom box, he is not--by a long shot, given the boos he hears wherever he plays on the road--the most popular player in baseball. Sosa can't sell Orville Redenbacher's popcorn like he used to.
...
His teammates and manager Lee Mazzilli marvel at Sosa's boyish enthusiasm and comportment. Pitching coach Ray Miller appreciates the counsel Sosa gives the club's young Latin pitchers, including Daniel CabreraJorge Julio. Second baseman Brian Roberts praises Sosa for having "the greatest attitude every single day. It's energizing. He doesn't get mad and doesn't get down no matter what. I've been amazed at that."
"It's perfect," Sosa says of his fit in Baltimore. "It's like when you move into a new house. You just want to enjoy it."
As a counterpoint, consider this recent piece by The Sun's Kevin Van Valkenburg that looks back on Sosa's brief Baltimore tenure.
Sosa wanted out of Chicago so he could have a fresh start, because the fans had soured on him for a dozen different reasons, and he said all the right things in news conferences about how much he loved the people of Baltimore and couldn't wait to be the old, beisbol-loving Sammy Sosa again. 
...  
Approximately 99 percent of sports writers don't search for scandal, they're just interested in telling the truth, not some rosy version of it. And at that point, the truth was that Sammy Sosa was an aging, selfish, injury-prone slugger. Except I didn't even really view him that way at the time. I just wanted to write an Orioles notebook about his foot injury because I thought the fans might want to know when his awful bat might return to the lineup.

...

There are plenty of Orioles, like Brian Roberts and Adam Jones and Jeremy Guthrie, just to name a few, who I think are good people who understand the media is the best way for them to communicate how they go about their profession to the fans, in good times and bad. And there are plenty of Ravens I'd throw on that list as well, like Trevor Pryce and Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata, among others. 
But mull that the next time you see a clip of a professional athlete treating someone like dirt. Sammy Sosa isn't a jerk because he most likely took steroids, and then failed to tell the truth about it. And he isn't a jerk because he feuded with the media, both in Chicago and Baltimore. He's a jerk because in the second half of his career, he treated people poorly, media and teammates included.
When it comes to knowing a player's attitude and demeanor, the truth is out there, but so is plenty of well-spun fiction. The latter is readily available now; the former often emerges over time.

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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Where to get your Orioles Spring Training fix

The Orioles are advertising for their first Spring Training game at Ed Smith Stadium. If, like me, you can't, "Be there as we make history," you can still catch the Birds on TV and radio.

Here's the MASN broadcast schedule for Spring Training:
Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m., New York Yankees vs. Orioles

Monday, March 14 at 1 p.m., Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Orioles

Tuesday, March 15 at 1 p.m., Houston Astros vs. Orioles

Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m., Philadelphia Phillies vs. Orioles

Sunday, March 27 at 1 p.m., Boston Red Sox vs. Orioles
And here's the WBAL radio schedule:
Monday, February 28 Pittsburgh Pirates 1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 1 Tampa Bay Rays 1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 5 Boston Red Sox 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 6 Minnesota Twins 1:05 p.m.

Monday, March 7 New York Yankees 7:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 10 Pittsburgh Pirates 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 12 Houston Astros 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 13 Detroit Tigers 1:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 16 New York Yankees 7:05 p.m.

Friday, March 18 Minnesota Twins 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 19 Philadelphia Phillies 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 20 Tampa Bay Rays 1:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 24 Pittsburgh Pirates 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 26 Tampa Bay Rays 1:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 27 Boston Red Sox 1:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 29 Toronto Blue Jays 1:05 p.m.
And here's Fred Manfra sharing some fun memories of listening to Hoyt Wilhelm's no-hitter, using baseball cards to help him visualize the game during radio broadcasts, and watching the Orioles Kiddie Corps "kicking ass in big league baseball."



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Friday, February 18, 2011

The Spring Training story you'll never see written

Spring Training is an extended exercise in the slow news day. I may envy those reporters who get to travel to Sarasota each spring to watch baseball, but I don't envy the task with which they're charged - trying to coax non-cliched anecdotes and information from players, coaches, the manager, front office personnel, etc. Has anybody talked to the groundskeeper yet?

With that in mind, I offer my version of what an honest Spring Training story might look like, featuring many of your favorite Orioles media personalities.

Nondescript Player Reports to Camp in Nondescript Fashion

"Nothing's changed ... Really."

Beat reporters and feature writers at the Orioles' Spring Training complex in Sarasota struggled to find an appropriate story angle on the team's everyday outfielder after he arrived to camp on time this week, showing no discernible differences in his physical appearance, and displaying the same consistent attitude and determination that got him to the majors in the first place.

"He appears to have neither gained nor lost weight during the off-season, his attitude and focus are pretty much what they've always been, and his hair color and facial hair situation have not changed in the slightest. What the Hell?" said The Sun's Peter Schmuck. "I've got a few Hawaiian shirts I could loan him. That would at least be interesting."

Team officials indicate they anticipate the usual steady performance from the outfielder this season that he's demonstrated throughout his career and expect neither more, nor less leadership from him.

"The guy showed up exactly on time -  not a second early, not a second late. Apparently he got one of those atomic clocks in the off-season. Even Buck was speechless," said MASN's Roch Kubatko. "It's one thing to screw up my storyline; he ruined my headline as well. I wanted to use 'Outfielder Arrives in the Nick of Time' but then everybody would think I was talking about Nick Markakis. Now I'm stuck trying to make something out of UPS and on-time delivery. UPS ... OPS ... hmmm. Excuse me while I get back to my laptop."

The Orioles young outfielder compounded matters when he stepped into the cage for his initial Spring Training batting practice session and hit baseballs over the outfield wall at precisely the rate and distance one would expect from a major league player hitting against a minor league instructor on his first day of camp.

"The least this guy could've done for us during the off-season was commit a crime or something," said Orioles Insider Jeff Zrebiec. "I'm not talking felony stuff. Just some sort of misdemeanor that would give us a bit of a redemption angle to work with. Sometimes I wish I covered the Ravens."

"You know I used to cover the Rays, don't you?" added Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com. "The Rays have Manny Ramirez in camp this season. Manny Freakin' Ramirez.

"Those stories practically write themselves," she added, before stepping away to research non-roster invitees and see if any of them ever caught a baseball in the stands from Derrek Lee.

Other reporters expressed a desire not so much for a different team as they did different players.

"This kind of crap makes me long for my days playing Hide 'N Seek with Sammy Sosa. At least that filled my time - lots of it in fact - and gave me something to write about, if only years later" said The Sun's Kevin Van Valkenburg. "I'd even take Albert Belle. Chasing trick-or-treaters on Halloween - that's rich. Oh well, at least this guy's contract is up in a couple of years; although, knowing him, he'll go ahead and sign a fair-market deal with the team. No hold outs, no hometown discounts, nothing."

A distracted Buck Showalter offered little help to the determined scribes.

"What more do you guys want from me? I gave you the term 'nuggets' right out of the gate. That's golden. Ha, see there, I did it again," said the manager as he traced individual steps down the left field line to double-check the ballpark dimensions at the Orioles' upgraded facilities. "It's too bad the guy doesn't have blonde hair. You could go for some kind of Goldilocks and the Three Bears theme and allude to the fact that he's doing everything 'Juuust Right.'"

Peter Angelos was unavailable for comment and directed inquires to general manager Andy MacPhail.

"He gives us exactly the same chance of competing in the American League East that he always has," said MacPhail, before adding, "We've gotta grow the arms and buy the bats."

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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Great Moments in Orioles Facial Hair History

Vladimir Guerrero reported to O's camp on Wednesday. So did his goatee.

Per Orioles Insider:
"He appeared to be in good shape and was sporting a goatee, which may have to come off under the Orioles restrictive facial hair policy."
If Vlad plays his cards right, he could add his name to the list of

Great Moments in Orioles Facial Hair History

Kevin Millar, The Hirsute Hitter (2006-2008)

Kevin Millar was one of Boston's beloved idiots. He tried to bring the same attitude to Baltimore. His efforts failed.

Here's some of the wisdom of Millar from Spring Training 2007, as reported then by Peter Schmuck.

"It's time to end that," Millar said of the facial hair policy. "Nine straight years of losing. It's time to show some hair." 

"Doesn't hair show personality? You want a team with personality. I think if you asked everyone in the clubhouse, they'd be in favor of growing facial hair."

Apparently Millar overstated his case. Not everyone cared. Said Chris Gomez: "I think this is Kevin's battle. I don't think anyone else really gives a crap."

Known to grow a beard to bust a slump, Millar instead shaved his head a year later. He promptly hit two home runs against the Angels. "Worth it to get the stroke back," Millar said in The Washington Post. "Hit .380 the next couple of months and 10 homers, I'll shave my eyebrows next year, look like Mona Lisa in spring training."

After signing with Toronto in 2009, Millar showed up to the Blue Jays' camp with long hair, a thick beard, and some zingers.

"It's nice to see they're still clean-shaven over there," Millar said of the Orioles. "The one plus over here is I don't have to shave, so I grow my beard out just for Aubrey [Huff]. It's a show beard. I have show hair and show beard and now I look like a ballplayer."


Orioles Bullpen, The Unity Stache (2007)

For some reason, athletes seem to use facial hair as bonding. Banned from having bears, the 2007 Orioles bullpen resorted to "the unity stache."

John Parrish summed it up thusly: "You like it? It looks kind of trashy."


Jay Gibbons & Co., Hairy Streakers (2005)

The 2005 Orioles were one win away from eliminating the facial hair ban under new manager Sam Perlozzo. They lost.

Here are the details, as provided by Jorge Arangure Jr. on Aug. 11, 2005, in the Washington Post.
Baltimore appears revived under Perlozzo, who is 4-2 since being given the job last Thursday. After the game rap music played loudly. Former manager Lee Mazzilli had banned postgame music. Several players have begun to show the makings of a beard. Mazzilli had banned facial hair.

"The more stuff we win, he said the more stuff we get," Gibbons said of his new manager. "The fourth win in a row we get facial hair. We're trying hard. We got that incentive."
The 2005 Orioles won four straight from Sept 10. through Sept. 13.

Lee Smith, Exception to the Rule? (1994)

By many accounts, Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who led a group of investors in a 1993 purchase of the team, is the source of the O's strict facial hair policy. If that's the case, there are multiple exceptions to the rule, including former closer Lee Smith. 

Consider this 1994 story by John Marshall of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "New brood of tough guys decides fierce, mean goatee can't  be beat"
Pro athletes, particularly baseball players, such as Orioles closer Lee Smith, seem to be in the forefront of the goatee explosion, with at least a few on almost every major league team joining in. But musicians and film stars are not far behind.
Mike Mussina, Rebel Without a Contract (1993)

Mike Mussina's rebellious stage emerged later than it does for most. Mussina grew a goatee prior to signing a new contract in 1993, as reported by the Associated Press.
Now that he's got a new contract, Mike Mussina can shave that scraggly goatee off his face. Mussina had been referring to the goatee as his "Rebel Without a Contract" look. But after agreeing to terms with the Baltimore Orioles on a one-year pact Wednesday, the facial hair is history.

"Yeah, I'm gonna shave it," he said. "I would have shaved it today, but I didn't have a chance."
Ending the Beard Ban, Rick Sutcliffe (1992)

The Orioles' beard ban pre-dated Peter Angelos. Perhaps he reinstated the rule after noted rebel Johnny Oates (that's sarcasm, folks) let the Orioles run around looking like a bunch of hippies.

Per The Sun's Peter Schmuck in '92 -
Of course, it all started with [Rick Sutcliffe], whose trademark red beard was not allowed to become an issue when he was negotiating a contract with the Orioles last winter. Manager Johnny Oates, who owns a conservative mustache (and even wears it on special occasions), decided to end the beard ban rather than make an unfair exception for Sutcliffe.

"Before I even knew the Orioles had a hair rule, Johnny told me that it wasn't a problem," said Sutcliffe, who insists that it wouldn't have been a problem anyway. "There will come a time when I shave it, because I look younger without it. When I start looking as old as Mike Flanagan, then I'll definitely shave it."

[Todd Frohwirth], who overpowers hitters with his unorthodox submarine delivery, hasn't needed anything else to make him a successful relief pitcher, but he still would like to fit in with the other members of the Orioles bullpen. Mike Flanagan has a mustache. Storm Davis has a perpetual 5 o'clock shadow. Even Alan Mills, the newest Orioles reliever, has a Fu Manchu.
Hall of Fame Hair, Eddie Murray (1977-1988, 1996)

No discussion of Orioles facial hair would be complete without mention of Eddie Murray. Brady Anderson had some chops, but Murray sported a chops-into-mustache look that was so legendary it ended up on a Hall of Fame T-shirt.

Finally, though it's not the Orioles, there's this classic Simpsons clip:



Have a favorite Orioles facial hair memory of your own? Add it in the comments section below.

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

More Spring Training Photos

It's beginning to look a lot like ... Spring Training.

Images: Norm Schimmel

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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Photos: Sarasota Stadium Upgrades

Here are a dozen images of the stadium renovations at Ed Smith Stadium, spring training home of your Baltimore Orioles.

[Image copyright: Norm Schimmel]












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Friday, February 11, 2011

Buck in Sarasota

Buck Showalter paid a visit to the Sarasota Area Sports Authority on Wednesday along with VP of Planning and Development Janet Marie Smith as part of the SASA luncheon series. Here's a photo of Buck along with the program from the event, both courtesy of Norm Schimmel.


And here are some photos of the soon-to-be-occupied Ed Smith Stadium.


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Monday, February 07, 2011

Powerball in Baltimore

After weeks of intense negotiations against themselves, the Orioles have signed Vlad Guerrero pending a physical. That means there's a real potential for power in Baltimore this season (emphasis on potential). Here's where the team's new heavy hitters fit into the context of recent and distant team history.

With the signing of free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero the Orioles will now have had six different Home Run Derby winners in their lineup at some point.

In addition to Guerrero, who won the Derby in 2007, the Orioles Miguel Tejada (2004), Sammy Sosa (2000), Brady Anderson (1996), Cal Ripken (1991), and Eric Davis (1989).

Short-time Oriole Albert Belle registered a second-place finish in the 1995 Home Run Derby to Frank Thomas. Belle's overall home run total of 16 was one greater than Thomas' total; however, Thomas won the head-to-head match-up in the final round by a 3-2 score.

See a full list of winners here.

By most reports, the Guerrero acquisition means that Luke Scott will see consistent time as the Orioles' everyday left fielder rather than the team's designated hitter. The additional at-bats will provide Scott the opportunity to pursue in earnest his third consecutive season as the Orioles' top home run hitter. Only three other Orioles have led the team in home runs for at least three straight seasons: Eddie Murray (six seasons), Gus Triandos (five seasons), and Boog Powell (three seasons).

Murray was the Orioles' top home run hitter every season from 1980 through 1985. Triandos led the team in home runs  from 1955 to 1959; in 1958, he became the first Oriole to hit 30 home runs in a season. Powell led the O's in homers from 1968 to 1970. Powell never hit 40 home runs; his career high of 39 came in 1964 (Note: Jim Gentile was the first Oriole to hit 40 home runs; he had 46 in 1961.)

Between Guerrero, Derrek Lee, and Mark Reynolds, the Orioles now have three players who have hit 30 or more home runs a combined 14 times. Only four times in Orioles history have two players had 30 or more homers in the same season. Overall, only 14 Orioles players have recorded 30-homer seasons, led by Eddie Murray who did it five times. Guerrero has done it eight times.

Here's the breakdown of 30 home run seasons in Baltimore by decade. 

2000s
2008 - Aubrey Huff 32
2004 - Miguel Tejada 34
2002 - Tony Batista 32

1990s
1999- Albert Belle 37
1998 - Rafael Palmeiro 43
1997 - Rafael Palmeiro 38
1996 - Brady Anderson 50, Rafael Palmeiro 39
1995 - Rafael Palmeiro 39
1991 - Cal Ripken 34

1980s
1987 - Larry Sheets 31, Eddie Murray 30
1985 - Eddie Murray 31
1983 - Eddie Murray 30
1982 - Eddie Murray 32
1980 - Eddie Murray 32

1970s
1979 - Ken Singleton 35
1970 - Boog Powell 35

1960s
1969 - Boog Powell 37, Frank Robinson 32
1967 - Frank Robinson 30
1966 - Frank Robinson 49, Boog Powell 34
1964 - Boog Powell 39
1962 - Jim Gentile 33
1961 - Jim Gentile 46

1950s
1958 - Gus Triandos 30 

Based on their single-season career highs, Guerrero, Lee, and Reynolds would each place in the Orioles' top five all-time for home runs. Only four Orioles have hit 40 home runs in a season.

O's Top 10 Home Runs (Single Season)

1. Brady Anderson, 1996, 50
2. Frank Robinson, 1966, 49
3. Jim Gentile, 1961, 46
(Derrek Lee, 46, 2005)
(Mark Reynolds, 44, 2009)
(Vlad Guerrero, 44, 2000)
4. Rafael Palmeiro, 1998, 43
5. Boog Powell, 1964, 39
6. Rafael Palmeiro, 1995, 39
7. Rafael Palmeiro, 1996, 39
8. Rafael Palmeiro, 1997, 38
9. Boog Powell, 1969, 37
10. Albert Belle, 1999, 37


Finally, here's what the Orioles' home run leader board has looked like since the team's last winning season in 1997.

2010: Luke Scott 27, Ty Wiggington 22, Adam Jones 19
2009: Luke Scott 25, Adam Jones 19, Nick Markakis 18
2008: Aubrey Huff 32, Melvin Mora 23, Luke Scott 23, Millar 20 & Markakis 20
2007: Nick Markakis 23, Miguel Tejada 18, Kevin Millar 17
2006: Tejada 24, Hernandez 23, Markakis, Mora, Patterson 16, Millar 15
2005: Mora 27, Tejada 26, Gibbons 26
2004: Tejada 34, Mora 27, Palmeiro 23, Lopez 23
2003: Tony Batista 26, Gibbons 23, Mora & Conine 15
2002: Tony Batista 31, Gibbons 28, Mora 19
2001: Chris Richard 15, Gibbons 15, Conine 14
2000: Belle 23, Charles Johnson 21, Anderson 19
1999: Albert Belle 37, Surhoff 28, Anderson 24, Baines 24
1998: Palmeiro 43, Eric Davis 28, Surhoff 22
1997: Palmeiro 38, Hammonds 21, Surhoff & Anderson 18

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Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Walk-up music in Baltimore and beyond

Walk-up music has become such an ingrained element of baseball that I have specific memories attached to it. They begin with a mid-'90s road trip to Toronto for a Blue Jays game, during which my friend ranted that there was no place in baseball for music prior to each at-bat. It was common practice in Canada at the time, not as much so in our native Baltimore. Some 15 years later - now accustomed to the practice and therefore likely to tune out most songs - I chuckled the first time I heard Toby Keith's "I'm Not as Good as I Once Was" as Miguel Tejada strolled to the plate at Camden Yards.



Joe Lemire digs into the stories behind players' walk-up music in his fun piece "Inside the prank-filled, throughly-researched world of at-bat music" on SI.com.

Here's an excerpt:
Ah, yes, the pranks. Take this one, courtesy of the Rangers' Michael Young, who comes out to Beastie Boys songs "Sure shot" and "Sabotage." While playing for Class A Hagertown in a 1998 game at Cape Fear, N.C. 
Young recounts an amusing incident in which the girlfriend of an opponent wanted to give her boyfriend a nice surprise and had the player's intro song switched -- to Boyz 2 Men's "End of the Road."

"I think it was the end of the road after that," Young said. "When he found out, I think he kicked her to the curb.

"Guys were laughing about it for the whole series."
Ah, "End of the Road." Boyz II Men could make Metallica sound romantic, so the tune ended up on many a 1990s teenager's romantic mixtape thereby creating adolescent confusion before Facebook was there to do it for us.  But I digress.

Reading Lemire's piece inspired me to do some Orioles-related digging on walk-up music.

Anybody remember the 2008 debut of Kevin Millar's blonde locks and "Ice Ice Baby" walk-up music?




Now go back a bit further. Test your knowledge of which Orioles batters used these walk-up songs in 2004:

"Sweet Home Alabama"

"Hot in Herre"

"Sultans of Swing"

"California Love"

"Hit 'Em Up"

"Shake it Fast"

See how well you did here.

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