The last time the Orioles played a post season game at Camden Yards, the first baseman for the Cleveland Indians was Jim Thome.
I did not page through my scorebook for the 1997 season to recall that baseball trivia, even though the book is somewhere in my condo. I googled.
Two nights ago, Thome hit a home run in the 5th inning that tied the game. Three batters later, Manny Machado’s four-bagger put the Orioles in front to stay.
During a game two months ago, when the Orioles announced that they had traded for Thome, the crowd roared.
“The front office is trying to get this team into the postseason,” I said to the friend sitting next to me. “The fans haven’t felt that was the case in the recent past.”
The response to Machado’s call-up from the minors was similar.
Sports Illustrated reports that the Orioles had him taking grounders at 3rd before the gates opened at Bowie all summer. His natural position is shortstop.
The play this season that Machado will be remembered for, however, was not one that he practiced during his clandestine infield drills.
His fake throw to first caught a runner off the third base bag.
Great instincts for a veteran, much less a rookie.
But that out isn’t made if the shortstop, JJ Hardy, isn’t covering third to take Machado’s throw.
Played right, baseball is a ballet. Every player has something to do on every play. (Cal Senior would call it the Oriole Way, not ballet.)
Mindful of the Machado-Hardy play, I hustled down to third from behind the plate when we had a player in a rundown between second and third in my senior baseball game this past Sunday.
A few weeks ago, when Taylor Teagarden got his second extra-inning game-winning hit of the season (only his 3rd hit overall at that point), I decided to stop trying to figure out whether and why the Orioles would make the postseason.
“Just enjoy the ride,” I said to myself.
Yet, I have still pondered why adults still cheer for the home team, look forward to reading about a win the next morning, but skip the sports section if we lost.
Perhaps it’s the joy of seeing people perform well and sharing that with friends and family.
Especially in October.
