Hope it Works

Hope they tell me is belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Baltimore sports fans are full of hope on two different levels as we roll into August.

For the Ravens the hope is right here, right now.  A Super Bowl run isn't a pipe-dream as the mighty-men polish their act in Westminster. For Orioles fans there's hope with a new manager in town, just maybe Buck Showalter can bring some sunshine to the darkest period in franchise history.

After two straight seasons of winning road playoff games, Ravens fans had plenty of hope, then here comes Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin, are you kidding me Boldin, Mason, Heap, Flacco, Rice gotta be about 40 points a game. The national media (you know, that gang that's out to get us) helped peg the hope meter with glowing pre-season reports and lofty 2010 predictions for the Ravens.  

Never mind those cornerbacks coming off knee surgeries, Ed Reed's hip, neck, contract talk and the top pick's fractured skull. Don't wanna hear about it, may ruin my belief in a positive outcome (HOPE) and my trip to Dallas in February.

Many might call this belief in a positive outcome for the Orioles false hope. I understand, how can one guy named Buck turn a 31-70 team around when he can't hit, pitch or run hard to 1st base?  I don't like the term false hope, I prefer delayed hope.

Buck Showalter is a 2-time manager of the year and is respected throughout the game. Pretty sure Buck can't turn water into wine but he can bring credibility and a breath of fresh air to a clubhouse that's been beaten like a rented mule.

We all know Buck, Earl Weaver, John McGraw or Connie Mack can't win without players. The Orioles simply need better players to give Buck Showalter a chance to be a good manager. Why would a guy with his resume take over a team that has lost for 13 straight seasons and plays in the toughest division in baseball? 

My hope is that he has some assurance that he'll have a fighting chance to turn this mess around. I don't think Buck would be in Baltimore if he didn't have hope. Those that care about this team should be praying it's not false hope.