Opener Not Closed

The Orioles season-opening loss at Tampa Bay has Birdland bummed out, or in some cases disgusted.  New closer Mike Gonzalez said he was disgusted after giving up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th in a 4-3 defeat to the Rays.  Gonzalez took full responsibility, stood up in front of the mircophones after the game and admitted he failed.  It was not a dazzling debut for the new Oriole closer, to say the least.

Fans have been lighting up the call-in shows all day, blowing off steam and pointing the fingers of blame:  MacPhail shouldn't have signed Gonzalez (2 years, $12 million), Trembley can't manage (why didn't he leave Jim Johnson in to pitch?), Garret Atkins can't hit and can't run, Miguel Tejada is not a clean-up hitter (0-for-5), and on and on.  I love it!  Baseball fans are fired up over a season-opening loss!  Just 1 of 162 games and there's panic in the streets of Baltimore.  I laugh a little and sometimes get frustrated over some of the outlandish conclusions drawn after one game, but more than anything it signals to me that baseball season is here and there are people who care.  I know that passion will be more enjoyable for the fans when they get passionate about success, but it's just good to know there's baseball blood running through the veins of local sports fans.