Those Orioles were more apt to lose one the way the Mariners did. In fact, yesterday's ending was fairly similar to the Orioles' Mother's Day Meltdown in Boston. In that one, Guthrie, like Seattle's Felix Hernandez yesterday, was cruising into the ninth and was replaced by an imploding bullpen that snatched a loss from the jaws of victory.
Yesterday, though, the Orioles were celebrating a mini-winning streak.
"It's a different team, different year. There are a lot of younger guys, a lot of energy," designated hitter Aubrey Huff said. "There are no expectations on us this year. We are just going out there, having fun and playing baseball, and good things happen when you have fun."
This team will lose its share and likely will finish last in the American League East, yet there's a hint they will go down fighting, something we haven't seen in years here. Maybe it's Dave Trembley and his upbeat nature. Or maybe it's just an infusion of new guys - such as outfielders Luke Scott and Adam Jones and shortstop Luis Hernandez - who are trying to prove themselves.
"There are a lot of kids here that want to play, that are more excited to play," third baseman Melvin Mora said. "They just want to be on the field."
Several of those guys weren't born when "Orioles Magic" first was played for Orioles fans. It might take some time before the Camden Yards faithful hear it again.
"I don't care if it is in the clubhouse, just not when we take the field," Huff said. "I think we are ... 0-1 when we came out to it Opening Day, and we haven't lost since we quit playing it. So let's just keep that off the field."
Huff is not exactly the ambassador of all things Baltimore since his "horse - -" comment in the offseason, but he is right on this one.
As he said, "It was great for the '80s."
This isn't the "O" in the anthem or John Denver crooning in the seventh inning. This is a song written for a particular time and preserved because there have been few highlights since.
It had its purpose, but it no longer fires anyone up. So it's time to pull the plug, or at least let it be a mocking, team-unifying guffaw after big wins.
It can be a reminder not to take this game so seriously.
And who knows? Maybe a little levity leads to some magic every now and then.
dan.connolly@baltsun.com
