Baseball Fans

Any resemblance would be hard for all but the most die-hard Orioles fans to notice. But it's there. The new Aberdeen IronBirds logo, unveiled Monday, was inspired by a furious, bat-wielding Orioles bird mascot introduced after the 1967 season. Billy Ripken, who turned 3 years old that year, remembered it well when he began thinking about refreshing the IronBirds logo. "He was mean-looking," Ripken said. "He had a bat in his hand and a had a little lean forward. " That bird's menacing look combined with inspiration from the recent Iron Man movies - since Ripken and his brother Cal, baseball's ironman, run the team together - form a slick new character that the duo hopes will continue to draw young baseball fans to games.

Good morning -- Baseball fans -- Given the weather this week, spring training and its warm thoughts arrive just in time.

Fifty-one percent of baseball fans say they would attend the same number of games next season even if replacement players are used, according to a national poll by the Associated Press.And 63 percent say they would watch just as many games on television next year if replacements take the field. The percentage of Americans identifying themselves as baseball fans dropped to 26 percent from 33 percent in July.As for who to blame for the strike, 67 percent of fans fault both sides. Another 21 percent blame players and 8 percent blame owners.

In an SI.com story, Barry Bonds says he has had fun during his first full season out of baseball and is enjoying his freedom from the game. Barry, of course, might have to enjoy his freedom while he can. He's still awaiting trial on 14 counts of making false statements to a grand jury and one count of obstruction of justice. I also think, by and large, baseball fans have enjoyed their freedom from him. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog)

The Hamburg Street bridge will remain closed during Oriole baseball games -- despite an appeal from the South Baltimore business community that the bridge be reopened in midgame.City transportation officials say a month-long traffic study determined that opening the bridge during games presented too great a hazard to pedestrians.Since Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in April, the bridge stays closed from two hours before the game until traffic clears after the game to accommodate baseball fans walking to and from the stadium.

Give the Orioles credit: They sure do stadium renovations well. Way better than they play ball. I say that after getting a sneak peek Wednesday at all the changes to Camden Yards we've been hearing so much about. Bottom line? You're going to love what they've done to the place, even if you're a hard-core fan who's not big on a lot of architectural frou-frou at the ballpark. Assuming, that is, there are any hard-core baseball fans left. "I think we still have hard-core fans," said Janet Marie Smith, Orioles vice president of planning and development.

Young children -- especially those who are baseball fans -- doubtless will enjoy Everyone's Hero, the animated adventures of a young boy who tries to reunite Babe Ruth with his bat so that the Yankees can win the 1932 World Series. Parents, even as they groan at the film's overbearing simplicity and forced sense of whimsy, also are likely to embrace its message: Believe in yourself. Never give up. Always remember that miracles can happen. Everyone's Hero (20th Century Fox) Featuring the voices of Rob Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy, Robin Williams.

Someone ought to tell the University of Maryland's new football coach that putting the players' names on their jerseys is not done for the players' benefit. It is done for the fans. The Commissioner of Major League Baseball ought to tell the management of the Yankees and the Red Sox the same thing and require all major league players to have their names on their uniforms. Baseball fans might recognize Jeter and A-Rod and Big Papi, but it is annoying to watch a game on TV or even from in the stands and have to wonder who the players are. Edward J. Gutman, Baltimore

Baseball fans (and non-fans alike) can expect sunny skies Friday with highs in the mid-50s and some strong wind gusts for the Orioles' Opening Day, according to the National Weather Service. Steady 10 to 20 mph north winds are expected, with gusts up to 30 mph. The day is expected to get off to a cold start, with a freeze warning in effect through 9 a.m. in Carroll, Harford and northern Baltimore counties. An overnight freeze could come Friday into Saturday as well, with lows in the mid-30s.