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From today’s b, the paper

It appears as though the Orioles have finally awakened from their decade-long slumber not only on the field but, more importantly, in the community here in Baltimore.

Thursday night, manager Dave Trembley made a rare “managerial appearance” at the Mount Washington Tavern to speak with the Sports Boosters Club, one of the oldest fan clubs in the area. On Saturday, suddenly resurgent pitcher Daniel Cabrera will be at the Chick-Fil-A in Marley Station Mall signing autographs. On Sunday, you can ride your bike to the game (just like pitcher Jeremy Guthrie), and you’ll get in for $6.

On the field, the Orioles are living up to the three-decade-old song “Oriole Magic” by winning games in the late innings — and Kevin Millar and Guthrie have led a campy remake of the 1970s gem. It’s available on bthesite.com, and I dare you not to smile when you watch it!

After winning a pair of games in dramatic fashion this week against the world champion Red Sox, the Birds will host the Washington Nationals this weekend in what should be a civic grudge match. So far, the rivalry has been a dud on the field, but the team’s various mascots were a major hit Thursday at the Inner Harbor.

Seeing the Orioles’ Bird walking through the harbor with the Nats’ eagle Screech was more than I’ve come to expect before a weekend series. But consider that the Nats also brought along their four inflatable presidents (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt), who were stopping traffic downtown. And if you haven’t seen these mascots race at the new D.C. stadium, you’re really missing out.
The Orioles’ marketing department and the players’ enthusiasm in reaching out to the community has been almost alarming in the early going. This is what they should’ve been doing all along, but I can’t complain when it looks like they’re finally “getting it.”

Now, if they could find a way to hit the ball before the seventh inning and find a way to put “Baltimore” back on the road jerseys. Let a kid from Dundalk dream.

Lost in the madness of the newfound “Oriole Magic” is this little horse race they’re having here Saturday for the 133rd time. The Preakness celebrations have felt almost as nonexistent around town as the Orioles over the past decade, and it’s really a shame. The race is setting up to be a dud as well, as Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown could go off as the biggest favorite in years, and if he wins, it will set up a potentially historic Belmont Stakes on June 7. Walking through Pimlico on Thursday morning for the Alibi Breakfast, it was impossible to miss the inevitable debate about whether Baltimore will continue to be the home of this historic race. There would be no more tragic loss for the state’s sporting tradition than to lose the Preakness. I hope things go well Saturday and that the state and Preakness owner Magna can find a way to salvage and breathe some life into what could be one of the most exciting events of the year for our community.

Nestor Aparicio, owner of WNST-AM 1570, writes about sports and more. His column appears Mondays and Fridays. For more, visit wnst.net.

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