It’s the day after a holiday.
We’ll talk in whispers. Keep the lights down somewhat low.
And we won’t get too analytical today.
In fact, we won’t get analytical at all. Today, we are going to discuss the most trivial of all matters.
But, apparently, something so trivial got a bunch of people stirred up.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter walked into Monday afternoon’s pregame press conference wearing a Washington Capitals jersey (or sweater, I’ve been told) – with No. 26 and “Showalter” on the back.
The Orioles and the Capitals have had a relationship over the years, and the Orioles players have worn T-shirts and recorded messages in support of the Caps this postseason.
The Nationals, obviously, have been doing the same.
It’s all fine to me. There’s only one hockey team in the Mid-Atlantic region, so why not celebrate its run to a title with the Stanley Cup finals starting Monday night?
Well, apparently there are plenty of reasons why Showalter shouldn’t have been wearing the jersey – at least according to my social media feed after I posted the above picture twice on Twitter.
You see, the Orioles were playing the Washington Nationals on Monday. And Baltimore and Washington are not the same market. You may have heard that once or twice.
And Baltimore and Washington don’t necessarily like each other. Some Nats fans were ticked that Showalter was jumping on their city’s bandwagon. Some Orioles fans weren’t happy that Showalter would support that team from down I-95, especially while playing the baseball team from down I-95.
As we’ve discussed plenty of times in this fake joint, I’m not a fan – I try to look at things objectively without emotion – but I also like to hear a fan’s perspective on occasion.
For full disclosure: I wouldn’t call myself a big hockey guy, but if I do follow a team, it is the Capitals, because that was the NHL squad that played closest to me while growing up in Baltimore. That’s the one I rooted for back in the day.
I know a lot of native Baltimorons are with me there. And a lot think rooting for a Washington team from the 410 area code is sacrilege.
As for Showalter, he said he wasn’t much of a hockey fan. But his son, Nathan, married a local woman who loves the Caps. Nathan has gotten into the Capitals, and Showalter is heading that way now, too.
He had a chance to meet Washington coach Barry Trotz after a game in DC on January 19. It was a bad loss, and Showalter tried to get out of the post-game, meet-and-greet in deference to Trotz. But the Caps’ people insisted, Trotz and Showalter chatted and Showalter on Monday called Trotz, “impressive.”
So, Showalter was showing his support on the afternoon of the Stanley Cup’s Game 1. And the Orioles organization has been showing its support for the Caps.
No big deal to me.
But hundreds of you made a point of liking, retweeting or commenting on the picture I posted on Twitter. It obviously hit a nerve. So, I have one silly, meaningless question for you today.
Tap-In Question: Showalter in a Caps’ jersey – good, bad or who cares?
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I am reminded of Edward Bennet Williams' reaction in 1988, when the Orioles (after a horrible 0-21 start) were talking about changing uniforms, and we was asked for his input:
“They were redesigning the uniforms for the next year and team president Larry Lucchino brought him prototypes. He (Williams) said, ‘Rome is burning and you’re worried about a [freaking] hat?’ ”
Let Buck wear what he pleases. Whatever.
That’s sort of my philosophy here.
Not an Issue. More worried he will be wearing the jersey of another MLB team if this pace keeps up. Also, don't let a hockey fan see you calling it a jersey, they will tell you it is a sweater. LOL
Oof. See, I told ya my depth on this stuff is a puddle.
For the most part I don't care as long as it's a "regional team", but I did have a problem when Kevin Millar threw out the first pitch for the Red Sox while he was with the O's. To me that was totally disrespectful to our city
Excellent point. Drink chip. That was really something.
Doesn't bother me one bit. There's no team in Baltimore, so the Caps are the local team. They're in the Stanley Cup finals, which isn't a position -- playing for a championship -- we're quite accustomed to in the region anymore. It would bother me a lot more if he was wearing Cavs or Warriors gear, because they're not local and because I'm sick of them both. I actually appreciate that Buck supports local teams, except for the Nats. It's part of being in the community.
I’m getting soft. Posting goofy questions. Giving out consecutive drink chips.
I can not believe baseball in Baltimore has sunk to this level of interest.
Hahahaha. I posted this because I was blown away by the sheer numbers of people that liked/retweeted/commented on this. But, yeah, silliness.
Not a flection of your interest but of those who consider themselves baseball analysts
410 area code or not the Caps are still the 'local' team in another sport so no big thing. Also I don't watch hockey, I've never watched hockey so it gets a shoulder shrug from me.
Fair enough. I’m also curious today to see how many Os fans dislike the Caps simply because they are Washington. Especially given there are no other NHL teams close — besides Philly and Pittsburgh.
No big deal, he can wear a clown outfit at this point and it would not matter.
Haha. I’d pay to see that.
Buck just wanted to wear a jersey of a team playing for a championship
I can’t believe it took this many comments before that zinger was added. Had a couple of these on Twitter yesterday.
Maybe he should wear orange black and white, THE FLYERS. just a little more up the road, and they have won cups. Many flyers fans in baltimore. GO VEGAS
Who cares? The Caps and the St. Louis Blues are the former Chicago Cubs of hockey. Buck isn't a good luck charm but give them all the help they need.
Who are the current Chicago Cubs of baseball — if you get my point. Mariners?
I'd say Cleveland are the current Cubs of baseball- a few pennant winning seasons since they're last championship with many losing seasons in between. They're last championship was more than 20 years before the Mariners even came into existence......
No issues at all from my circles. Lots of O's fans that are also Caps fans.
It also has a natural flow with Ravens fandom for Pittsburgh (Steelers/Penguins) hate.
-M
That’s true. Not any love between Penguins and Caps, either.
Accomplished in the regular season, never gets it done in the playoffs. Hell, Showalter may as well line up at Right Wing for the Caps tomorrow night, they're such a good fit.
Wacka Wacka!
I don't get the loathing of Washington sports teams. I loathe Washington itself, but I love the Caps, am apathetic to the Wizards, and kinda feel sorry for the Redskins. The notion of the Nats being some kind of "regional rivalry" doesn't stick either. I view them the same way I do the Padres or the Rockies; whatever, they're just some National League team.
I get it. But, man, growing up in Balmer a lot of people hammered me for liking the Bullets/Wizards and Caps. And Skins fans were vilified.
If the Orioles were winning I guarantee you we aren't having this conversation. You really think if the Orioles were in the World Series and John Harbaugh donned a custom jersey anyone would say anything?
I'd love for the Caps to play in Baltimore, but they don't. Just like I'd love for the Wizards to still play in Baltimore, but they don't. But there's no reason we can't root for them because they're in D.C. now. Baltimore is never getting a hockey team or an NBA team with both of those franchises so close (they're also not getting an MLS team for the same reason).
The San Francisco 49ers got a new stadium and it's an hour from where the San Francisco Giants play, that's not stopping anyone in San Francisco from rooting for the team because they're an hour down the road. Everyone's cranky because the team is bad, they're about to blow up a roster of guys we've come to love over the last 5-6 years and no one has much faith in the leadership at present to do it right. This has nothing to do with a sweater.
Great post. Drink chip.
There's absolutely no harm in this. If the O's were in the World Series, I wouldn't doubt the Caps would be showing their support.
Seriously, with the dozens of bad things happening with the Orioles right now, this shouldn't even be on the radar.
I’d agree. But don’t shoot the bartender.
To dem O's org "slap" & "stick" have entirely different connotations, puckheads
Haha. Thanks for keeping it clean.
I see no issue here. Caps are the local club for Maryland, so if he's going to wear a hockey sweater at least it's for the local team. Maybe he's trying to motivate his team by wearing championship caliber teams around!
Not sure that’s the motivation. But whatever helps, right?
I don't have a problem with it, but it didn't seem to help the Caps much anyway.
I do think it's kinda silly though, because the Caps players/ coach probably wouldn't be wearing O's gear if it was us in the World Series.
Yeah. Would be interesting if Os were going for a title and Nats weren’t. Not sure we’ll find out anytime soon.
Fine by me. There again, I'm an Orioles fan deep in the heart of the territory who roots for the Boogie Down Bronx team...
Brave man
Before I worry about Showalter in a Cap’s jersey I’m worried about the fact that the O’s have been shut out, what, like 5 times already! I’m worried about whose going to be the field manager next year and I’m worried about a first baseman who we’ve signed for 5 more years or so and is hitting about .160. I’m worried about what I’m reading from various sources is a dysfunctional warehouse!
But before I’m really gonna worry about that stuff I still have to get my daughter thru one last year of collage!
Then maybe, MAYBE I’ll give the fact that Buck wore a caps “sweater” at his pregame presser!!
Good luck on the college thing. I’ve got three more years with my first one. Oh, and I think Buck is your field manager next year and Davis actually only has 4 2/3 years left on that contract. Call me Mr. Silver Lining.
Buck is on the road to be brain dead! He seems to have some odd starting pitcher rules:
1. 120+ pitches is okie dokie if I don't hafta to stroll out to the mound.
2. We shall pull no starter before his time, which generally means giving up 5+ runs in four innings or less
For the sake of all of us Orioles fans, fire Buck now. Then Danny boy...
What's wrong with him wearing the same colors, A little further up the road. They are called the FLYERS, who have at least won stanley cups. GO VEGAS
What's sad about this is the fact that we are post-Memorial Day and the topic of discussion is wearing a "sweater"" jersey" or whatever it's called, just tells you the depths of despair this O's season has sunk.....nothing better to discuss, certainly not the stellar play on the field......
Who cares
At this point, who cares. I've been a O's fan since 1960. Let it be. Too much hatred floating around.