Baltimore Orioles Kick off holiday season, confident of sustained success in 2013- MLB News
The Orioles kicked off their holiday celebrations in Hanover, Maryland on Tuesday as they hosted 80 students Morrell Park Elementary School. A number of current and former players were present at the occasion along with Orioles Manager Buck Showalter.
It was a fun event for the youngster who played games, were served lunch by the players and got autographs from the players. Broadcaster Jim Hunter from MASN was also in attendance and the Orioles Bird also made an appearance.
Nick Markakis, the Orioles right fielder, was glad that the team did well in the 2012 season and had the approval from its fans. "You can definitely tell from the fans' standpoint; it's good to see," he said.
Nick also said that everyone is now aware of where the Baltimore ball club stands and about their play hard attitude. He was confident that the positive attitude will carry the team even further in the 2013 season.
"And not only the fans, but the whole country knows what the Baltimore Orioles are about now. And we just got to continue with that mind-set, that attitude and play hard, and we'll see at the end of the year [next season] where we are."
Nick himself missed some part of the season due to a broken thumb and has yet to resume training. He did well as a replacement for Brian Roberts, who was put on the disabled list during the course of last season. Right Side Foundation, a charity run by Nick
and his wife Christina gifted the children back packs and a new baseball glove and ball during the event.
J.J Hardy believed that the expectations that the players had from themselves during spring training were materialised.
"We had expectations for ourselves last Spring Training. We were able to stay focused and do what we wanted to do. I think that we always have expectations as a group in the clubhouse. We all feel like we should be good, and we hold ourselves to high standards,"
Hardy said.
The Orioles had two Maryland natives as rookies in their lineup during the 2012 season in shape of Johnson and Hoes. Johnson was pleased with the reaction of young fans that were excited and looking forward to the next season, expecting another good show
from the ball club.
Hoes was also pleased by the fact that people recognised him as an Orioles player and expressed their hope for a good performance by the Orioles in the coming season.
It was a first winning season for the Orioles since 1997. The team last made it to the post-season in the same year. Orioles have most certainly evolved for the better under Buck Showalter and by the look of things, the team should continue its upwards surge
and once again become a force to be reckoned with.
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