The Orioles announced yesterday that recently acquired pitcher, Joe Saunders will start tonight in the third game of a four game series with the Chicago White Sox.  Saunders comes to the Orioles with a 6-10 record in 21 games and a 4.22 ERA all in Arizona this year.

Saunders is, however, exactly what the doctor ordered for the Orioles.  He averages 6.2 innings per start and is posting the highest strikeout to walk ratio of his career at 2.87.  The Orioles have been in desperate need of a quality starter who can spare the bullpen some innings and consistently get guys out.  “They brought me over here to help them get deep into games.  I pride myself on going deep into games, pitching into the 7^th-8^th innings, saving the bullpen a little bit,” Joe said during “Catch the Buzz” on WNST.

In addition to his tangibles, Saunders adds a veteran presence to an otherwise rather young team.  “I’ll help when I can, if the guys have any questions on what to expect, I’ll answer,” said Saunders, “I’ll reiterate the fact that it’s going to be tough but September’s a fun time, it’s a mental grind.”

Most of the players on this team have not had to deal with the pressure of a playoff race before.  Saunders will be the guy they can turn to for experience.  He has 3 playoff starts.  Two with the Angels and one with the Diamondbacks.  “There is just a difference in intensity and focus.  Everything rises, especially the last month; September is like a whole other season in itself, especially if you’re in the race,” Joe said in regards to postseason play.

Saunders is also a ‘local’ guy.  He grew up in Falls Church, Virginia (about an hour from Baltimore) and played his college ball at Virginia Tech.  He said that he and his family would make the trip up to Baltimore a handful of times each year to see the O’s play.  “I’m back here at home, pitching for a team I grew up watching” he said as he met with the media earlier today.  “I remember walking on Eutaw Street and going to the left field bleachers to try and catch homeruns,” he said, “so it’s pretty surreal that I’m here playing for this ball club.”

“I’m pretty used to pitching in high intensity games” Saunders said.  Let’s hope that pays off because every game from here on out will be a high intensity game for this team as they push for a playoff berth.

Joe also understands how important this would be to the fan base. “I’m sure they are on Cloud 9.  As a new player, you have to keep them on cloud 9. You have to keep them cheering, keep putting a good foot forward.  The fans want to see success and if we can do that it would be awesome.”

Saunders seems ready to buy into the attitude of that this team has had all season.  He is exactly what the doctor ordered at this point in the season. “Baltimore is there, they are hungry, the fans are hungry and hopefully we can get there.”

I wrote this a while back. I think more people should read it:

This past Saturday I was one of the 20,000 (if that) that stayed through the three hour rain delay to watch Eddie Murray’s ceremony and to watch the Orioles lose.  I was soaking wet, my voice was hoarse and all for nothing.  Sounds like a sucky night doesn’t it?

Oh, did I forget to mention I went with my seven year old cousin?  Well that’s what made that night worth sitting through all the rain and terrible baseball.  To see a kid who didn’t even know who Eddie Murray was, chant his name at the top of his lungs like he had watched him for years.  To see him usher in the new chants of “MANNY, MANNY!” as the future Orioles star stepped to the plate and scream “CHARGE!” as loud as he could when the horn sounded.

My cousin is a diehard Orioles fan.  We didn’t give him a choice.  So going to the game at the spur of the moment was a heck of a treat for him, but when he found out our seats were in the left field bleachers (where he thought we might catch a home run) his eyes lit up.  To see him run up and down the aisle yelling at the Royals’ Alex Gordon (him even getting yelled at himself by an usher) that’s what going to the games are all about.

He got a foam finger, a picture with the Bird, and most importantly, in his eyes, he got some food.  That boy can eat! I showed him where Eddie and all the other Orioles legends’ numbers were retired above our heads in left field and explained to him why Jackie Robinson’s was up there too.

For that one night I was able to forget about the fact that the Orioles lost.  I was able to even forget about the fact that they are hunting for a playoff spot.  Because all that mattered that night was enjoying ourselves, taking in the experience and being around other drenched fans as we rooted for our team down to the bitter end.

Those are the moments that make going to the games worth it.  We don’t always have to be bitter about how Peter Angelos steals our money and how he has given us nothing but losing baseball for 14 straight years.  We are in the midst of something special right now.  Our beloved O’s are in the playoff race!  There is finally meaningful baseball in Baltimore again.  Besides, every once in a while you can just enjoy going to the game because it’s fun to watch baseball, regardless of the outcome or how well the team is doing.

It doesn’t always have to be a bad experience.  Saturday night should’ve been a bad experience.  They handled the delay terribly, people left before Eddie’s on field ceremony, the team lost.  But I still had a great time.  And I know my cousin had one of the most memorable nights he has ever had.

He got to stay up till two in the morning.  He got to yell at opposing players and call them names (Billy “Butthead” Butler was his favorite insult).  And best of all he got a ball.  Growing up that’s all you ever want at a baseball game.  “A real major league baseball”, as he said holding it in his hands.

We found ourselves in the very last inning and we still hadn’t caught a home run (even though the Orioles pitching gave up a fair amount).  He was on a mission and I wasn’t ready to let him fail so I took him down next to the dugout and told him to ask the players and managers for one.  I sat back a few rows and he would come back every so often and ask why they were being so shy.  I told him to keep asking.

Eventually the game ended and just when it looked as though he wouldn’t get one, a guy came out and tossed him a ball.

That’s a memory he will have forever.  On a crappy night in Baltimore, he didn’t care that the Orioles lost.  He isn’t bitter.  Call it ignorance, call it youth.  He had a great experience.  I say we take a little lesson from him and have fun watching this team for however long they give us.  Who knows what could happen?  Maybe we’ll get a ball too…