Birds Sweep Jays

I drove to the Yard today from Virginia to see my first game of the season with my friend Ralphie. The Birds efficiently defeated the Jays with solid pitching, defense and timely hitting for their first sweep of Toronto since 1994. They played like the Weaver teams. They completed one turn of the order against Chacin, made adjustments, and started to unload. Nick "The Greek" Markakis bounced one off the top of the wall in deep center for a triple to plate two runs and put the Birds ahead for good. Jay Payton started in left and added three hits. Tejada chipped in with three ribs. Steve Trachsel tossed 4-hit ball for six innings. The bullpen remains solid. Things are beginning to take shape. We still need another stick but that's been the case for thirty years. I saw one spectator wearing a Virginia Tech t-shirt and the flag flew at half-mast. This year, I've noticed more retro Oriole wear featuring the cartoon bird for sale. Markakis shirts have sold out. I brought dinner home from Matthew's Pizza--the best in Baltimore. Ralphie and I talked about "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, Johnny Unitas, John McGraw and what it would be like to live at the ballpark. Ralphie wonders whether we'll see another World Championship in our lifetime. We need to raise our children as Oriole fans so they can inform us of any future World Series glory after we leave this place. We both attended the same game of the '70 series when McNalley hit the grand slam. We're old timers and we're living in the past. It's my daughter's birthday tomorrow. Julia's three years old and wants a fish tank. She also plays organized kickball and runs the bases well.