Take a seat at the bar and bring your hater hat. I’ve got a topic for you.
It was announced Friday that New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will retire at the end of this year. You can read my thoughts on Teixeira, who grew up in Severna Park, here.
Teixeira’s retirement will occur the same year that Boston’s David Ortiz hangs it up.
It’s an intriguing 1-2 punch since Teixeira was unofficially passed as Camden Yards Enemy No. 1 roughly in 2011 by Ortiz – it happened about the time Ortiz and former Oriole Kevin Gregg engaged in 8 seconds of a superheavyweight bout at Fenway Park.
That title, I believe, now belongs to Toronto’s Jose Bautista, whose overall dis-likability reigns supreme in plenty of baseball cities. In Baltimore, he’s probably surpassed Ortiz and has crushed Teixeira, who seemingly now is booed only out of habit at the Yards.
But here’s the rub: It’s possible that Bautista, a pending free agent, will leave the American League East at the end of 2016. And though I know your contemptuousness runs deep, not getting the opportunity to scream at Bautista nine teams a year could drop him in the Camden Yards Hate Standings.
Add in the fact that universal vitriol target Alex Rodriguez is a complete non-factor now – he’s retired too, he just doesn’t know it yet – and the Boo Birds at Camden Yards are in a precarious position for 2017.
No Big Papi. No Tex. Maybe no JoeyBats. And an ARod shell.
So what do you do? Do you retire the catcall in 2017?
Do you take out your anger on Toronto’s Josh Donaldson, who is really good, has a funky hairdo and once sorta-kinda dusted-up with Manny Machado?
Or do you have to find another villain between now and Opening Day 2017?
It’s a simple question and I want your answer now in anticipation of next season.
Tap-In Question: Who’s worthy of your hate in 2017?
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Encarnacion would seem to be the heir apparent in Toronto, given his display of shock whenever a strike is called against him. Not to mention his silly home run trot with the one arm in fixed position (We've seen this way too many times).
Drink chip for Dante for pointing out that silly home run trot ! Good call Dante.
Come on Dante. He has to do that to keep the imaginary parrot on ... Never mind. It's awful.
At the risk of alienating my brethren sitting at the bar, I’m afraid it’s going to end up being Crush Davis and that ridiculous contract of his.
WOW, just wow, Boog. Are we still bitter about the contractual process and/or dance between Davis and the Oriole front office? But out of respect, I yield to your lead and agree that I am still scratching my bead on that one too.
The new Boo birds will fall on the Oriole front office for their inability to sign Machado, Trumbo, and Wieters. Financially I just don't see the money truck visiting all three. Dan Duquette, Peter Angelos and the Agents who serve the above mentioned will become the public's new receivers of disdain.
You make good points my friend. And no I'm not bitter about the contractual process, I'm bitter about them giving a guy that kind of money and length of contract to someone who struggles to keep his head above the Mendoza line!
Of course all will be forgiven IF he were to snap out of it and carry us to a World Series this year.
Fickley yours,
Boog Robinson Robinson
Interesting discussion fellas. Drink chips. I will say this: tough to win on contracts. If Davis were with the Astros bashing homers, everyone would be screaming about how the Orioles don't sign their guys.
Yankees will buy out ARod so no opportunity to boo him. If he's still around next year, we'll have Ubaldo to boo. His impact on the O's is arguably worse than anyone from another team.
Yes Ubaldo has to be enemy no 1 now. The damage of his contract will have effects beyond the 4 years. The Davis contract is probably too much and he can probably never live up to it but they had to retain him. Someone else would have paid him. I wouldnt mind Trumbo leaving if they got draft pick compensation, Wieters will get over paid next year so let him walk. Lock up Manny ASAP!!
Can't imagine O's wouldn't make qualifying offer to Trumbo assuming he stays healthy and productive. No risk there.
That clown Ventura if he ever pitches vs us again...
Several have said that. Problem is if he stays in KC you may see him once a year.
My bet goes with that clown Yordano Ventura. Nice photos by the way. A writer who can take photos? Very talented.
Thanks. But this is a writer who knows his limitations. Almost all of our photos are taken by longtime sports photographer Joy Absalon. She's the real talent. I'm just along for the ride.