Optimism High For O's Fans
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's a new era for Orioles baseball. Optimism is running high as Buck Showalter begins the season as the Birds' skipper.
Mark Viviano explains Showalter is trying to bring Baltimore its first winning team in 13 years.
Here in Sarasota, much of the buzz is about the boss: manager Buck Showalter. Hired in August, he orchestrated a dramatic late-season turnaround last year. Now, from the start, he's trying to turn around a franchise that's known nothing but losing for the past 13 years.
"It all boils around them and they have the sense of pride in what the organization's done," Showalter said.
Showalter does emphasize that the emphasis should be on the players but when Adam Jones said that in an interview, he was criticized.
"Showalter's been here and he's helped us as players," said Jones. "At the same time, he does not physically go out there and play. He holds us accountable and he commands our respect."
The manager leads, the players follow and, Showalter says, the fans should benefit.
"We're all in this together. We need the fans and we need to do something on the field that warrants their trust," Showalter said.
So to use the manager's words, it's in Buck that they trust.
Tuesday, we'll take a look at how the Orioles stack up in the American League East.
