Okay, so last weekend I was feeling kinda nostalgic, right? Just sitting around my place on a lazy Sunday afternoon, nothing on TV really grabbed me. Then I remembered that dusty old box of Orioles DVDs tucked away in my closet – full of season highlights and stuff from years back. Specifically, that 2011 season popped into my head. I know, I know, not exactly their best year overall record-wise, but darn it, there were some seriously fun moments in there!
So, I decided to dig it out. Had to move a stack of board games and an old suitcase to even get to the closet corner. Found the box labeled “O’s Stuff” – gotta love my organizational system. Inside, sure enough, tucked under some faded rally towels, was the 2011 Season Review DVD.
Setting The Mood
Pulled out my trusty, old DVD player – still works, thankfully. Hooked it up to the living room TV. Grabbed myself a cold soda, settled onto the couch with a notepad and pen nearby. Wanted to kinda capture those specific highs again, those jolts of pure joy you get from a monster home run or a wild comeback win.
Let the Rewind Begin
I popped in the disc. The menu screen flashed up with that familiar O’s orange and black. Just hit “Play All” and leaned back.
First thing that hit me was how young some of these guys looked! Adam Jones? Man, he was a blur in center field and already hitting some absolute missiles. Found myself yelling “Go get it, Jonesy!” at the screen even though I knew the outcome. His homer against Detroit in early May? Sent one way into the left-center bleachers. Made a note: “Jones – Laser to LCF. Crowd went nuts.”
Then there was Mark Reynolds. Oh boy. That guy struck out a TON, everyone knows that. But when he connected? You better believe it was worth the wait. That stretch in mid-July when he homered like five times in a week? It was comical almost, but so fun to watch. One game against Cleveland, he hit two absolute tanks – the second one landed way up on the flag court above the scoreboard in right. I swear, the announcer lost his voice describing it. Wrote down: “Reynolds – Unbelievable power binge. Cleveland must have nightmares.”
More Than Just Dingers
Sure, the homers were the flashy bits, but they weren’t the only thing worth reliving. Remembered that crazy game against Boston late in August. Down 6-0 early? Came all the way back, tied it late. Then Nolan Reimold! Bottom of the ninth, walk-off homer right over the Green Monster on TV? The entire dugout emptied like maniacs. You could feel the energy through the screen years later. My note just said: “Reimold walk-off vs. Sox! Absolute bedlam. Made my day again.”
And what about the pitching moments? Zach Britton looked so polished back then. That complete game shutout he tossed against Seattle? Masterful. Waino pitched well too at times, especially early on before things kinda crumbled.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, obviously. Watched some tough losses too. Late September against the Yankees… brutal. Saw some defensive blunders that made me groan all over again. But sitting there on my couch, I wasn’t focused on the wins and losses total. Nope. I was relishing the moments that made you jump off the couch, high-five strangers, and just feel pure baseball excitement.
Why It Mattered (To Me)
By the end, my notebook had scribbles all over it, just bits and pieces about certain hits or plays. That’s all I really wanted – to remember the feeling. It wasn’t about analyzing stats deeply or breaking down strategy. It was about that simple rush. Baseball, even in a tough season for your team, can deliver pure gold moments. Hearing Gary Thorne crackle on the mic, seeing Camden Yards packed and rocking…
Spending those couple hours buried in that box reliving 2011? Totally worth moving those board games. Didn’t change anything, but it sure as heck put a big smile on my face. Just goes to show, you don’t always need a winning season to find baseball magic. Sometimes, you just need to remember the homers that rattled the stands and the wins that felt impossible. That’s the good stuff.
