:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60565745/455876452.0.0.0.jpg)
My dear Camden Chatters. My dear (here there is a long, rambling list of every Camden Chatter - yes, even you). Also my good lurkers that I welcome back at last to Camden Chat. Today is the one hundred sixty-second game of the season. It is one hundred sixty-two today! I hope you are all enjoying yourselves as much as I am.
I shall not keep you long. I have called you all together for a purpose. Indeed, for three purposes! First of all, to tell you that I am immensely fond of you all, and that one hundred sixty-two games is too short a time to blog among such excellent and admirable Orioles fans. I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. Secondly, to celebrate my final regular season game thread of the year. I should say, OUR final regular season game thread of the year, for it is, of course, also the last regular season Orioles game for you as well.
It is also, if I should be allowed to refer to ancient history, almost four years and two months anniversary since the arrival of Buck Showalter as manager - though the fact that would be so significant slipped my mind at the time. We were 32-73 then, and individual game threads did not seem so important. The game thread was very splendid, however, though I had a bad cold at the time, I remember, and could only say 'thag you very buch'. I now repeat it more correctly: Thank you very much for coming to our little game threads, night in and night out.
Thirdly and finally, I wish to make an announcement. I regret to announce that - though, as I said, one hundred sixty-two games is far too short a time to spend among you - this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. Good-bye!
**
No, not really. That's just me indulging my nerdiness by continuing the tradition that I started to indulge my nerdiness. It is, however, indeed the final regular season game of the year for the Orioles. Fortunately, unlike last year, it's not the final Orioles game of the year. There will be at least three more following this. If they keep playing the way they have for the last week, three is probably all there will be.
Still, whatever happens from here on out, the playoffs are the playoffs. We made it through the long, dark years. We were unhappy then because there was nothing but darkness. Now, the prospect of losing in the ALDS feels like a disappointment. We've come a long way. Enjoy the rest of the ride, and be sure not to exit the ride until the car has come to a full and complete stop.