Saturday afternoon Orioles game thread: at Yankees, 1:05

Among the many reasons that I am sitting here writing these words rather than being a professional baseball player is that I have no idea how I would go on if I participated in a loss like last night's loss.

The only participation I had was "I watched it on TV" and it's still left me morose, dreading the inevitable tailspin to come as a result of that brutal loss. It seems inevitable because even though it's been more than five years now since it ended, the specter of the 14 years straight of losing still hangs over everything.

Somehow, the Orioles will have to try to pick themselves up from that mess. This would be a tough enough task in any set of circumstances, but it's going to be that much tougher with Ubaldo Jimenez pitching. If he gives them an early deficit, as he has done in most of his starts this year, what then? The Orioles could be well on their way to their first series loss of the season before the third inning is over.

Maybe they will find a way to surprise me, but I won't be holding my breath.