After missing the postseason with an 85-77 record in 2013, the Baltimore Orioles begin their 2014 season with a three-game home series against the Boston Red Sox. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)
Opening Day.
It’s a special day for fans of any baseball team. It’s the beginning of a long 162-game marathon that is the Major League Baseball season.
Each and every one of the 30 teams in MLB begin the new season with a sense of optimism, a clean slate at 0-0.
This season, the Baltimore Orioles begin with a couple of fresh faces and a rejuvenated lineup.
“Gabby: Confessions of a hockey lifer” is a biography of Bruce Boudreau from 2009. It describes the life of Boudreau who only got a taste of the NHL as a player. But got a full bite as a coach.
The team was young. Many of the players had worked their way to the National Hockey League from the draft and through the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears, the Capitals minor league affiliate.
Alex Ovechkin was a rising star in the league. After two seasons in the NHL, Ovechkin had notched a 52-goal season in his first year, which propelled him as the league’s rookie of the year, and scored another 46 goals in his sophomore season.
The Caps never gave up. Through 21 games the team had a record of 6-14-1. But with wins in 11 of their final 12 games, the Capitals accomplished something that had never been done — making the playoffs after rallying from 14th or 15th place at the season’s midpoint.
Bruce Boudreau was the main reason for the turn around. He was brought in to coach the Capitals on Thanksgiving 2007. For the first time in his life — after 20 professional hockey seasons — he was a regular face at the NHL level.
“Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer” is Boudreau’s story. From the buses of the minor leagues, both as a player and as a coach, to the private jets of the big league, Boudreau tells his many tales. Including the time he made a cameo in “Slap Shot.”
Along with his time as a player, Boudreau also describes his personal life during his career. Providing insight to the life of a pro hockey player and the hardships that go along with it.
Boudreau focuses on his time as coach of the Manchester Monarchs and the Bears, especially the players he eventually coached in Washington. He even describes in depth his coaching strategies and why he thinks they work.
Boudreau speaks explicitly of people and players he likes and dislikes. He even discusses the penalty call made by Paul Devorski in overtime of Game 7 against the Philadelphia Flyers, which eventually led to his team’s elimination, and the end of the Cinderella season.
I give Paul credit for having the guts, whether he’s right or wrong, to make the call on Poti. Devo had an explanation for everything. However, he was the back referee. Why did he make that call? Why didn’t ref Don Koharski, who had the play right in front of him, make that call? I don’t understand that.
“Gabby” is not a classic hockey novel like Ken Dryden’s “The Game.” It’s different. Fitting as that matches the man telling it, Boudreau.
Boudreau and the Capitals celebrate an unlikely 2008 Southeast Division championship. (Photo courtesy of The Washington Post)
As a team the Orioles hit 214 home runs in 2012, second behind the New York Yankees for the most baseball. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America)
In 2012 the Baltimore Orioles shocked the baseball world and made the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
To accomplish this, the Orioles had an excellent bullpen, stellar defense and they used the long ball.
The O’s ranked second in all of baseball in home runs last season, belting 214 homers — trailing on the New York Yankees in that category.
In 2013, it seems as though round trippers will once again be the key to Orioles success.
