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Win games, win fans

David Steele

September 28, 2008

A statement - of faith, or just of their sense of history - could have been made by too-long-suffering Orioles fans in this final weekend of another lost season. But long before today's regular-season closer against the Toronto Blue Jays, the biggest statement already had been made.

Only huge crowds, more than 35,000 each, for the last three scheduled dates would have prevented the first season with attendance below 2million in Camden Yards' 17-year existence.

Attribute a little of that to bad weather ultimately reducing the total dates - but it still is a dubious record well-earned. It also takes them very close to another dubious mark: half the attendance of 3.7million the year they last made the playoffs in 1997, gone in 11years.

On many fronts, the Orioles are better off now than at this point last season. But that's not saying much. The record (61-63 on Aug.17, then 6-28 the next six weeks) and dwindling crowds speak volumes.

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And now, more than at any time since Andy MacPhail and Co. took over in June 2007, it's crystal clear how long the rebuilding will take. It won't be overnight. Don't hold your breath waiting for next year's version of the Tampa Bay Rays.

So … after voting with your feet and your wallets this year, do you cast the same vote next year, and possibly the year after, while the Orioles slowly fill the gaping holes all over the organization that took years to be gouged open?

Here's hoping that you do keep casting those empty-seat votes. And here's hoping that the Orioles understand that nothing will bring you back except winning - real winning, not part-time winning, not brief-spurt winning, not showing-signs-of-winning-soon.

They do seem to get that. They seem to have no stomach for the old quick fixes. On Wednesday, manager Dave Trembley indicated that the franchise is going to evaluate every minute detail of how it brings pitchers along at every level. Trembley began his pre-game comments with a straight minute and a half of injury updates, nearly all about the latest wounded arms.

"I have no problem with effort," the manager said. "I think for the most part, it hasn't been because these guys haven't given us what they've got. I think we've reached the point where there's only so much you can give."

That night against Tampa Bay, the Orioles lost No.9 in a row, blowing another big lead. Just 13,632 showed; by the end, maybe 2,000 remained, and most of them were cheering the Rays.

"Well, it's not how you start, it's how you finish," Adam Jones said afterward. "That's the last impression the fans are getting. You can clearly see, the fans are leaving in the fifth and sixth inning, and that's not a good feeling as a player."

Yet he knew he and his teammates had brought it on themselves, and he made it clear he wasn't angry at the paying customers.

It wouldn't be out of line for fans to reward the Orioles for showing signs of reversing the trends of the previous 10 years. On the other hand, don't let anyone tell you that you aren't justified in withholding your presence, money and affection for a while longer. "They weren't as bad as usual," or "At least they didn't lose 110 like we thought they might" isn't good enough.

This is still a broken franchise, and now we know just how broken it is. When they fix it, when they bring wins back, the crowds and the love will come back, too. It's up to the fans to make sure of that.

Listen to David Steele on Fridays on WNST (1570AM).

david steele's points after

•The Nationals entered yesterday with 100 losses, fans are furious, the city and club owners are feuding … and they still outdrew the Orioles. That's a beautiful new ballpark, but come on.

•Oregon State 27, No. 1 USC 21. At least Maryland can feel better about losing to the Beavers in last year's Emerald Bowl.

•Oddly enough, Isiah Thomas didn't get eight seasons to utterly reduce his franchise to ashes, the way Matt Millen did with his. Just pointing it out, that's all.

•The last time we had a Great Depression, the Yankees kept on winning World Series. Now that we're in another one, they can't even make the playoffs.

•If Plaxico Burress gets a two-week suspension for blowing off an appointment without a good excuse, how long a ban will Letterman give John McCain?