Orioles FanFest 2017

FanFest is like the Groundhog Day of the offseason. Orioles fans enjoy a day of activity, then ultimately return to hibernation, waiting another six weeks for Spring.

The day began with lines wrapped around the Convention Center, and was in full stride by the time Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette took the stage for the morning’s first fan forum. Showalter was already grinding, attending the event despite having been sick for the past three days. Displaying his typical command of the room, he greeted fans by asking “I think football season is over, don’t you?”

One sentence in, the fans were putty in his hands.

Photo Credit: Baltimore Sun

It was a stark contrast from last year, when Chris Davis’ unresolved contract situation loomed over FanFest like a dark cloud. Then, fans were anxious, impatient, and more likely to grab their pitchforks. Now? Fresh off the Mark Trumbo signing, the Orange Faithful were much more forgiving – it took a full 22 minutes for one of them to bring up Zach Britton in the AL Wild Card game.

The carryover from the end of the season at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays looms large for the players. Many expressed excitement over the prospect of keeping the core of the team together, as well as the urgency to win that accompanies it. Yes, these guys want to win a championship, and yes, they know that the window to do so could be short.
Brad Brach, on the window of opportunity:

 

Zach Britton, on the window of opportunity:

 

Adam Jones, on the window of opportunity:

 

Players seemed pretty focused, not allowing their own contract situations to serve a as a distraction.

Brad Brach, on arbitration:

 

Zach Britton, on his contract status:

 

Manny Machado, on extension talk:

 

Kevin Gausman, on arbitration:

 

Caleb Joseph, on arbitration:

 

OK, maybe it wasn’t entirely rosy. Adam Jones did not seem to want to talk about his contract status. At all.

 

Contract status does not appear to be the only area in which Jones and the team are not on the same page. Jones wishes he had a little more help in the outfield, defensively.

 

Now, I’m not picking on Jones – he is not, and never has been a malcontent. The Cap10 will be leading the charge, and bleeding orange and black, once it’s time to lace it up, and take the field. But in the meantime, with mics shoved in his face, why not take the opportunity to get his message across?

 

 

FanFest has come and gone, and we’re back to the waiting. But whether you are interested in player interviews, autographs, giveaways, authentic merchandise, or simply being among Orioles fans during the winter, the event had something to offer everyone. Over 15,000 fans attended – an increase from last year. Next, the Orioles turn their attention to getting started in Sarasota, in showcasing their organization’s talent in the World Baseball Classic, and then on getting back to work to take advantage of this opportunity they have to compete for the playoffs.