A Tale of Two Cities

*This is the third FAN SUBMISSION by Marcus from College Park.  He is now set to become a fixture on The Sports Column, with his own page upcoming soon.*

With apologies to Charles Dickens, this is a Tale of Two Baseball Cities; Washington and Baltimore.  It is the best of times for both dugouts in DC and B’more; with little hope of the playoffs at the beginning of the season, both teams have completed the journey back to Major League relevance. The royalty of MLB now awaits the Nats and O’s, to join the likes of the Cardinals and Yankees.

Courtesy: Greg Fiume/Getty Images

With two of the youngest rosters in the league, two aging Managers and two controversial General Managers, both have vaulted over long time powerhouses in Philadelphia, Boston and Texas.  Each clubhouse is stocked full of exciting and energetic talent, both in the field and on the mound, allowing the Nats and O’s fans guaranteed thrills for years to come.

National’s Manager Davey Johnson has done it again.  After resuscitating the Mets, Reds and Orioles franchises, Johnson has used his Midas touch on the Nats; creating one of Baseball’s most dominate teams.  Meanwhile Buck Showalter, the former skipper and architect of the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Rangers (who each made or won a World Series after his departure), has made the fledgling Orioles into a serious headache for the Bronx Bombers.  Controversial National’s General Manager Mike Rizzo and the equally robust Oriole’s Boss and two time Executive of the Year, Dan Duquette used their drafting skills, farm system’s philosophy and roster balancing instinct’s to move the Nationals and Orioles into Baseball’s Elite.

Now the good part; what if Washington and Baltimore shock Baseball’s Pinhead Prognosticators and reach the World Series?  In one corner, Davey Johnson, two time World Series Winner with the Orioles as a player and as the Manager of the 1986 New York Mets.  In the opposing corner Buck Showalter, two time American League Manager of the year and former Yankee Manager seeking vindication and his first World Series title.  The Parkway Series would be born; two stadiums, a mere 30 miles away and fan bases as different as the day is long, makes for what would be this region’s most memorable tilt ever!

Courtesy: Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun

The irony abounds. Davey was the last winning manager with the O’s, 14 years ago and named 1997 American League Manager of the year, before he was unfairly fired by Asbestosis, ambulance chasing, curmudgeon, Owner Peter Angelos. An All Star second baseman with the O’s he would exact sweet revenge by denying Angelos, Baltimore’s fourth World Series Title.  Buck Showalter is driven to prove his mettle as a complete winner by finally capturing the Series before he typically gets himself fired too.

Sure, there’s plenty of baseball yet to play before the colossal egos of the Managers and Executives meet.  But simply put, it will be the play of many a fresh faced ball player that will swing the Series Baltimore or Washington’s way.  Is it time for the fans of both cities to embrace the fact that the Parkway Series can happen?  Why not? It’s been 29 years for Baltimore and an astounding 88 years for Washington since the cities have paraded down their respective main streets.

Whether it’s D.C.’s “Nattiude” or O’s “Magic” that wins the Series, it’s a dream that works and works well for the fans of anyone between 95 and 495.