Veteran journeyman infielder Mark Reynolds, a former member of the Baltimore Orioles, announced his retirement yesterday. Over the course of his 13-year career, Reynolds hit .236. However again over the course of those 13 years, he averaged 29 home runs a year. It was pretty much either a home run for Reynolds, or a strikeout.
Reynolds played for the Orioles in 2011 and 2012. He became somewhat of a cult hero amongst Orioles fans. Again, he had the potential for majestic, tape measure-type home runs. I once covered a game where he hit the ball into the club level seats at Camden Yards (on the second deck). At other times he looked lost at the plate, and swung through the same pitches he previously hit into the stratosphere.
It’s kind of a microcosm into life in a sense. We all have moments where we’re really on, but others where we’re really off. The Orioles first signed Reynolds prior to the 2011 season to play third base. However it turned out that his skills at third had regressed. Then they started playing him at first; and he played a very decent first base. Again, a microcosm of life. If one thing doesn’t work, something else might.
Reynolds of course was a member of the 2012 Orioles, which returned the franchise to the postseason for the first time in 14 years. And that added to the cult following that Reynolds assembled during his time in Baltimore. Nevertheless, I hope Birdland joins me in wishing Reynolds well moving forward!
Birdland Crush 