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Dan Shaughnessy says Red Sox fans should root for the Orioles

By Patrick Gordon

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce (28) stretches for the out at first base against Detroit Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine (not pictured) during the third inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce (28) stretches for the out at first base against Detroit Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine (not pictured) during the third inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dan Shaughnessy, arguably the biggest troll in all of sports media, has made the outlandish suggestion that Red Sox fans should root for the Orioles to win the World Series.

In the pantheon of hatred from Red Sox Nation, the Baltimore Orioles are climbing the ladder. For years, they were largely ignored thanks to their perennial mediocrity. Give them a couple 90+ win seasons, however, and they become increasingly easy to despise.

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One of their breakout sluggers (Chris Davis) just failed a drug test. Their other power hitter (Nelson Cruz) had a failed test of his own, a couple years ago. Their starting pitchers are frustratingly mediocre. Their best young players Matt Wieters and Manny Machado) are injured. Even if you’re not a fan of a division rival, it’s hard to enjoy this team. Add that to the insufferable way their fans make the National Anthem all about themselves and it makes a lot of sense to root against them, particularly when the lovable Royals are in the other dugout.

Still, there’s always one goofball who feels the need to go against the grain. In Boston, more often than not, that goofball’s name is Dan Shaughnessy. A baseball writer for the Boston Globe, Shaugnessy has made quite a living out of trolling Red Sox fans over the years.

This year is no different, as Shaughnessy’s latest troll job is a 1000-word verbal diarrhea listing all the reasons why Red Sox fans should adopt the Orioles for the remainder of this postseason.

His reasons include everything from the fact that Babe Ruth grew up in Baltimore to the interesting piece of trivia about former Red Sox manager Terry Francona’s father Tito playing for the Orioles.

It makes you wonder if Shaughnessy has even attended a game in Baltimore lately, or talked to any Orioles fans in the past three years.

As a Red Sox fan, I visited Camden Yards in September for an Orioles-Yankees game in September of 2012. Despite the fact that they were coming off 14 years without a playoff appearance and 7 straight losing seasons, Orioles fans took joy in ridiculing the Red Sox, who were having struggles of their own.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that Buck Showalter is one of those guys who loves to rip the Red Sox.

There are probably some Orioles fans who are fantastic humans. There are probably some Orioles players who don’t take PEDs. But a true Red Sox fan would rather have toothpicks shoved under his fingernails than root for the Baltimore Orioles.

This is particularly true while the Orioles are playing against Kansas City. The Royals are the most exciting team remaining in the playoffs, with their own history of struggles. They barely held on to the Wild Card spot to make the playoffs this year, and they’ve been an electric team throughout the playoffs so far.

Guys like Yordano Ventura, Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon are showing why this Royals team is a lot of fun to watch and has a lot of great young talent.

Sorry Dan Shaughnessy, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I ever root for the Baltimore Orioles. Nice try.

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