Nick Markakis – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 01:24:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Nick Markakis – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 Friday Replay: Meet the Newest Oriole https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/sports/friday-replay-meet-the-newest-oriole/ Fri, 31 Jul 2015 13:17:57 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=68667 Continued]]> 1. The Orioles trade for Gerardo Parra.
After rumors have been swirling all week, the Orioles traded for Milwaukee Brewers (and longtime Arizona Diamondbacks) outfielder Gerardo Parra, who is having his best season yet with a stellar OPS of .886. The two-time Gold Glover makes sense for the O’s who have been looking for a left fielder. Parra will most likely play left, leaving Nolan Reimold or Travis Snider for right, sending Chris Davis back to his most natural position at first. Hopefully, Parra will give the Orioles a boost in the homestretch, both with his glove and his bat. The Orioles designated pitcher Bud Norris (who, he himself admits, had an awful season) for assignment, to make room for Parra.

2. Baltimore welcomes Nick back by sweeping his team.
In a show of characteristic class, the Baltimore crowd gave departed Orioles fan-favorite Nick Markakis a 30-second standing ovation at his homecoming with the Braves on Monday. Never the demonstrative type, the outfielder refreshingly acknowledged the crowd by stepping out of the batter’s box and tipping his helmet. He then promptly hit a double. But, it wouldn’t matter in the end as the Orioles swept the Atlanta Braves thanks to enduring starting pitchers and a clutch extra-inning, walk-off home run from Matt Wieters.

3. Ravens training camp begins.
Hard to believe in this heat and humidity that football season is just around the corner. Ravens started training camp this week, and here is the Cliff Notes version: Lardarius Webb failed his conditioning test, Breshad Perriman “tweaked” his knee, and Steve Smith Jr. wore a sweet Natty Boh hat to practice. Also of note is Joe Flacco’s candid presser, where he admitted that 90-percent of the Ravens team could probably kick his ass.

4. Enormous Brandon Williams poses with adorably tiny puppy.
As a part of the city’s Soft Side campaign—in which celebs like Torrey Smith and Tommy Lee pose with really cute, adoptable animals—nose tackle Brandon Williams looks even more enormous while holding the tiny Mabel. I’m just going to leave this here:

5. ESPN wraps on filming Dunbar 30 for 30 episode.
If you’re a sports fan, which hopefully reading this, you are, then you’re probably also a huge fan of ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series, in which they dissect a moment or era in sports and often have celebrities narrate the tale. This week, ESPN was in town filming the story of the legendary Dunbar Poets, from which basketball stars like Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Williams, and David Wingate were born. The filming wrapped yesterday and it’s set to air next spring.

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]]> Thanks, Nick https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/sports/thanks-nick/ Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:06:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=66920 Continued]]> Nick Markakis was never the flashiest guy out there. He never showboated, he had no signature home run trot, he never got in the face of the umps. What he was, however, was quietly, consistently excellent. So much so that Orioles beat reporter Brittany Ghiroli would jokingly tweet “Ho hum” every time he got a hit. He played some of the best right field in the game, with an arm so powerful, even the speediest runners didn’t dare try to take the extra base off him. At the plate, his batting stroke was just like him—clean, efficient, elegant.

His teammates respected him for that, too. In April, when he got a game-winning single against the Royals, he was rewarded with the traditional cream pie—and a spoon to eat it with.

The fans took to him precisely because of his quiet, steely excellence. He was a throwback, a Cal Ripken type who let his great play do the talking. When the O’s clinched the AL East this season, a GIF of Markakis looking a bit dazed and disbelievingly happy went viral on the web. The GIF itself wasn’t that remarkable, but we loved it because it was Nick. We were happy for us, but we were even happier for him.

There are no sure things in sports, but Nick Markakis sure seemed like one of them. We thought he’d always be there, patrolling right field, getting clutch hits, being an Oriole, making us proud. It’s almost impossible to imagine the Orioles without him. I guess we’ll have to find a way.

But, sports is a business and he got a better deal in his home state of Georgia (four years, $44 million). Braves fans, you’re going to love him. We sure as heck did.

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