Everything is a metaphor on Opening Day.
Orange balloons proliferate, buoyant with hope for the season.
There is, for starters, the cluster of reporters around Cal Ripken Jr., crowding in the dugout around the hero while two dozen other Orioles take batting practice, ignored. The Iron Man is a handsome shade of bronze, with the perfectly trimmed remains of his hair glimmering silver even in the shade. Beyond that, nothing is new. Jesus Garcia only counts as a rookie because the O's refused to play him enough last year, and Willie Morales is only here because 12-year veteran Greg Myers, hired to be the regular backup catcher, reinjured a hamstring in the final exhibition game. So without any different facts to chew on, one looks for different symbolism.