My final recap for the Hangout

[allquixotic]

Paul, you truly deserved to have this be the last game you'd recap. I have no idea what you do when you aren't writing up these games, but I am absolutely serious in saying you would make a fantastic beat reporter for the Sun if they are looking to replace Zrebiec. I love your humor and your obscure stats, and your sense for the flow of the game. I hope you'll still be sharing your insights on the board.

Amen.

Paul -
I don't post on here often at all - but I've lurked on here for years - and frankly your recaps are the main reason I come here as you truly bring the games to life and you always do a great job of bringing humor, decent analysis, and entertaining, articulate and clear writing - far better than any other sports writer I've seen.
THANK YOU for a consistently excellent job and best wishes in whatever you choose to do in the future!!!

Best regards,
Steve B.

Amen.

You both said exactly what I wanted to say, and I'm not feeling eloquent right now, just bittersweet, so I'll just say a few words. That Paul is leaving us, but that his last recap was such a treasure of a game... wow. Sometimes there's a certain beauty in the turn of seemingly unrelated events.

I really wish this wasn't goodbye, because like several others have said, your recaps are the main reason I come to this site. Hopefully, Tony will find someone else to do the recaps, and they will bring their own share of wit and talent to the role. But I am positive that, no matter who it is, they will never be able to fill your shoes, Paul.

Thank you for all you've done for Baltimore.

[DuffMan]

Well done on this and all of your recaps. You have a great talent for writing and make your recaps a joy to read even when the Orioles haven't been. Hope you continue posting on the hangout!

[Greg Pappas]

Thank you kindly for all the time, effort and amazing dedication to the site... your service here will be sorely missed.

[Skeletor]

Thank you, Paul.

[eb45]

You're the best, Paul.

[DiablO]

Paul,

Thanks for writing all of these years. You've put out excellent product during some difficult and, at times, utterly painful years of Orioles baseball. But, you got to end on a good note. Hopefully, you can enjoy watching them turn it around from the bleachers instead of the pressbox. Hope springs eternal. See you around the neighborhood.

- Nate

[bobmc]

Thanks Paul - I do remember you as a "dorky teenager" and have always wondered in awe at your abilities to succinctly convey feelings, action and experience with wit, sarcasm and honesty. We have been so fortunate to have you here for lo all these years. I will miss you greatly here expounding on the O's. But all things come to an end (good and bad) and I am sure you land with your feet firmly planted and headed in the right direction.

I would love to hear some of the experiences you have had in the media rooms, locker rooms and insider locations - the people you have met and the things you have seen as a reporter. What I mean to say is with your wit and writing style, I think a book is in order.

Good luck to you in your life and don't be a stranger!

Bobmc

[allstar1579]

Thanks for the great writing Paul, I hope it's on to bigger things!

[stef]

Thanks for all your great work, Paul. I certainly enjoyed your recaps—their humor often took the sting out of yet another Orioles loss. You've done good work here and brought enjoyment to many. Best of luck.

[Woody Held]

Paul thanks. I've enjoyed your articles and humor.

[JayThomas]

Ditto all around.

Thanks so much Paul. You are really one of the most entertaining writers I've ever read. Best of luck with however you're going to use your new free time.

[DrungoHazewood]

This is tragic! This year I've really pulled back from following the day-to-day ups and (mostly) downs of the team, but I always take comfort in knowing there will be a recap by Paul when I need to know all the gory details from the previous night. I understand that this many years of following every single Orioles loss must take a toll, but I know I've really appreciated all of your work.

I echo Frobby's statement: you'd make for a great O's beat writer for somebody.

[DrShorebird]

My parting words to you on Monday after Buck's interview were "Thanks for all of your help and I hope to see you in the press box next year!" You are a perfect sports writer and writer period. Everyone enjoys your accuracy depth of knowledge and humor." The fat lady hasn't sung yet! You are a legend!

[Mashed Potatoes]

Thank you for your service young man. This website owes you a debt of gratitude.

[Tony-OH]

If only God gave me the ability express myself like Paul, I'm sure this would come out better, but this will have to do.

Paul Folkemer has been the single best read on the Hangout since it's inception in 1996. Sure we've given you inside information, analysis, scouting reports and major and minor league news, but Paul's recaps were the best pure writing we had to offer. His ability to tirelessly watch game after game of this organization goes beyond ironman status, but right into some type of baseball writer deity status. I can't thank Paul enough for all his hard work and dedication, even when most of us had given up the daily viewing of games. I don't know how many times I immediately went to Paul's recaps after a big win or better yet, after a terrible loss. It sounds weird, but Paul's distinct humor and ability to say it like he saw it, made his recaps one of kind.

Saying that, I completely support Paul's decision to take a break from recapping after so many seasons. Considering that every other guy in that pressbox who went to every game over the years did it for living, Paul did for not much more then some gas money and maybe a bite to eat. Every single season he covered the Orioles for us they finished below .500. If that's not total dedication then I don't know what is.

Over the years Paul has grown into moderation duties and some managing editor duties and he's never failed to complete the job.

If I'm the Baltimore Sun, Comcast Sports Net, or MASN, I'm getting a hold of him right now and I'm trying to convince him to come do it for a living. Paul is the absolute best at what he does. He has no equal when it comes to wit, a fantastic flowing writing style, and the ability to cover exactly what went on without boring the reader.

I only wish the Hangout was in a position to pay Paul what he's worth, but what I can do is openly tell everyone who will read this that Paul is an absolute genius who is ready for bigger and better things. I will be contacting several of my contacts in order to help Paul out, but I ask each of you to contact the above organizations and tell them how much you enjoyed Paul's writing and how you would love to continue reading him on a daily basis.

Until that happens, Paul has promised to hang around and still be part of our community and still help out with moderating around here. I've also talked to Paul about still recapping occasionally or going to blog type format similar to Roch or Britt, so you still may not have heard the last from him here at OH.

For now, Paul is going to take a long and well deserved break.

Thank you for everything Paul. You truly were a big part of our success throughout the years.