My final recap for the Hangout

[RVAbird]

Paul, your most important recaps always came after tough losses. To be honest, a good part of the reason I've clung to this team so firmly throughout the decade plus of futility is this website. It provides a way to connect with other fans, engage in (sometimes ) intelligent conversation, and learn about the game. But, above all, it's a place to come laugh about the misery. To literally commiserate. Without this site and your recaps, I'm sure that one of the soul crushing losses over the years would have sent me packing for good. But after so many of those losses my first instinct was to come here and read what you had to say. Whether I'd seen the game or not, I could have gone to orioles.com or the Sun website for a recap of the events, but that would just make me feel worse. What I (and so many of us) needed was to hear a diehard's perspective, one with a sense of humor who could make me laugh away the pain; what I needed was someone to make me feel like I wasn't (completely) crazy.

Thank you for that, Paul, and good luck on all your future endeavors.

[Scotto]

Paul, I've been around for a long time- since the late 90's, actually- and as much as I love the hangout, I always have looked forward to your wit and recaps of the games. I live in CT, and don't get to see a lot of games- and though I used to listen on the radio a lot, it's hard to do that very much anymore, either. I surely will be sending off recommendations as Tony suggests, and hope somebody will take advantage (and pay you handsomely) of your many talents.

Good luck, and hope to be "seeing you" somewhere!

[Dr. FLK]

I'll be honest...I'm getting a little choked up reading this thread. Thanks so much to everyone for your kind words. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'm really going to miss this.

Ehh...I always thought of the guy as an overrated blowhard who never had a creative thing to say.

[Did that help ease the choking up?]

In seriousness, the recaps will be sorely missed. I'm not sure how one watches that many low-quality baseball games and comes out sane, but you appear to have done so. The writing was great. The dedication was appreciated. And the recaps will be missed. Thanks for all that you did, and good luck in all that you will do next.

Now, how do we find another intelligent guy who's willing to watch these putrid Orioles play day after day and summarize their failings for us?

[OGirl69]

I will miss you so much!!!!!1111111

[Nigel Tufnel]

I will miss you so much!!!!!1111111

I'll miss you and all, Paul, but right now I'm mostly transfixed by this screen name.

[Spoonless]

Good luck wherever life takes you, Paul, and don't be a stranger 'round here!

[Don Quixote]

I am sorry to see this part of the OH go. You have always had an excellent writing style (I've only been around here for three-plus years, but I'll gladly assume the other seven-plus were just as good), and oftentimes I have felt that your recaps are exactly how I would put them had I been in the same position. So many writers are positively pedestrian; it's refreshing to see someone who can consistently break the mold. In fact, I had (wrongly) surmised that the reason your OH recapping days were coming to a close was because you had landed a writing gig elsewhere. From an Orioles/baseball standpoint, the talent is obvious, and I think it'd be interesting to read some pieces from you on other sports. Here's to your continued success....