Photo credit: Chris “Effing” Gordon

Brooks Laich threw a strike.

That’s kind of his modus operandi. Ever reliable and always competent, Laich excels at pretty much everything he does. And before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Baltimore Orioles game on Monday, Laich gave time to the media on a variety of issues. He nailed that too.

In the interview, Brooks speaks at length about his fan allegiance (split between the Orioles and Expos), how his struggles in the postseason extended to youth baseball, and his totally appropriate adulation of Cal Ripken.

We know you love baseball. You have an unusual first name in every part of the country but this one.  How did you get to be named Brooks?

So my dad said when he was younger, he used to take his radio into school and listen to the ballgames. He was a huge baseball fan.  And he became a huge fan of Brooks Robinson.  He liked Brooks’ approach to the game. My dad really appreciated the defensive aspect of the game and Brooks brought that. He liked the name. That’s the story, but it’s pretty cool.

I got a chance to meet Brooks. And that was a very, very special day for us.

Watching Brooks play, did that teach you anything playing hockey?

You know what? Probably indirectly.  My dad was a very good baseball player, good defensive baseball player.  He was a catcher and I’m assuming he took some of that from watching Brooks play.  When I grew up playing hockey, he always stressed the defensive side of the game to me, maybe indirectly because of Brooks.

It’s really neat I got to meet him. He was incredible, humble, and genuine. These are all things people always said about him and I got to tell my dad “this is who I met.” It was an awesome experience.

You grew up a long way from Baltimore.  It would seem that maybe you’d have somebody from the Minnesota Twins or Toronto Blue Jays as your hero.

I watched the Blue Jays growing up. I was a fan of the Blue Jays.  But as far as meeting your namesake, obviously, I have a vested interest in that.  A couple years ago, I was able to get a Brooks Robinson signed baseball and a Brooks Robinson signed photo and I gave those to my dad as a gift.  So I had hopes that one day we would cross paths. Certainly being in the area I’m an Orioles fan and [I] also say [I'm] a Nats fan too. I cheer for them both equally.  I’m pretty excited to be here to watch the game.

Are there any kids named after you?

When I met Brooks, he said that he and his wife keep a list of all the Brooks who are named after him and I thought that was a really good idea, that’s incredible. And then the other day, a lady approached me and said I have to show you my friend who named her son after you. She asked me, “Have you ever had that happen before?” I said,”I’ve had it two or three times that I know of.” People have contacted me and said, “We named our son after you” and it’s an amazing, humbling honor. It’s really sort of shell-shocking to hear. But maybe I should start a list. I don’t know. It’s a pretty cool thing. I really don’t know how to describe it.

You said your father played baseball. How big was baseball in your household compared to hockey?

Baseball and hockey growing up were pretty equal. I mean we played baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter. My mom always wanted me to be a baseball player, because she wanted to sit outside. She was like, “I want to sit outside in the sun and watch the games.” Our rinks in Canada are very cold. You have to dress very warmly to watch the game. And I said, “Mom, the rinks I’m going to be playing in are very warm. You’ll be alright.” I always loved hockey. It was number one. But in baseball we won the division title twice. We lost in the final twice. And our town had very [a] good baseball [team], but we could never win it in hockey. Nine boys in our class was all we had and they were all very good baseball players but just SUCKED at hockey. It just drove me crazy.

What position did you play?

I was a pitcher, catcher and shortstop.

Not a third baseman though?

Nope I played maybe one or two games at third. Terry Bako used to play third base for us. Curtis, my friend standing next to us in the blue, he was our second baseman. He was also a pitcher. We were very good at baseball growing up.

When did you stop playing baseball?

I moved away from home at 16 to pursue hockey and then after that, my summers were consumed with summer hockey and training. I wasn’t able to make all the games and all the practices. I sorta had to sacrifice it. Every time I see Curtis, he brings his ball and glove and we play catch all the time. It’s a game I will love forever. If I couldn’t be a hockey player, I’d probably be a baseball player.

Are you one of the guys that play catch before Capitals games?

No. I don’t do that. Some guys do. I don’t know how many of those guys were ballplayers. They might tell you they were. I don’t know if they were or not. I might step in and throw some every now and then.

Are you feeling any pressure with the first pitch tonight?

Absolutely none. People keep asking that, “Are you going to be nervous? Don’t bounce it!” I’m looking forward to it. It’s like passing a puck for me. I played growing up. I’m gonna grab it and I’m gonna whip it in there.

Have you thrown any first pitches before?

Nope, I’ve never done it, but I’m not going to be nervous. I’m excited. It’s something that’s going to be fun for me.

Are you going to try and outdo Ovi from last year? His pitch was high and kind of outside.

Did he? I’m just going to try and whip it in there. Like there’s going to be scouts in the stands. I want a minor league deal for the summer. It might be the only chance of my life. I’m gonna whip it in there!

So what’s this experience been like being on the field and everything?

It’s actually really awesome to be a fan. I mean we’re used to playing, we’re used to [focusing on our own] careers. But to be a fan… I’ve been to a Redskins game. Last night, we were at the DC United game. Being on the field here, especially after growing up playing baseball, there’s still a big part of me that’s a fan. My friend Curtis, he’s really enjoying it. He’s one of those big baseball people: come to the ballpark, get a beer, get a hot dog. I’m a kid in the candy store right now.

What jersey are you going to wear? Did you ever have a chance to find a Brooks Robinson jersey?

I haven’t. There’s still a little time before I go on. We’ll find a Brooks Robinson [jersey]. Huge, huge Cal Ripken fan as well. I have a signed picture of him. I have so much respect for that man. I respect consistency and a guy that plays everyday. And everyday the Orioles play, Cal Ripken was playing. That was a certainty. And I have so much respect for that: never taking days off or time off playing everyday. He must have had a huge, huge passion for this sport. I’m torn between a Ripken and a Robinson [jersey], but I have to go with the Robinson.

Maybe someone will throw you one down from the stands.

[Laughs] I’ll buy one. Curtis and I are going to go buy a jersey. I was hoping [Brooks] was going to be able to make it. I really hoping he’d be able to make it, but it doesn’t sound like he is.

Is there anybody on the field today that you’re really excited about meeting?

I hear JJ Hardy is a big hockey fan.

Jim Johnson is a big New York Rangers fan.

I don’t want to meet him then. [Smiles.]

It’s weird though. JJ was born in Tucson, Arizona and it’s odd for somebody to… I guess it’s odd for a Canadian to be a baseball fan. It’s neat. I really enjoy meeting the athletes of the other teams. Got to know a couple of Redskins guys, Nats guys, DC United guys. I really enjoy seeing them, meeting them, and leaving them tickets to come to a game. It’s pretty cool.

Photos by Chris Gordon

Now that the Washington Capitals have been eliminated, it’s time to move on to other things: country music concerts, junior hockey games, and, tonight, baseball!

Caps players seem to love America’s pastime. Some of them prefer a game of catch over the traditional pregame soccer kickaround. Some of them are filthy Blue Jays fans. Brooks Laich is a fan as well, and on Monday he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before game between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Laich also got an extensive tour of the O’s clubhouse from All Star closer Jim Johnson, a noted New York Rangers fan.

Laich, a righty, managed to throw (sort of) a strike, just like Alex Ovechkin did a year ago. His pitch to outfielder Chris Dickerson was a little outside, but he gunned it in there.

“He said ‘Just don’t bounce it,’ which is what everybody said,” Laich recalled Dickerson as saying. “I said ‘I’m gonna bring it in there’ and he goes ‘YES! Finally somebody’s gonna throw it! Bring the heat!’”

“It was awesome!” added Laich. “A lot of people asked me ‘Are you gonna be nervous?’ You’re used to preforming in front of people — maybe not in this environment but it was more exciting.”

Laich, who recently divulged that he was named after Orioles legend Brooks Robinson, got a nice cheer out of crowd, a number of them Yankees fans.

The Washington forward’s father was a big fan of the Hall of Fame third baseman– in fact, he gave his son the middle name Brooks (Laich’s first name is Evan) in honor of the Human Vacuum Cleaner. The younger Laich also idolized Robinson, before finally meeting him in April.

Laich, though, still had some regrets.

“I should have thrown it harder,” he said. “I really wanted to be on the top of the mound and bring it way back.”

Video

Photos

Additional reporting by Ian Oland.

Photo credit: Kyle Mace

A group of superstar athletes, including Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, signed for fans at an autograph show in Chantilly, Virginia last week. Also appearing at that show were two men, one named after the other. Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich and Baltimore Orioles great Brooks Robinson signed autographs, and at the end of the event, they finally met.

A few days later, Laich posted a photo of the two on Twitter with the caption, “Special honor for me to meet the man I was named after, Orioles HOF 3rd baseman Brooks Robinson, absolute class act.” That made Capitals and Orioles crossover fans very happy.

Laich told Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post about the experience. “A lot of times we see fans who are sort of awestruck meeting us; for me, that was the reverse side of it.” Laich said he called his dad right after meeting the “Human Vacuum Cleaner” to tell him about the experience. Laich said meeting the baseball Hall of Famer was on his bucket list.

Laich’s father became a fan of Robinson during the Orioles’ magical runs to the World Series during the late 1960s. “He seemed to have just a great approach to the game,” Harold Laich told the National Post. “So he always stuck in my mind as a great competitor – and I said if we ever had a son, we were going to name him Brooks.” Harold had the same idea as many other Orioles fans. People in Baltimore loved Brooks so much, they would name their kids after him, and they still do.

Tuesday night in York, Pennsylvania, the place where Robinson got his start in professional baseball, the Atlantic League’s York Revolution honored the Orioles great by retiring his number. Then after the event, he was asked about meeting Laich, but we also learned of Robinson’s hockey connection.

“My wife grew up on hockey. Her dad owned a hockey team in Canada, the Windsor Spitfires, so she loves hockey. She’ll flip hockey on the TV when I’m watching baseball. I told him I was going to come to a Caps game. I’ve only been over there once or twice.

“Every time I see a Brooks something, my wife will say, ‘Well you know he was named after you.’ I always say, ‘Well I don’t know about that,” said Robinson. “I was at a card show in Chantilly, Virginia and Brooks Laich came by and introduced himself. I told him ‘You aren’t going to believe this, Brooks, but my wife kept saying that you are named after me,’ and bygolly, he said he was!”

Robinson also felt privileged to meet Laich. “I enjoy when someone comes up to me and tells me their son was named after me. We’ve got a whole list of them back in Baltimore and it’s quite an honor.”

Read more of Kyle’s work at Sweetest Hockey on Earth

We already knew Jane Laich was totally awesome, but today came another wrinkle. Brooks Laich, her handsome hockey playing son, revealed today that mom and dad named him after Baltimore legend Brooks Robinson. “Special honor for me to meet the man I was named after,” Laich said after taking a picture with The Human Vacuum Cleaner on Wednesday. “Absolute class act.”

Robinson, one of the most beloved sports figures in Maryland, won 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards during his 23-year career with the Orioles. He was World Series MVP in 1970 and elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.

The news came as a big surprise to me, as Laich has made it perfectly clear that everyone in his family are huge Toronto Blue Jays fans. But there are clues that his family may have loved a team on the side: the Baltimore frigging Orioles. When Laich was asked by a fan who his favorite athlete was in a recent online Q/A, he responded, “I was a big fan of Cal Ripken, Jr. I have so much respect for a man that consistent!” He then bragged about his autographed memorabilia from The Iron Man.

Being named after a legend can be a challenge, but Laich does the name proud — just as my future son Zhenya will do.

Hopefully, the Orioles, who retweeted Laich’s neat bit of news today, know the next logical step in their budding relationship with the Capitals forward: getting Brooksie to throw out the first pitch. Ovechkin’s heave last season was fun, but I can tell you for a fact that Orioles fans would much rather see a Brooks throw the ball around the diamond again. Those were good times.

Special honor for me to meet the man I was named after, @orioles HOF 3rd baseman Brooks Robinson, absolute class act twitter.com/brookslaich/st…

— Brooks Laich (@brookslaich) April 10, 2013

Photo credit: Joel Auerbach

Thursday night, the Washington Capitals moved into a playoff spot for the first time all year, taking over first place in the Southeast Division. Tonight, the Caps fought to defend their position against Miami’s other other other other team, the Florida Panthers. And they did.

OVI SCOAR, RIBEIRO SCOAR, OVI SCOAR, OVI SCOAR (ruined by Hendricks penalty), OVI SCOAR, HATS, Florida goals we don’t care about. Caps beat Cats 4-3.

There are only a few bullets tonight because Peter isn’t here and I’m stupid. You do, as always, get Joe B.’s suit of the night, crappy jokes, and a comment section. RMNB is always full service.

• The Caps were healthy for about 5 minutes before the injury bug hit again. First, Brooks Laich went down Thursday after possibly aggravating his groin problem (and seemingly taking a puck to the pucks). Tonight, it was Martin Erat‘s turn, who was slammed into the boards in just his fourth period with the Caps. Marty looked to be in a great deal of pain after his awkward meeting with the wall courtesy of Erik Gudbranson, who received five minute major and a game misconduct for his troubles. Suddenly, Washington is without top-six depth once again. We’ll wait to see how bad both injuries are.
• Last time out, Alex Ovechkin had his nine game scoring streak broken. That must have pissed him off — at lot. Ovi had two hat tricks tonight (Matt Hendricks ruined the first one by taking a roughing penalty just before the puck went in). After a slow start, Ovi looks positively 2008-y right now, with 13 goals in 11 games. He is now tied for second in the NHL in goals with 23 tallies. Four points on the night for the Great Eight.
• When asked by Locker during the second intermission if he felt any different during his recent hot streak, Ovi responded “I feel always great.” Same, Alex. Same.
• One more bullet on Ovi’s hat trick. This one doesn’t say anything, but I just wanted to point out OVI HAD A HAT TRICK again.
• Speaking of hot players, Mike Green would have extended his goal streak to five games if not for a pesky post. Screw you, post. Ribz popped in the rebound though.
• The Caps went three for five on the power play tonight. Their man-advantage unit has slowed down recently, but the ill-tempered Panthers gave them plenty of time to bump up their numbers once again. And the Caps used it well.
• Washington kinda sorta feel asleep in the third with a big lead. The Panthers made them pay as Tomas Kopecky, Peter Mueller, and Kopecky again tallied for FLA. The game wasn’t nearly as close as it looked in the end, but it goes to show what happens when you stop playing. They do say a four goal lead is the toughest in hockey.
• Joel Ward went one for one in the faceoff dot. Woo.

Joe B. Suit of the Night

The Caps fought hard to claw their way from fourth to first in the New York Yankees of hockey divisions in just three weeks. (Get it? ‘Cause the Southeast and the Yankees both kinda stink. I know, I’m clever.) They’re healthy (well, they were a few days ago), used to The System, and firing on all four of their cylinders. The Caps have 7 of their remaining 10 games at home and Carolina and Winnipeg have both been faltering lately. It looks like we’ll probably be playing hockey come tourist season, so don’t spend all your money on Nats tickets just yet.

Peter will be back with you tomorrow when the Bolts come to DC. Also, it’s gonna be really nice out so I suggest you go look at some trees with a billion other people.

And oh yeah, ALEX OVECHKIN HAD A HAT TRICK.

Photo credit: Alex Brandon

Mike Green is a lot of things: a two-time Norris nominee, a generous human, and the beefy crush-object of thousands of women in the tri-state area. On Tuesday, however, he was a goat (and I don’t mean the Greatest of All-Time).

With five minutes to go in regulation and the game tied 2-2, Brooks Laich‘s cross-ice dump-in was swatted down by John Tavares. Tavares sent the puck into the Caps’ zone, which is where all the crazy happened. Laich sent a weak pass behind the net to Mike Green. The puck bounced off both boards and the back of the net, finally coming to rest dangerously near the crease. With Matt Moulson pressuring, Green tried to put the puck through his legs. Instead, the puck hit his skates and stopped. Moulson picked it up and fed Tavares for an easy game-winner.

Best viewed while “Yakety Sax” is playing  (GIF by welshhockeyfan)

After the game, Laich, according to RMNB’s Chris Gordon, said that it was his bad.

“I got caught out a little fatigued,” Brooks explained. “I wanted to send it back behind the net. I didn’t think I could get Mike direct. I didn’t want to turn one over in the middle in front of our net so I sent it behind the net. Bad angle, bad decision by myself. I put Mike in trouble.”

Laich continued. “I apologized to him after. I put [him] in a tough spot. He tries to make a play and beat the first guy and then the second guy got him. You win as a team, you lose as a team, but I can certainly make a better play to help Mike out there.”

Head Coach Adam Oates blamed both players on the turnover. “It was a tired play,” he said. “We gave them a freebie.”

Braden Holtby said of the same encounter, “It was one of those plays that hand-cuffed Greener. I was too busy looking at the play develop behind the net to see where Tavares was.”

Green did not speak to reporters after the game.

With the victory, the Islanders leapfrog the Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes to claim ninth place in the East (though Carolina has played 2 fewer games).

Video of Tavares’ Game-Winning Goal

Sigh.

Additional reporting by Chris Gordon.

Photo credit: Bruce Bennett

Per The Washington Post’s Katie Carrera, Brooks Laich will make his season debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. After missing the first 28 games of the season due to a nagging groin injury he suffered with the Kloten Flyers, Laich will skate on the fourth line with Jay Beagle and Matt Hendricks. Laich was excited after this morning’s practice telling reporters, “I’m just licking my chops here to get in.”

According to The Washington Times’ Stephen Whyno, head coach Adam Oates plans to “ease [Laich] into the game slow,” but admitted that the Wawota, Saskatchewan native could see time on the Caps special teams units if all goes well.

It’s been a long road, but finally, Brooks is back.

I saw this on eBay and I just had to have it. Capitals Sport & Decor, a memorabilia shop at Dulles Town Center, sometimes hosts signings with Washington Capitals players. They put up some of their extra signed merchandise up on eBay, and that’s where I unearthed this gem. It’s a signed 16 x 20 photo of Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz checking Sidney Crosby down to the ice. Schultz’s signature is at bottom. To the left is an inscription that reads, “Hows the Wood Sid!”

I repeat: “Hows the Wood Sid!”

This is problematic for me. First, there should be a comma after wood to set off the direct address. Second, how’s is a contraction of how is, and should have an apostrophe. The exclamation instead of a question mark I’m gonna let slide on stylistic grounds.

…and, oh yeah, what the actual hell does “Hows the Wood Sid!” mean?

Other offerings from Capitals Sport & Decor are similarly inscribed. For example, Brooks Laich tells Sid to “Sit Down” and “Can’t Catch Me.” It seems like there’s a cottage industry of Sharpie-drawn trash talk that we’re just now discovering. More please.

Photo credit: The Washington Times’ Stephen Whyno

Washington Capitals do-it-all forward Brooks Laich hasn’t skated since February 16, so today was sort of a milestone. Via The Washington Times’ Stephen Whyno, Laich, donning shorts and sneakers, did some stick-handling and passing drills with General Manager George McPhee’s son, Graham, after today’s Caps practice. Katie Carrera also has a photo of Laich on the ice today too.

Laich has not played for the Capitals at all this season since suffering a groin injury while with the Kolten Flyers of Swiss National League A. The Caps assistant captain was cleared for contact on February 13, but after a few days of hard skating, the team shut him down. Since then, Laich has been doing off-ice workouts to try and build strength back up.

“It’s been the hardest thing I think I’ve ever gone through in my hockey career,” Laich told reporters in February. “It’s the passion in my life to play hockey, and when that gets taken away from you it’s really tough to take and really frustrating.”

A week ago during CSN’s Caps Central, analyst Alan May wondered aloud if Laich would even be able to come back at all this season.

While that’s not a promising thought to entertain, we at least have photo evidence that he’s alive and has even touched a hockey stick.

Get well soon, Brooksy. You are missed.

Finally. Washington Capitals Center and latest victim of #brittlegroin, Brooks Laich, just signed up for teh twitters. You can find him at the euonymous handle @brookslaich.

Uh oh – @therealcabbie what did you get me into here pal? #sayitaintso

— Brooks Laich (@brookslaich) February 20, 2013

How long before he catches and surpasses @russianmachine in followers?

How long before he realizes how many GIFs there are of him laughing in slow motion?

…Because there are a lot.