If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Baltimore sports fans, it’s that we like to see passion.  We want our favorite athletes to care, even if it means they get angry when things don’t go their way.

That’s why when Joe Flacco says he’s the best quarterback around (nothing is going to ever keep him down), we rally behind that ridiculous statement.

Reading Brittany Ghiroli’s postgame comments about Brian Matusz has to make fans want to see the struggling young lefty succeed.  “Brian Matusz met with the small group of traveling reporters and was about as angry and frustrated as I’ve ever seen him after a start,” Ghiroli writes.

Much like the early years of Joe Flacco, fans in Baltimore were previously frustrated to hear some of Matusz’s comments after his struggles in 2011.  From the quotes in Ghiroli’s post, I don’t think O’s fans will be concerned any more.

“I’ll remember this feeling, because I never want to have it again,” Matusz said.

You can’t help, but root for a guy with that level of determination.

“Coming out with two straight wins against Toronto, I wanted to come out and get the sweep today,” said Matusz, who instead ran his career-high losing streak to 11, the longest-active losing streak in the Majors. “This is so frustrating, you know. I know what went on last year, I know it was a horrible year and so far I’m off to a horrible start, at 0-2. And it’s building up. And it’s frustrating, and it’s flat-out not getting the job done.”

Aaron Gleeman at HardballTalk.com points out the good news about Matusz 2012 struggles compared to those in 2011. “Matusz’s average fastball velocity is 90.6 miles per hour compared to 88.0 mph last season.”

Do you think Matusz will turn it around or do you see him being sent to Triple-A Norfolk?