A week ago I’m not sure anyone would have believed that the Baltimore Orioles would have gone “three-and-out” in the playoffs. A lot of people, myself included, were expecting a much deeper run. Was it a lack of experience at this level? Maybe. Consider that Brandon Hyde was managing in his first postseason games, just as many players were playing in their first postseason games. Texas’ Bruce Bochy is seasoned in the playoffs.
Having said that, the 2023 Orioles were supposed to win 76 games. Fans would have jumped at that after 100 losses in 2021. But after last year where they won 83, that wouldn’t have sounded so hot.
Instead, this team surged to 101 wins, and won the AL East. And it was a magical run at that. I would hope that fans would remember what it took to get to this point, this as opposed to how quickly it ended.
Think back to the second game of the season when Ryan McKenna dropped a pop fly in left field that cost the Orioles a game at Fenway. At the moment that game ended, would you have believed it had I told you the O’s were going to win 100 games? Probably not.
And that’s just one moment in time during the season. People will find irony in the fact that this team got swept in the playoffs, but the whole “haven’t been swept since May of 2022” is incredibly meaningful. (And for the record, that streak doesn’t include the postseason, so it’s still in tact.) It shows the grit in this team. And it shows the closeness of the clubhouse.
I’ll do a formal season recap in the near future. But for today I hope that the fans consider what it took to get to this point, and the memories made along the way. This as opposed to how quickly it ended.
No, the 2023 Orioles weren’t a fluke. Just ask the rest of the division. Ask every team (including Texas) in the league who had to play them this year. Consider all of this when Rawlings hands out it’s litany of awards next month, and how many Orioles are named.
I get it, this stings for fans. And for the guys on the team. But it takes nothing away from what this team did this season. 101 wins and a division title is no fluke. Granted we know that there’s no guarantee that this team returns to this level next year. I suspect that they will, but nothing’s guaranteed except death and taxes. But remember, this is a team who had to win 100 games just to win their division. They were light years ahead of every other team in every other division – including Texas. That’s experience that’ll serve them well in the future.
Birdland Crush 
Unfortunately fans remember how you finished. This was not a normal series loss like 3-1 or 3-2. It was an embarrassing 3-0 humiliation on national TV. O’s fans will see it as a moral victory which was not expected. MLB fans will see it as an overrated team. Which team will show up next season? Do you think next season the Yankees and Red Sox will have down seasons again? They will spend! Do you think Angelos will open his wallet? The total O’s payroll was $66M. If they don’t sign at least a couple of notable free agents, we have our answer! Elias and Hyde can only do so much. Outside of Hicks no one else was in this position before.
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You can’t discount the whole season because of that one moment. However next year there won’t be moral victories. They’ll have a target on their backs. You can’t assume that Boston and NY will be down again – they can retool quick. We’ll just have to see how the off-season plays out. Thanks for reading!
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Hey Dom that guy who left that comment he is such a CLUELESS TWIT he needs to let you stick to covering the o’s and he can stick to prancing around and thinking he is a know it all
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Ha! Everyone’s entitled to their view. I respect them all. I just don’t think the situation is as severe as people want to think it is. They won 100+ games. That’s no fluke, and it speaks for itself.
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It is correct that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I thank Mr. Stedman, if that is his real name, for his thoughtful and insightful comments. By the way I don’t prance around. I have been an O’s fan for 50 years ever since the Senators left DC. I like the O’s. I just don’t trust the Angelos family to do the right thing. Remember the Kevin Brown fiasco!
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Shut up qutie pie stick to prancing around and leave the o’s to dom
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Mr. Vadala I thought the purpose of your site was for an opportunity to share ideas and express opinions regarding our O’s. Some of your readers think it is a free for all to insult individuals who do not share their opinions. I feel sorry for people like them who feel the need to belittle others to make their points.
In spite of them, I will continue reading your excellent Birdland Crush articles. Keep up the good work. I look forward to your next article.
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Thanks. And it is a spot to share ideas. Thanks for reading!
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What’s wrong sugar did I hurt your feelings Dom is a great writer who knows the o’s like the back of his hand I think Dom knows more about the o’s than you sugar britches
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