Baltimore Orioles fans are probably asking themselves what Texas had that the Birds didn’t in the wake of Texas winning the ALCS. I know I am. And I’m coming up with one thing: timing.
The Orioles were the best team in the American League down the stretch. So much was made of Tampa starting the season 13-0 – which no matter how you spin it was impressive. But from start to finish of the regular season, there can be no argument about that. So needless to say, the Orioles were a good team, and they were always going to be part of the conversation.
However from October 1st onward, Texas was the best team. Remember, the regular season ended on October 1st. The O’s fell to Boston that day in a game that was treated as the final spring training game. Was that a mistake on the Orioles’ part – not going full throttle? I don’t think so; Texas also lost that day, for the record.
However that aside, the best way to describe what we’ve seen from Texas is simply “timing.” Tampa hit their peak early in the season. Heck, people were crowning them in April. They were still a good team down the stretch, but they hit their peak very early. The Orioles? I think you could argue that their peak was from late June through August.
And there are false flags in a sense all over the place. One could argue that Texas themselves are a false flag in that they let Houston overtake them in their division late in the season. But they’re hitting their peak now. And the team that hits their peak last is often going to be a champion.
Which brings it back to timing. Keep in mind, sports in general are like this. Look at basketball; as many good teams there are out there and as close as competition is, a lot of games are going to be close. (That’s true in every sport.) Basketball is a game of “runs,” and thus a game of managing runs – both good and bad. When the opponent goes on a run, a coach has to know when to burn a timeout (and when not to) to stem the tide. But the team who goes on a run last is generally who’s going to win.
So do you chalk it up to…luck? I’m not sure that’s the best way to put it. I’m not sure that’s fair to Texas. Just as the Orioles didn’t “get lucky” in winning 100 games for the first time since 1980, Texas didn’t get to the World Series by getting lucky. You don’t get into the playoffs with smoke in mirrors.
However people do grasp for answers to questions like this. So here’s as good of one as any; make no mistake, Brandon Hyde was outstanding for the Orioles down the stretch. If he’s not the Manager of the Year…let’s just call that a would-be travesty. But he managed in his first ever postseason games this year (against Texas). This as opposed to Bruce Bochy, who’s now going to his fifth World Series.
I still say timing matters. But so does experience. Make no mistake, the current core of Orioles will get to the point to where they’re the experienced ones. It will happen. We’ll just have to wait a little bit longer. And with that said, doesn’t that make the final prize just a little sweeter to taste?!
Birdland Crush 