Brandoh Hyde’s Baltimore Orioles found themselves in frigid Boston for Opening Day, and they began the season dropping two-of-three to the BoSox. But they quickly rebounded and took two-of-three from Texas. And that was a harbinger for the season; never count this team out when they’re down.
The only other series they lost in April was the first home series of the year against New York. But other than that they were off to the races. They would have been leading the AL East the whole time, if not for Tampa starting out by winning their first 13 games. But needless to say, the O’s were in the hunt.
One of the knocks on the 2023 Orioles was the fact that they never really seemed to blow people out. However in turn, they weren’t blown out themselves very often. They won a lot of close games, which is a valuable skill to have. Much of that was due to closer Felix Bautista, who was shut down in the ninth inning of games.
However the likes Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, Adley Rutschman, and of course Gunnar Henderson played a role as well. Gunnar Henderson stands to be the rookie of the year this season, after perhaps one of the finest rookie seasons in history.
The Birds were dealt a blow on Memorial Day when Ryan Mountcastle injured himself and was forced to miss significant time. However good teams have a next man up philosophy, and the Orioles were no exception. The Front Office almost immediately signed OFer Aaron Hicks, who had just been DFA’d by New York. He was a veteran who knew how to play on winning teams. And he brought that presence to the Orioles and the clubhouse.
The Orioles had great veteran leadership this year. Another guy who made a huge difference was backup catcher James McCann, who was acquired via trade from the New York Mets before the season. On the pitching side Kyle Gibson was a steadying force in the rotation and on the pitching staff. While the likes of Rutschman and Henderson were the big time team leaders, you still have to have solid veteran leadership – and the Birds had that in 2023.
As time went on however, Tampa started to fade back a bit. This while the Orioles remained strong. The Birds took over first place in the AL East in late July. And while it was still neck-and-neck for the rest of the season, the Orioles never relinquished it back to Tampa. Down the stretch in July and August they played some of their best baseball. And in doing so they quickly captured the hearts and minds of Baltimore. Attendance blossomed at Camden Yards, and excitement was palpable around the city.
There were various points where things could have come unraveled. A mid-September series with Tampa at Camden Yards was one of them. Tampa took the first two games, and in doing so actually tied the Orioles for first place in the division. However the Birds took the final two games, the last of which was an 11-inning instant classic that went back-and-forth. Just prior to the O’s walking it off, Cleveland finished off Texas, clinching a playoff birth for the Birds.
What ensued after the Orioles game ended was a celebration that might never be forgotten. It was a moment in time that saw the players celebrating on the field, and the fans in the stands. After that, the team went out on the road. They eventually clinched the division in late September, and earned the top spot in the American League playoffs.
However the celebration after clinching a playoff birth and the subsequent celebration after clinching the division were the high points of the season. The Birds were stunningly swept in the ALDS by Texas. I’m not sure that series is something that’s understandable at this point. The O’s had momentum going into the playoffs, but in an instant that momentum went to Texas. Who now goes onto the ALCS.
It’s a strange twist of fate that across baseball, only one non-Wild Card team (Houston) is in the LCS round. The Orioles and the Atlanta Braves were the two best teams in baseball in the regular season, but they’re both home watching with the rest of us. Sometimes the “baseball God’s” surprise us.
Did the almost week-long layoff hurt the Birds? I say no. Because first off they needed that rest. However I think they just ran into a hot team, that being Texas. As I said above, the O’s played some of their best baseball in July and August. Texas started playing their best literally in October.
In a sense, the O’s peaked too early. And that can happen. But it takes nothing away from perhaps the most magical season in many of our lifetime’s. You don’t win 101 games and have people say that was a fluke. The lasting image of 2023 should be the celebrations on the field after clinching the postseason and division title. The legacy of this 2023 team will be it’s tenacity and the will to win. The 2023 Orioles will forever be a success story. And time won’t ever dim the glory of their deeds.