Let the record show that the Orioles’ 2013 playoff hopes started at Tropicana Field back in April, and ended there in late September. After an absolutely dismal weekend in St. Petersburg, the O’s go into today’s series finale against the Rays not only needing a win, but needing six more after that and a ton of help to make the playoffs. They’re not mathematically eliminated yet, but the Birds are now 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and have four teams to pass. In other words, there will be no playoff baseball in Baltimore this season. It’s a bit ironic that what has plagued this team all season, the pitching staff, has performed brilliantly over the past week. It’s been the offense that was so reliable most of the season that has failed to produce. The Orioles will finish under .500 on the road this season and have played below .500 ball since the All-Star break. What once looked so promising has come to an abrupt end.
What’s important to realize as the season winds down into its final week is that not all is bad for this team. There will be plenty of people that tell you that they underachieved. In many areas that’s true. Others will tell you last year was a fluke. There’s no part of that remark that’s true. One thing to look at though is that with one more victory over their final seven games, the O’s will have a second straight winning season for the first time since 1996-97. Many expected a step back from last year to this season, and that’s happened. The positive is that it hasn’t been a fall down, trip over yourself type of decline. I wrote about this weeks ago, but part of the reason that the Birds will find themselves on the outside looking in this season is because of better competition around them. Who would’ve expected a six-team race for the two AL Wild Card spots? The AL East itself is a beast. Four out of the five teams are in the race and the Blue Jays’ record doesn’t indicate what a challenge they can be on the field.
Orioles fans were spoiled last season with a team that seemed to have everything go right for them. This year has clearly been a different story. Truthfully, I think this was a better team this season than last. I also think that missing the postseason this year will teach the team and the fans an important lesson. Even with the second Wild Card spot in each league, making the playoffs is very hard to do. It’s not something that comes about every season. It’s something to embrace when it comes about, and work harder for the next season when it doesn’t. This team will do that. They will find some areas to improve on and work hard to get back to the postseason. The beauty of this season is that it’s been a fairly successful one without the need of all that “magic” and every single break going the right way. That’s why this team is better than last year’s.
I encourage anyone who can to try and make it down to Oriole Park this week to support the team and thank them for another season of winning baseball. The Blue Jays and Red Sox will be in town and it’d be great to pack the Yard to show the team some love. After 14 years of losing, there have now been two straight years of success at Camden Yards. That’s something to appreciate and admire. Things are still looking up, even if the season may be ending next week.
Though the Orioles aren’t looking at a playoff berth, the postseason is going to be exciting. Even the final week will bring some great races. The NL Central provides three teams within two games of each other. All of them are likely playoff-bound, but only one will avoid the dreaded single-elimination Wild Card game. The AL Wild Card involves a collapsing Rangers team, an underdog Indians team, and somehow the Royals. Yes somehow Kansas City is still there. The Rays are no sure bet either. The races are always fun, but they are just an appetizer for the main course of the baseball postseason, which is right around the corner.
Orioles Player of the Week:
Tommy Hunter (P): Seems like an odd choice in this spot doesn’t it? I’m well aware of this. It’s just difficult, if not impossible, to choose anyone else in this spot. Hunter pitched well out of the pen in the last week and even picked up a victory. It’s not like an offensive player could’ve won this award, you know?
American League Player of the Week:
DET – Victor Martinez (DH): The Tigers are playoff bound and all but assured of winning the AL Central once again, mostly due to an offense led by players like Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Torii Hunter. Victor Martinez is another big piece to that puzzle. He hit .417 with six RBI and a .533 on-base last week.
National League Player of the Week:
ARI- Paul Goldschmidt (1B): The Diamondbacks aren’t going to the postseason, but it’s not Paul Goldschmidt’s fault. This is a guy who is likely to finish in the top five of the NL MVP vote. Last week “Goldy” hit .370 with three homers and nine RBI.
Be sure to tune in for my weekly appearance on The Coach’s Buzz on CBS Sports Radio 1300 tonight at 7:15 pm. You can also now view some more of my thoughts on the Orioles at MASNSports.com every Thursday where I will guest blog throughout the rest of the season.
Follow me on Twitter @AStetka.
