In 2018, the Baltimore Orioles would lose 115 games, a start of losing 100+ games in three straight full seasons, with a full rebuild underway, with the hope of years of competitiveness to come.
The organization was stripped from top to bottom and rebuilt from the bottom up. Adley Rutschman was the first pick to usher in the new era. He would eventually become the No. 1 overall prospect, followed by fellow draft mate Gunnar Henderson.
The 2022 season arrived, and the Orioles took baseball by surprise as they would fight and compete until the very last week of the season, when they were eventually eliminated from the postseason. It still would not change the outlook of pundits and sports writers nationally.
During the Winter Meetings in December, GM Mike Elias had said the hope was to return to the postseason. Of course, the AL East had the Tampa Bay Rays, a talented Toronto Blue Jays team, the juggernaut New York Yankees and the minor rebuilding Boston Red Sox.
The Orioles were picked to finish last, with most people expecting them to win around 75 games. They were in for a big surprise, as was the rest of the baseball world.
Things began to happen, and you knew something special was going on. They were winning close games and coming from behind when they were expected to lose. They were putting together a streak (currently at 91 straight series) where they would not be swept, and they were defeating AL East opponents with ease.
Still, the media and writers did not change course. The Orioles were 6.5 games out by July 1, and Tampa Bay looked in control. They would eventually take over the AL East from the Rays in the middle of July and never looked back.
The Orioles would not lose more than four games in a row, which happened only twice this season. The Birds are currently 31-18 against the AL East after defeating the Red Sox Thursday night.
The O’s would win their 100th game, the first time in 43 years, before any player on the team was born. They would shut out the Red Sox after Dean Kremer, who pitched the playoff-clinching game on September 17, pitched 5.2 innings of shutout ball.
In the end, the Birds would shut out Boston, claiming that one victory that would make the Baltimore Orioles the 2023 AL East Champions.
Congratulations to the Baltimore Orioles. It’s time to “Soak It In!”
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