This is what crapulence looks like.

by zknower on Sep 25, 2008 9:04 PM EDT in Commentary & Analysis

That's right, your Orioles currently resemble the US Financial markets.

I've highlighted one or two points over the year. I feel like we stayed above .500 a lot longer this year, but maybe it just feels that way.

One thing I do know. Last year, we had a rash of pitcher injuries and there was virtually nobody left to throw the ball for the last three weeks of the season.

Whereas THIS year.... oh, right.

The Birds actually put up some good offensive numbers in the second half. It would seem then that MacPhail's priority should not only be finding guys who can pitch; it should be finding guys who can pitch an entire season.

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Nice graphic

It really hits home how even after 3/4 of a season of seemingly mostly pleasant, half decent, fun-to-watch baseball how absolute shit we really are

by Steve. on Sep 25, 2008 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

Man you're a nerd

but I love this stuff. I guess the season wasn’t that bad.

"This world extends way beyond this little field of dreams we're dancing in and I want to see that world"

by exitfare on Sep 25, 2008 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

Very nice work, Z, it really puts the season in proper perspective, i.e. from the bottom of the Tidy Bowl looking up.

Another image that comes to mind, suggested by my cousin Pete’s summary of his colonoscopy: “I was doing fine til he turned south.”

It’s good to remember that we did indeed spend much of the season wallowing luxuriously in unexpected and undeserved mediocrity, and it was a lot of fun, like living on credit cards while pretending to be solvent. But man, when we melt down, we make Chernobyl look like a garden party. This year we avoided 4-32— but only because the season ended before we had time to perfect our belly flop technique.

That said, I am looking forward to next year, when the Orioles will win it all.

Yers truly,
M. I. Titov
King of France

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.

by Titov on Sep 26, 2008 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

I guess that's why they call them graphics

Because that chart is graphic proof of how miserable the Os really are. It’s like any mediocrity (look at the White House), which can float along on fumes and good luck (think of all the one-run games and sleight of hand saves by Sherrill in the first half) but then, over the long haul, the averages catch up.
MacPhail made the right moves initially, unloading Bedard and Tejeda just in the nick of time and getting something in return, but the damage in the Os organization is so profound that he could only hold off the collapse so long. September speaks for itself. I don’t know where the steadying arms are coming from next year. There’s only so many quality pitchers available and we ain’t going to be ponying up the necessary funds to get them. So…next year may be Mora the same.

by Lothar on Sep 26, 2008 8:55 AM EDT reply actions