The race from the bottom

by Stacey on Sep 22, 2010 2:00 PM EDT in Commentary & Analysis

Earlier in the year when the Orioles were playing disgraceful baseball, a constant here at Camden Chat was the lament from various people that the Orioles were throwing away their draft hopes with each win. It wasn't long ago that many considered the Orioles a lock for the number one draft pick in 2011. All along a number of us maintained that rooting for the draft pick is not only morbid, it is counterproductive. For the Orioles to fail so miserably in 2010, their current young players would have to continue to flounder, and if Matt Wieters, Brian Matusz, Adam Jones, and the rest didn't develop, it wouldn't matter who the Orioles drafted in 2011, this team would be in big, big trouble.

The Orioles haven't had the worst record in baseball for awhile now; the Pirates saw to that quite some time ago. But during their fantastic run under Buck Showalter they have also passed the Mariners and Diamondbacks and are just a game behind the Indians.

Sure, ultimately it doesn't matter if the Orioles finish with the third worst record or the sixth worst record, but hell if I'm not rooting for the O's to pass as many teams as possible. I know some of you will continue to see this as counterproductive, but to you I respectively say pfffft. I suppose you're still out there, anyway. As Eat More Esskay and I talked about just the other day, it's been quite awhile since we heard anyone complain about the draft pick. And you know why? Because winning is so much better.

I'm tired of the Orioles being a laughingstock. I like hearing people, especially non-Orioles people, talk about our team as if there is hope. I like going to other teams' blogs and seeing the fans say that they don't want to face the Orioles right now. I like the buzz at the Yard and the optimism among the fans. I want baseball to always feel this way. I want this team to finish the season the best it possibly can.

The Orioles aren't in contention, not even close. But this season has reminded me what it feels like to enjoy baseball in September. The fact that I'm enjoying it this much now makes me giddy at the prospect of enjoying an Orioles team that is not only playing well, but which is playing for the postseason. And if I'm feeling this happy, imagine how the players feel. I want them to feel what this is like as much as possible, and next year I want them to remember what it's like to not just be lollygagging miserably towards their off-season vacation plans.

Here are your bottom of the barrel standings:

	W	L	%	GB
Milwaukee Brewers	69	81	.460	-
Chicago Cubs	68	82	.453	1
Washington Nationals	63	88	.417	5.5
Kansas City Royals	62	88	.413	6.0
Cleveland Indians	62	89	.411	6.5
Baltimore Orioles	61	90	.404	7.5
Arizona Diamondbacks	60	91	.397	9.5
Seattle Mariners	57	93	.380	12
Pittsburgh Pirates	52	98	.347	17

Ok so it's a stretch to put the Brewers and Cubs on here, but mathematically the Orioles could still pass them. The other teams in front of the Orioles, though, can totally be demolished. Only two games keep them from passing the Indians, Royals, and Nationals. And frankly, those are all teams the Orioles should be ahead of anyway.

Let's Go O's! I won't be happy until we can say, "We're #24!"

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Comments

I blame Buck

for clearly showing no interest whatsoever in drafting a marque player to be the face of this franchise. I guess we are just going to have to live with Wieters, Matusz, and I don’t even want to mention “you know”.

by Philly O's on Sep 22, 2010 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

Josh Bell?

"There's going to be a general lack of toast in the neighbourhood this morning. Many many bewildered breakfast faces."

by Andrew_G on Sep 22, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

you know

you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know

by Philly O's on Sep 22, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

you know

I’m pretty sure I don’t, you know, know.

I don’t have much tolerance for stupid. Or cheese on food that doesn’t need it. -duck

by twistedlogic on Sep 22, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

um, well, you know

I think, you know, you, um, do.

"There's going to be a general lack of toast in the neighbourhood this morning. Many many bewildered breakfast faces."

by Andrew_G on Sep 22, 2010 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with everything you said, but getting Rendon would have been nice.

But hey, he still might fall to us given his injury.

I've been playing baseball since I was six years old, so that's 40 years I've been on a baseball field and around a baseball field, and so our opinions are formulated through facts, not fiction, not their little chat room jargon.

by birdman on Sep 22, 2010 2:29 PM EDT reply actions

After the way we started

To not lose 100 games is a big surprise to me. And the very real possibility that our record my be better than it was at the end of last year is even more shocking.

by smith1468 on Sep 22, 2010 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

This is what I said on May 21st and I stick by it

http://www.camdenchat.com/2010/5/21/1481602/rangers-13-orioles-7-instead-of-a#38041770

Well most of it anyway. I really think that winning down the stretch is a great thing for this team.

by tflach2 on Sep 22, 2010 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

It's all about the buzz

~~Rock ‘n’ roll~~ Baseball is a lifestyle and a way of thinking… and it’s not about money and popularity. Although some money would be nice. But it’s a voice that says, ‘’ Here I am… and fuck you if you can’t understand me.’ And one of these people is gonna save the world. And that means that ~~rock ‘n’ roll~~ baseball can save the world… all of us together. And the chicks are great. But what it all comes down to is that thing. The indefinable thing when people catch something from your music. What I’m talking about is— Wait, what am I talking about? – The buzz. – The buzz. And the chicks, the whatever… is an offs hoot of the buzz."

by birdman on Sep 22, 2010 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't know the brewers were that bad.

I'm hurt dog! Don't ask if me if I'm alright, hell naw! We said dominate and we not doing it! I put my heart into this s***, let's go man! - Ed Reed

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Sep 22, 2010 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

Stacey, this doesn't look like a post about Jake Arrieta.

It's as if every eccentric in the South decided to move north, ran out of gas in Baltimore, and decided to stay. - John Waters

by Eat More Esskay on Sep 22, 2010 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

yeah well, I got distracted

that’ll be up soon enough. Or, you know, after I get back from the beach.

You never know when someone is gonna sneak up on ya at the dolphin show! -wrb1990

by Stacey on Sep 22, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

So much for accountability. :)

It's as if every eccentric in the South decided to move north, ran out of gas in Baltimore, and decided to stay. - John Waters

by Eat More Esskay on Sep 22, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Well I wrote SOMETHING

That’s the point.

Something that took a lot less time to write, but still.

You never know when someone is gonna sneak up on ya at the dolphin show! -wrb1990

by Stacey on Sep 22, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Quantity over quality

So….kinda like the Orioles bullpen?

I don’t have much tolerance for stupid. Or cheese on food that doesn’t need it. -duck

by twistedlogic on Sep 22, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Hell yes

Starting awfully and ending great feels SO GOOD after these years of decent starts and abysmal finishes. Hard to believe … was it 2005 that the Orioles were in first through the all-star break?

by cubotic on Sep 22, 2010 3:48 PM EDT reply actions

I love the fact that were finishing strong

That shows you that this team would do well in the postseason. And I hope they can carry this into the beginning of next season. Call me crazy but I think we are in contention Next year. If McPhail gets us one bat and one arm in the offseason, the team gets a full offseason under Buck, Bucks shuffles the staff a bit and the players buy into the idea then we are right where we need to be. I’m not saying were a world series contender but I believe we could have a shot at the wildcard even if we in the ALeast.

by Oyeah on Sep 22, 2010 4:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I agree completely

I feel like I’ve rooted for a lot of teams whose fans have called for a tank job to score a high draft pick at some point. The Caps shortly after the lockout. The Wizards the last few years. The Orioles for half my life. Screw that mess. At some point you have to get rid of the culture of losing and that’s way more important than any one draft pick will ever be, except maybe in basketball and they have a lottery anyway.

"Now let's quit talkin' about it and get it started."
--Buck Showalter

by CStoneNo37 on Sep 22, 2010 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

I think it depends

I am pretty pleased with the development of some guys who are really important since Buck took over. Having these guys finish strong sets the foundation for 2011, which hopefully be a road to respectability. However…it means absolutely nothing if Millwood pitches well, or Wigginton OPSes a thousand in September. It just doesn’t matter. So, in sum, I’m rooting for certain guys to do well, and I don’t care if Wigginton goes 0 for the rest of the season. And if that means the Orioles pick 5th instead of 6th, even better.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Sep 23, 2010 12:49 AM EDT reply actions

Excited

The astounding thing about the last couple of months is that we are beating up on teams that are in a race for a play-off spot. This isn’t the Cleveland’s and Pirates we are taking out

How could you not be excited for 2011

I personally would not have a problem going into next year with the rotation we have right now. Of course minus a Millwood and adding a Tillman

by wisbob on Sep 23, 2010 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

Well said

As an Astros fan I can relate. We had the same type of discussions about losing in an effort to get the number one pick. Anthony Rendon being a local guy did not help. Winning has certainly helped, and it’s nice to actually watch a fairly competitive Astros game.

Sliding into third place in the division was something far from our minds in June and even July, but that’s where the Astros stand after a dismal start. It’s also helped put the losing to get a better draft position talk to rest. Unfortunately the drawback is now people want to scrap the rebuilding plans, sign Carl Crawford, and compete next year. But I guess that’s better than the alternative.

by Timothy De Block on Sep 23, 2010 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

I had thoughts when the O’s won their first games under Buck about the debate of #1 draft pick vs. winning attitude. I decided then on winning attitude, and I’m even more convinced now that this Aug/Sept is the best thing that could happen to this team.

It doesn’t matter who we draft or trade for or buy, if the team is waiting for how they will screw up the game, it won’t make a difference. If the player think “we can win 2 out of 3 from anyone”, then draft picks might actually WANT to play for Baltimore.

by JJones on Sep 23, 2010 1:01 PM EDT reply actions