In 2012 the Baltimore Orioles were one of the biggest surprises in Major League Baseball.
Coming out of basically nowhere to compete and battle with the Yankees until the very end, almost winning the AL East. Baseball's toughest division.
Baltimore was able to ride a hot streak into the playoffs, finishing the season on a 20-8 run. Then, on the road in Arlington to play a very tough Rangers ballclub, the Orioles came away a 5-1 winner in the Wild Card game.
Moving on to face the Yankees in the ALDS, the Orioles lost a back and forth 5 game series. Leaving a lot to look forward to for this young Baltimore club.
Yet here we are, already a few weeks into Spring Training and I'm just not sure that the Orioles can do it again. It's going to be extremely difficult to repeat their success in 1-run games, and winning so many consecutive extra-innings games.
I think that last season, one of the Orioles biggest strengths was their bullpen. A bullpen led by Jim Johnson and his ML leading 55 games saved.
The rotation used and had a lot of guys start games and perform well, but this year along with last year, the Orioles just don't have a true number 1 starter in their staff. In a division were every other team has a number 1 and even two number 1's.
Baltimores offense wasn't bad last year, and should be good again this year minus Mark Reynolds.
In the end, the Baltimore Orioles are still a young talented baseball club. But like I said, its going to be hard to clinch a 2nd straight playoff spot while playing in what is now a 5 team AL East race. Even with that said, the Orioles will still finish .500 and somehow find a way back to October.
Don't ask how. Just watch.
Follow @GavinEwbank2013 on Twitter.
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