What Went Wrong: 18 Innings, One Run

Last year, the Baltimore Orioles won 101 games; their best season in good bit. The expectations were high for the O's that year, but in a shocker, they were swept by the Texas Rangers, who went on to win the World Series. That was taken as a learning experience for that group, and it was believed that the following year would see the Orioles continue to flourish. Sure enough, that's what happened. Well, from March to mid-August, at least.

Baltimore started to fall off in the final week or so of August, and it continued a bit in September. This team was in a dogfight with the Yankees for the American League East, but their slump resulted in the Yankees taking the division. However, the O's did just enough to lock up a Wild Card spot--the #1 Wild Card spot at that. Home field is usually a good thing for most teams, but not the Baltimore Orioles. Their 2024 aspirations ended in just two games, as they were swept in that Wild Card Series by the Kansas City Royals.

So what went wrong? Simple. One run in 18 innings will do it.

The Orioles boasted a very strong lineup that rivaled the Yankees' group of hitters, yet they only scored one run during the whole series. At least it was one of the usual suspects who drove it in. Cedric Mullins, one of Baltimore's many home run hitters, drove in the run in his usual fashion: a solo shot in Game Two. The homer was one of three hits that Mullins had, and that hit total led the team. Only Mullins and Ramon Urias had multiple hits. Fellow sluggers Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander, the latter finishing with 44 home runs this season, each had one hit. But at least they had hits. Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle each went 0-for-7.

The Royals scored a grand total of three runs in that series. Bobby Witt, Jr. drove in two of them. Yet that was enough for KC to overtake Baltimore. Even worse for the O's, they've now lost 10 straight postseason games. I still remember when the Minnesota Twins had a long losing streak like that, but they eventually snapped that skid last year. Sadly, this is yet another wasted season for the Orioles.

The Royals are now off to The Bronx to face off against the Yankees, reigniting an old rivalry from the late 1970s. Kansas City's win completes the American League's final four, with 75% of that foursome coming from the American League Central. Regarding the Orioles, it's now been 12 years since they won a postseason game; not since the 2012 ALDS. That's quite a long stretch. The Orioles do have the drive to make a huge impact, that's for sure. They definitely have the lineup. The team is full of strong and powerful hitters. Even the pitching's there; Corbin Burnes led the way in Baltimore's rotation. They did finally let go of the up-and-down Craig Kimbrel just a tad too late, but the important thing is, he's not with the team anymore.

As a Yankees fan, I still see the Orioles as our top foe in the American League East. They proved it this year, look at the tough time they gave us. They have the hitters; they can get it done. Hell, they even have the pitching now. The question remains the same, though. Will they get it done? I sense a very interesting offseason for this team.

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