Can The Orioles Do It Again?

It’s not unlikely to still hear the chant Oh...oh-OH-oh oh OHH OHH echoing around the streets of Baltimore, but this times it’s for the other birds in town, The Baltimore “Oh”rioles! Opening day is just right around the corner and O’s cant wait to get back out there on the diamond! After the Orioles amazing run into the post season last year, many analysts don’t see the team having the same kind of success in 2013. But for manager Buck Showalter and his squad, they hope to silence their critics and pick up right where they left off…
                                         Orioles 2013 season roster preview

At the end of the 2012 season, the Orioles improved their team’s wins by 23 games; with at one point 15 straight extra inning-wins, and 16 1pt. marginal game winners. For any team, those are some pretty outstanding stats and to say that Baltimore will have another season like that is very unlikely. Yet, with many critics predicting the team’s demise this year, the attitude and confidence that the Orioles have shown thus far in Pre-Season seems to suggest otherwise.

The O’s are currently ranked first in Florida’s GrapefruitLeague (7-2, .778 PCT) and third in the overall American League. Putting them ahead of the San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers (the 2012 World Series contenders).

Going into the 2013 season, the Orioles have some things going for them that they didn’t have starting off last year. Such things include starters come back healthy and ready to play, along with depth at position on both the field and in the bullpen. Hall of Famer and former Oriole, Cal Ripken Jr. explains how the bullpen is going to be just as good this year with Buck continuing to run the show, “You saw that with all the one-run games last year. So then it’s just a matter of playing defense and scoring runs, and the Orioles have a good nucleus to do that.” The O’s will also have a chance to mold two new pitching prospects onto the team this year with Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman (2012, 1^st round pick from LSU).

Along with Bundy and Gausman, the depth of young players on the team (12^th youngest in the league) is pretty important. Manny Machado will probably gain the most spotlights in this category as the second year players plans on continuing his success in his first “full” season. Coach Showalter understands that young players sometimes have trouble getting adjusted from minor league to professional play but as long as Manny continues to show success on the defensive side of the ball, he will have a spot in the lineup.

                          

Manny Machado with an outstanding defensive play! MLB Nomination for Play Of The Year

After one of the most memorable and exciting seasons that the Orioles have had in as long as I can remember, and with the most recent Super Bowl win coming from the Ravens, the City of Baltimore seems to be more alive then ever before and I know the fans just cant wait for this upcoming season to cheer for the guys in black and orange!!

As for the fans, do you believe the O’s will again be a playoff contending team or was 2012 just a fluke year? If Ray Lewis has taught the city of Baltimore anything it would be to Believe, and I truly feel that the Orioles and its fans have really bought into that concept. What do you all think? I hope you guys are BUCKled up for the 2013 season as it should be another special year filled with great memories and tons of O-R-I-O-L-E-S Magic!!

                                         For those who missed out on all the fun last season, here's what the Yard looked like... 
 Lets keep the magic going into 2013!!!