Baltimore Orioles

O The Pain

I have fallen in love four times. Shawn Johnson during the 2008 Summer Olympics. Mila Kunis in Friends With Benefits. The girl who sits across from me in my Journalism class who I am too afraid to talk to. And the 2012 Baltimore Orioles.

How could you not?

Their best starting pitcher all year? Wei-Yin Chen, a rookie from Taiwan.

Their closer who saved 51 games career? Jim Johnson, after never saving more than 10 games in a season

Their best hitter in the postseason? Nate McLouth. The same Nate McLouth deemed not good enough by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and signed to a minor league contract with the Orioles this season.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Their point differential during the regular season? +7. They won 93 games, that’s 24 more than they lost, by outscoring their opponents by 7 runs. That’s unheard of. That doesn’t happen. How?

The more I watched the ALDS between the Yankees and Orioles, the more I started to understand how they did it. They were assembled mostly from Major League Baseball’s disposables, the unwanted, the forgotten, and international signees that nobody has ever heard of.

After a courageous effort from “ace” Jason Hammel, Jim Johnson imploded in Game 1 and became the scapegoat for a 7-2 loss. You got that feeling, down 1-0, the Orioles would fold to the Yanks would surely shellac the rookie from Taiwan and then close out the series in the Bronx.

That rookie from Taiwan had different ideas.

Wei-Yin Chen put in an equally gutsy effort, pitching 6 and 1/3 innings allowing one earned run. Following that act, the journeyman, sidearm throwing, game saving Darren O'Day struck out Alex Rodriguez in a seven-pitch battle.

In trots Brian Matusz to tackle the lefties. Matusz was once labeled as a can’t-miss prospect, after posting ERA’s of 4.63, 4.30, and 10.69 in his first four seasons and then 4.87 this season, he was regarded as a bust. This postseason, he seemed to have found a home in the bullpen—routinely getting big outs.

Game 3 was when the love started. Series tied at 1-1, Yankee Stadium…the stage doesn’t get any bigger. Miguel Gonzalez…the rookie from Mexico, will surely succumb to the pressure.

Not so fast.

I couldn’t really believe it to be honest. Miguel Gonzalez, (Miguel Gonzalez!), was unflappable. Unyielding. He didn’t flinch, didn’t budge against a lineup that accounted for 50 all star appearances and a first ballot hall-of-famer.

If not for Raul Ibanez' late game heroics, it would go down as the best pitched game from a pitcher nobody has ever heard of ever.

After that gut wrenching loss, series over, right?

Once again…these fighting O’s man. They just wouldn’t fold. After the emotional blow these guys rallied and won Game 4 behind yet another fearless effort from Joe Saunders.

They won by one run…fitting

Unfortunately, Game 5 seemed inevitable.

As much heart and guts as this team had, as little as they cared that they were playing the most historic franchise in all of sports, they just ran out of magic.

How many herculean-pitching performances did they have left? How much magic was left in Nate McLouth’s bat? How many more times can Darren O’Day save the day? No pun intended.

They might have lost game 5 and the series, but they showed the world that the Baltimore Orioles are back to being a relevant baseball team. Buck Showalter has instituted a new culture throughout the organization. Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and 20 year-old stud Manny Machado provide a solid young nucleus. Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman are two young live arms that should progress to the big leagues very quickly.

Watch out for the Baltimore Orioles.

-Chris Collins

Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisCollins127

Follow Chris and Pj @IceBathReport