The Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, last night. They are now once again tied with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East. The season comes to end on Wednesday, October 3. The Orioles play the Red Sox again today and then go down to Tampa to play a three-game series with the Rays. The Yankees play the Blue Jays later today and then host a three game series with the Red Sox.
Needless to say, it’s an exciting time for Orioles fans.
No matter what happens this week, the Orioles deserve a lot of credit. It’s hard to say what makes them so good this season, after years and years of nauseating mediocrity. For years now, Baltimore is where fans of other teams traveled to to see their team beat the Orioles. That’s not the case anymore. Last night’s game with the Red Sox was sold out, but unlike past home games against the Red Sox, the atmosphere had a prominent Orioles vibe. The crowd was a sea of Orioles orange. Watching at home on the TV, I could neither hear or see Red Sox Nation.
So why are the Orioles so good this year? Some say it’s manager Buck Showalter and his managerial style. Some credit GM Dan Duquette. Before Duquette was hired in the off-season, the Orioles had 14 consecutive losing seasons. Personally, I believe the change in the Orioles can be credited to the new-old logo. Beginning this season, the Orioles wisely went back to the cartoon bird and for the first time since Chris Hoiles was catching, the Orioles are good again.
I called for the Orioles to go back to the cartoon bird over two years ago. Is it a coincidence that since going back to the cartoon bird they haven’t been a giant bucket of suck?
I think not.