The Eastern Division Race is Over?

[ExileAngelos]

Ya. It's over. 1 and a half games is simply too big of a deficit with only 8 to play. I can't imagine any mathematical combination of O's wins and Yankees losses that gets us in.

[SoCal]

#magic

I believe.

[allquixotic]

Aside from the track record of being clutch all season, I have absolutely no reason to believe that this team will win three games out of the remaining regular season games.

But here's a thought.

If it's clubhouse morale, good coaching and good roster management that's made up for a lot of our weaknesses all season, where are all of the shenanigans now? Why in God's name are we still batting hitters who couldn't hit a ball out of the park on a little league tee if you gave them 50 swings with an aluminum bat?

If it's clubhouse morale, good coaching and good roster management that's made up for a lot of our weaknesses all season, where are our replacements who are fresh and not as hurt/slumping/asleep/distracted as our current lineup? Where is the depth to replace the guys who are simply NOT producing?

Is it simply that we have reached the bottom of the barrel? Is our depth exhausted? Have we explored all the options, only to find that our best options will put up a sub-.500 record to end the season and land us without a single postseason game?

The Orioles ALWAYS fizzle out. The Orioles NEVER seem to have enough depth to be a competitive ball club through the end of the season. In previous years, we ran out of depth as early as May some years; June some other years; July if we were lucky. This year, we made it all the way to September, only to fall flat on our face with our outstretched hands 2 inches from the finish line.

In short, the ONLY thing I am holding out hope for is that there really is some kind of baseball god or Orioles Magic, because all the indicators point to a 3-5 or 2-6 or 1-7 end to the season, and probably not even a 1-game wildcard playoff. I can name at least 10 regular players who we can no longer rely on to adequately perform their role, and they either have NO viable replacement at all, or the replacement is just as bad / worse than them. In short, everything except blind faith tells me that we are as done as a turkey on Thanksgiving day.

Ayala. Chen. Hardy. Reynolds. Quintanilla. Andino. Strop. Gonzo. Wieters. Davis.

And that's not counting the cast of thousands on the DL or still on the active roster but unlikely to play again this season, like Markakis and Hammel.

Bottom line, our roster has a finite number of players on it, and eventually we had to hit rock bottom. We literally have no one left to replace these guys. They're dead tired, exhausted, hurt, demoralized, whatever you want to call it -- none of them are anywhere NEAR their performance as seen for 90% of the season. But can they continue? No. As soon as we try to clinch the season, they all simultaneously start playing like they belong in GCL. The only player I've seen any semblance of grit from lately is Tommy Hunter. It's a sad, sad, sad situation. Oh well -- I guess I'll get to watch them do it again in another 20 years when I'm 46.

[bpilktree]

Comments like this make me wonder if people watched baseball last season. How many games up were the Red Sox on the Rays last year when they collapsed. How about the Braves that had to win any of like their last 10 to clinch or the Cardinals to loose and they couldn't get one win. Yeah this was a tough loss and we blew some chances but you could say the same about the Jays. They had a ton of chances as well in the middle innings 1st and 3rd none out and Jake strikes out the side. Basically neither team got the big hit till the greand slam both teams could have opened up the game at any time.

[dtk9119]

Actually 2 in the loss column. With less than 10 to play, only number that matters. Going to be very difficult to come back from.

[MDK02]

I think we need to win out. It can be done...why not

[Rene88]

Lets be realistic for a second. Our starting pitching is patchwork at best. If we make the one wildcard and lose, it is great for the franchise.

Having said that, you gotta pinch run for Teagarden there and pull Jake after a great inning, let him leave on a high note.

Just my 2 cents.

Not over yet, but that Tampa series is really starting to scare me.

[SilentJames]

Aside from the track record of being clutch all season, I have absolutely no reason to believe that this team will win three games out of the remaining regular season games.

But here's a thought.

If it's clubhouse morale, good coaching and good roster management that's made up for a lot of our weaknesses all season, where are all of the shenanigans now? Why in God's name are we still batting hitters who couldn't hit a ball out of the park on a little league tee if you gave them 50 swings with an aluminum bat?

If it's clubhouse morale, good coaching and good roster management that's made up for a lot of our weaknesses all season, where are our replacements who are fresh and not as hurt/slumping/asleep/distracted as our current lineup? Where is the depth to replace the guys who are simply NOT producing?

Is it simply that we have reached the bottom of the barrel? Is our depth exhausted? Have we explored all the options, only to find that our best options will put up a sub-.500 record to end the season and land us without a single postseason game?

The Orioles ALWAYS fizzle out. The Orioles NEVER seem to have enough depth to be a competitive ball club through the end of the season. In previous years, we ran out of depth as early as May some years; June some other years; July if we were lucky. This year, we made it all the way to September, only to fall flat on our face with our outstretched hands 2 inches from the finish line.

In short, the ONLY thing I am holding out hope for is that there really is some kind of baseball god or Orioles Magic, because all the indicators point to a 3-5 or 2-6 or 1-7 end to the season, and probably not even a 1-game wildcard playoff. I can name at least 10 regular players who we can no longer rely on to adequately perform their role, and they either have NO viable replacement at all, or the replacement is just as bad / worse than them. In short, everything except blind faith tells me that we are as done as a turkey on Thanksgiving day.

Ayala. Chen. Hardy. Reynolds. Quintanilla. Andino. Strop. Gonzo. Wieters. Davis.

And that's not counting the cast of thousands on the DL or still on the active roster but unlikely to play again this season, like Markakis and Hammel.

Bottom line, our roster has a finite number of players on it, and eventually we had to hit rock bottom. We literally have no one left to replace these guys. They're dead tired, exhausted, hurt, demoralized, whatever you want to call it -- none of them are anywhere NEAR their performance as seen for 90% of the season. But can they continue? No. As soon as we try to clinch the season, they all simultaneously start playing like they belong in GCL. The only player I've seen any semblance of grit from lately is Tommy Hunter. It's a sad, sad, sad situation. Oh well -- I guess I'll get to watch them do it again in another 20 years when I'm 46.

Wow dude, seriously? I mean if this is what it takes to test your steely resolve I'd hate to see what you were like in July.

You really think that this team doesn't have between 2 and 6 more wins in it.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[SilentJames]

We go 6-2 they go 4-4.

It can happen. They have to play the games.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[Spy Fox]

If people think the odds of gaining 1.5 games within 8 games are above the threshold of requiring magic, then we are living in a world where magic happens every day!

[VeveJones007]

I don't think the pitching will be good enough to 7-1 the rest of the way and I can't see the Yankees going 5-3 or worse. I'll keep hoping until it's over, but today hurt.

[Frobby]

We have won 7 of our last 9 games, 10 of our last 14, and are 15-8 in September after going 18-9 in August. And people are actually complaining about how poorly we're playing? You have got to be kidding me.

Honestly, take a step back and look at what this team has done the last 2+ months. And now you are going to whine because we've lost 2 out of 3? That is ridiculous.

[El Gordo]

The MFY took care of business we didn't. They are our daddy. I hope we get a WC spot but we are not going very far if we do. We don't have the SP.

[Mondo Trasho]

We have won 7 of our last 9 games, 10 of our last 14, and are 15-8 in September after going 18-9 in August. And people are actually complaining about how poorly we're playing? You have got to be kidding me.

Honestly, take a step back and look at what this team has done the last 2+ months. And now you are going to whine because we've lost 2 out of 3? That is ridiculous.

I'm whining because the Jays played dead for everyone else but us. You can't give up 9 runs to the Jays at home when they are completely done right now.

[maybenxtyr]

I'm whining because the Jays played dead for everyone else but us. You can't give up 9 runs to the Jays at home when they are completely done right now.

They are still a Major League team. Even Houston has won 40 something games this year. The loss tonight sucks, but if people are going to put the whole season down the drain because of one loss, find another team to follow. All season this team has had too struggle for wins, why should it change now?

Even if they get knocked out in a one game WC playoff, this season has been wildly successful. I think some people here are the type that would complain about paying taxes if they won the lottery. And thankfully the players have a better perspective than the fans.

There are only 8 games left, enjoy it. We have seen how long it could be before another great/exciting team comes along.