The Orioles' Promising Future Meets Disappointing Reality
A Tale of Two Halves
The 2023 season for the Baltimore Orioles was supposed to be the perfect prologue to a new era of success. After a promising finish to 2022, the young core was finally here and showing that this Orioles team had perhaps the most promising future in all of baseball. They won 101 games, never once getting swept through the entire regular season. It was a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that had long been an afterthought.
However, the second half of the season told a different story. The Orioles' pitching staff, outside of ace Corbin Burns, struggled mightily. The bullpen missed the presence of injured closer Felix Bautista, and the offense, led by the disappointing seasons of Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle, sputtered down the stretch.
The Orioles ultimately lost the AL East division to the resurgent Yankees by just three games, a margin that could have been overcome had they maintained their first-half dominance.
Postseason Collapse
The Orioles' playoff run was short-lived, as they were quickly swept by the Royals in the opening round. Corbin Burns pitched a gem in Game 1, but the offense failed to provide any support, scoring just a single run in the two-game series.
The lack of fight and drama in the Orioles' playoff exit was particularly disappointing, as they went down with a whimper rather than a bang.
Offseason Questions
The Orioles now face a critical offseason. Their two most important pieces, Burns and slugger Anthony Santander, are both set to hit free agency. Retaining Burns will be a priority, but his declining strikeout numbers raise concerns about a potential long-term deal.
With the regression of key players like Rutschman and the impending free agency of their top talent, the Orioles' promising future suddenly looks a bit more uncertain.
While the Orioles have undoubtedly turned a corner as an organization, this season's disappointing finish serves as a reminder that the road to sustained success is never easy. The offseason will be crucial in determining whether the Orioles can take the next step or if they will face more questions than answers heading into 2024.
Part 1/4:
The Orioles' Promising Future Meets Disappointing Reality
A Tale of Two Halves
The 2023 season for the Baltimore Orioles was supposed to be the perfect prologue to a new era of success. After a promising finish to 2022, the young core was finally here and showing that this Orioles team had perhaps the most promising future in all of baseball. They won 101 games, never once getting swept through the entire regular season. It was a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that had long been an afterthought.
Part 2/4:
However, the second half of the season told a different story. The Orioles' pitching staff, outside of ace Corbin Burns, struggled mightily. The bullpen missed the presence of injured closer Felix Bautista, and the offense, led by the disappointing seasons of Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle, sputtered down the stretch.
The Orioles ultimately lost the AL East division to the resurgent Yankees by just three games, a margin that could have been overcome had they maintained their first-half dominance.
Postseason Collapse
The Orioles' playoff run was short-lived, as they were quickly swept by the Royals in the opening round. Corbin Burns pitched a gem in Game 1, but the offense failed to provide any support, scoring just a single run in the two-game series.
Part 3/4:
The lack of fight and drama in the Orioles' playoff exit was particularly disappointing, as they went down with a whimper rather than a bang.
Offseason Questions
The Orioles now face a critical offseason. Their two most important pieces, Burns and slugger Anthony Santander, are both set to hit free agency. Retaining Burns will be a priority, but his declining strikeout numbers raise concerns about a potential long-term deal.
With the regression of key players like Rutschman and the impending free agency of their top talent, the Orioles' promising future suddenly looks a bit more uncertain.
Part 4/4:
While the Orioles have undoubtedly turned a corner as an organization, this season's disappointing finish serves as a reminder that the road to sustained success is never easy. The offseason will be crucial in determining whether the Orioles can take the next step or if they will face more questions than answers heading into 2024.