David S.WHO SAW THIS COMING?????
The Baltimore Orioles have taken FIRST PLACE in the American League East by passing the Yankees. They haven’t taken first place since 1997 – 15 years ago. This is probably one of the most unpredicited, unexpected success stories of the baseball season. The Orioles have very low offensive numbers as a team this year.
Orioles Stats
- .247BA (21st) in the league
- 1133 hits (21st)
- 168 home runs (5th)
- .311 (23rd)
- 3.98 ERA (16th)
If you look at the stats, they really are not impressive. How did a team with mediocre stats and no expectations for a stellar season get to be in first place over the Yankees? Could there be a little luck involved here? – more like Divine Intervention. I think that the Orioles will make it to the playoffs but not get far at all. I say they win the Wild Card and lose to the Angels.
Nice Job Jimmy!!!
Jimmy Rollins, shortstop of the Philles has reached number 2,000 in the hit column. He has joined Mike Schmidt, Ed Delahanty, and Richie Ashburn as the only Philles playaer to reach this milestone. Rollins is only the 30th switch-hitter to reach 2,000. Jimmy Rollins, 33 years old, will now be on the quest for 3,000.
WILL HE REACH 3,000???
Bleacher Boy 
First things first I did not see this happening at all, as far at Jimmy he’s on fire but I don’t see him hitting 3,000 only because of the age and injury factor. This playoff season should be a great one, I can’t wait.
I agree with you on Jimmy. These playoffs are going to be awesome.
I attribute a lot of the Orioles success this season to intangibles that basic baseball statistics can’t quantify. When things aren’t easily quantified, then the easy way out is to say they’re “lucky”. (I think the first time the Orioles were referred to as lucky came in mid-April. At what point will someone actually give this team a bit of credit?)
I actually posted on my blog last night on the Orioles and the luck factor. (I hope you’ll give it a read … would love your thoughts.) To say a team that is tied for first in the most competitive division in baseball … in September … is lucky, assumes that 13 other teams in the American League are equally unlucky. Luck is random really … and it isn’t fair to the Orioles and their hard work, their heart, their team dynamics, and the smart leadership and Zen of Buck Showalter, to say their season has been just luck. They may not win it all … but … what they have accomplished is far more than luck. 🙂
Where is prince fielder for # of batting???