Orioles Appear Destined For World Series Title
By Samuel Njoku
Orioles Surprise Everyone
A lot of fans didn't expect the Orioles to still be playing baseball in October — that's understandable. With the Red Sox and Yankees playing in your backyard, chances of playing meaningful baseball is never all that high. But this year was different. The Orioles dominated the AL East. And in the eyes of pundits, that just meant everyone else in the division had a down year. But underestimating the Baltimore Orioles because of the fall of New York and Boston was a big mistake. And now many are beginning to see why.
The Lethal Lineup That Got Them Here
For starters, the Orioles have a downright lethal lineup. They led the league with 211 home runs in 2014. And when they're not knocking the ball out of the park, they're hitting line drives in the corner of the park for clutch doubles during crucial portions of the ballgame. They continue to get big contributions from their big stars like Nelson Cruz, Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy, and Nick Markakis. But the players that put them over the top are unknown commodities like Delmon Young and Steve Pearce. They've made the losses to guys like Matt Weiters and Manny Machado seem like small inconveniences.
A Defense to Match
Defense has never been a problem for the Orioles as they house multiple Gold Glove winners across their roster. But the true hero of this team may be the man that Baltimore fans have adopted as quickly as any sports figure in recent memory. Buck Showalter has helped transform this team from a group of nobodies to favorites to win the World Series.
After 31 Years, It's Time
You may see some lean towards the Kansas City Royals, but at this point they may be simply grasping at straws. Baltimore has a strong bullpen, a loaded set of bats, and an underrated SP staff with the ability to shut the best of them down for 6 plus innings. Kansas has a fighting chance, and they've most certainly earned the opportunity to get it done. But this is the year of the Baltimore Orioles. And after 31 years of waiting, it's about time.
Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
