Rob Long: This Is A Pennant Race
For well over a decade, the Baltimore Orioles have not had a sniff at post-season contention. The franchise has had to look up at teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and even the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. In addition to that, they've been watching teams like the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers prosper in free agency.
Now, the O's are front and center with some of those teams and ahead in the standings with others. They have had no blockbuster signings and the big trade that was made this season was acquiring Joe Saunders from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Matt Lindstrom. While that's a good move for the team, it's not the deal that took place between the Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Orioles have made all the right moves this season and it began before the season even began. The front office had a move to acquire depth and that's paid off.
Now, with just over five weeks left in the season, the Birds are poised to make a run. Buck Showalter and his team will have to battle another surprise team down the stretch in the Oakland A's to make it to the play-offs for the first time since 1997.
Rob Long
