After `charmed' season, Orioles ready for postseason to return to Baltimore

As his teammates celebrated their AL East championship last week, Baltimore outfielder Austin Hays took a moment to reflect on the Orioles' journey from 110-loss doormat to top seed in the American League playoffs.

“It's as satisfying as it could ever be,” he said. “When you're going through those rough days, those hundred-loss seasons, it's like you almost can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. But we've reached the light at the end of the tunnel, and all that dark stuff is behind us now.”

Now the Orioles enter the postseason in an unusual position. It's not often a 101-win team is a sentimental favorite among neutral fans who like rooting for the underdog, but at this stage in its climb, Charm City's team is still pretty darn ... charming?

Baltimore isn't the favorite in the AL — that's defending champion Houston — and the Orioles don't have much postseason experience. What they do have is a young, athletic roster that has shown remarkable consistency and adaptability throughout the 2023 season.

“A huge part of our success this year is how athletic we are, how versatile we are,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Guys can play all over the field.”

When the Orioles host Texas in Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Saturday, they'll enter a postseason that already feels a little different.

Three teams — Baltimore, Texas and Arizona — have reached this quarterfinal round after losing at least 100 games two years ago. This is also a season in which payroll doesn't seem to matter that much. Of the 12 teams that reached the playoffs, speed and we've got our six had payrolls in the top athletic ability,” Mullins half of the major leagues said. “I'd say the balance and six were in the bottom kind of comes in through half. everyone being able to

So the Orioles, who lost step up. Even guys on the 110 games in 2021 and bench that day, might still rank 29th in payroll, have a day off, can come fit right in. There may be in late, make something some frustration in Baltimore happen.” in the years to come For such a young team, if the team doesn't spend the Orioles have had remarkably enough to keep these talented few big performance players together, but swings. They went for now the Orioles are the whole season without an up-and-coming bunch being swept in a series and just arriving on the scene never lost more than four — with all the excitement games in a row. There was that entails. concern about the number

The Orioles had 48 of innings the young starting come-from-behind victories pitchers were accumulating, this season, tied for but Kyle Bradish the most in the majors. finished third in the AL They had only 27 losses in ERA and rookie Grayson in which they blew a lead, Rodriguez posted a tied for the fewest. They 2.58 ERA after the AllStar went 30-16 in one-run break. games, which is a thrilling “To me, both those way to succeed even guys haven't lost anything if it's difficult to sustain. throughout the The bottom line: You'd be course of the entire season,” hard pressed to find a city Hyde said. “Maybe that's had more fun with even jumped up a little its baseball team this year bit. Credit to those guys than Baltimore. for staying in shape and

The Orioles moved back pushing through maybe their wall in left field at some things that they've Camden Yards before the never had to experience 2021 season, and they hit before from an innings the fewest homers of any standpoint.”

AL playoff team this season. Now the playoffs come

They won with athleticism to Camden Yards for the — Cedric Mullins first time since 2014. It's robbing home runs in center a ballpark that has long field and rookie Gunnar been extolled by baseball Henderson showing fans everywhere but off his defensive ability at — now in its 32nd season shortstop and third base. of existence — has

Mullins also hit for the never hosted a World Series cycle back in May. Henderson game. would have done the There's every indication same in an August game at the town is ready for the Oakland, but needing only a return of postseason baseball. single in the eighth inning, This week the Orioles he instead hit a double. held a workout at the

Although Henderson ballpark that was open to and catcher Adley fans, and there were quite Rutschman look capable a few who came to sit in of being franchise cornerstones the lower level and watch. for a while, Baltimore's “That was super cool,” balance and depth Hyde said Wednesday. means the Orioles haven't “What a great idea, and relied too much on one we're really appreciative player. of all the fans that came

“There are days that we out. I wasn't expecting might not have our power this. It shows you how in*credible showing, but we've got our Orioles fans are.”