The Orioles' inspired play under Buck Showalter has reignited hopes in Baltimore that the team's prolonged chase for a winning record can mercifully end sooner rather than later. While the ultimate goal - the dream, really - is to reach the top of the division ladder, playing .500 baseball or better over the course of a full season is the first rung on that climb. After all, it hasn't happened for 13 consecutive seasons.
But would a .500 record be satisfying for fans if it still left the Birds in last place? It's entirely possible - though perhaps not probable - that such a thing could happen.
Only once since Major League Baseball introduced the Central Division in 1994 has every team in a division finished .500 or better. The Washington Nationals finished in last place in the N.L. East in 2005 with an 81-81 record.
The Nationals essentially had as good a chance at winning their division in 2005 as they did at winning the Wild Card. The entire N.L. East was separated by only nine games in the standings that season while the Nationals finished eight games off the Wild Card pace.
On five other occasions there have been divisions where four teams finished .500 or better: the 2000 N.L. West, 2003 N.L. East, 2007 N.L. West, 2008 N.L. Central, and 2008 A.L. East. The Blue Jays (73-72) are chasing a sixth occasion, but the Orioles are making it difficult for them. It seems every division series offers the O's a chance to play some version of a spoiler role here down the stretch.
Would you be satisfied with a .500 record in 2011 if the Orioles still finished in last place? Vote in the poll on the sidebar.
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Baltimore Orioles
Division Races with four or more teams playing .500 baseball or better
2000 N.L. West
San Francisco Giants SFG 97 65 .599 --
Los Angeles Dodgers LAD 86 76 .531 11.0
Arizona Diamondbacks ARI 85 77 .525 12.0
Colorado Rockies COL 82 80 .506 15.0
San Diego Padres SDP 76 86 .469 21.0
2003 N.L. East
Atlanta Braves ATL 101 61 .623 --
Florida Marlins FLA 91 71 .562 10.0
Philadelphia Phillies PHI 86 76 .531 15.0
Montreal Expos MON 83 79 .512 18.0
New York Mets NYM 66 95 .410 34.5
2005 N.L. East
Atlanta Braves ATL 90 72 .556 --
Philadelphia Phillies PHI 88 74 .543 2.0
Florida Marlins FLA 83 79 .512 7.0
New York Mets NYM 83 79 .512 7.0
Washington Nationals WSN 81 81 .500 9.0
2007 N.L. West
Arizona Diamondbacks ARI 90 72 .556 --
Colorado Rockies COL 90 73 .552 0.5
San Diego Padres SDP 89 74 .546 1.5
Los Angeles Dodgers LAD 82 80 .506 8.0
San Francisco Giants SFG 71 91 .438 19.0
2008 N.L. Central
Chicago Cubs CHC 97 64 .602 --
Milwaukee Brewers MIL 90 72 .556 7.5
Houston Astros HOU 86 75 .534 11.0
St. Louis Cardinals STL 86 76 .531 11.5
Cincinnati Reds CIN 74 88 .457 23.5
Pittsburgh Pirates PIT 67 95 .414 30.5
2008 A.L. East
Tampa Bay Rays TBR 97 65 .599 --
Boston Red Sox BOS 95 67 .586 2.0
New York Yankees NYY 89 73 .549 8.0
Toronto Blue Jays TOR 86 76 .531 11.0
Baltimore Orioles BAL 68 93 .422 28.5
Honestly I can't see it happening. There is way too much competition. It's the toughest division in baseball.
ReplyDeleteLike you say, it would be a good start. I think the most satisfying aspect of the turnaround under Showalter has been the improved play against division rivals. The new attitude: yes, the teams are good but that's no excuse for rolling over. Maybe being less scared of divsion rivals will also help the team hold onto the young players as they mature.
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