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iiamcb · 07-31-2016, 10:15 PM

Orioles stick with what’s familiar, retain core leadership group.

The 2016 Baltimore Orioles season is the 116th season in franchise history, the 63rd in Baltimore, and the 25th at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They will be attempting to improve on their 2015 record of 81–81 (.500).

Before skipper Buck Showalter and General Manager Dan Duquette arrived in Charm City some 5 years ago, The Orioles we're a perennial laughing stock and all around loser on and off the baseball diamond. Baltimore re-built under the direction of Andy MacPhail and morphed into a contender with Showalter and Duquette at the helm. Since then, they've only gone out and compiled the best regular season record in the majors and made the playoffs two out of the last four years in a very competitive American League East. This year is no different. Being just two years removed from an appearance in the American League Championship Series, Baltimore feels it's window of opportunity is just as much open now as it was then. In a division that's competitively balanced throughout and honestly a crapshoot, many respected baseball minds see Baltimore as no better than a fourth/fifth place team.

The 2016 AL East features a revamped Boston Red Sox franchise, a Toronto team poised to capitalize off last years success, a Yankees organization that can always buy their way into contention and a Tampa Bay Rays team featuring some of baseballs best pitching. The chatter around Baltimore's club house has been heard loud and clear. The 2016 O's will boasts one of MLB's most powerful line-ups, but their pitching staff can't say the same. In time we’ll find out just how high these Birds will fly.

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07-31-2016, 10:15 PM	#2
iiamcb Rookie OVR: 0 Join Date: Aug 2015	Re: Keeping The Band Together - 2016 Baltimore Orioles Orioles stick with what’s familiar, retain core leadership group. The 2016 Baltimore Orioles season is the 116th season in franchise history, the 63rd in Baltimore, and the 25th at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They will be attempting to improve on their 2015 record of 81–81 (.500). Before skipper Buck Showalter and General Manager Dan Duquette arrived in Charm City some 5 years ago, The Orioles we're a perennial laughing stock and all around loser on and off the baseball diamond. Baltimore re-built under the direction of Andy MacPhail and morphed into a contender with Showalter and Duquette at the helm. Since then, they've only gone out and compiled the best regular season record in the majors and made the playoffs two out of the last four years in a very competitive American League East. This year is no different. Being just two years removed from an appearance in the American League Championship Series, Baltimore feels it's window of opportunity is just as much open now as it was then. In a division that's competitively balanced throughout and honestly a crapshoot, many respected baseball minds see Baltimore as no better than a fourth/fifth place team. The 2016 AL East features a revamped Boston Red Sox franchise, a Toronto team poised to capitalize off last years success, a Yankees organization that can always buy their way into contention and a Tampa Bay Rays team featuring some of baseballs best pitching. The chatter around Baltimore's club house has been heard loud and clear. The 2016 O's will boasts one of MLB's most powerful line-ups, but their pitching staff can't say the same. In time we’ll find out just how high these Birds will fly. Screen Shot 2016-07-31 at 9.08.07 PM.png Last edited by iiamcb; 08-14-2016 at 11:55 AM.