O's 2008 Season in Review

The season is over for the Orioles...what have we learned?

Once again, two teams from the AL East are in the playoffs, and this time the Yankees aren't one of them. The Tampa Bay Rays took first in the division and the Boston Red Sox are back as the Wild Card. The Orioles finished in last place in it's division for the first time in 20 years.

So...how 'bout them O's?

Honestly, the Birds looked good this year. The offense was one of the best in the league...the O's had five 20+ home-run-hitters and almost became the first team in the history of baseball to have three players hit 50 doubles.

The problem? As usual, the O's pitching just couldn't cut it. Injuries hurt the starting rotation early (former first-round pick Adam Loewen will now try his luck as a hitter), and the bullpen just couldn't handle the added pressure. Starter Daniel Cabrera looked promising until the All-Star break, but then looked like the same old Danny...leading the league in all the wrong stats (walks, hit batters, wild pitches). At least he didn't lead the league in losses this season...

The bullpen looked good early but fell late...Chad Bradford went to a contending team (the Rays) and Jamie Walker stayed to blow every game he appeared in. George Sherrill went on the DL and Chris Ray never returned...

I'll be back on Tuesday to give a position-by-position opinion on the O's for 2008 and 2009...