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Baltimore Orioles: A Shortened 2020 Season Could Benefit the Birds

By Jesse Morrison

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 21: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles tosses the ball to first base during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 21, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 21: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles tosses the ball to first base during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 21, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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A shortened Major League Baseball season is something no baseball fan wants but with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it seems as though it is inevitable, and it could help the Baltimore Orioles.

If there even is a baseball season this year, it would  most likely start in mid-July or in Arizona in a bubble, and there is no way MLB can play 162 games with a season starting that late. So how would the short season affect the Baltimore Orioles?

While a shortened season is unfortunate, it would be something potentially great for the Baltimore Orioles. In an MLB season, there is usually a period of time early in the season when a lesser team starts out on fire and then cools off as the season stretches out. The teams with premiere talent and high payrolls tend to reign supreme as the regular season is finishes.

However, with a shortened MLB season, a team such as the Orioles could stick around the top of the standings for the whole season and somehow sneak into the postseason.

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With a lineup consisting of a potentially revitalized Chris Davis (.467 AVG in nine spring training games) along with shortstop Jose Iglesias, second baseman Hanser Alberto, designated hitter Renato Núñez (31 HR in 2019)  and hopefully Trey Mancini, the Orioles have the lineup to get hot out of the gate. These players have all had streaky careers but are all capable of producing at high levels. It is not out of the question for a hot start from the current Birds’ lineup. With a shortened season, the Orioles’ streaky lineup may not have a chance to cool off as they would in a normal season.

Baltimore also has something every playoff team needs, an ace starting pitcher. John Means proved last season that he can be that pitcher as he posted a 3.60 ERA and was named to the American League All-Star team.

If the season is shortened, bad teams such as the Orioles might end up making up one of the strangest postseasons in MLB history.

Next. Could the MLB season be played in Arizona?. dark

We have seen countless teams get out to hot starts in MLB history before trailing off. For example, the 2008 Orioles started 0-1 but were not under .500 again until May 31 of that year. If there is no real option for the Orioles to trail off, Birds’ fans could have the wacky reality of watching and rooting for one of, if not the worst, playoff teams in MLB history.

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