Number Four- We Won’t Stop- 2014 Orioles World Series Push
The 2014 Orioles are the only team on this list that actually won their division and will likely be the only team to make it to the ALCS. Similar to 2012, 2014 will always have a special place in my heart because they are by far the most successful team in my life as they won 96 games and took the division by 12 games over the Yankees. They swept the Tigers in the ALDS before facing the Royals in the ALCS and… well… you know how that ends so I do not need to remind you. Simply put, this team was awesome. Wieters went down early in the season and Machado was hurt for a good chunk and yet the O’s dominated even though Steve Pearce led the team in Baseball-Reference WAR. The offseason addition of Nelson Cruz played a major role in the success as well as a strong starting rotation and bullpen.
Just like the 2012 team, this team elicits strong memories from me. Just like many other fans, I will never forget when Delmon Young drive in three runs with a double in game 2 of the ALDS. For the first six innings or so, I secretly checked my phone in class only to be disappointed after seeing the O’s trailing after each check. My grandfather picked me up from school that day and took me to his house which, for some reason, did not have TBS so I could not watch the game but instead had to follow on the At Bat app. With the O’s trailing 6-4 in the eighth and the bases loaded, each pitch felt like a lifetime on the app tracker until I saw that Young had given the Orioles the lead and caused me to react like a maniac which sent my grandfather’s chihuahua into a frenzy and also admittedly caused me to yell out more f-bombs than would be considered appropriate for an 11-year-old attending a private Episcopal School.
The reason “We Won’t Stop” ranks fourth is because I find the slogan more generic than the other three and the team had much higher preseason expectations than the other three. Even so, 2014 will always be remembered as a magical year in Birdland, and guys like Steve Pearce and Miguel Gonzalez will be remembered for their contributions to the magic.
Orioles Weekly Prospect Review (Aug 29-Sep 5)
Birds Watcher recaps yet another busy week down on the farm, catching you up on all the happenings of the Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates.