Incredibly unlucky Pete Alonso play might have cost Orioles their season

Pete Alonso has been the best player for the Baltimore Orioles all season. He leads the team in multiple offensive categories and his leadership and infectious personality has rubbed off on the entire team. His signing in the offseason has almost single-handedly given the team a fighting chance to even make the playoffs in the first place.

But a fielding miscue could effectively be the difference between the Orioles playing October games or not.

During their Sept. 8 matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, the Orioles trailed by just one run in the top of the seventh inning. With two on and one out, Alonso made a critical error on a throw that bounced off of Jo Adell’s helmet and landed in the outfield. The play scored one run and led to additional two runs. In the blink of an eye, the Orioles looked up at a four-run deficit that ultimately became too large to overcome. Though they would win the series, they missed the chance at a season-changing sweep.

Alonso had the chance to make a simple play by just stepping on first and recording the second out of the inning. Instead, he attempted to go for the kill with a double play. If you played Little League as a kid, then you might just be hearing your old coach screaming in your head right about now. “Always take the sure out!” It’s drilled into our heads from the first moment we learn how to play defense. Alonso didn't necessarily make the wrong decision — he just went for the risky one.    

September has been an especially cruel month for the Orioles so far, even with their series win over the Guardians. If Alonso’s error is any indication, that bad luck is not showing any signs of changing. With a little over a dozen games left to play this season, it may be too late for the Orioles to right the ship.

Pete Alonso’s error is just one of many things going horribly wrong for the Orioles  

After getting off to a rocky start to the season, the Orioles really found their footing in July and August. With a record of 30-21 in those two months, it appeared to offer a preview of the team’s potential postseason run. The offense finally began to wake up and the pitching staff found their rhythm. Despite trading away several key players at the trade deadline, the team hit another gear and seemed like they were primed to become a postseason dark horse. 

However, the baseball gods have had different plans for the ball club. The Orioles are just 2-7 this month, and all of their previous deficiencies have reared their ugly heads once again. As of Sept. 10, the team has fallen back in the Wild Card race and are now three games behind of the Guardians. It’s not an impossible deficit to overcome, but the Orioles do not control their own fate by any means.

Instead, it's all turned into something of a death march. With costly mistakes and offensive struggles continuing to plague the team, this one will remain a giant "what if" should the Orioles find themselves right outside the Wild Card picture at the end of the year.    

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