Saying that the Baltimore Orioles and the Arizona Diamondbacks have had a lousy season would be an understatement.
They share the worst record in MLB, with only 50 wins and 106 losses to this point, with a handful of games left to play.
The Orioles and D-Backs are seven games worse than the next-closest team in the standings, the 57-win Texas Rangers.
For both of these teams, it was obvious, even before the year started, that they weren’t going to compete in their respective divisions.
However, they have been so bad that they have looked like Triple-A organizations for much of the campaign.
Oddly enough, both Arizona and Baltimore will help decide things in the upcoming days.
Arizona will play against the San Francisco Giants as the race for the National League West division, which also involves the Los Angeles Dodgers, reaches its climax.
Meanwhile, the O’s will play against the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays, being a lead actor in the American League Wild Card hunt.
The Orioles Are Hard To Watch
Watching the AL East standings means looking at four competitive teams, one already in the playoffs and the other three with firm chances, and then a seemingly dysfunctional organization.
The Orioles have been bad for several years now: the last time they were in the playoffs was in 2016.
That means their fans have had to endure several losing seasons in a row.
What has happened in 2021 is actually not unexpected.
Baltimore is 47 games (!) behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the division lead.
They have been extremely bad is almost every facet of the game.
Baltimore is 26th in runs scored per game, with 4.1, 22nd in OPS with .708, and 15th in home runs (190).
Their pitching is the worst in the league, allowing 5.9 runs per game.
Cedric Mullins achieved a 30-30 season, which is impressive, and Ryan Mountcastle was also impressive.
Welcome to the 30-30 club, Cedric Mullins.
He is the first #Orioles player ever to accomplish the feat.pic.twitter.com/1LjtyCThtO
— Today in MLB (@Todayin_MLB) September 24, 2021
Other than that, most of their most exciting pieces are in the minors: Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, DL Hall, and more.
Let’s say that better times are ahead.
When Will The Diamondbacks Compete?
The Diamondbacks play in a really tough division.
The Dodgers and the San Diego Padres were supposed to fight for the division, but now, the Giants are also in the elite of the league.
Arizona was the worst team in MLB for months, but now, they are competing with the Orioles for that “honor”.
With the Diamondbacks and the Orioles tied with the worst record in MLB 49-105 whose gonna be the worst team by the end of the season next week?
— The Dautinator (@TheBDaut) September 25, 2021
Their offense has been putrid all year (24th in runs scored per game with 4.2).
They have no punch, evidenced by their poor .380 slugging percentage.
To make matters worse, their pitching has also been abysmal, as it has conceded 5.6 runs per game: only better than the Orioles.
Like Baltimore, better days are ahead, as they do have some impact players waiting for their chance while they develop in the minors.
Alek Thomas, Kristian Robinson, Corbin Carroll, and Jordan Lawlar are just a few of tomorrow’s stars, but success in the division is looking more like for the day after tomorrow.
The Padres, Giants, and Dodgers are just too good, and Arizona will have a lot of work to do to contend in 2022 or 2023.
Leave a Reply