Leading Off



Hi. We hope this episode finds you well – in good health and good spirits.



There’s no debate: the Orioles season has come to a close.



So, we take this opportunity to review what the 2020 season was, and what it might mean for the future. We were pretty convinced we wouldn’t get a full 60-game season, due to COVID-19, and we are delighted to have been so mistaken. This team was, at times, incredibly entertaining.







Drink of the Week







Join us for the Drink of the Week, and let us know how you’re consoling yourself as you watch the O’s. Find us on Untappd



* magn8606* jakee4025







This Week on the Twitters







Here’s what’s going on in the world of Orioles Baseball, in 280 characters, or fewer:




Bird's eye view pic.twitter.com/Zly08ztd7d— Baltimore Orioles 😷 (@Orioles) September 20, 2020





In this #F16HT together. So proud of you, @TreyMancini! pic.twitter.com/Lg8M91SHkT— Baltimore Orioles 😷 (@Orioles) September 21, 2020





Which of these players will be hurt the most by their defense when it comes time for the Orioles to make some tough roster decisions?— Locked On Orioles (@LockedOnOrioles) September 22, 2020





Up from me on @FanGraphs, I talk about how the O's having a successful season isn't based on exceeding their win totals but on the stuff they found about their talent.https://t.co/bCtRTjsW0b— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) September 21, 2020








Around the Bases







FIRST BASE: 2020 in Review



Orioles fans enjoyed the audacity of hope until the Birds went all Dark Ages in New York. The team had pulled itself within half a game of the playoff hunt, and then… the wheels came off.



There were downs, but there were also a lot of ups, and baseball – as weird as it was in 2020 – was just what we needed.



SECOND BASE: Anthony Santander – your 2020 MVO



The Orioles beat writes selected Anthony Santander as the Most Valuable Oriole. We walk through that decision and review the pros and cons, as well as looking at other candidates who deserved recognition.



Spoiler Alert: it wasn’t DJ Stewart.



THIRD BASE: The Outfield Picture



At the outset of the season, Jake did a lot of whining about how thin the Orioles were in the outfield. How could a team legitimately miss Stevie Wilkerson, noted outfielder?



At this juncture, the picture looks much different. We take a look at who stepped up, and who will play in the grass in 2021.