The Baltimore Oriole's- 2014 World Series Champions?

For the first time since 1997 the Baltimore Orioles have clinched first place in the AL East. Yes, the Baltimore Orioles have indeed won the American League East, the most dominant division in baseball in the last five years. The Orioles are 42-23 in a division with the reigning World Series Champion Boston Red Sox and the power house New York Yankees. This is an unfamiliar sight for many, as it is only the second AL East championship for the O's since 1983, the last time the club won the World Series. It has not been since the likes of Cal Ripken and Roberto Alomar dawned the Oriole orange and black that they have won the division. Now, the likes of Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz hope to lead them back to the promise land.

While the lack of recent success may be ominous, the Oriole's are legitimate contenders for the crown. Even without Matt Wieters and Manny Machado, they are 6th in the MLB in runs, 8th in batting average, and 3rd in slugging percentage. In addition, while their pitching lacks stars, they are 7th in ERA and 10th in opponent batting average. The club is 14-5 in extra inning games and have won 30 one-run games. In addition, they are 32-13 since August 1st, and getting hot for the playoffs is crucial. They have been in first place for 103 days, and that number will only increase.

The Oriole's celebrate their AL East championship.

Now, could there finally be a handing of the torch in the powerful AL East? It is shaping up to be the first time in the Wild Card era that both the Red Sox AND the Yankees missed the playoffs. Two teams that are usually locks as World Series favorites will get no shot at the title, but the Baltimore Orioles will? The Yankees have only one 1 ring in the last 13 years, and the Red Sox find themselves rebuilding once again. With that being said, how could anybody not like the Oriole's? It is hard to count out them out. They are a group of guys who play the game the right way, day in and day out. There is never any negative attention in the media for the Oriole's (or hardly any attention at all, for that matter). They truly do not have a star or a lineup full of mutli-time all stars. A team so notorious for being the laughing stock of the American League now finds themselves in legitimate contention for a World Series championship. The Oriole's have stock piled their assets and are set for a deep October run, no matter what the critics say.