My 10 Favorite Moments from one hell of a Season

The 2014 Orioles season ended bitterly. Getting swept in the ALCS was not the plan. It sucked. It took awhile to shake off. But you know what, the 2014 season was awesome. The team overcame many injuries to star players and ran away with the division. There were so many great moments from the season. So to feel good about what was a great season I am gonna make a list of my 10 favorite moments from this year ( and making it just 10 wasn't easy,a lot of awesome stuff happened). This list will be in chronological order,so from opening day till the end of the season. So here we go,my ten favorite moments from 2014.

Opening Day.

Nelson Cruz welcome to Baltimore!! Nelly would launch a homer that would help the Os to an 2-1 opening day win over the hated RedSoxs. It was a sign of things to come from the slugger, as Nelly had an all-star season, leading all of baseball with 40 homers. The fun with Cruz started right away and would only keep getting better all year long.

4/8/14 @ Yankees.

The Orioles would end their first series vs the evil Yankees facing their prized pitcher in Masahiro Tanaka in his home debut. Tanaka was off to a great start and it seemed no one could hit him. In steps Johnathan Schoop. Launching a 3 run homer to give the Os the lead in the second inning. It was a moment that had me yelling and pumping my fist (Schoop would take him deep again latter in the year as well,another awesome moment that didn't make my list) , Tanaka would get a no decision,but the Os proved they could beat him.

5/1/14 vs Pitt

Thanks to tones of rain all week this day would be a double header. The Os would take game one. Game two was supposed to be a big moment for one reason,it was the first game of the year for Manny Machado. While that was great to see the game wouldn't be all about Manny. Chris Tillman threw what seemed like a million pitches in the first inning. The Pirates took a first inning 2-0 lead. The Orioles would battle back and tie the game. The game went into extras. Matt Wieters would lead off the tenth inning,and he would do it with a bang. Wieters hit a ball out to right field for the walk off homer,ending a long long day of baseball and sending me and all of birdland off to sleep vary happy.

6/23/14 vs White Soxs

This went from one of the most frustrating games to one of the most awesome wins of the season. The Orioles were facing the Soxs left handed ace in Chris Sale. With Chris Davis struggling, he would not be in the starting lineup. The Orioles had several scoring chances against Sale and failed over and over. All the while the Soxs managed to take a 4-2 lead. Caleb Joseph would hit a homer in the 8^th to make it a one run game. In the 9^th the Os would get two runners on. And then in stepped Chris Davis to pinch hit. Since he had been struggling who knew what to expect. When Davis made contact I was screaming at my TV,yelling for the ball to get out,while jumping up and down. When the ball left the park I went nuts. I don't think I yelled so much at any other moment of the season.

8/8/14 vs Cards

The Orioles would wear throwback uniforms this night. They would crush six homers in a 12-2 win. But the real moment came after the game. This night was the 60^th year celebration. And it was Omazing. All the former players that were there. The amazing video package. I won't even try to lie about it, I cried,a lot. It was just one of those special nights, a great win and and even better show after.

Gif credit: baltimorsportsreport.com

8/18/14 @ White Soxs

The Os were up 3-0 and Bud Norris seemed to be in complete control. Then came the 7^th inning. The Soxs got two runs. And had another runner on. Conor Gillaspie stepped to the plate. He launched a ball into right field. I had my head down thinking crud there goes the lead. Then Nick Markakis leaped in the air, crashed into the wall. And yes!! he had caught the ball to take away a go ahead homer and end the inning. The Os would then score 5 in the 8^th and win easy. Nick's catch saved the day. It was one of the best catches I have ever seen. If he doesn't win the gold glove this year, just stop giving them out.

8/25/14 vs Rays

Orioles win big 9-1. The reason I will remember this game always is for Adam Jones. Evan Longoria hit a ball to center field. And Adam Jones made a great catch to rob a homer. And then if that wasn't enough, he threw a bullet into second base to nail the runner trying to tag from first. Adam turning a homer into a double play was just so much fun. And seeing how pumped AJ was made it even better.

9/16/14 vs Jays

This is a moment we will all remember. It had only been 17 years since the last time we could say the Orioles were AL East champs. But this night it would happen. What to pick from this game? Ubaldo Jimenez after a year full of inconsistency picking up the win by retiring the final 10 batters he faced ? The Steve Pearce homer to give the Os the lead in the first? Nick Markakis face after the game ? The post game celebration with the fans on the field? All of the above. The post game stuff will never be deleted from this guys drv. Nick's face makes me smile every time. Adam Jones pieing fans was so cool. Tears flowed. Every part of that game I will cherish forever.

10/3/14 vs Tigers ALDS

Chen had ten horrible pitches. But the Orioles kept fighting and waiting for the chance to get another crack at the horrible Tigers bullpen. Down 6-3 in the 8^th here came the Tigers pen. Loading the bases and having giving up one run already. Leading to Delmon Young pinch hitting. First pitch, left field corner. One run scores, two runs score, JJ Hardy heading home, and sliding in just safe!! I have watched it too many times to count. Seeing Nelson Cruz rolling on the ground as JJ scored gets me every time. Camden Yards went insane. It was a moment I don't think any of us will ever forget.

10/5/14 @ Tigers ALDS

I wanted a sweep. I didn't want to let the Tigers back in this series. Cruz hits a homer to give the Os a 2-0 lead. We move to the 9^th. Zach Britton who was lights out in the regular season comes in to nail the series down. He promptly gives up back to back doubles to make it a one run game. I was beyond nervous. I was in fact ready to puke. Buck walks out to the mound, the Os walk Nick Castellanos intentionally, putting the go ahead run on. Then Zach with his tremendous ability to get ground balls got one, hit to Ryan Flaherty, 5-4-3. Double Play!! Os advance. And we could all breath again.

It was a great year. It didn't end how we wanted. But there were these ten moments, with countless others, that made this one hell of a fun year. I can't wait to see what 2015 brings.

Matt Baggette @ mlb930

Adam Jones =MVP

I think the Orioles could have the MVP winner in the AL. Not Mike Trout, nope. An Oriole. No I am not picking the Boomstick, Nelson Cruz. The Oriole I think should be MVP is Adam Jones.

How do we define what is the most valuable? It's subjective for sure. Is it simply the player that has the best numbers? Does being on a winning team really matter? Do we need to factor in things that just can't be measured? Adam Jones is an MVP for many reasons, both statistically and in other ways that can't be measured. First the ones that maybe can't be measured. The intangibles. The unique qualities he possesses that help fuel the team. The Orioles have seen All-Star Catcher Matt Wieters lost for the season (he was having his best year offensively), All-Star third baseman Manny Machado hurt to start the year, suspended and now gone for the year with an injury, JJ Hardy has only 9 home runs and Chris Davis is hitting in the .190's.

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

This has made what Adam Jones has done more valuable than anyone else. He has meant more to his team then anyone else. Yes Nelson Cruz has had a great year and helped a great deal. With his league leading 39 home runs, and 101 RBI's to boot. But Jones is by far the MVP of this team. With the injures and under-performances of key players the season that Jones is having is a big reason for the Orioles being where they are. He is the team's leader on and off the field. He never gets too down or high after a win or a loss. And the influence of his mentality of never giving up and constantly grinding everyday shows up throughout the team. He is the heart and soul of the team, and in many ways as he goes so does the team.

Statistically Jones is having a really good year. Hitting .286/.319/.463/.783  overall for the season, with 24 home runs and 81 RBI's. His 164 hits ranks 8^th in the American League. But the numbers that jump out at me for MVP are what he's done in “clutch” spots (and you know a great deal of the Orioles fan base thinks Jones isn't clutch? Good stuff). In wins, .340/.375/.568/.943 ( in losses .208/.236/.214/.549). With 2 outs (you know clutch) .305/.336/.493/.829. With Runners In Scoring Position ( something the entire team sucks at if you listen to Orioles fans on social media) .324/.359/.496/.855. Even more clutch,with 2 outs and RISP, .323/.364/.484/.848. Oh and he has 6 sac fly's, 15^th in the AL.

There is also Jones's defense. He has a .982 fielding percentage and 324 put outs, which is 8^th amongst all outfielders and 5^th in the American League. His 7 assists, rank 12th in the AL. His defensive WAR ( not a fan of WAR or UZR,but I will include them) is 8.9, and his UZR is 7.3, 4^th among CF's. He routinely cuts balls off and holds runners from taking an extra base. His defense has helped win games as much as his bat.

Turning a 3 run homer into a double play
Photo Credit: fansided.com

Now compare his numbers to Mr. Trout. Hitting .285/.370/.552/.922 with 32 home runs and 102 RBI's. His batting average is a point lower, and yes his OPS is better. And yeah he's got more homers and RBI. But, Jones has a batting average of .340 in wins vs Trout's .309. Also Jones is having a better season w/RISP and most notably with 2 outs and 2 outs w/RISP. Trout is hitting .199/.331/.288/.619  with 2 outs. And with 2 outs and RISP he is only hitting .213/.362/.298/.660. So he hasn't been as “clutch” in those spots as Jones has.

Trout is widely considered on of the better defenders in the game. The defensive metrics (which again I am not a fan of and don't at all understand how Trouts are this bad) show Trout to be having a bad year in the field. A defensive WAR of -5.4 and a UZR of -6.6, despite having a .994 fielding percentage,with 335 putouts and 4 assist.

Trout is on a team that has a future Hall of Famer in Albert Pujols, who, while not the same Albert, is still a force and having a good year. And yes Josh Hamilton has been hurt and is not having a great year. The Angels still have not had the players lost for year or under perform the way the Orioles have and Trout has not had to pick up as much slack as Jones has. The Angels pitching has also been really good this year and one could argue that someone like Garrett Richards is the Angels MVP more so than Trout.

The Champ...no MVP is here!!!

I know that Jones is behind Trout in almost every statistical category. But I feel with the players the Orioles have lost from their lineup and with some players having down years at the plate, what Jones has done for this team make him the most VAULABLE player. Without Jones's production I shudder to think where the Orioles would be this season. So factoring in Jones stats, the loss and under-performance of key players,and his gold glove defense, I would say Adam Jones is more valuable to the Orioles, a first place team that would not be in first without him, than Mike Trout is to the Angels. 

-Matt Baggette @mlb930