Orioles vs. Astros: Who's first to 100 losses?

[Adam]

Heh. My money's on my beleagured O's. This team is just putrid. 15-35 after today and just cannot hit worth a damn. Several key players have regressed and they've had a ton of injuries. This is the 13th consecutive year of losing baseball in this town. Hard to believe there was actually a time when the Baltimore Orioles were a proud organization. How far the mighty have fallen.

So, O's or Astros hit the century mark first? Thoughts?

 

[Mitchell]

My bet is the O's. Even if they win another game in their next three, they are on pace for about a 47 or 48 win season. The worst season I ever remember the O's having was in 1988, when they went 54-107. I remember it well, because my Braves also had a 54 win season that year, losing 106 games.

The O's had such a tradition of greatness in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. It's too bad that they've fallen on such difficult times.

Mitch

 

[Adam]

My bet is the O's. Even if they win another game in their next three, they are on pace for about a 47 or 48 win season. The worst season I ever remember the O's having was in 1988, when they went 54-107. I remember it well, because my Braves also had a 54 win season that year, losing 106 games.

The O's had such a tradition of greatness in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. It's too bad that they've fallen on such difficult times.

Mitch

Yes sir, 1988 was the year the Orioles started 0-21, which remains a dubious record to this day. And you are correct. There was a time that the Orioles were a very proud franchise. Sadly, I feel that not only are they bad... but they're rather irrelevant in today's baseball. This is just a team of guys that look like they don't even care.

Edit: Let's remember that the O's were contenders from 1992-1997 as well, but it all fell apart from 1998 on to this very day.

 

[AmishTickler]

I wouldn't count out either the Pirates or the Indians from being the first to 100 losses. Both of their pitching staffs are putrid. At least the Astros have a semi-decent staff with Oswalt (for now), Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers who has been pitching surprisingly well for the 'Stros.

But yeah, I thought the Orioles would be a little better this year than they have been. They supposedly have all this young talent but they have not shown it. Their top two "stars" of the future, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters, have struggled mightily.

 

[Cy/MiG]

The Pirates. 😀 (Seriously, check their run differential and pythagorean W-L... yikes!)

Okay, but in the spirit of the thread, I'll say the 'Stros.

They're old as hell, they have no prospects to give them a boost and Roy Oswalt wants out.

It's possible that the O's get to 100 before them since they have to play the Yanks, Sox and Rays often, but from a pure talent standpoint, they have the 'Stros beat by a mile.

 

[obama666]

Man it's tough watching the O's, Pirates, Nationals and Royals over the last few years. Every year it seems as though you have 4 or 5 teams competing for the World Series and another dozen that will never, ever get there under the current system. The Union will not remedy this because teams like the Yanks and Red Sox and other big spenders drive up salaries. It must suck being a fan in a small market city. How bad the "Reserve Clause" was for the players, it was better for the fans.

 

[Adam]

I wouldn't count out either the Pirates or the Indians from being the first to 100 losses. Both of their pitching staffs are putrid. At least the Astros have a semi-decent staff with Oswalt (for now), Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers who has been pitching surprisingly well for the 'Stros.

But yeah, I thought the Orioles would be a little better this year than they have been. They supposedly have all this young talent but they have not shown it. Their top two "stars" of the future, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters, have struggled mightily.

Jones looks absolutely lost. He's swinging at everything, regardless of whether or not it's in the strike zone. He hasn't been a good hitter since post All Star break last season. His defense in center has suffered as well. It is all very alarming. I'm willing to take more of a wait and see with Wieters, since he doesn't even have a full season under his belt yet. His average has dipped, but at the very least, his defense has been very good.

Markakis is putting up a .300 average and .400 on base percentage (or somewhere near there), but his power has been virtually non-existant. This is a guy who put up a .300-23-112 line in his second year in the big leagues, and this year has just 3 homers. He really needs protection in that lineup, because we desperately need him to start driving the ball again instead of settling for singles. If not for Ty Wigginton setting the world afire with his 13 bombs, I'm not even sure we're at 15 wins at the moment.

 

[Mitchell]

Obama, I personally love when a small market team does well.

What you said about small market teams is true, but not always. Look at the Twins, for example. I consider them small market, and they seem to compete for a playoff spot every year.

I'm one who has always believed in a salary cap in baseball. It should be $100 million per team, period, no exceptions, or "luxury taxes". The Yankees should not be allowed to spend $200 million plus on a payroll, or to pay Arod $32 mil a season. The Phillies payroll is around $100 mil, and they are a playoff caliber team, that has been to the World Series two years in a row.

I know this got a bit away from the discussion of 100 losses. Sorry. It just infuriates me how the Yankees are allowed to spend $200 plus mil on a payroll, with no reins placed on their crazy spending.

Mitch

 

[Cy/MiG]

Man it's tough watching the O's, Pirates, Nationals and Royals over the last few years. Every year it seems as though you have 4 or 5 teams competing for the World Series and another dozen that will never, ever get there under the current system. The Union will not remedy this because teams like the Yanks and Red Sox and other big spenders drive up salaries. It must suck being a fan in a small market city. How bad the "Reserve Clause" was for the players, it was better for the fans.

As a Bucs fan, I can say that I'm jaded.

It helps to follow hockey until the end of the Cup Finals and by then it's mid June and the Pirates are out of contention so I can pay attention at will.

And now that the Buccos have young talent, at least now there is hope on the horizon.

Plus being a fan of a 'small market team' gives one perspective, so it's not all bad.

 

[Adam]

As a Bucs fan, I can say that I'm jaded.

It helps to follow hockey until the end of the Cup Finals and by then it's mid June and the Pirates are out of contention so I can pay attention at will.

And now that the Buccos have young talent, at least now there is hope on the horizon.

Plus being a fan of a 'small market team' gives one perspective, so it's not all bad.

And I still remember when the Pirates were a damn good franchise. I know you guys have been suffering more than us O's fans. On the bright side, we do have the Ravens/Steelers rivalry. At least those are two well-run franchises that have a shot on an annual basis.

 

[Cy/MiG]

And I still remember when the Pirates were a damn good franchise. I know you guys have been suffering more than us O's fans. On the bright side, we do have the Ravens/Steelers rivalry. At least those are two well-run franchises that have a shot on an annual basis.

Man do I hate the Ravens, mostly because they're one of few franchises who play the Steelers tough EVERY time they meet.

If I weren't a Steelers fan, the Ravens would be on my hypothetical shortlist of favorite team(s). Very well-run franchise.

Also, I don't think Bucs fans have been 'suffering' for a while now. We're used to losing, mostly jaded by it. Almost like Cleveland fans. 😀