The Orioles needed a last-week winning streak to avoid the third 100-loss campaign in team history, their first since 1988. They were assured of a 12th straight losing season 3 1/2 weeks ago, even before the club dropped 13 straight September games, the longest losing streak in the major leagues in 2009 and the third longest in team history.
Not only are the Orioles firmly situated in last place - they're 39 games back of the American League East-winning New York Yankees and 12 behind the fourth-place Toronto Blue Jays - they have also clinched the worst record in the AL. They were overmatched on the road (25-56) and overwhelmed (23-48) within their division.
But when members of the organization discuss the 2009 season, many of them are unwavering in describing it as a year of progress. It's a claim that is not easy to make given the standings, nor will it likely be comfortable for long-suffering Orioles fans to accept.
"I'm not at all discouraged," said right fielder Nick Markakis, who signed a six-year, $66.1 million contract extension last offseason, saying he felt the organization was headed in the right direction. "I actually look at this season like a positive because what we have now is what we're going to have. We're missing a few pieces and I think everybody knows that, but it's good to get our young guys up here and let them get their feet wet. It's all about learning, and I think for the most part, all of our young guys have taken a step forward."
Though nobody with any authority said so publicly, the 2009 season was never about wins and losses for the Orioles. It was about the maturation of young center fielder Adam Jones and the big league introduction of top catching prospect Matt Wieters. It was about giving multi-tooled position players, like Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold, an opportunity to learn at the highest level, while slowly promoting the organization's most prized arms. It started with the debut of right-hander Brad Bergesen and continued with Jason Berken, David Hernandez, Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz.
The Orioles have had eight players age 25 or under make their major league debuts this season and though all of them have had some struggles, they haven't been consistently overmatched. It was also a very productive year in the minor leagues, where many of the team's top prospects matched or exceeded expectations.
