masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIn a sport dominated by statistics, I can’t find any stats to explain why the Orioles can’t beat the Yankees or Red Sox.

We all know the O’s aren’t better than those teams, not even close. And, yes, those clubs are now pushing for the post-season while the O’s aren’t pushing for anything.

But they are 2-13 this year vs. Boston and 3-12 vs. New York. They can’t win more than 14 percent vs. the Sox and 20 percent vs. New York?

If a team won only 20 percent all year that club would…In a sport dominated by statistics, I can’t find any stats to explain why the Orioles can’t beat the Yankees or Red Sox.

We all know the O’s aren’t better than those teams, not even close. And, yes, those clubs are now pushing for the post-season while the O’s aren’t pushing for anything.

But they are 2-13 this year vs. Boston and 3-12 vs. New York. They can’t win more than 14 percent vs. the Sox and 20 percent vs. New York?

If a team won only 20 percent all year that club would finish with a mark of 32 and 130.

Yes, that’s dismal.

The Red Sox have won ten straight series vs. the O’s and 20 of the last 23 between these teams. New York has won 10 in a row over the Birds for the first time since 1955.

The O’s are a combined 1-23 in their last 24 games at Fenway and Yankee Stadium.

The worst team in the history of the game should do better than 1-23. Right?

The best conclusion I can come to is the collective mindset of the teams at gametime. The O’s must feel, it doesn’t matter what we do, we’ll lose somehow. The Yankees and Sox must feel, it doesn’t matter what happens, we’ll figure out a way to win in the end.

They say attitude means a lot. I’m sure the O’s don’t want to feel beaten by these teams before the national anthem is even sung, but how could they not.

Another disappointing aspect is no O’s players or coaches ever speak out about all those losses. We don’t need someone to break a water cooler or turn over the post-game spread, but how about just saying “this is ridiculous and has to stop!”

The O’s are 2-11 this year in games vs. those two teams decided by two runs or less. Maybe they are a little closer to them than we think.

It sure doesn’t feel that way.