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Article: Orioles Give Early Rendition of Their September Song; Predicted Rise Just Another Fall
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- August 4, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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This time around, it was supposed to be different for the
Baltimore Orioles. When the games became important, this Orioles
team was supposed to thrive.
It's a club, after all, with a lineup full of dangerous,
veteran hitters, with a potent one-two starting pitching combination
of Mike Mussina and Ben McDonald, with the American League's most
sure-handed defense and with career saves leader Lee Smith anchoring
its bullpen.
This time, there was supposed to be no crunch-time collapse. In
1992 and '93, the Orioles contended in the AL East into September,
then faded badly. They were a combined 31-30 from Sept. 1 onward in
those seasons, hardly inspired sprints for the finish line. But
those ...