Maybe the most baffling thing about the 115-loss Orioles from a year ago is that they entered the season expecting to contend. It’s difficult to picture now, but Baltimore had serious playoff aspirations. The Orioles signed Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner late in the offseason, held onto Manny Machado, and were still banking on a comeback year for Chris Davis. The organization had talked itself into thinking it was a contender, and they might have even fooled you.
Flash forward to the beginning of this season, and expectations could not be lower.