The Orioles weren't quite ready to admit it after another heart-wrenching loss, but they are not far from the abyss.
It's possible that the fans who endured 41/2 hours of pennant-chase angst on Sunday will be the last to view this Orioles team as a legitimate title contender.
If that sounds like a harsh assessment with more than a month left of the regular season, consider the unhappy circumstances that face this team as it heads out on the road to play seven games against two of the hottest teams in the American League.
The Orioles finished a long homestand that began with much promise with five losses in their past six games and a four-game sweep by the Minnesota Twins that was deflating on so many levels it might not be possible to list them all here.