As the Orioles continue their postseason push -- they are currently in second place in the wild-card standings -- it's kind of lost how close the Orioles are to erasing 14 years of futility.

The Orioles won their 66th game of the season Aug. 19 and need just 15 more victories to secure their first .500 season since 1997. At the start of the season, I thought this team would win 66 games all season. It turns out the 2012 O's were capable of reaching that mark with 41 games remaining during the season.

Few people thought the team was capable of this, even with the players that have been lost to injuries throughout the season. This just wasn't a .500 team. As the Orioles head to Texas for another big series, it's worth remembering just how much they've accomplished to this point. The mission isn't over, but it's within sight. Along the way, the Orioles have reset expectations and extended the landmarks for success.

Posted Aug. 20, 2012