In the history of the Baltimore Orioles, there have been huge series, with championships on the line. Those games defined the organization for decades.

But the last 14 years have been a blur of indistinguishable losses for Baltimore fans. Now, the Orioles are two days away from something that matters. A series with the Yankees will bleed into September, with postseason chances for the Birds on the line and a whole lot more. The Orioles have 14 more wins than losses, a season high, heading into the third of four games with the White Sox tonight. More importantly, the Orioles are 3.5 games out of the American League East lead, which the Yankees hold.

The Orioles have defied expectations all year long with the 18th highest payroll in Major League Baseball. With a payroll slightly higher than $80 million, the Orioles are paying their players more than $115 million less than New York.

There are few statistical categories where the Orioles are superior to the Yankees. New York pitches, hits and fields better. The Yankees had three starters on the American League All-Star roster, while the Orioles had three players on the All-Star team.

After years of playing fifth fiddle to the Yankees, Baltimore has the opportunity to fight back in New York this weekend and make the sports world take notice. Reporters from around the country are starting to write their stories about the Orioles and make sense of something that is still confusing people that watch the team each night. The Orioles are contenders and they are for real.

This weekend, they take that story to New York and beyond.

Posted Aug. 29, 2012