The Orioles, who have today off after a 12-2 pounding of the Blue Jays, are one victory away from being a 90-win club with six games remaining during the season. It's another remarkable milestone for this club.

With the victory last night, Baltimore surpassed the win total of the 1996 team, which made the American League Championship Series and was a wild-card entry in the postseason.  Just one Orioles team has accomplished the 90-win mark since the 1983 World Series team, and that came with the wire-to-wire AL East winners in 1997. This team won't match the 98 victories of that year. 

The Orioles, during the 1960s, '70s and early '80s won 90 games regularly. The club set a standard for excellence and consistency. The Oriole Way was an expectation, not just a slogan.

What this 2012 Orioles team -- which nearly everyone picked to once again finish in the AL East cellar -- has pulled off continues to surprise and inspire. They aren't underdogs. They're on the cusp of greatness and worthy of the Oriole name.

Posted Sept. 27, 2012