First and Ten

Thinking about the horrible start the O's have gotten off to made me wonder how well or poorly the O's have played in their first 10 games to begin the season in the past.

We all know that in 1988 they went 0-21. So it's hard to fathom that had the Orioles lost that 5-4 game they won in TB, they still wouldn't be even half way through the 1988 losing streak yet.

Unbelievable.

Anyway, here is how the Orioles have started the season in their first ten games since 1988.

1988 0-10
1989 5-5
1990 5-5
1991 4-6
1992 5-5
1993 3-7
1994 6-4
1995 4-6
1996 9-1
1997 8-2
1998 8-2
1999 3-7
2000 5-5
2001 4-6
2002 2-8
2003 4-6
2004 6-4
2005 6-4
2006 5-5
2007 4-6
2008 6-4
2009 6-4
2010 1-9

So...in the last 22 years, the Orioles have only started below .500 10 times and worse than 4-6 only 4 times.

Is there anything to take away from that?

Not really.

In 1998, the O's got off to as good a start, 8-2, as they did in 1997, the year they went wire-to-wire in first place. But the 1998 season ended with a losing record.

But it is surprising to see that the Orioles typically start off the season rather well, regardless of how they finish.

Hopefully, this 1-9 start means that they get the bad baseball out of their system and turn things around for the rest of the season.

Somehow I don't think that will be the case.