Winning Attitude: Orioles Focused On Trip To World Series In 2014
SARASOTA, Fla. (WJZ) -- The Orioles appear to be poised for another winning season and a possible playoff run.
Mark Viviano reports this year's O's have a little something extra working for them.
There are many statistics that measure a team's performance in baseball, but one thing that's typical to quantify is attitude. It's something the Orioles believe they have in abundance.
It's a winning attitude after two winning seasons and a playoff appearance in 2012. The Orioles have come a long way from the struggles of 14 straight losing seasons.
The attitude now is to expect success.
"I think every year, that should be your outlook. I don't think any year you come to spring training thinking, 'Oh, we just want to be .500,' is a good mindset to have. Every year, you're playing for a ring, you're playing for it all. We feel we have a group of guys in this clubhouse that can do that," catcher Matt Wieters said.
"I feel like we're a good team. Everything kind of changed a couple of years ago. I think the 2012 season, we came into spring training expecting to be good. I think we exceeded a lot of people's expectations, but not ours. I think we expected to be like that and it's the same way now," shortstop J.J. Hardy said.
Orioles outfielder Adam Jones says it's his responsibility to be at the forefront of forging that Orioles winning attitude. He says he gets his cue from the man in charge--manager Buck Showalter--who refuses to give into the team's past struggles.
"He's not trying to hear these excuses that, 'Oh, this' and 'Oh, that,'" Jones said. "This is the wrong business for excuses. And I've seen... when people brought excuses to him, you can tell in his eye that he don't have time for that. And it's the same with me. Don't bring me no excuse, I want to see results."
There have been positive results--with two straight winning seasons. But this year, the Orioles are focused on the ultimate result--a trip to the World Series in 2014.
The Orioles couldn't beat Mother Nature Thursday afternoon. Their game with Tampa Bay was rained out. The Orioles will host the Phillies Friday afternoon in hopefully sunny Sarasota.
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