First offseason edition: A few questions for O's fans

Yes, it is the first time this offseason that we put some specific questions your way. Every day here is an open forum for topics on the Orioles. Today we get a bit more specific about it.

It was quite the season for Birdland in 2023. And while there is disappointment with the playoffs still going on without Baltimore, there is plenty of optimism for more winning in the future.

The O's went 101-61 to finish with the second-best record in the majors and best record in the American League for the first time since 1997. The 101 wins tied the 1971 Orioles for fourth-most in club history. The O's posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2013-2014. The Orioles won their 10th AL East title.

“It was a really successful season," said manager Brandon Hyde at his season-ending press conference. "You know, overcoming so many odds and obstacles that were against us and so many people thinking that we weren’t going to be a playoff team. Then all of a sudden we win 101 games and the American League East. That says a lot about a lot of people in the organization and the guys in our clubhouse. So, really proud of that.

“We had so many awesome moments. Huge wins. And close wins. And the amount of close games we played was ridiculous. And how we won some games during the season, it was just a total team effort, and that was how we played all year. The postseason, we just didn’t play our best and ran into a little bit of a buzz saw, but I’m going to have great memories of this team.”

Getting your best memories of this team is a good place to start today's questions:

* What did you like the most about this season, and what lasting memories do you take from the 2023 season?

* In what areas might the team regress a bit next year, and in what areas can they still progress?

* The 2023 season attendance was 1,936,798, the largest at Camden Yards since the Orioles drew 2,028,424 fans in 81 dates in 2017. The O's enjoyed the third-best year-over-year attendance gain in the major leagues. What will the 2024 season attendance look like?

* Which pitcher will make the most starts for the club next year?

* Which player will hit the most homers for the club next year?

* What is the club's biggest need?