Remembering the 2012 American League Division Series

With the Orioles set to play in the American League Championship Series for the second time in three years, let's take a quick second to look back at the 2012 AL Division Series. Yes, it's a bit of a painful memory as the Orioles lost in five games to the Yankees and they didn't hit much. But they did get strong pitching in that series. Only three Orioles that made starts in that series could make starts for the Orioles beginning next Thursday - Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Ryan Flaherty. Here is how the Orioles lineup looked in the 2012 ALDS: C Matt Wieters 1B Mark Reynolds 2B Robert Andino (three games), Flaherty (two games) SS Hardy 3B Manny Machado LF Nate McLouth CF Jones RF Chris Davis DH Jim Thome (three games), Lew Ford (two games) Yep, Thome and Ford at DH and Davis in right field for the injured Nick Markakis. Reynolds was at first for the O's in that series. O's starters pitched to an ERA of 2.08 in that ALDS. In fact, O's starters gave up two runs or less in all six playoff games that year. That were easily pitching good enough to advance. But the Orioles scored just 10 runs in five games, four times scoring two runs or less in losing that series. Jones went 2-for-23, Davis 4-for-20, Hardy 3-for-22, Wieters 3-for-19 and Flaherty 2-for-8. Two pitchers that made their playoff debuts in 2012 could get starts again in the upcoming postseason. Wei-Yin Chen got the Game 2 win then, allowing just two runs (one earned) over 6 1/3 innings. Miguel Gonzalez got a no-decision, but pitched a very strong Game 3. Over seven innings, he gave up just five hits and one run with no walks and eight strikeouts. In that postseason, the Orioles played six total games with Joe Saunders and Jason Hammel starting two each. This time, the Orioles will not be playing another AL East team. This time they'd like to get pitching like they got two years, but come up with hits and runs this time. And this time, they'd like to advance to the American League Championship Series.