The Orioles' performance approaching the halfway mark of 2008 and observers reaction to it -- both fans and the media -- is an interesting study in the law of relativity. No, not the Albert Einstein variety.  Maybe we can call it the John Kruk version.  As I was flashing through channels following last night's Orioles 2-1 comeback win over Houston, one of the ESPN analysts -- and I think it was Kruk, although I apologize if it was one of the other commentators -- was oohing and aahing over what the O's had accomplished this year.

At that point, one of his colleagues reminded him that the team is just two games over .500 (36-34) and merely in front of the last-place Toronto Blue Jays in AL East.

And when you look at Baltimore's bottom line in that context, you can say, "What's the big deal?"

The Yankees are six games over .500 but in the Bronx, they've been suffering from a season-long anxiety attack because they've been looking up at Boston and Tampa in the standings since April.  The Mets have been bobbing around the .500 mark, similar to the Orioles, and they've already fired their manager while Dave Trembley is considered Manager of the Year timber.  Likewise, the Braves are a game under .500 and the speculation is that Atlanta will have a trade-deadline fire sale because they're about ready to throw in the towel on 2008.

Of course, the difference in those cases and the Orioles is that everything is relative (hence, our Kruk law of relativity).  In all those cases, those teams were expected to contest for championships.  In contrast, no one expected much of the Orioles.  In fact, as a rebuilding team, it would not have been surprising if they finished with fewer than the 69 wins they had last year (Las Vegas didn't, the preseason over-under in sports books was in 63-64 win range). 

So, even if the Orioles keep up their current pace and finish with a win total in the low 80s, they won't be a playoff team but the season would be considered an enormous success.  In the Bronx, a similar finish will have Steinbrenner the Younger apoplectic.  Of course, then next year, it will be the Orioles who are held to a higher standard.