The hiring of manager Buck Showalter in the middle of the 2011 season brought much excitement to Baltimore Orioles fans everywhere and after the hot start to the 2012 season, “Orioles Magic” is in the air.

After the magical finish to a less-than-satisfactory 2011 year, Orioles fans had their fair share of hopes and doubts about how the 2012 season might play out.

With May in full swing, the Orioles are the best team in baseball that no one talks about. Baltimore has started the 2012 season on a solid note, generating 19 wins and 10 losses. The method to the Orioles’ newfound winning ways starts with their solid starting pitching and ends with their superb situational hitting.

Even renowned sports writers are just as surprised at the Orioles as the fans are. SI.com writer, Joe Lemire called the Orioles “undoubtedly the most surprising team in the sport” and also notes that “they are starting to get interesting.”

The Orioles won 5 straight games before losing to the Texas Rangers on Monday, one day following their 17 inning marathon with the Boston Red Sox. Orioles fans everywhere hope they can get back in the win column against three top-notch opponents.

 Edited by: Vicki Fitch