A league anoints its champions. Within
Tumultuous divisions, they ascend
To the top, or close enough, win by win
Or by losses from rivals. A new friend

In spite of any previous offense
Is chosen by ironic scheduling.
With such balance, the talent pool is dense
And it takes help from others. Though a king

Is hard to find, kingmakers run amok.
Each game erodes numeric magic, but
Makes ephemeral brilliance. With luck
Or skill behind the scenes, the deepest rut

Becomes a hill to climb, and from the peak,
See those that brought you to where you all seek.

The Yankees' Andy Pettitte was the beneficiary of a 10-run fourth inning on Saturday night, allowing him to become only the fourth pitcher in the last 50 years to get the win by going only the win-qualifying mininum five innings while giving up at least eight earned runs.

Here's the list:

9/11/2001: America under terrorist attack

9/11/2007: Zumaya fine after fingernail scare

On the morning of August 22nd, the Orioles stood at 58-65, 16.5 games out of first in the AL East. They had been playing better (at least in terms of their record) under interim manager Dave Trembley. Their team ERA was 4.39, pretty respectable given the powerhouse offenses in the AL East. That day, the O's announced they were naming Trembley manager through the 2008 season.

What happened since then is a 16-game stretch of some of the worst pitching in the modern era. Of course there was the historic 30-3 drubbing at the hands of the Rangers, but its also included four other 10+ run games, and an 11-game streak of giving up at least five runs. Their season ERA is now 4.97.

Here is the sum total of the carnage, including last night's 7-6 loss to the Red Sox:

W	L	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	2B	3B	HR	ERA	WHIP	HBP	WP	BK	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2	14	1	143	205	156	149	90	112	39	4	27	9.38	2.06	7	10	1	.336	.419	.545	.964

The last time any team gave up more than 156 runs in a 16-game stretch was June and July of 1999, when the Cubs surrendered 163 runs.

And in terms of the five runs or more streaks, the O's came close to the worst streak in the last 50 years.

From 1957 to 2007
Team	Start	End	Games	W	L	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
COL	6/18/01	7/4/01	15	2	13	1	132	166	116	106	83	100	18	7.23
TBD	5/24/99	6/8/99	14	2	12	1	120	163	122	106	63	95	18	7.93
KCR	7/27/05	8/10/05	13	1	12	0	114	159	110	93	63	85	19	7.34
STL	6/3/03	6/16/03	13	7	6	4	116	155	98	97	52	68	23	7.53
PIT	9/9/00	9/21/00	13	3	10	3	115	148	110	100	61	71	20	7.8
HOU	6/18/07	6/30/07	12	4	8	1	107	143	91	84	51	73	22	7.07
MIL	6/3/02	6/16/02	12	3	9	2	107	122	80	72	45	100	19	6.04
COL	4/22/00	5/6/00	12	5	7	1	101	143	95	86	43	57	20	7.66
FLA	9/26/97	4/8/98	12	1	11	0	105	137	89	76	62	77	18	6.51
SDP	6/29/97	7/13/97	12	6	6	3	107	135	83	71	56	81	13	5.93
DET	5/14/96	5/27/96	12	0	12	0	109	130	95	82	68	73	25	6.77
DET	8/19/95	9/1/95	12	2	10	1	106	157	103	97	47	57	23	8.21
BAL	8/22/07	9/1/07	11	1	10	1	101	150	116	109	65	73	17	9.71

Thirteen runs scored; one game already played.
"The hitters must be tired." With a grin
The arrogant hope legend will be made
Shines just a little brighter. "Just" a win
Cannot compare to witnessing that which
Cannot be mentioned. But those immature
Dreams, as they're dubbed, are silenced. The first pitch
Comes in. Nobody can be really sure
What will take place. In center field, beset
By controversy for having refused
To come to the groundbreaking: Hunter. Yet
The fact he might not be there when it's used
(It being the new stadium) now seems
Irrelevant, for his field is right there.
The game goes on, between the diverse teams,
But the word "gardener" for once seems fair
To describe an outfielder. Still, the Ks
Rack up as well. The Twins get their first hit
And quickly score. The constant flows of plays
Move the game onward. Voices skirting It
Yell wordlessly. The count is three and one.
Silence falls, but quickly becomes a roar.
United, hopeful, we've already won.
Three outs are nothing next to twenty-four.