This season of accepting and rationalizing losing is mercifully over. Buried in all the hoopla over whether Trembley should stay was this quote from The Sun

... said MacPhail, who acknowledged the onus also falls on him to acquire better players

The team finished in the bottom half of the AL in OPS/OPS+ (.748/93). They were at the bottom of the AL in team ERA/ERA+. I'm skeptical that two very young pitchers will anchor the pitching staff in 2010, while we hope Bergesen wasn't pitching over his head. The bullpen needs help, both with pitching fewer innings and talent, and the O's still have no power threat. All of this will not be solved during the off season, but the onus is on MacPhail to "acquire better players". I hope he holds up his end of the bargain and this off season is a satisfying and leads to a 2010 season where the O's the fans shed the mentality that losing is OK.