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MLB Baltimore OriolesMLB Playoffs

Nelson Cruz’s Vindication Possible Answer To Baltimore Orioles’ Postseason Hopes At Camden Yards

Getty Images

Getty Images

Like Leonard Cohen‘s iconic song ‘Bird On The Wire’, Nelson Cruz‘s vindication carries potential to make him the Baltimore Orioles‘ primary bird on the wire that is postseason baseball in October. It is a fine line to straddle for Cruz at Camden Yards, and Baltimore natives are all too familiar with the dynamic nature of a wire as a metaphor and symbol surrounding the city’s popular culture.

On the topic of popular culture, baseball-reference.com features no nickname on Cruz’s profile. A man who led all of MLB in home runs and helped to carry a franchise deserves a fitting nickname that pays homage to his continually-developing intrigue and story, especially when he now plays his ball in a town that gave rise to the icons of George ‘Babe’ Ruth and Al ‘Mr. Tiger’ Kaline.

Cruz’s Twitter handle is @ncboomstick23. Surely, a more fitting nickname is floating around in the baseball world somewhere, as self-proclaimed ones rarely live on in history. Maybe he needs the rest of this postseason to unravel before a profound one becomes evident.

Truth be told, the opening for this article is a catchy ploy to attract readers. Cruz actually hit better on the road (.289-25-68) versus at home (.252-15-40) throughout the regular season. But nonetheless, it is why he straddles a fine line. Should the Orioles’ World Series ambitions rest on Cruz’s bat, he will need to perform at Camden Yards over what games remain in this postseason for Baltimore.

Thus far, Cruz has been a terror to opposing pitchers in the playoffs. The O’s faced three former Cy Young pitchers in their ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. Every one of them, except Justin Verlander, was sent packing with a loss as the Orioles swept the Tigers under the leaves of autumn in Motown’s inner city. In that series, Cruz hit .500 with two home runs and five RBIs; the latest home run came off David Price in Game 3 and proved to be the ultimate difference-maker in the series.

Cruz just completed his 10th regular season of big league service. He had a fine year for a player coming off of a 50-game PED suspension. There was an inherent risk in signing him — for what now appears to be a bargain at $8 million — and the Orioles now find themselves laughing all the way to the ALCS. Cruz set personal bests for home runs and RBI this past season.

In a season where Chris ‘Crush’ Davis was a supreme letdown for the Birds, Matt Wieters and Manny Machado were mostly write-offs, and a substantial downturn in production from J.J. Hardy was endured despite him being healthy for 141 games, Cruz led the way for the Orioles’ offense in 2014. In doing so, he reclaimed some of his dignity as a professional athlete and established a foundation for long-term contract discussions in his future.

The fans in Baltimore seem to be embracing him in a similar manner that his teammates are. Capturing their first AL East title since 1997, Cruz realizes there is still work to do for the Orioles. For all the individual praise he has received, nothing would be greater than to parade down the streets of Baltimore in three weeks with the World Series trophy in hand.

Given his career resurrection, it would be unfitting to think Cruz will play 2015 in anything but an Orioles jersey. The 34-year-old deserves to be inked to a long-term deal in the offseason. It’s likely that Cruz’s play in 2014 has asked Baltimore’s front office to jump, to which their reply will assuredly be “how high?” Management took a chance on Cruz, and his way of thanking them has the Orioles four games away from playing in the World Series.

Cruz’s swing has been unforgiving to opponents in 2014. The similarity in his career playoff numbers to that of the legendary Ruth are striking. Should the Orioles toe the narrow postseason line long enough to capture their first AL pennant since 1983, Cruz should continue to be their bird of a different feather.

Jordan Wevers is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.