by Tim Anderson

Created on: September 17, 2008

The 2008 Baltimore Orioles have a chance to break a record this season. No, it is not for the most games giving up 7 or more runs. It also isn't the highest team ERA. This record is positive. This is a record that the 1920 Yankees teams couldn't even do with Gehrig and Ruth. Not even when they had Maris, Mantle, and Berra could they do this. The '08 Orioles have the chance to cement their names into baseball history. They have the chance to do what no other MLB team has ever done. The Orioles have the chance to have three players hit 50 doubles in a single-season.

Nick Markakis
The 24 year old outfielder from Woodstock, Georgia is currently at the bottom of the trio of players that make up the doubles machine. However, his 46 doubles are good enough for fourth in the American League behind Dustin Pedroia and the other 2 members of the Orioles' doubles machine. Despite only having a total of 3 doubles in March and April combined, Nick Markakis has cemented himself as one of the best doubles hitters in the league. He has had a total of 4 multi-doubles games. In 558 at bats, Nick Markakis has slapped 46 doubles giving him the rate of roughly one double every 12 at bats. His team has a total of 13 games left in the season. He is guaranteed at least 3 at bats every game. That gives him a minimum of 39 at bats if he plays all the games entirely. However, we know that if he does play every game, he will have games with more than 3 at bats. Also, there is a chance he may not play all those games. So let's review, he needs 4 more doubles. He hits a double every 12 at bats. He has a minimum of 39 at bats left if he plays the entirety of the 13 games his team has left. On his averages, he needs 48 at bats to have his 4 doubles. Like I stated before, he will more than likely have more at bats than 3 per game. This is very reachable for Nick Markakis.

Brian Roberts
The Orioles' All-Star second baseman came close to being traded multiple times last off-season. Obviously, he was kept around. He was kept around for this very reason, to get in scoring position for the other players. Brian Roberts has been a part of a duo of players to hit 50 doubles in a season (2004 with Miguel Tejada). Brian's 48 doubles is tied for 2nd in the AL with his other partner in the doubles trio. Just like Markakis, Roberts had a period where he wasn't hitting doubles. In the month of May he hit a total of 4 doubles. But talk about rebounds! Brian busted out a total of 17 doubles in June. That included

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