As we draw closer and closer to the autumnal months, baseball teams across the nation have set about putting the finishing touches on their 2010 seasons. For teams like the Padres, Rangers, and Twins, a postseason berth looks to be within site. For the other teams, this means another long, cold winter dreaming about what might have been.

But even amongst those clubs which are left out of postseason play, there will be winners and losers. Squads who finished just shy – or even in the middle of the pack – have things to be thankful for. However, every season needs its losers. This year, those look to be the Orioles, Indians, and Mariners on the American League side. We’ll talk abut the NL clubs in another segment, but for now let’s focus on the junior circuit.

So, if you were a member or manager of one of these teams, what can you do to forget about this past season? Take a look, in my team by team guide.

The Baltimore Orioles (43-80 as of 8/21/10)
Let’s start with the league’s worst. Even here, there is some good news. New manager Buck Showalter may be able to do some good next year, but the building blocks are as shaky as ever. Let’s take a look at some of the has-been names on this roster: Ty Wigginton, Corey Patterson, Cesar Izturis, and Julio Lugo. Oh, goody. The alcoholic verdict here? Absinthe. Drink as much of it as you can, fans, and ride the hallucinogenic wave back to happier days.

The Cleveland Indians (50-72 as of 8/21/10)
Wow. It must really suck to be a Cleveland sports fan. Between the departure of a certain media-darling and the disappointing season from… well, from nearly everyone, it’s hard to imagine things getting a whole lot worse here. Maybe if the Browns make a playoff push (cough, cough) things will look better. For now, it’s probably time to start drinking all those bottles of champagne you were saving for your NBA Championship celebrations. Hey, don’t get too down. He’s going to collapse in Miami, anyway. So until then, drink like the scorned lovers you feel like.

The Seattle Mariners (49-74 as of 8/21/10)
And everything started so well. Jack Zduriencik’s club was supposed to be a contender this year, what with their upgraded defense and the acquisition of Milton Bradley. But now, with only a month left in the season, it seems as though this team will need to blow up and rebuild all over again. The offseason solution? Plenty of Anchor Steam beer, to build up the necessary pressure to create said explosion.

- Taylor Maxwell

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Tags | Baseball, baseball drinking games, MBL