Members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, whose win in Super Bowl VII clinched a perfect 17-0 season, have a champagne toast each year when the last remaining undefeated NFL team finally loses its first game. In a similar vein, I'd like to imagine that Billy Ripken, Dave Schmidt, Jay Tibbs, and the rest of the 1988 Orioles gather and raise a glass of frosty cold Natty Boh each April when the last winless MLB team gets that elusive first W. As we approach the end of week two of the 2016 campaign, those pale American lagers are still on ice. With losses today, both the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves are still gaining on those 0-21 '88 Birds. Each team is 0-9, with anemic offenses and untimely lapses in pitching. The Braves in particular look like a serious contender to Baltimore's throne of futility. The team is in rebuild mode, having divested themselves of prime players such as Andrelton Simmons, Jason Heyward, and Justin Upton. They've also got an O's connection that can't be ignored. No less than four ex-Orioles - Jim Johnson, Kelly Johnson, Nick Markakis, and Bud Norris - are currently occupying space on Atlanta's big league roster. Jim and Bud have each lost a pair of games, combining to allow a dozen runs in 15.2 innings. Cover your eyes, folks.
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