After what has been one of the most surprising, bizarre and improbable baseball seasons, the Baltimore Orioles have clinched a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

And what a ride it's been. Here's a team with plenty of talent, but also its fair share of surprise contributions from unseasoned players and league retreads -- and they've passed the 90-win mark.

It was the rebirth of Orioles Magic, in the form of so many wins eked out in one-run ballgames and extra innings. This year has been utterly crazy, and anyone outside of the Orioles clubhouse who says they saw it coming all along is full of it.

But in keeping with the feel-good optimism of this playoff berth, we have 12 reasons why the craziness could extend all the way through October. Let's be clear: this is not a guarantee. But to borrow the mantra from the 1989 squad, a team that similarly defied expectations but fell just short of the postseason: Why Not? -- Brandon Weigel