MLB PREVIEW 2013

Baltimore Orioles

Manager:Buck Showalter (4th Season)

Last Season:(93-69) (AL 5th Seed)

(Beat Rangers 5-1 in WC Game, Lost to Yankees 3-2 in Divisional Round)

2013

Lineup

C Matt Wieters (Age:26) (5th Season, 5th with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles): 144 Games 131 Hits .249 Average 23 HRs 83 RBI 60 Walks .329 OBP 3 Stolen Bases

Matt Wieters after years of getting into form with the Orioles is finally starting to become a great presence in the lineup like the believed he would when they picked him up as a top prospect. What you can expect from Wieters once again this year is excellent power in a small Camden Yards and a great defensive catcher. What the Orioles always worry with Wieters is health but his 144 games last year was the best of his career. I expect Wieters to once again be a powerful asset for the Orioles in a lineup that will really have to produce.

1B Chris Davis (Age:26) (7th Season, 2nd with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles): 139 Games 139 Hits .270 Average 33 HRs 85 RBI 37 Walks .326 OBP 2 Stolen Bases

The biggest surprise out of the stunning performance of this Orioles team was the emergence of Chris Davis who was truly an incredible force in the O’s run last year. After years of minor leagues and being kind of a side player Davis exploded with power lasting blasting 30 plus homers and was even a huge defensive asset both in the outfield and at 1B. Davis was a giant boost to the Orioles defensively and provided another scary force in their lineup and may have been their most important player. It’s tough to say whether last year was a fluke but it is easy to say it won’t get better than that for Davis I still expect him to be a great help in the O’s lineup but only with about 23 homers and around 75 RBI still a tremendous asset just not as scary.

2B Brian Roberts (Age:35) (13th Season, 13th with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles): 17 Games 12 Hits .182 Average 0 HR 5 RBI 5 Walks .233 OBP 1 Stolen Base

I have always loved Brian Roberts great guy and tremendous player but the amount of injuries he has to deal with especially the past few years have been tough to watch. After a big return from injury last season Roberts once again could not get back on the field and missed all but about a few games last year. At the age of 35 and still so injury prone I don’t expect much more than for him to just start at 2B next year and hate to say it but not sure he will last very long. Orioles may want to start to look at other options for 2B this season but he heads to camp as starter.

SS JJ Hardy (Age:30) (9th Season, 3rd with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles): 158 Games 158 Hits .238 Average 22 HR 68 RBI 38 Walks .282 OBP 0 Stolen Bases

A constant trait you see throughout the Orioles lineup great power and reliable fielders and that’s what you have in JJ Hardy. Last season Hardy was once again the guys he’s always been a great 2 hitter with some power good hits about 20 home runs. This year I’d expect Hardy to once again be around the stats he had last year but if he wants to be the effective 2 hitter the O’s want him to be his average will have to move up from .230.

3B Manny Machado (Age:20) (2nd Season, 2nd with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles): 51 Games 50 Hits .262 Average 7 HR 26 RBI 9 Walks .294 OBP 2 Stolen Bases

(PLAYER TO WATCH FOR)

Interesting to see Machado this year now without Mark Reynolds he has full control of 3B for a full season in the MLB. A top prospect, Machado was an incredible help at 19 years old for the Orioles towards the end of the season and even into the playoffs, I love Machado and he is the kind of player that fits perfectly with this team and is a solid corner infielder with some great power. Most Orioles prospects have made great impacts in their early years and while he may show some young mistakes I think Machado will be a solid part of the Orioles lineup this year in his first full season.

LF Nate McLouth (Age:31) (9th Season, 2nd with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Pirates/Orioles): 89 Games 64 Hits .241 Average 7 HR 20 RBI 27 Walks .314 OBP 12 Stolen Base

The small trade for Nate McLouth ended up being a key move for the Orioles in 2012. Basically a bench player in Pittsburgh McLouth made an instant impact in Baltimore and ended being a great leadoff guy that the Orioles were looking for. With McLouth you get a solid outfielder who hit for a nice leadoff average last year and had some good speed too. McLouth isn’t amazing but will be a solid leadoff hitter for the Orioles with I’m guessing about a .280 Average but if he shows inconsistency that he has in the past they should quickly look for other options at the leadoff spot.

CF Adam Jones (Age:27) (8 Season, 6th with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles): 162 Games 186 Hits .287 Average 32 HR 82 RBI 34 Walks .334 OBP 16 Stolen Bases

(STAR)

Adam Jones after several small key years where he showed great potential finally transformed into the star player I knew he could be last season. Just as the Orioles finally became contenders Adam Jones had the monster year that he has had the ability to have. Jones is that perfect mix of speed, power, and hitting skill that makes up the perfect baseball star and he is going to need to once again take control of the Orioles and prove himself as a great leader. I expect Jones to be amazing once again with around 30 home runs, close to a .300 average, and maybe even have a chance at AL MVP that’s how good he has the potential to be next year.

RF Nick Markakis (Age:29) (8th Season, 8th with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles): 104 Games 125 Hits .298 Average 13 HR 54 RBI 42 Walks .363 OBP 1 Stolen Base

(GREAT POTENTIAL)

I love Nick Markakis and with a similar career path as his teammate Adam Jones I expected him to finally have his huge career year last year and he was well on his way until a tough midseason injury sidelined him for most of the season. Markakis is one of the few players on this team who can give close to a solid .300 average along with clutch hitting when it is need and even a little power. I think Markakis finally has the huge career year I’ve been waiting for him to have this year with over 20 HR and another .300 year and once again being the solid right fielder he is. There are many great pieces in this lineup already and the return of this great on base guy is even better.

DH Wilson Betemit

Some good hitting from Betemit last year at DH and some fill in roles. He’ll be DH for most of the year look for some other people here also though.

Bench

C Taylor Teagarden, 3B Danny Valencia, IF Alexi Casilla, OF Nolan Reimold

Lineup Roundup

The Orioles finally blew into AL East race last year beating up on the Sox, Rays, Jays, and even threatened the Yankees in the end almost taking the division and eventually brought the Yanks to a playoff Game 5. I think the Orioles now have finally compiled a lineup that is as good if not better than any other team in the AL East and for that I love them once again being right there with the Yankees and Rays for the division title. The mix of hitting, power, and speed in this lineup is incredible and while it took years to compile it is well worth the wait because the Orioles are going to put on an offensive show this season. Markakis in his return from injury should be the high average guy and show some power in the 3 hole behind McLouth and Hardy who will really need to focus on getting on base this year. Hitting cleanup to no surprise will be Jones who like I said before will be unbelievable this year almost to an MVP level and protecting him you have two players in Wieters and Davis who can smash the ball. Finally the lineup will end Betemit, Machado, Roberts who can still provide some backup also. I love the lineup the Orioles will be sending out this year and they are going to be excellent and they will have to be with some terrible starting pitching that I will soon address.

PITCHING ROTATION

Jason Hammel (Age:30) (8th Season, 2nd with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles):20 Starts 3.43 ERA (8-6) 113 Strikeouts 1.24 WHIP

Wei-Yin Chen (Age:27) (2nd Season, 2nd with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles):32 Starts 4.02 ERA (12-11) 154 Strikeouts 1.26 WHIP

Chris Tillman (Age:24) (5th Season, 5th with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles):15 Starts 2.93 ERA (9-3) 66 Strikeouts 1.05 WHIP

Miguel Gonzalez (Age:28) (2nd Season, 2nd with Orioles)

(2012 Stats(Orioles):15 Starts 3.25 ERA (9-4) 77 Strikeouts 1.21 WHIP

Starter Overview

After relying on old veteran pitchers to carry them through the playoffs last year such as Joe Saunders and Randy Wolf the youth of the Orioles is now moving into the rotation. The only 2 pieces of the Orioles rotation that really have much experience is their top two pitchers Hammel and Chen. I love Hammel and he looked great at certain times of last season but as a number 1 starter I’m not sure how successful he can be in that role. Wei Yin Chen is another interesting piece here in his first year in the MLB last year from Japan he was wildly inconsistent after an excellent start to the season. Chen has some great stuff and can be the star of this rotation but needs to bring his ERA down big time and start performing on a regular basis. Behind those two you have tons of youth with Tillman who did not start much last year but when he did he showed some excellent promise along with Gonzalez a late season call up who was a great addition to the rotation. You never know with all kinds of young guys like this and they will need to find a 5th starter possibly Jair Jurrgens or someone in the bullpen but this rotation will definitely have some growing pains this year. I don’t expect much out of this rotation especially with no clear ace again but luckily the Orioles have an amazing bullpen to back it up.

Bullpen

Closer Jim Johnson

RHP Pedro Strop, RHP Darren O’Day, LHP Troy Patton, RHP Luis Ayala, LHP Brian Matusz, RHP Tommy Hunter

The saving grace of the Orioles terrible rotation last season was their bullpen which I believe was up with the Reds as the best bullpen in the MLB last season. When you look back on it this bullpen locked down games in the end on a regular basis with Closer Jim Johnson emerging as one of the best in the MLB last season as the Orioles led the league in 1 run victories which is extremely difficult to accomplish especially with the offenses in the AL East. I love the group of pitcher the Orioles have here and while the rotation may not be that great guys such as Darren O’Day the sidearmer who was astronomical asset for them with a 2.28 ERA. Along with that you have many other failed starters who have found their spot in this bullpen and have performed big time such as Matusz and Hunter. This bullpen is once again one of the leagues best and may save the Orioles this season even with the mediocre starting rotation they have before.

Major Losses

DH Jim Thome

1B Nick Johnson

1B Mark Reynolds (Indians)

IF Omar Quintanilla (Mets)

IF Bill Hall (Angels)With

OF Endy Chavez (Royals)

P Joe Saunders (Mariners)

P Randy Wolf

Only pieces lost from last season are platoon players and veterans from their rotation last season that were no longer needed. Only significant loss was Mark Reynolds who went on an extreme power tear towards the end of the season but with Markakis returning and Davis moving back to 1B he was no longer needed here. None of these losses should hurt the O’s very much this season.

Final Word

Once again I expect the Orioles to be back in full throttle in the AL East with another fully loaded lineup and excellent bullpen. Their lineup looks to put up some big runs this season as they try to push into a playoff spot once again but the not really fixed pitching rotation does really concern in me in one sense. The two threats to the Orioles the Rays who have one of the leagues best rotations and the Yankees who have an ace and some veteran starters could be able to bash on the Orioles in some huge mismatches in their starter battles. Even the Blue Jays now have a rotation that could look to be very good and it could be their rotation which causes the Orioles to fall out of the race. With this reason the Orioles have to hope their lineup can put up big runs and with the excellent hitters such as Adam Jones and Markakis returning I think their hitters are devastating enough to make up for their pitching deficiencies. The Orioles also benefit from their bullpen which is easily the best in the AL East once again so this team is set to cause huge problems in the AL East once again and I would not be surprised at all if they can win this division with the great lineup they have. In the end I expect the Orioles to be there again all the way to the end and pick up a wild card spot for the 2nd straight year.

Prediction

Orioles (2nd in AL East) (1st Wild Card)

-Bobby Manning