Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 20, 2008 21:17:03 GMT -5
Last season: 2007: 69-93, 4th in A.L. East
Manager: Dave Trembley, 1st full season, 40-53 (.430) career record
New faces: RHP Matt Albers (HOU), RHP Lance Cormier (ATL), C Chris Heintz (MIN), OF Adam Jones (SEA), C Guillermo Quiroz (TEX), OF Chris Roberson (PHI), OF Luke Scott (HOU), LHP George Sherrill (SEA), OF Luis Terrero (CWS), RHP Steve Trachsel (CHC)
Left town: C Paul Bako (CIN), LHP Erik Bedard (SEA), RHP Rob Bell (WSH), RHP Kris Benson (PHI), C J.R. House (HOU), OF Jon Knott (MIN), OF Corey Patterson (free agent), RHP Victor Santos (SF), SS Miguel Tejada (HOU)
Overview: A lot has gone wrong with the once-proud franchise since Peter Angelos purchased the team in 1993. They are 113 games under .500 over that time span and their middling owner, who has vetoed several deals proposed by his general managers, has not helped their situation. The Orioles head into with big holes at the top of their rotation and at shortstop after ace Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada were sent packing for a cache of prospects. The one saving grace is that they can continue to re-stock their farm system. Whether their loyal fans, who have disappeared over the last half decade, will buy into this full blown rebuild remains to be seen.
Stat to ponder: The Texas Rangers of the East had an unbelievable 7.61 ERA over the final six weeks of the schedule. Trading away Eric Bedard isn't going to help remedy that any time soon. Top prospect: C Matt Wieters is on a fast track to Baltimore after being drafted last June out of Georgia Tech where he had the dual role of catching and closing. This switch-hitter is now concentrating on catching and turned a lot of heads playing this winter in Hawaii.
Hitting
'07 AVG: .272 (12th), RUNS/GAME: 4.67 (16th), HR: 142 (23rd)
The exit of Tejada to Astros removes 80-plus RBI from a lineup that isn't likely to scare too many pitchers. Nick Markakis will be expected to step into the breach, but his attitude is in question after he took the renewal of his contract for a slight raise personally. He'll be joined in a new look outfield by Adam Jones and Luke Scott. Jones was the key to the Bedard deal after driving in 88 runs between triple-A and the majors last season. Scott came over in the Tejada trade and slammed 18 home runs as a part-timer with the Astros. This new blood will change the look of a team that had becoming decidedly stale.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 5.17 (29th), OPP AVG: .268 (15th)
What is there to say about a team without an ace atop the rotation and a closer in the bullpen? Jeremy Guthrie, a seven-game winner a year ago, is the ace by default. They have to hope that Canadian lefty Adam Loewen can stay healthy and finally pitch to the level of his promise and the enigmatic Daniel Cabrera can throw strikes on a consistent basis. Veteran George Sherrill will be the ninth inning guy until Chris Ray and Danys Baez can return from ligament reconstruction surgery. The Orioles have 14 pitchers in camp competing for the six bullpen jobs. One to keep an eye on is fireballer Dennis Sarfate, who struck out 14 in 8.1 innings with the Astros last season, and is out of options.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Fifth in a division that appears to be in flux. The improving Jays and Rays have pulled away from the O's and a 100-loss season would not be surprising.
Manager: Dave Trembley, 1st full season, 40-53 (.430) career record
New faces: RHP Matt Albers (HOU), RHP Lance Cormier (ATL), C Chris Heintz (MIN), OF Adam Jones (SEA), C Guillermo Quiroz (TEX), OF Chris Roberson (PHI), OF Luke Scott (HOU), LHP George Sherrill (SEA), OF Luis Terrero (CWS), RHP Steve Trachsel (CHC)
Left town: C Paul Bako (CIN), LHP Erik Bedard (SEA), RHP Rob Bell (WSH), RHP Kris Benson (PHI), C J.R. House (HOU), OF Jon Knott (MIN), OF Corey Patterson (free agent), RHP Victor Santos (SF), SS Miguel Tejada (HOU)
Overview: A lot has gone wrong with the once-proud franchise since Peter Angelos purchased the team in 1993. They are 113 games under .500 over that time span and their middling owner, who has vetoed several deals proposed by his general managers, has not helped their situation. The Orioles head into with big holes at the top of their rotation and at shortstop after ace Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada were sent packing for a cache of prospects. The one saving grace is that they can continue to re-stock their farm system. Whether their loyal fans, who have disappeared over the last half decade, will buy into this full blown rebuild remains to be seen.
Stat to ponder: The Texas Rangers of the East had an unbelievable 7.61 ERA over the final six weeks of the schedule. Trading away Eric Bedard isn't going to help remedy that any time soon. Top prospect: C Matt Wieters is on a fast track to Baltimore after being drafted last June out of Georgia Tech where he had the dual role of catching and closing. This switch-hitter is now concentrating on catching and turned a lot of heads playing this winter in Hawaii.
Hitting
'07 AVG: .272 (12th), RUNS/GAME: 4.67 (16th), HR: 142 (23rd)
The exit of Tejada to Astros removes 80-plus RBI from a lineup that isn't likely to scare too many pitchers. Nick Markakis will be expected to step into the breach, but his attitude is in question after he took the renewal of his contract for a slight raise personally. He'll be joined in a new look outfield by Adam Jones and Luke Scott. Jones was the key to the Bedard deal after driving in 88 runs between triple-A and the majors last season. Scott came over in the Tejada trade and slammed 18 home runs as a part-timer with the Astros. This new blood will change the look of a team that had becoming decidedly stale.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 5.17 (29th), OPP AVG: .268 (15th)
What is there to say about a team without an ace atop the rotation and a closer in the bullpen? Jeremy Guthrie, a seven-game winner a year ago, is the ace by default. They have to hope that Canadian lefty Adam Loewen can stay healthy and finally pitch to the level of his promise and the enigmatic Daniel Cabrera can throw strikes on a consistent basis. Veteran George Sherrill will be the ninth inning guy until Chris Ray and Danys Baez can return from ligament reconstruction surgery. The Orioles have 14 pitchers in camp competing for the six bullpen jobs. One to keep an eye on is fireballer Dennis Sarfate, who struck out 14 in 8.1 innings with the Astros last season, and is out of options.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: Fifth in a division that appears to be in flux. The improving Jays and Rays have pulled away from the O's and a 100-loss season would not be surprising.
