By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
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Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.
PROJECTED LINEUP
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
SS JJ Hardy
3B Mark Reynolds
1B Chris Davis
DH Wilson Betemit
LF Endy Chavez
PROJECTED ROTATION
Zach Britton
Jason Hammel
Jake Arrieta
Brian Matusz
Wei-Yin Chen
RF Nick Markakis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
SS JJ Hardy
3B Mark Reynolds
1B Chris Davis
DH Wilson Betemit
LF Endy Chavez
PROJECTED ROTATION
Zach Britton
Jason Hammel
Jake Arrieta
Brian Matusz
Wei-Yin Chen
PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Jim Johnson
Set-up - Kevin Gregg
Closer - Jim Johnson
Set-up - Kevin Gregg
Top Prospect - Manny Machado (SS)
Breakout
Matt Wieters - While Wieters 2011 performance was strong enough to earn him an all-star appearance and a gold glove, the best is yet to come for the 25 year-old catcher. He gradually gained the confidence to play at the big-league level and now is in the year he puts it all together, meaning 25 homers and a .300 average. If not considered the best catcher in baseball by season's end, he'll definitely in the conversation.
Matt Wieters - While Wieters 2011 performance was strong enough to earn him an all-star appearance and a gold glove, the best is yet to come for the 25 year-old catcher. He gradually gained the confidence to play at the big-league level and now is in the year he puts it all together, meaning 25 homers and a .300 average. If not considered the best catcher in baseball by season's end, he'll definitely in the conversation.
Bust
Chris Davis - How many chances will a big league club give a player before they realize it's just not meant to be. Davis is one of those AAAA players, kills it at Triple-A and kills his club in the show. He is only 25 and they know with regular at-bats he probably could find the seats 20 times, but his strikeouts and poor on base percentage is not worth the reward.
Chris Davis - How many chances will a big league club give a player before they realize it's just not meant to be. Davis is one of those AAAA players, kills it at Triple-A and kills his club in the show. He is only 25 and they know with regular at-bats he probably could find the seats 20 times, but his strikeouts and poor on base percentage is not worth the reward.
X-FACTOR
Brian Matusz - After a 5th place finish in Rookie of the Year in 2010, Matusz looked like the future ace of Birdland that Baltimore has been patiently waiting to come along. However, he followed that act up with one of the worst seasons possible. An ERA over 10.00 and a 1-9 record has Matusz looking like a long shot to make the club. Yet in the back of their mind it's hard to forget the potential this young lefty possesses.
Brian Matusz - After a 5th place finish in Rookie of the Year in 2010, Matusz looked like the future ace of Birdland that Baltimore has been patiently waiting to come along. However, he followed that act up with one of the worst seasons possible. An ERA over 10.00 and a 1-9 record has Matusz looking like a long shot to make the club. Yet in the back of their mind it's hard to forget the potential this young lefty possesses.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 69-93
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| Will O's like Nick Markakis ever take it to the next level? |
PROJECTED FINISH: 5th in the American League East
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
Check back tomorrow for the Colorado Rockies
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