Countdown to Opening Day: #15 Baltimore Orioles

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#15 Baltimore Orioles: Was it Buck or Luck?

PROJECTED LINEUP
2B Brian Roberts
RF Nick Markakis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
1B Chris Davis
SS J.J. Hardy
DH Nolan Reimold
3B Manny Machado
LF Nate McLouth

PROJECTED ROTATION
Jason Hammel
Wei-Yin Chen
Chris Tillman
Miguel Gonzalez
Jake Arrieta

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Jim Johnson

Set-up: Pedro Strop

Top Prospect: Dylan Bundy (SP)

It is time to throw the Orioles at a wall at see what sticks. A large portion of the roster broke out last year in  a big way and helped Baltimore witness playoff baseball for the first time in 15 years. Now the question of repeat-ability is a fair one.

Jim Johnson

I don't think anyone questions the talent of some players, but even luck seemed to be on the Orioles side last season. They were 29-9 in one run games, which is repeatable if the closer Jim Johnson and the bullpen can continue to be a strength. The 16 straight extra-inning wins probably will come to an end. But if they go 10-6, even 8-8 in extras, that should not be the difference maker over a long season.
The difference maker will be the starting staff. They were not great last season, but whomever manager Buck Showalter gave the ball to seemed to throw six strong and turn it over to the pen. The Orioles will need to rely on five or six starters this season to make 30 starts rather than roll the dice with Triple-A callups. While they will tell you they will take the depth of eight quality starters, I am positive they would rather have a strong front end of the rotation. They will look toward Jason Hammel (8-2, 2.81 ERA start) to stay healthy and show he is that 2012 first half stud. They could also benefit from a full season of Chris Tillman (9-3, 2.93 ERA) pitching like he did last year.
The odds are probably against the Orioles to return to the playoffs, but unlike last year, nobody will be shocked if they are playing in October.

Adam Jones

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Jim Johnson becomes the second closer ever to save 50 games in back-to-back seasons (Gagne '02-'03) and the Orioles do not skip a beat. They do it with the same formula. Timely hitting from Adam Jones and company and the their starters always get the game to their dynamic pen with a chance to win the game. The late innings got even tougher on opponents with the full season from Brian Matusz and phenom Dylan Bundy for the playoff stretch.

REAL TALK - The Orioles are not going to go away. There is a bright future for this club, but I also think they are still a year or two away from being World Series serious. Forget the extra inning non-sense, but the fact that teams will not spend half the season thinking they can walk over them will make it tougher. Everyone wants to beat a playoff team and now they have a target on their back. You may know I am an Orioles fan and I rooting for the best, but realistically I believe they need time for Manny Machado and Dylan Bundy to blossom before they can schedule any parades around the Harbor.

Breakout: Chris Tillman (SP)

Bust: Miguel Gonzalez (SP)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Chris Davis (1B)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 93-69 (2nd in AL East)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 84-78 (4th in AL East)

**Check back tomorrow for the Philadelphia Phillies**