Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter
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| Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
#10 Baltimore Orioles: O's going for it all
PROJECTED LINEUP
RF Nick Markakis
3B Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
1B Chris Davis
DH Nelson Cruz
C Matt Wieters
SS JJ Hardy
LF David Lough
RF Nick Markakis
3B Manny Machado
CF Adam Jones
1B Chris Davis
DH Nelson Cruz
C Matt Wieters
SS JJ Hardy
LF David Lough
PROJECTED ROTATION
Ubaldo Jimenez
Chris Tillman
Bud Norris
Miguel Gonzalez
Wei Yin Chen
Ubaldo Jimenez
Chris Tillman
Bud Norris
Miguel Gonzalez
Wei Yin Chen
PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: Tommy Hunter
Set-up: Darren O'Day
Top Prospect: Dylan Bundy (RHP)
When you look at the current contracts on the Baltimore Orioles only Adam Jones and recently signed
Ubaldo Jimenez are signed past this season. That means after this year free agency awaits Chris Davis, Nick Markakis, JJ Hardy, Matt Wieters, and Nelson Cruz. It also means Chris Tillman and Manny Machado will be due a pay increase.
It also means the Orioles better go for it this season because while they may resign one or two players, keeping the entire club together is unlikely. The additions of Jimenez and Cruz reiterate they are giving all they have this season.
Ubaldo is not your bonafide ace but he does round out the starting five nicely and give the O's some starting depth in the minors. Kevin Guasman and Zack Britton are both likely to start the year in Triple-A. The Orioles have let Jim Johnson depart and flirted with Grant Balfour before they did not like see the injury report. They go into April leaving the closer role alone. They either trust Tommy Hunter or are making a big mistake. It was be awful for the Orioles to shell out big bucks and forget about the ninth inning.
Ubaldo Jimenez are signed past this season. That means after this year free agency awaits Chris Davis, Nick Markakis, JJ Hardy, Matt Wieters, and Nelson Cruz. It also means Chris Tillman and Manny Machado will be due a pay increase.
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| Adam Jones |
Ubaldo is not your bonafide ace but he does round out the starting five nicely and give the O's some starting depth in the minors. Kevin Guasman and Zack Britton are both likely to start the year in Triple-A. The Orioles have let Jim Johnson depart and flirted with Grant Balfour before they did not like see the injury report. They go into April leaving the closer role alone. They either trust Tommy Hunter or are making a big mistake. It was be awful for the Orioles to shell out big bucks and forget about the ninth inning.
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| Tommy Hunter |
CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - What a dangerous lineup. The Orioles take pitches, drive in runs, and win baseball games. Adam Jones' name is in the running for MVP and Nick Markakis has his best full season as the everyday lead-off hitter. The rotation is solid and Gausman and Dylan Bundy are dynamite out of the bullpen in the postseason. Almost like last year's Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal for the Cardinals. The Orioles stay in fist from start to finish line.
REAL TALK - They are playing to Camden Yard's strengths by building the squad around its lineup, but they still need the pitchers to perform. Tommy Hunter needs to make sure if he enters with a lead the O's keep that lead. The starters do not have to win Cy Yong for Baltimore to battle for first either. I'm not sure the Orioles are going to win the World Series, or a playoff series for that matter, but they are more likely a playoff team than not in my mind.
Breakout: Kevin Gausman (RHP)
Bust: Miguel Gonzalez (LHP)
Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Nick Markakis (OF)
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 85-77 (3rd in AL East)
PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 89-73 (2nd in AL East)
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