explanation of rankings and other team previews here
2008 Record: 68-93
Offseason Additions: Ryan Freel, Koji Uehara, Felix Pie, Rich Hill, Ty Wigginton, Adam Eaton
Offseason Subtractions: Garrett Olsen, Daniel Cabrera, Kevin Millar, Jay Payton
Ranks (MLB):
Line-Up – 18th
Rotation – 28th
Bullpen – 29th
Defense – 2nd tier (out of 5)
Baserunning – 5th tier (out of 5)
KEY PLAYER: KOJI UEHARA
The Orioles have a pair of elite pitching prospects who will make their way up to the majors in the next couple years, but unfortunately for them, they are required to have pitchers this year as well. After Jeremy Guthrie, the next 4 spots in the Orioles rotation are pretty much bottom of the barrel guys (ex: the Adam Eaton pick-up). Koji Uehara, a pick-up from the Japanese league, is the only pitcher without a horrible MLB track record, and is therefore their best chance at another decent starter. He’s 33, so he’s not exactly a hot prospect, but he’s been solid throughout his career, and it’s possible that the lack of exposure American hitters have to him will give him an advantage in his first season.
PLAYER TO WATCH: MATT WIETERS
How good might C Matt Wieters be? I’ll let Baseball Prospectus tell you…
After reviewing his performance, talking to the scouts and seeing what our numbers people came up with over the offseason, it’s clear to me that 22-year-old Matt Wieters is the best prospect in baseball, the best player on the Orioles right now, and quite possibly the best catcher in the game. And he’s yet to play an inning in the big leagues.
In the minor last season, Wieters hit .355 with 27 HR, 91 RBI a .454 OBP and .600 SLG% between high-A and double-A ball. The PECOTA system that Baseball Prospectus uses to predict a players performance for the year ahead spit out a .311 BA, 30 HR, 101 RBI projection for Wieters in 2009 at the major league level. And the system tends to project HR and RBI on the low side. If he stays healthy, he’ll be this year’s Evan Longoria, a rookie who is good enough to enter the MVP discussion (if the O’s were any good, that is). He’s the best offensive catching prospect since Mike Piazza, and he’s a switch hitter and a far better defender. The season might be ugly, but if Wieters flashes his potential, O’s fans will have a lot to be excited about.
PHILLY ANGLE
The “old” stadium trend
If you enjoy Citizens Bank Park as much as I do, you’ve got the Orioles to thank. When they opened up Camden Yards in 1992, most of the stadiums in the MLB were concrete and steel monsters that offered nothing to the game experience but a grainy scoreboard. Since 1992, eighteen new stadiums have been built. 3 more are potentially on the way with the Rays, Marlins and Twins all trying to get new ones (click links to see renderings). These stadiums were built with inspiration from Camden Yards, adding personality and beauty to each teams’ home stadium and making a trip to the ballpark more than watching a game on turf. Just because it might spark some discussion, here are the rankings of all the MLB stadiums I’ve been to (old and new) from favorite to least:
- Fenway Park
- Citizens Bank Park
- Miller Park
- Progressive Field (Jacobs Field)
- Oriole Park at Camden Yards
- Wrigley Field
- Yankee Stadium
- The Ballpark at Arlington
- Great American Ballpark
- Rogers Centre
- Metrodome
- Olympic Stadium (Expos)
- U.S. Cellular Field
- Tropicana Field
- Veterans Stadium
- Shea Stadium
Upcoming in 2009: Kauffman Stadium, Busch Stadium, PNC Park and (maybe) Nationals Park
QUICK HITS
Worst Contract: Danys Baez (3 yrs, $19 million, ends in 2009)
Best Pitch: George Sherrill’s Fastball
Best Player in a Contract Year: Aubrey Huff
Top Prospect: Matt Wieters, C
Best Individual Season: Frank Robinson, 1966 (.316 BA, 49 HR, 122 RBI, 122 Runs, .410 OBP, .637 SLG%, Triple Crown, MVP)
Worst Uniforms: 1901
Where’d They Come From?
- Free Agent, 7
- Trade, 4
- Draft, 3
- Amateur FA, 1
2009 OUTLOOK
5th AL East, 14th AL, 28th MLB
The Baltimore Orioles are not going to be a good team this year, but this year isn’t what their fans are worried about. Some good drafting and a couple good trades recently has given the O’s a talented young core not unlike the Rays found themselves with a couple years ago. Along with Wieters (22), they have Adam Jones (23) and Nick Markakis (25) on the promising offensive core. Their only decent starting pitcher right now is Jeremy Guthrie (29), but they have 2 of the best pitching prospects in baseball on their way in RHP Chris Tillman (16th overall prospect on Baseball Prospectus) and LHP Brian Matusz (19th). In addition, they have 2 other top-100 pitchers in RHP Jake Arrieta (#52) and RHP Brandon Erbe (#98). Help is on the way for Orioles fans and they can only hope things turn around as quickly as they did for the Rays.
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