Who’s ready for more previews?

Okay, let’s see who the hat likes today…

Hmm.  An AL Team this time.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have been killed by bad free agent acquisitions, defections, scandal, and the meddling of a owner that holds way too much control for the team to be successful.  Add it some rather poor trades over the years and it’s safe to say that the Orioles have just shot themselves in the foot, but have emptied the entire clip into it.

Starting Rotation

1. Erik Bedard (LHP) – Bedard emerged as the Orioles ace last season and lead the team in strikeouts and in starts.  Bedard will likely lead the team again, as he’s clearly become the best starter on the roster, and he keeps improving, he’ll be an easy choice for the All-Star team and a building block for the Orioles to build around.
2. Kris Benson (RHP) – Benson was pretty much how people projected him to be.  An innings eater that will break close to .500 as far as win totals go.  Benson will likely be the number two starter in the rotation, even though he should be lower.  Looking at the Orioles roster, I doubt that any of the other starters will knock him down a peg unless Hayden Penn comes on strong and takes a job in the rotation away from Adam Loewen or Daniel Cabrera.
3. Daniel Cabrera (RHP) – Cabrera was awful last season, but he did improve as the season went on.  The onus is on Cabrera to improve, more than any other pitcher, as Wright and Benson are known quantities.  Because should Cabrera again be terrible, it’s going to be a long season in Baltimore.
4. Jaret Wright (RHP) – A pretty decent gamble by the Orioles, as Wright is cheap and the Orioles really had nothing to lose except for the talented, but portly right hander Chris Britton.  Wright was healthy last season and went 11-7, 4.49 in 140 innings.  Wright isn’t a guy that will go the distance, never has, but if the bullpen is improved, than six is really all the Orioles will need him for.  He’s an average pitcher that will compete to win, and it’s possible that reuniting him with his former pitching coach, Leo Mazzone, will make an difference in his performance.
5. Adam Loewen (LHP) – The Orioles had some high hopes for Loewen, but injury shut him down for months and when he returned, he was less than stellar.  Loewen will likely be the fifth starter this season and, to be honest, he should actually provide average production from the position.  It won’t be pretty, but it will be workable.

Bullpen

• Chris Ray (Closer) – The Orioles passed on re-signing B.J. Ryan partially because they believed in Chris Ray.  Ray rewarded the Orioles with a rookie of the year caliber season in which he went 4-4 with a 2.73 ERA and 33 saves.  An even better piece of info is that Ray was better on the road than at home, a plus when you have several of the games best offensive players in your division.  All things considered, Ray should continue to be a promising young closer.
• Danys Baez (Setup Man) – Baez was awful last season, making the prospects received from LA by the Devil Rays more palatable.  Baez surely can’t be as bad as he was last season and it’s possible with Leo Mazzone in Baltimore that he can regain some form of his old dominance.  But then again, we’ve seen many closers implode and never be the same again.  Hence, that three year deal of his is a lot more o####amble than the Orioles’ brass sees it.
• Hayden Penn (RHP) – There’s a lot to like about Penn.  He’s got great size and still can add some weight on and he has been able to throw a mid-90s fastball, change-up and curve for strikes.  His biggest problem has been command, leading to more walks and home runs than he should be giving up.  Penn will likely be in the bullpen to give him some experience, but he could be thrust into the rotation, depending on whether or not Loewen or Cabrera imploded. 
• Jaime Walker (LHP) – Orioles paid quite a lot of money to steal this lefty from the Tigers.  I’m not sure that’s a wise decision, as his appearances have been decreasing over time, possibility due to a lack of durability or injury.
• Chad Bradford (RHP) – Former Met took the Orioles money to move back to the AL.  He was solid last season and so far, things look to be pretty good as far as projections go.
• Scott Williamson (RHP) – Not sure why the Orioles went after him.  He could have just been an excuse to spend money.

Projected Lineup

1. Brian Roberts (2B) – This solid leadoff man and offensive beat should continue to improve as he distances himself more and more from this Tommy John procedure.  I think he’ll have a big year, and will be making a case for a huge raise, one way or another.
2. Corey Patterson (CF) – Entering his walk year, Patterson should be a solid fit in the second spot, and regained much of that luster he had when he was with Chicago (before Dusty Baker drove him crazy.)
3. Nick Markakis (RF) – This young rookie put up monster numbers after his callup and should be a solid producer for many years to come.  He’s not going to be nearly as good as his stat line indicates, but he projects to be very much like a Grady Sizemore type of player.
4. Miguel Tejada (SS) – Tejada really should move over to third base, as he’s no longer got the mobility or the range to play the position well.  Unfortunately, ego won’t allow him to accept a move, so the Orioles will just have to live with it.  He’s also losing power, which is very worrisome considering that the Orioles are looking at him to be the cleanup hitter and main power source on this team.  He should produce a batting average around .310 with 20 or so homers, but look for the RBI totals, and perhaps the injuries, to begin piling up before too long.
5. Aubrey Huff (DH) – Huff really isn’t the emerging star that he was back in 2003, but he still is a quality signing as far as the Orioles go.  Huff still can hit for power, he takes walks and produces well enough to be a DH.  He can also play the outfield and infield corners (not well, but he can play them), allowing them to swap him in for Millar or Payton at any point in time.  All in all, Huff gives the Orioles a pretty nifty #### for their buck.
6. Melvin Mora (3B) – Mora is also another hitter that seems to be losing punch in this lineup as he gets older.  But Mora, like Tejada, was also fairly productive and did a pretty good job at third base.  He should be okay for another season, provided he hits farther back in the order and the onus isn’t on him to be a main run producer.
7. Ramon Hernandez (C) – Baltimore did well to acquire the former Padre, who was just hitting his prime at 30.  Hernandez is solid defensively and able to it for power and his average.  In a sense, he’s rather much like Javy Lopez, the man he replaced.  Hernandez should be able to keep up his production for another three years, but by then his deal should be finished and he’ll be able to transition to another position or become a DH, depending on production.
8. Jay Payton (LF) – Payton did nicely in left field for Oakland, but he took the bigger payday in Baltimore than what Oakland offered for him to stay.  Payton should provide some very solid performance as long as he gets some time off now and then, because let’s face it, he’s not exactly entering his prime here.
9. Kevin Millar (1B) – Millar improved from his awful 2005, but he just went from awful to mediocre.  Expect much of the same this year.

Bench

• Adam Stern (OF) – Stern is a solid defender and can play all of the positions, plus serve as a pinch runner.  But unfortunately, he hits worse than Bako.
• Paul Bako (C) – A solid defender, but that bat is awful.
• Jay Gibbons (OF) – A barrage of injuries ruined a promising season for him early on, and his health in spring is something you should watch.  It’s possible that if things shake right for him, Gibbons may get back to 25 homers and 90 RBI if he stays healthy.  With Jay Payton’s health not the best in the world, he should get a fair shake.
• Freddie Bynum (UTIL) – This former Cubs utility guy hit .252/.308/.456 in 71 games with the Cubs last year.  His primary asset is his speed and his versatility, as he played all three outfield positions and second base last year, and shortstop and third base if needed.

 Down On The Farm…

The Orioles have a nice young core of talent to build around, with Markakis and Ray looking like future stars and Loewen, Cabrera and Penn possibly having impact potential.  But the system is lacking in ready prospects for the moment, with only these guys possibly having some affect at some point during the season.

• Garrett Olson (LHP) – This Cal Poly product moved quickly through the system with thanks to a plus fastball and curve.  He’s got a favorable changeup and has very neat mechanics and can last through games.  Unfortunately, as a college pitcher, he’s pretty much a finished product, meaning he’ll be a back of the rotation innings eater at best.
• James Hoey (RHP) – Hoey doesn’t project as a starter, but he could be a great reliever and setup man.  Hoey’s got extraordinary velocity, with a fastball that sits in the high 90’s and can hit over 100 at times.  But the lack of a breaking pitch limits his success, as seen when he was destroyed during a major league call up. 
• Jeff Fiorentino (OF) – A poor man’s Jay Payton, Fiorentino is on the short list for prospects to be called up in the event of an emergency.  Fiorentino has solid plate discipline and makes good contact with the bat.  He has average power and can play all of the outfield positions. He should be a solid bench player in the future.

In Conclusion

No way in hell this team finishes higher than 4th (unless Peter Angelos has the entire 25 man rosters of the Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays kidnapped.)

 Final Standing:  Fourth in the American League East