2008 Baltimore Orioles Outlook
2007: (69-93), 4th place
Manager: Dave Trembley (1st full season)
Key Additions -
OF Adam Jones
P George Sherrill
OF Luke Scott
P Troy Patton
P Steve Trachsel
P Lance Cormier
Key Losses -
P Erik Bedard (to BAL)
SS Miguel Tejada (to HOU)
OF Corey Patterson (to CIN)
P Kris Benson (to PHI)
P Chris Ray (injury)
P Danys Baez (injury)
P Troy Patton (injury)
Projected Startling Lineup -
C - Ramon Hernandez
1B - Kevin Millar
2B - Brian Roberts
SS - Luis Hernandez
3B - Melvin Mora
LF - Luke Scott
CF - Adam Jones
RF - Nick Markakis
DH - Aubrey Huff, Jay Gibbons
Projected Rotation -
1 - Jeremy Guthrie (R)
2 - Daniel Cabrera (R)
3 - Adam Loewen (L)
4 - Garrett Olsen (L)
5 - Steve Trachsel (R)
CL: George Sherrill (L)
SU: Jamie Walker (L), Chad Bradford (R)
2008 Outlook:
In 2007, the O’s spent over 100 million dollars. For their investment, they got 69 wins in return. So in 2008 someone finally got Peter Angelos (the worst thing to happent to Baltimore since the Colts moved) to realize the franchise isn’t going to contend and the only way the team can possibly get back to prominence is with a complete and total overhaul. Gone is ace Erik Bedard. Gone is the now steroid-less Miguel Tejada. Gone is Brian Roberts. Wait…why is Roberts still in an O’s uni?
Well, it won’t be long before he is gone, and Mora may follow him. Basically anyone that has any value, is over the age of 25 years old, and not named Scott or Guthrie could be gone at some point this season. The Orioles are building around Markakis, a cornerstone outfielder in right, and top prospect centerfielder Adam Jones, who came over in the Erik Bedard trade.
Some pundits have Jay Payton starting in front of Jones if Jones has a slow Spring Training, but why not go ahead and give Jones the playing time. It’s not like this team has a shot at competing for anything other than the top pick in next year’s draft.
Another important piece that came over from Seattle is Sherrill. With Chris Ray sidelined this season due to Tommy John surgery, Sherrill will be tabbed as the closer. Another lefty, Walker, will be the prime set-up man with reliever Danys Baez also recovering from Tommy John surgery. Besides submariner Chad Bradford, the rest of the pitching staff is porous.
Cabrera lost 18 games last year. Guthrie had a good season but had a career 31-31 record in the minors. Loewen hasn’t lived up to the hype yet. Patton was likely to be in the rotation if he didn’t get hurt. And Steve Trachsel is possibly going to be in the starting rotation. The O’s probably brought him in to be a mentor to all of the young pitchers, but if pitching guru Leo Mazzone couldn’t do anything with this staff, just what is Trachsel going to be able to accomplish?
The only thing worst than Baltimore’s pitching (besides the owner) is the shortstop position. Luis Hernandez looks to be the top candidate, but he has only around 100 career AAA plate appearances, which didn’t produce the greatest results (.217, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 0 BB). Hernandez did bat .290 last year in 69 at bats when called up late in the season, but don’t expect much.
Fantasy Impact:
Roberts is one of the top second baseman in the game. He is going to produce close to 100 runs, 10 homers, 50 RBI, and most importantly 40-50 steals while hitting around .300. His numbers could possibly spike a little higher if he is traded to a team with a powerful lineup or a hitter friendly park.
Markakis is the only other top five rounder for Baltimore. Last season, he led the O’s with 23 home runs and 112 ribbies. What separates him from other outfielders with similar power numbers is his 18 steals and .300 average at the age of 23. However, he won’t have much support in the lineup especially if both Roberts and Mora end up being traded, so consider this before overdrafting on the youngster.
As for pitchers, Sherrill should be solid in the closer’s role, but with the losses the Orioles will accumulate, there won’t be an overabundance of save opportunities. You can take a risk on Guthrie after a good year last season but be cautioned by his minor league record and ERA (4.40) as well as his drop off in the second half last season (3-3, 5.03 ERA). Besides Guthrie, you may want to keep an eye on Loewen. The #4 pick in the 2002 MLB Draft has control issues, but with plenty of playing time this season, he could start to put things together.
2008 projection: (62-100), 5th place
Team MVP: Nick Markakis
Also, check out our AL East preview with links to our team outlooks for each of Baltimore’s division foes.
Shotgun Spratling
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