Orioles Look to Buck the Trend in 2011

The last time the Baltimore Orioles had a winning season, they were eliminated by the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 American League Championship Series.  Since then, the team has finished under .500 for 13 consecutive seasons.  Over the last few seasons, the Orioles have elected to showcase a lot of young talented players such as Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Brian Matusz.  These players have been relatively successful in their young careers, but were not benefitting from good leadership.  Last season, the Orioles fired manager Dave Trembley who started the season 15-39 and replaced him with Juan Samuel on an interim basis.  After 51 games, Buck Showalter replaced Samuel.  From the moment Showalter was named the manager, the Orioles flipped a switch.  The team finished 34-23 under their new manager. This great finish has provided hope for not only Orioles’ fans but for the organization, reassuring them that better days lie ahead. 

Nick Markakis facing the Pirates in Sarasota

The organization had one of its busiest off-seasons in a while.  The transformation of the Orioles began with a trade with the Diamondbacks that sent pitchers David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio to Arizona for power hitting third baseman Mark Reynolds.  Even though Reynolds hit .198 in 499 at-bats and struck out 211 times, the third baseman hit 32 home runs last season and 44 the season before that.  Reynolds’ power is tailor-made for Camden Yards and should be a major contributor in the lineup. The acquisition of Mark Reynolds was not enough for the Orioles.  The organization continued their upgrade of the lineup with the acquisitions of J.J. Hardy, Derrek Lee, and Vladimir Guerrero.  

Hardy spent last season with the Minnesota Twins where he hit .268 with six home runs and 38 RBI.  Like Reynolds, Hardy has the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark.  In 2008 with the Milwaukee Brewers, Hardy hit 24 home runs in 146 games.  Aside from his offensive potential, Hardy is best known for his glove.  The veteran shortstop ranks fifth in fielding percentage amongst the players at his position.  

Derrek Lee signed a one-year contract with the Orioles this offseason.  Last season, the Gold Glove first baseman played with both the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves.  Lee battled thumb and back injuries last season but managed to play in 148 games.  In those games, he hit .260 with 19 home runs and 80 RBI.  If it were not for those nagging injuries last season, I believe Lee could have had a better season.  If Lee can play relatively injury free this season, his presence in the lineup and on the field will definitely be felt.  

Vladimir Guerrero

The final offensive upgrade for the Orioles was designated hitter, Vladimir Guerrero.  Guerrero had a tremendous bounce back year with the Texas Rangers last season.  In 152 games last season, he hit for an even .300 batting average with 29 home runs and 115 RBI.  Last year's statistics proved that Guerrero's unorthodox hitting style can still get it done at the Major League level.

The Orioles also added some pitching this off-season.  Pitchers Justin Duchscherer, Jeremy Accardo, and Kevin Gregg were brought in to provide experience on the mound.  Baltimore took a chance on Justin Duchscherer this off-season to be a part of a young rotation.  Despite his success in the big leagues, Duchscherer can’t seem to stay healthy.  The right-hander has battled hip and elbow problems throughout his career and unfortunately will begin this season on the disabled list.  Jeremy Accardo has also battled injury issues throughout his career.  The reliever’s career highlight consists of a 30 save season in 2007 for the Toronto Blue Jays.  Another former Blue Jay who joined the Orioles this off-season is Kevin Gregg.  Gregg is probably the favorite to win the closer’s job this season.  Last season with the Blue Jays, Gregg 37 saves in 43 opportunities and posted an ERA of 3.51 in 59 innings.

The Orioles can have all the hitting in the world, but if they don’t have adequate pitching this season, they may be looking at another losing season.  As of now, the rotation will feature Jeremy Guthrie, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Brian Bergesen, and Chris Tillman.  Guthrie is the veteran of the rotation and has been nothing but a workhorse throughout his career in Baltimore.  In 209.1 innings last season, Guthrie went 11-14 with an ERA of 3.83 in 32 starts.  The younger pitchers in the rotation have a lot to prove in 2011 especially since they had sub-par seasons in 2010. 

With the off-season moves made this season, the Orioles seem ready to go for Opening Day.  The only issue that Showalter needs to address is the final four bench spots on the roster.  Catcher Jake Fox is making a case to break camp with the big league club.  Fox is hitting .323 with nine home runs and 14 RBI in 23 games.  He made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2007 and also played for the A’s before being sent to Baltimore mid way through last season.  His spring training stats should make him a no-brainer to make the team, but there may not be any room for his bat on the 25-man roster.  Fox is a better hitter than he is a fielder, so his value sort of takes a hit because of that.  If Fox were to make the team, his at-bats will definitely decrease because he will not be starting for the Orioles.  A decrease in plate appearances may actually jeopardize his production at the plate during the season.  So, because Fox is not adept with the glove, the issue here is whether Fox will remain productive hitter as a bench-player in 2011.   

The only two players who are guaranteed a spot on the bench are shortstop Cesar Izturis and outfielder Felix Pie.  Aside from Jake Fox, catcher Craig Tatum, infielder Robert Andino, and outfielder Nolan Reimold are battling for the final two bench spots.  There has been interest in Andino by other teams, so he may be out of the picture before Opening Day.  Tatum is trying to win the backup catcher position and has the defensive edge over Fox.  Outfielder Nolan Reimold seems to be the odd man out because of the depth in the Orioles outfield.  His spring training statistics are not making the decision any easier for Showalter.  Reimold is hitting .320 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 50 spring training at-bats.

One can argue that the stars are finally aligned for the Orioles in 2011.  Manager Buck Showalter will have a full season with an experienced group at the plate and a young group of guys on the mound.  I believe the Orioles will be making some noise this upcoming season and have a chance to finally finish with a winning record for the first time since 1997.  If the Orioles want to make this projection a reality, the young rotation will have to prove that they belong in the major leagues by going deeper into games.  As far as the offense is concerned, players like Brian Roberts, Derrek Lee, and Vladimir Guerrero have to remain relatively healthy throughout the entire season.  If they don’t, their absence will definitely be felt.  Get ready for an exciting season in Baltimore.