With the trade of Sherrill, could this be the O’s team on Opening Day 2010?

Guthrie, Bergesen, Hernandez, Tillman, Arrieta

Johnson
Uehara
Albers
Ray
Perez / Random Lefty
Bass / Sarfate
Berken / Meredith / Mickolio

Roberts 2nd
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Wieters C
Reimold LF
Scott DH
Bell 3rd
Snyder 1st
Izturis SS

Wigginton, Andino, Montanez or Pie, Zaun

When Matusz joins the O’s (earliest late April, latest early June) either Guthrie is traded, or Hernandez moves to the bullpen.

You could expect a learning-curve for Bell and Snyder, but their domination of AA pitching in 2009 makes one believe they could match (or exceed) the ’09 production from Huff, and Mora.

Combine that with increased production from Jones, Markakis, Wieters, and Reimold in the everyday lineup; and an improved rotation – and an enjoyable (85 win) 2010 seems very possible.

However, to answer my own initial question, I doubt we see Snyder and Bell in the Opening Day lineup.

I think the O’s will want Snyder to again start at AAA, and will probably want to expose Bell to Norfolk for 2-3 months.

The safe-money would be on Huff being brought back for a year, and Wigginton taking over 3rd. By June-July, the O’s would probably then look to trade Huff, and move Wigginton to the bench.

If the O’s did not want Snyder to start Opening Day at 1st, my preference would be to not bring back Huff. I would use that time to play Scott at 1st, with Reimold at DH, and Pie everyday in LF.

Q&A

Question 1) Why include Perez, when he is having season ending surgery?

Answer 1) I honestly was unware of how severe Perez’s injury was. The main-point I was illustrating was that there will be a situational-lefty.

Question 2) Why Arrieta over Matusz?

Answer 2) I think Matusz is more advanced than Arrieta, because of Matusz’s ability to throw multiple pitches for strikes. Despite that, I do not see Matusz making the team out of Spring Training. The O’s will want to keep Matusz in the Minors until at least the end of April. Arrieta has hit a rough-patch in AAA, but he has more AAA experience than Bergesen for example. I do conceed that it is possible that they keep Arrieta down in AAA through the end of April as well, with someone like Berken in the rotation. End of the day though, I think Arrieta will get the chance to be the 5th starter to start the year.

Question 3) Who are the last 2 in the O’s bullpen?

Answer 3) I would think that Bass, and Berken would have the inside-track to be the last two in the O’s bullpen, but I could see each of Sarfate, Meredith, and Mickolio earning one of those spots as well. Basically looking at 5 guys for 2 spots.

Question 4) Why would you even think it is possible for Bell and Snyder to be on the Opening Day roster?

Answer 4) The O’s do not figure to pick up Mora’s option, nor bring him back at a lower price. They will have the option of playing Wiggnton everyday for a couple of months, and moving Bell to Norfolk… or keeping Wigginton on the bench, and promoting Bell. I agree the first-option is more likely, but I do not see the second-option as totally out of the question. Snyder’s lack of production at AAA, will likely end any chance of them giving 1st-base to Snyder to start 2010, but it should be possible. As I illustrated above, you would be asking him to bat 8th in the lineup, and I think it is reasonable to believe he would come close to matching Huff’s 2009 production. That said, I agree Snyder is not likely to get the chance to start from the beginning.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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