The team won 68 games in 2008….
Assuming there are no major changes to the roster… How would you currently project the Orioles?
I think we are looking at the best Oriole team in a decade.
I expect Huff, and Mora to regress from their 2008 seasons…. But I am also expecting Markakis and Jones to take another step-forward.
When Wieters arrives in late-April, he is going to be a marked improvement over Hernandez.
The defense and athleticism has improved with Pie in LF, and Izturis at SS.
Zaun, Wigginton, Freel, and either Montanez or Gomez/Murphy/Cabrera is going to be a much improved bench.
The return of Ray, combined with Johnson and Sherrill, gives the bullpen the potential to close games down.
Tampa, Boston, and New York are fielding three powerful teams, that the O’s will face 57 times in 2009. Which means, that finishing with 81 wins, and ending the consecutive losing-season streak is probably a stretch.
That said, if Guthrie avoids any significant decline… Uehara can give you 140-150 innings at a 4.50 era, and Hill can approximate his 2007 numbers…. The Orioles could surprise, even in the brutal AL East, and win 75-78 games in 2009.
The elation would not be from going from 68 wins to 75-78 wins, but how you accomplished it. If the O’s improve on the field this year, it is primarily going to be accomplished on the strengths of the players you are going to be building around going-forward…. That is reason to be excited for the start of Spring Training, and the beginning of another season.
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.