As the O’s get ready to stare another off-season in the face, lets identify some of the obvious questions that exist with some of their core players. In this piece, we will take a look at Wieters, Markakis, and Jones.
Matt Wieters – By all accounts he has improved at calling a game, and has grown more comfortable within the clubhouse since Showalter took over. With a .357 batting average, and .944 OPS in September; Wieters is raising his overall numbers to a level approaching respectable.
Questions for Wieters:
1) In 110 at-bats during 2010, Wieters has a horrific .558 OPS as a right-handed hitter against LHP. (Compared to .779 vs RHP). Wieters is regularly described as a player that is analytical and inquisitive. Will he determine on his own something that is limiting him from the right side?
2) When Wieters was drafted the comparisons were to his fellow former Georgia Tech Catcher Jason Varitek. When Wieters dominated the Minors, the description became ‘Mauer with Power.’ Varitek has had a great career by any measure, but Mauer he is not. Which Catcher does Wieters compare better to now?
Nick Markakis – In ’08 Markakis had a Ultimate Zone Rating of 11.1. In ’09 the UZR was -5.7, and is -4.8 here in ’10.
UZR can have such a variance year to year, that I question the value of the statistic. I value the opinions of Jim Palmer as much as any analyst in this game, and he regularly raves about Markakis in RF. You do not need advanced metrics to see the impact his arm has on the running habits of opposing teams, or how quickly Markakis gets to the line.
Whatever you think about his glove, the primary reason Markakis received a 6 year $66M extension after the ’08 season was his production with the bat. His ’08 OPS was .897. In ’09 that dropped to .801, in ’10 it stands at .788 entering tonight.
Question for Markakis:
1) 2010 was his 4th consecutive season with 40+ doubles, but his slugging % has dropped dramatically the past two years. Will he have to sacrifice some average going forward, to provide this lineup with some additional pop?
Adam Jones – By late May, Jones was symbolic of all that was wrong with the Orioles by many in Baltimore. His approach was horrible at the plate, and he did not look like deserving of his Gold Glove. Since then he has had two full months of an OPS above .850, and has made some adjustments in the OF (noticeably playing deeper). There has not been any real improvement to his game over ’09, but it would be hard for someone to make the case he has regressed.
Questions for Jones:
1) Jones has 23 walks to 107 k’s entering tonight. Is that plate discipline going to improve, or is this who he is going to be?
2) I think the defense has improved for Jones over the course of the year, but he has still been prone to mental letdowns at-times. As I am writing this, I am watching Jones run hard after a Brett Gardner liner to center. His effort was fine, his route to the ball was poor. If Jones wants to stay at CF long-term, he is going to have spend further time at his craft. He can not rely on his athleticism alone. Besides, there are those that believe his weight/muscle gain has sapped some of that athleticism and speed.
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.