I am not advocating the below roster…. I understand as well as anyone why this can not happen… I just think it makes for interesting discussion…
If you were not worried about contracts, or development… and you were solely interested in forming the most talented 25 man roster, what would it be? How many games would they win?
I would go with:
Guthrie, Uehara, Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta
Sherrill
Ray
Johnson
Hill
Liz
Albers
Bergesen
Roberts 2nd
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Wieters C
Huff 1st
Mora 3rd
Scott DH
Pie LF
Izturis SS
Zaun, Reimold, Wiggington, Freel
Again, I understand why the O’s logically can not have the team constructed as this… but if this hypothetical was true… this would be a very interesting team, this year.
Matusz/Tillman/Arrieta in 2009 would have the chance to exceed the average production of 3rd to 5th starters in the American League… and at a minimum would be within reason of that level.
In real life, the O’s are considering going with a 13 man staff… if they do that, Freel will be the de facto backup SS.
In this scenario, Freel would again be the back-up SS, but would be part of a 4 man bench that could consistently produce.
The bullpen could be dominating… and with Hill, Liz, Albers, and Penn… provide relief pitchers that could stretch out, and give more innings vs typical relief pitchers.
I would rather keep Wieters in the minors until April 17th, and gurantee he can be an Oriole in 2015, vs bringing him up for Opening Day….. but if the goal was to put out the best lineup you possibly could from the beginning, obviously Wieters would be in it.
Him being that switch-hitter in-between Markakis and Huff would/will be huge.
Even with the expected regression of Huff, and Mora… that is a strong, and deep lineup.
If you told me that this would be the O’s team come Opening Day, I would have them down for 81 wins…. even in the American League East.
As exciting as that team would be… the fact that I could only call for 81 wins, further illustrates the point of why you would not do this.
If it is unlikely you can legitimately contend… you do not waste a year of contract you could have for Wieters… you do not ask Matusz to go from limited innings in the Arizona Fall League to the Majors…. you do not ask Tillman – who turns 21 April 15th – to make the jump from 135 innings at Bowie to the Majors… you do not ask Arrieta to go from A ball and the Olympics, to being your 5th starter…. you do not ask Reimold to give-up everyday at-bats at Norfolk… to being a reserve behind Pie… you do not make Bergesen the last guy in the bullpen, when you could keep Penn, and let Bergesen get regular starts in AAA.
Still, it is fun to dream.
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.