Bring on Opening Day!

The Baltimore Orioles wrap up their Exhibition season tomorrow against the New York Mets, and will open their 2010 season Tuesday in Tampa against the Rays.

Let us take a look at the roster the O’s will start the season with:

Roberts 2nd
Jones CF
Markakis RF
Tejada SS
Wieters C
Reimold LF
Scott DH
Atkins 1st
Izturis SS

Wigginton, Pie, Lugo, Tatum

Millwood, Guthrie, Matusz, Bergesen, Hernandez

Gonzalez
Johnson
Albers
Meredith
Ohman
Hendrickson
Berken

There are basically two very large-reasons to believe the O’s will be vastly improved in 2010 vs. 2009.

The first reason that should be apparent to everyone, is that Millwood, Guthrie, Matusz, Bergesen, Hernandez is a major improvement over the Opening Day 2009 rotation of Guthrie, Uehara, Simon, Hendrickson, and Eaton.

The second reason is that Jones, Markakis, Wieters, Reimold, and Pie represent a very talented core of players that have yet to reach their prime. They all figure to be better in 2010 than they were in 2009.

If those two basic thoughts hold-true, this is going to be an enjoyable year for fans of the Orange & Black. How enjoyable will depend on the rest of the roster. Do Roberts, and Scott match their expected production and not regress? Will Tejada and Atkins prove to at-least be better than the 2009 versions of Mora, and Huff?

I like the bench, especially with the addition of Lugo. Wigginton, Pie, and Lugo are capable of regular playing time and contributing. If they play as often as they should, the everyday lineup will benefit by being fresher. This is one of two ways the O’s can avoid another late-season collapse.

As I allude to above, I believe one of the reasons for the regular late-season swoons has been the overall lack of depth of the roster. This has led to the starters burning out, and being totally over-matched against the deeper, more-talented rosters that have existed within the division. I believe that starts to change in 2010. The other-reason I believe there will not be a 2010 collapse, is that this starting rotation is going to provide consistent innings if they stay healthy. That fact alone will keep the bullpen from becoming over-taxed and worthless during the dog-days of summer.

If you get 890 innings or so from the starting-rotation, that drastically changes things. Even if Guthrie has to be replaced due to under-performance, or an unexpected injury occurs to one of the other starters; you have legitimately talented depth in Tillman, Arrieta, Britton (and maybe even Erbe) waiting in the immediate wings. I will be shocked and extremely disappointed if we get to August and the O’s bullpen is tired. There is no reason for that to occur this year.

I am not particularly thrilled with the complexion of the bullpen to start the season, but to be fair to the O’s; their hands were tied with the injuries to Uehara, and Mickolio.

I argued all Winter that I wanted Berken to be part of the bullpen, so I am happy to see him as part of the roster. However, my hope was always that he would be teamed with Hernandez. Hendrickson was solid enough last-year, and has always been better out of the bullpen; but I have limited confidence in him overall. I think the O’s gave Hendrickson the guaranteed contract less because of what they expect from him, and mainly because he is left-handed. As he was never going to be the ‘Lefty specialist / LOOGY,’ I have never understood why his place on the roster was secure. Tillman will force his way back on to the roster, and when he does, I fully believe the O’s will be improved with Guthrie/Hernandez in the bullpen, and Hendrickson released.

I have always been an Albers fan, and do believe after another Winter of rehab that he will look better in his second-year past the Labrum injury. I like to remind people that Albers was once a Top 100 overall prospect, and was the AA Southern Pitcher of the Year. The kid has some pedigree. Still, Albers better get off to a good start. If he does not, him and Meredith are going to dually be sweating out the arrival of Uehara off the DL.

At some-point during the 2010 season, I would love to see the O’s bullpen look like:

Gonzalez
Johnson
Mickolio
Uehara
Ohman
Hernandez
Lebron /or Berken /or Albers

When (if) that occurs, I believe the O’s could really start to take off. That would be a strong group of power arms that would have the ability to limit games. If you get the O’s rotation providing regular innings at some-point, and you follow them up with the aforementioned bullpen arms – the Orioles will be a team that nobody enjoys playing.

I’m sticking with the 82-80 prediction I have had for months.

Bring on Opening Day!