| 10 February 2009
This week we'll take a look at each AL East team through the eyes of a blogger that covers them. Today, Anthony from Oriole Magic answers five questions about the Baltimore Orioles and the upcoming 2009 season:
1. Ramon Hernandez is gone and the O's have signed veteran Gregg Zaun to mentor Matt Wieters, one of the best prospects in baseball. Is Wieters all he's cracked up to be and will he win the starting job over Zaun or do you expect them to split time behind the plate 50/50?
The Orioles seem to want him to start off in the minors, get comfortable calling a game, and his feet wet in Triple-A for he comes to Baltimore. He's excelled at every level of professional baseball so far, and could win the job outright in Spring Training if flat out dominates, it's universally agreed he'll not be on the big league roster on Opening Day
It's a foregone conclusion he'll be an Oriole in 2009 at some point, but the team signed veteran Gregg Zaun to probably be the starting catcher for Opening Day, but when Wieters comes up, he'll be his mentor. I would expect Wieters to get the lion's share of playing time unless he struggles.
Pretty much all of baseball knows that Wieters is a special talent, and barring injury, people will be looking forward to seeing him in his major league debut.
2. Like the Red Sox, the Orioles missed out on Mark Teixeira, but they do look like team with some purpose. Adam Jones is a nice young player, they extended Markakis and they added guys like Felix Pie, Ryan Freel and Cesar Izturis... are O's fans optimistic or has 11 consecutive losing seasons and the miss on Teixeira frustrated them to the point of no return?
I can't speak for everyone, but I want to see improvement and a commitment to a plan. No one expects Baltimore to contend, and most are realistic - it may be a while before the team finally turns the corner.
Right now, the Orioles have to look up at the Yankees, Red Sox, the Jays - who seem to hang around .500 mark all year - and the AL Champions, the Rays. Although some have not seen a lot of benefits to the moves that Baltimore has made in the offseason, I think things are headed in the right direction.
Anything can happen in baseball, but it would be a fantasy to expect them to compete in that division. Most are expecting a last place finish, but Markakis & Roberts should be solid, and we need Huff and Mora to maintain their form from '08. Also, can Jones develop even more, and is Pie the real thing?
The hunt for Teixiera during the offseason was not going to bode well for the Orioles, and it didn't. He wanted to go a winner, and despite a good faith effort by Baltimore, they were not even really in the running.
If think after fans saw through the slugger's true intentions, most have moved on from the issue. Then again, he'll be on the field at Camden Yards on Opening Day and I'll be intrigued to see the reaction he gets.
3. The O's used the bullpen more than any other team in baseball last year and the starting rotation still looks pretty bad... Thoughts?
The biggest concern is the starting pitching by far in 2009.
The rotation may be the most important storyline heading into the season as only two men - Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara are penciled in. Baltimore may sign another starter, but it looks there may be an open audition to fill out the remaining spots.
Everyone else - Rich Hill (from the Cubs), to Mark Hendrickson to Radhames Liz will probably have to compete for a job as a starter. The bullpen should be fine if Chris Ray and Danys Baez can bounce back from injury, as well if Jamie Walker can be effective as a lefty, and if George Sherrill can be a stopper.
Eyes will also be on James Johnson to see if he can avoid the sophomore slump, but overall, the Orioles should have enough to at least be better than they were in 2008.
4. Who will the surprise of 2009 for the Orioles? - This can be a rookie, a trade you think might happen or a player just playing beyond expectations...
Markakis & Roberts should be solid, and we need Huff and Mora to maintain their form from '08. Also, can Jones develop even more, and will the additions to the squad - Ryan Freel, Rich Hill, Mark Hendrickson, Koji Uehera, and Ty Wigginton - be positives for the Orioles?
The player who may surprise is Felix Pie.
I felt he did not get a fair shake in Chicago (it's not a place on the job training, anyway) and being that he was out of minor league options, they moved on from him and MacPhail swooped in and took him. Everything on Pie will hinge on whether he can hit major league pitching; however, he's a gifted athlete and will help give the Orioles one of the best defensive outfields in the league.
The Orioles will let him play as much as he can. Unless he is abysmal, I think you'll see him in the lineup often.
With the pressure off of him in Chicago, he may excel.
5. Predict the final standings for the AL East - We all want are team to go all the way, but try to be realistic.
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
Thanks to Oriole Magic for participating in this feature. Check back throughout the week for previews of the Blue Jays, Rays and Yankees as well!
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