Comedian Clayton Fletcher (@claytoncomic) stops by to talk about the Orioles on today’s episode ofThe Sully Baseball Daily Podcast. Somehow we keep talking about Dolph Lundgren. Read the rest of this entry →
Buck Showalter had one of the best managerial season in recent vintage with the 2012 version of the Baltimore Orioles, will the fans and management turn on him if there is a small regression in 2013?
I believe that 2013 will be a regressive season for the Baltimore Orioles. Much like the 2011 Arizona DiamondBacks in the National League, all of the bounces and luck went the Orioles way to have a magical year of a playoff berth in 2012. A crazy amount of 1 run wins, extra inning wins and a brilliant bullpen defied the odds in the American League in order to compete.
I still think the Baltimore Orioles will be competitive in 2013, I just don’t see a 90 win team. The team is not saddled with many outrageous contracts left, however it is a shame that Brian Roberts (10 Million Dollars Per Year) can’t stay healthy. They will need repeat years from Adam Jones and Chris Davis, plus significant increases in production from J.J. Hardy, Matt Wieters and Nick Markakis will need to hit his .300+.
This team has to take a run at a few players via trade or a remaining Free Agent. The need for a power hitting DH and another OF with Pop to play LF would be a wise decision. The ownership will need to extend the payroll for this very option. Also, they will need to plunk down some dough to sign an ace on the Free Agency market. You can’t tell me that a guy like Kyle Lohse won’t help the club!
Kyle Holland: The Orioles had by far surprising run in 2012.Not one ESPN or MLB Network reporter predicted them to make as strong of a run as they did. After finishing the 2011 campaign 69-93, they turned it around with an impressive 93-69 record. They won an amazing 16 extra inning games in a row, an MLB record. The Orioles were definitely strong contenders this year, but lacked in one key area. Starting pitching.
Solution to this pitching problem? Zack Greinke. Greinke is the best pitcher on the free agent market this year and an ace like him is exactly what the Orioles need. Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen had probably the best seasons on the starting staff, but neither are a go-to ace. Hammel had a 3.43 ERA in 20 games started with an 8-6 record. Chen lead the team in wins, ERA, and strikeouts (with a qualifying amount of innings pitched). He tossed 154 Ks with a 4.02 ERA through collecting 12 wins along the way. The O’s pitching was their downfall in the ALDS. Read the rest of this entry →
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