Author Archive

Baltimore Orioles 2012: In Buck We Trust

Heading into the 2012 season there are very few reasons to be excited if you’re an Orioles fan. But to be clear, there are still things to be excited about. 

Lineup

The power supply is certainly in this line-up, even if it’s a tad inconsistent (especially to compete in the AL East). But with Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, and Adam Jones  there is certainly some consistency in the top of this order. 

The problem lies in Mark Reynolds (.221), Chris Davis, (.255), and Matt Weiters (.261) driving in those ducks on the pond. 

Even with Reynolds’ 37 home runs, he was one of the least efficient sluggers in baseball (just 86 RBIs), and he continued his streak of leading the league in strikeouts with 196 (only 75 BB). This lineup will have trouble finding consistency if someone can’t become the RBI machine in the 4 spot that they need (Baltimore turns its lonely eyes to you Mr. Wieters). 

Now onto the bad news. (Wow… That was the good news?

 

Rotation

This rotation may be one of the worst in the majors on paper. With Brian Matusz coming off of a dismal year (1-9 with an ERA of 10.69), there does not seem to be anyone ready to pick up the slack. 

Tsuyoshi Wada brings some fresh blood, but the 5’11″ 170lb lefty is 31, and with a career in the Nippon league that was at best, pretty good. I wouldn’t expect him to have a ceiling higher than 10 wins and a 4.75 ERA.

The rest of the rotation consists of youthful arms with upside with no real track record. The most intriguing is former Ranger, Tommy Hunter, who is one year removed from posting 13 wins and a 3.73 ERA. Hunter has the build of an innings eater at 6’3″ 280lbs. With some polishing, he could be the cement this rotation needs.

 

Bullpen

There isn’t a lot to look at in this department, but the few proven arms hanging around the bullpen this season all seem to have something to prove. 

Kevin Gregg is back as the de facto closer. With some success in this role, it’s his job to lose.

As far as who’ll be gunning for Gregg’s job it’ll be between perennial set-up men; lefty Darren O’Day and righty Matt Lindstrom. With Darren O’Day healthy (6-20.88 WHIP in ’10) and Matt Lindstrom a career WHIP machine (1.44) O’Day will be first in line to snatch any save opportunities not slotted for Gregg 

 

Prediction

The Buck Truck had some bright spots last year, even if it was as a spoiler rather than a contender. Buck Showalter will have himself a slightly more confident group to mold in 2012. 

However, they are in a division with Boston, New York, and Tampa Bay, even Toronto has made strides of late (something Baltimore has only done in the uniform department. They are sweet unis though).

Finish71 – 91 (Last Place

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Freddy Garcia Makes New York Yankees Rotation, Bartolo Colon Sent to the Bullpen

Despite hurling some of his best stuff in five years (1-0/2.40/15 IP/17 K), Bartolo Colon will start his season with the Yankees in the bullpen.

Yankees skipper Joe Girardi announced Sunday that the team will round out their rotation with Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia as their fourth and fifth starters.

Though the announcement was touted as “expected” by many media outlets, including ESPN, it still comes as a surprise to anyone who has followed both of their springs, or even their careers.

Colon was the victim of a manager already making up his decision as to who he was going to pick before either of them took to the mound. In an article from ESPN, Girardi touts what Freddy Garcia had done in the lead up to spring, and in the past season, as the reason he picked Garcia over Colon.

Colon did not have any stats to speak of in 2010 due to injuries.

So if Colon outperformed Garcia so blatantly this spring, and Garcia has been mediocre at best over the past few seasons, what put the nail in the coffin for Colon?

Versatility.

That’s right. Joe Girardi’s reason to ESPN was, in essence, that he didn’t expect Colon to be this good:

“Bartolo was the wild card in all of this,” Girardi said. “I didn’t really have any expectations for Bartolo. I had no idea what to think, what he was going to do. You didn’t know his velocity was going to be as high as 93, that he’d have that much movement on his fastball, that he’d be able to pick up a cutter in a day. And it happened.”

So the only place that makes sense to keep him is in the “mop-up duty” roll in the bullpen, where Colon will see very limited action.

This could very quickly become a moot point, however.

Both have a very long injury track record over the past five years, we could see one (or both!) of these guys land on the DL before we even have time to argue who should have gotten the spot.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Toodles To Torre! Joe Torre Out as Dodgers Manager; Don Mattingly in.

With speculations swirling regarding the future of the Los Angeles Dodgers as far as payroll and players, one thing is finally put to rest today. Joe Torre will not have his contract picked up this off-season, and Don Mattingly will replace Torre as manager. 

The changing of the guard will be officially announced later today before the Dodgers take on the Colorado Rockies.

Mattingly, who is currently acting as the hitting coach for the Dodgers, has been a staple of Torre’s coaching staff since 2004.

Mattingly was the center of much speculation regarding his possible future as the Dodgers manager when it was announced he would guide a team in the Arizona fall league.

One source close to the situation has said that it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Torre could remain with the Dodgers in some other capacity, whether it be in the front office or on the bench.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Clay Buchholz Crushed; Cy Young Chances Flushed

Just when you thought there was at least one reason to watch the Red Sox for the remainder of the 2010 season, Clay Buchholz reminded Sox fans that the final Sunday can’t come soon enough.

Buchholz hardly had enough time to realize how bad his start was Friday night against the Oakland Athletics, only lasting into the second inning. After allowing five earned runs on four walks and five hits, Francona had seen enough and handed the ball over to Dustin Richardson.

Dustin Richardson, Michael Bowden, Robert Coello, and Robert Manuel managed to stop the bleeding and shut out the Athletics through the next seven innings. However the Red Sox offense was too busy being rocked by Trevor Cahill (now 16-6 on the season) to be bothered with supplying any runs.

Whomever was on duty to hide all calendars from Buchholz this month fell asleep at the switch. Clay had forced himself into the discussion for the Cy Young Award by pitching out of his skull in August (4-0, 1.03 ERA, .195 BAA). Buchholz had even pitched well in his first start of September. Despite only lasting five innings against the Chicago White Sox, Clay only allowed two earned runs.

(Originally posted on 5 Yard Face Mask)

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Copyright © 1996-2010 Kuzul. All rights reserved.
iDream theme by Templates Next | Powered by WordPress