MLB Preview 2011: Looking at Adam Jones and the Baltimore Orioles on Paper
Is this the year that Baltimore finally breaks out?
They have arguably one of the more dangerous lineups in the American League, but the pitching is young and unproven.ย If the O's can get some solid production from the staff, it's a possibility that Baltimore can eclipse the .500 mark for the first time in 13 years.
Buck Showalter was brought in to become the new manager in August and did a remarkable job.ย The O's went 34-23 under Showalter during August and September.
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Infield
1 of 6
- C -ย Matt Wieters - 7.25ย
- 1B - Derrek Lee - 7.5ย
- 2B - Brian Roberts - 7.5ย
- SS - J.J. Hardy - 7ย
- 3B - Mark Reynolds - 8
Matt Wieters (24): 446 AB, .249 BA, 37 R, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 0 SBย
- The Phenom Wieters hasnโt been the Phenom that Orioles fans have hoped forย as of yet.ย While Joe Mauer and Buster Posey have flourished early on in their careers, Wieters is still trying to establish himself.ย The switch-hitter has a long swing.ย His power is much better from the left side.ย He has good mobility behind the plate to go along with a strong arm.
Derrek Lee (35): 547 AB, .260 BA, 80 R, 19 HR, 80 RBI, 1 SB
- Lee saw a huge decrease in his average, but he gets a fresh start after signing as a free agent.ย He has a long swing, but has lost a bit of bat speed over recent years.ย When his back is healthy, he drives the ball to all fields.ย Heโs still a top tier defender, but heโs lost range.
Brian Roberts (33): 230 AB, .278 BA, 28 R, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 12 SB
- Roberts played in just 59 games last season because of back issues.ย The switch-hitter is a line drive, gap hitter.ย Heโs not going to steal 40 bags anymore, but he still runs the bases well.ย Heโs okay in the field, but doesnโt have a strong arm.
J.J. Hardy (28): 340 AB, .268 BA, 44 R, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 1 SB
- Hardy likes the ball up and struggles when he gets pull-happy.ย Heโs a solid shortstop with a strong arm.
Mark Reynolds (27): 499 AB, .198 BA, 79 R, 32 HR, 85 RBI, 7 SB
- Reynolds is one of the most intriguing players in baseball.ย Heโs either going to strike out or hit a 450-foot home run.ย Heโs quick to the ball, but he doesnโt adjust to breaking stuff well.ย Heโs a solid defender with a strong arm.
Outfield
2 of 6
- LF - Luke Scott - 7.25ย
- CF - Adam Jones - 7.5ย
- RF - Nick Markakis - 7.5
- DH - Vladimir Guerrero - 7.25
Luke Scott (32): 447 AB, .284 BA, 70 R, 27 HR, 72 RBI, 2 SB
- Scott is a power fastball hitter.ย He likes to work the count to get into fastball counts.ย Heโs not a good fielder.ย Heโs stiff, lacks range and has weak arm strength.ย Felix Pie will see playing time as well.
Adam Jones (25): 581 AB, .284 BA, 76 R, 19 HR, 69 RBI, 7 SB
- Jones is a great talent, but struggled the first couple months of the season.ย He started kicking into gear once Buck Showalter arrived on the scene.ย Heโs aggressive at the plate and generates a lot of bat speed.ย Heโs an athlete in center field.ย Heโs got great range and a great arm.ย
Nick Markakis (27): 629 AB, .297 BA, 79 R, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 7 SB
- Markakis is a doubles machine.ย He has a short swing and stays inside the ball.ย Heโs an okay right fielder who has an accurate arm.
Vladimir Guerrero (36): 593 AB, .300 BA, 83 R, 29 HR, 115 RBI, 4 SB
- After a tough 2009 season, Guerrero rebounded in Texas.ย Heโs a free swinger and at this point in his career, heโs strictly a DH.
Starting Pitching
3 of 6
- 1. Jeremy Guthrie - 7.25
- 2. Brian Matusz - 7.25
- 3. Brad Bergesen - 7
- 4. Jake Arrieta - 7
- 5. Chris Tillman - 7
Jeremy Guthrie (32): 209 IP, 11-14, 3.83 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 119 K
- Guthrie bounced back after a puzzling 2009 season.ย He gets really good tail and sink with his fastball.ย He likes to use his sharp slider to put hitters away.ย He also mixes in a curveball and changeup.
Brian Matusz (24): 176 IP, 10-12, 4.30 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 143 K
- Matusz didnโt start the season off well last year, but finished strong; 7-1 with a 2.18 ERA in the final two months.ย He has a good feel for pitching for a 24-year-old.ย He throws his changeup anytime in the count.ย He also has a sweeping slider and a curveball.
Brad Bergesen (25): 170 IP, 8-12, 4.98 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 81 K
- Bergesen works around his low 90s sinking fastball.ย He needs to work on other secondary pitches besides the slider.
Jake Arrieta (25): 100 IP, 6-6, 4.66 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 52 K
- Arrieta is strong and gets good velocity on his fastball down in the zone.ย He doesnโt really have any signature breaking pitches as of yet.
Chris Tillman (23): 53 IP, 2-5, 5.87 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 31 K
Showalter can go a couple of different routes with the No. 5 starter.ย The Orioles took a flyer on Justin Duchscherer in the offseason.ย The former All-Star is injury-prone and will start the season on the DL with hip soreness.ย Rick VanDenHurk and Zach Britton are other options.
Bullpen
4 of 6
- RP - Jason Berken - 7
- RP - Jim Johnson - 7
- RP - Koji Uehara - 7
- SU - Mike Gonzalez - 7
- CP - Kevin Gregg - 7
Koji Uehara, Jim Johnson, Jason Berken
- Uehara did a solid job handling closer duties at the end of the season.ย He doesnโt throw hard, but he possesses a solid splitter as an out pitch.
Mike Gonzalez (32): 25 IP, 1-3, 1 SV, 4.01 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 31 K
- Gonzalez was signed during last yearโs offseason to close, but missed three months due to a shoulder injury.ย Heโs a strikeout pitcher who has a sharp breaking slider.
Kevin Gregg (32): 59 IP, 2-6, 37 SV, 3.51 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 58 K
Gregg has a funky short arm delivery.ย He has an effective fastball, which he likes to keep down.ย His downer curveball/slider is really his only secondary pitch.ย He used to throw a splitter, but hasnโt thrown it as much over recent years.
Sizing Up the Orioles on Paper
5 of 6
- C -ย Matt Wieters - 7.25ย
- 1B - Derrek Lee - 7.5ย
- 2B - Brian Roberts - 7.5ย
- SS - J.J. Hardy - 7ย
- 3B - Mark Reynolds - 8ย
- LF - Luke Scott - 7ย
- CF - Adam Jones - 7.5ย
- RF - Nick Markakis - 7.5
- DH - Vladimir Guerrero - 7.25ย
Projected Lineup
- 1. Brian Roberts - 7.5
- 2. Nick Markakis - 7.5
- 3. Derrek Lee - 7.5
- 4. Vladimir Guerrero - 7.25
- 5. Mark Reynolds - 8
- 6. Adam Jones - 7.5
- 7. Luke Scott - 7.25
- 8. Matt Wieters - 7.25
- 9. J.J. Hardy - 7
Projected Starting Rotation
- 1. Jeremy Guthrie - 7.25
- 2. Brian Matusz - 7.25
- 3. Brad Bergesen - 7
- 4. Jake Arrieta - 7
- 5. Chris Tillman - 7
Bullpen
- RP - Jason Berken - 7
- RP - Jim Johnson - 7
- RP - Koji Uehara - 7
- SU - Mike Gonzalez - 7
- CP - Kevin Gregg - 7
Bench/DH: Vladimir Guerrero, Felix Pie, Nolan Reimold, Cesar Izturis, Jake Fox -ย 7.25
Manager: Buck Showalter - 7.25
INF - 37.25
OF- 22
SP- 35.5
RP- 7
CP- 14
MISC- 14.5
Hitting- 59.25
Pitching- 56.5
TOTAL- 130.25
Prediction
6 of 6
Buck Showalter has instilled confidence in this club and there's definitely been some significant improvement.
I don't think the starting pitching is ready to flourish.ย They're still young and are still getting acclimated to the major league level.ย Jeremy Guthrie is solid, but not an ace.
There's going to be an improvement in wins, but getting near the .500 mark is going to be tough.
Prediction: 74-88, 4th in the AL East
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