MLB Spring Training: Baltimore Orioles Preview
2015 in Review:
Even though the team ended up 81-81, the 2015 season was still a big disappointment for the Baltimore Orioles. The O’s ended 2014 going to the American League Championship Series and were hoping to repeat as AL East champs, but the club instead took a big step back in 2015.
The losses of Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller were clearly felt, and the team’s starting rotation regressed far more than the team’s front office was probably expecting. Baltimore was still able to produce runs at around the level they did in 2014, and the great rebound years from 3B Manny Machado and 1B Chris Davis were major bright spots for the club.
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The bullpen was also a major strength as closer Zach Britton and set-up man Darren O’Day performed at all-star levels. Relief pitchers Mychal Givens and Brad Brach also burst onto the scene with good performances in the pen. The major weakness of the club was in the starting rotation.
After getting good seasons from Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Tillman and Bud Norris in 2014, they all took a major step back in 2015. In fact, no starting pitcher besides Wei-Yin Chen ended the year with an ERA under-4.00. There were a few great starts from SP Ubaldo Jimenez, but inconsistencies derailed a good season that the he could have had.
Inconsistency and the lack of quality starting pitching were the main reasons that the O’s were never able to become the team they expected to be in 2015.
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Key Offseason Additions: 1B/OF Mark Trumbo, OF Hyun-soo Kim
Key Offseason subtractions: SP Wein-Yin Chen, OF/1B Steve Pearce
Rotation:
- Chris Tillman
- Ubaldo Jimenez
- Kevin Gausman
- Miguel Gonzalez
- Vance Worley/Odrisamer Despaigne/Tyler Wilson
Barring any more trades or signings, the Orioles’ rotation seems to be in worse shape then it was last season, which is a very bad sign for a team that struggled with their starting rotation in 2014. Chris Tillman is slotted to be the opening day starter. Tillman has been with the club since 2009, but didn’t start to make a true impact until the 2012 season.
He has had some great starts and some solid seasons for Baltimore, particularly in 2012 and 2014, where he pitched to a 2.93 and 3.34 ERA respectfully. But Tillman had a down year last season. Not only did he end up with an ERA close to 5.00, but he showed regression in his pitching arsenal, which is a bad sign for someone who is only 27 years old.
After coming up as a prospect who could throw in the mid-90’s, his velocity has steadily declined over the past couple seasons. Tillman also has inconsistent mechanics, which makes him much more unreliable. He has had success in the league, but Tillman’s performance last year is cause for major concern for Baltimore’s front office and fans.
No team is in a good spot with their rotation when their ace is coming off a year when he finished with a 4.99 ERA. Ubaldo Jimenez bounced back somewhat from an extremely disappointing 2014. Jimenez started off last seasons year with a bang, but inconsistencies derailed the makings of a very solid season. Still, it was good to see improvement for Jimenez after the O’s gave him a record contract for a pitcher in 2014.
He is by no means a sure thing at the top of the rotation, though. Kevin Gausman came into the league with the hope that he would be the future ace for the Orioles, however things haven’t turned out that way for the flame-throwing right hander. Even though Gausman has all the makings of being a top-of-the-rotation starter, he just hasn’t been able to turn those skills into consistent success at the big league level. He has shown a couple of flashes of what he could be, though.
He is the one pitcher that could break out for Baltimore. Miguel Gonzalez had a career year in 2014, unfortunately he seriously regressed last season. Gonzalez is the type of pitcher that needs to locate all of his pitches well if he is going to be successful; he just doesn’t have the stuff to be a staple in a contending teams’ starting rotation.
Baltimore’s last spot is up for grabs with former Phillie and Pirate Vance Worley looking to have the inside track on taking the job. Worley has been somewhat successful, but nobody should expect him to be a force in the Orioles rotation in 2015.
The Lineup:
- LF Hyun-Soo Kim
- 2B Jonathan Schoop
- 3B Manny Machado
- 1B Chris Davis
- CF Adam Jones
- DH Mark Trumbo
- C Matt Wieters
- SS J.J. Hardy
- RF Nolan Reimold
The Orioles’ lineup has one major strength: power. The club has several hitters that have the ability to put up some really good home run numbers. This power-filled order is led by MLB’s 2015 home run leader, Chris Davis. The Orioles re-signed Davis to a team-record contract because of his power and production.
The first baseman has hit 25 or more bombs in each of the last four seasons and led the league in home runs in 2013 and 2015. He should provide the team with the same type of power this season.
The Orioles also have all-stars like Adam Jones and Manny Machado in the middle of the order. Jones had another all-star season in 2015 and Machado proved himself to be one of the league’s upcoming stars after he suffered a terrible leg injury at the end of the 2014 season. Stalwarts like Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy have produced for the O’s in the past, but Wieters has not been able to live up to his billing of being a top prospect when he entered the league, and Hardy had one of the worst years of his career last season.
Now 33 years old, the Orioles front office has to wonder if Hardy is over the hill. On the other end of the spectrum, one guy that Orioles fans should be excited about is second baseman Jonathan Schoop. Schoop has improved every year since he came into the league. In 2015, the young right-handed hitter, posted a .279 batting average and hit 15 home runs. He should improve even more next season. Schoop has the natural tools to be one of the best second baseman in the league; don’t be surprised if he ended up as an all-star in 2016.
The additions of Mark Trumbo and Kim should improve the offense, especially with Trumbo because his power will play very well in hitter-friendly Camden Yards. He has a real possibility to hit close to 40 dingers this season.
The only real weak spot besides possibly Hardy is in right field with Nolan Remold. Not only has he not produced numbers deserving of a starting spot, but he has been injured often throughout his career.
The Orioles lineup should be viewed as a strength for the team with the power potential it offers, even though the club’s on-base percentage needs to improve if they are going to have one of the better offenses in all of baseball.
The Bullpen:
This was the team’s real strength last season, even after losing the dominant left-handed Andrew Miller to the Yankees last offseason. Darren O’Day and Zach Britton made up one of the best back-of-the-bullpen combos in the entire league and they had surprise contributions from Brad Brach and Mychal Givens.
Nobody knew if O’Day was going to return to the O’s in 2016, but Baltimore did re-sign him and the pen should be just as good as it was last year. After Britton and O’Day, Givens and Brach should be able to repeat their performances. The team also has depth with their bullpen with Brian Matusz being good left-handed specialist.
The team also has some young pitchers that offer some good upside. Former top prospect Dylan Bundy must make the opening day roster, so it should be exciting to see how he pitches. Guys like Mike Wright, Oliver Drake and Tyler Wilson could also be guys that give the club surprise contributions next season. The Orioles bullpen should be just as good as last season and will be one of the best pens in major league baseball.
Outlook for 2016:
Baltimore did a good job of brining back some key free agents to keep their team competitive for 2016, but the roster doesn’t seem complete enough to be a true contender for a spot among the American League elite. Granted, the AL East is not that strong of a division, especially with David Price going from a team like the Blue Jays to the Red Sox.
There isn’t a team that should run away with the division, but the starting rotation will be the O’s downfall in 2016. There are just too many if’s in the rotation next season for the team to make the playoffs. The Orioles’ offense and bullpen will keep them competitive, but without established starting pitchers, the Orioles will compete, but not contend. This team that missed that playoffs last year just didn’t improve its roster enough to make it to the postseason this year.
What do you think about the O’s roster? Let us know in the comment section below.