2014 Outlook: Baltimore Orioles

I didn't know how to start my Baltimore Orioles preview other than to say, I don't know how the Orioles have been so successful the past few years.

When you look at the Os, they definitely have some of the brightest young talent in the big leagues, I think, highlighted by their corner infielders, Manny Machado and Chris Davis. Of course, you can't leave out Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and JJ Hardy, who have been a staples in this lineup as well.


The offensive firepower of the Orioles has never been doubted I don't believe, but if there is one thing this organization cannot seem to get right, it is their pitching.

In 2013, there were 11 teams to have 4.0 or worse ERA, and one was the Orioles. The prior year, the Orioles had a 3.9 ERA, and was actually lower than the league average of 4.00 ERA.

The Orioles can think they addressed their need for a true ace in Ubaldo Jimenez, but I have my doubts. For one, Jimenez has put together two very dominant halves of baseball, separated by about three years of poor baseball.

I can't say I know what went wrong between the great start of 2010, and the dominant ending of 2013, but if the Orioles are gambling on him to be the savior of this pitching staff, I wouldn't put too much money on it. Which they really didn't.

I don't think the Orioles have had an ace since Mike Mussina.

But, the Orioles are really close with about three guys with ace stuff, in Kevin Gaussman, Dylan Bundy (right) and Eduardo Rodriguez. Gaussman and Rodriguez may be the closest of the three, what with Bundy coming off TJS and all.

But the Orioles seem to have realized their flaws, and are addressing them in a big way. I can't say I'd be surprised if Gaussman and Rodriguez get shots at a rotation spot before the all-star break if guys in their projected rotation start to break down, or don't get the job done, though both are likely scenarios.

Like I mentioned though, what you do like about the Orioles is their incredible young hitters. Machado and Davis draw the headlines, but don't forget about Jones and Markakis.

I don't mind what the Os did to get Nelson Cruz, though I thought it to be a little unnecessary. The Orioles already posses a great deal of pop in this lineup, I don't see how Cruz helps them.

But, on a one-year contract, they may be getting a great steal because Cruz has a lot to prove right now. He has to prove his numbers are not a product of PEDs and he has to prove he deserves more than a one year deal.

While it was a head scratcher, I think this could work out for the Orioles in the end.

One guy I think that really gets put in the background of these big time bats is JJ Hardy. Hardy is almost a perfect fit in Baltimore. He's hit better than 20 homers in all three seasons in Baltimore, and he's played better than 150 games twice, he played in 129 the first year there.

Baltimore really got a great steal from the Twins.

One guy I'm interested to see how the O's handle, is Jonathan Schoop (left). Schoop is a middle infielder, who likely will play 2B at some point, and has tremendous power.

He's a little taller than him, but probably a good comparison is Robinson Cano. I'm not saying he's going to be the next Robinson Cano, but I'm not not going to say that either. Schoop has a smooth, effortless swing like Cano with tremendous pop.

Schoop added ten lean pounds of muscle in the offseason, and has his eyes on a job in this Orioles middle-infield. If Schoop has an eye popping spring training, he almost has to get the job at second base.

A lot of people have been down on Matt Wieters the past few years. And for good reason. He's hit better than .250 only once, though he's hit better than 20 homers four straight years. The one thing you like about Wieters is he is always in the lineup. Wieters has played in 130 or more games in four straight seasons.

Granted some of that is probably time at the DH, that is almost unheard of from a catcher.

While Wieters doesn't get on base a whole heck of a lot, why would you want a catcher on base when he can clear Adam Jones, Manny Machado or Nick Markakis from the base paths with one swing of the bat.

I think Wieters is a tremendously underrated player who the Orioles should feel luck to have.

The 2014 success of the Orioles is going to be highlighted by the offensive fireworks they provide fans. I think the biggest downfall this team faces will be their pitching until they get it in order. Gaussman, Bundy and Rodriguez are great starts, but pitching takes time to develop and find success in the big leagues.

2014 may not be as fun of a year for the Orioles in the win column.