The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Baltimore Orioles – INSIDE PITCH
In years past, the Orioles had a slew of has-beens and minor league journeymen battling for the fifth starter’s role.
This year, they’re rolling out a former All-Star and some of the club’s top pitching prospects of the past few seasons.
With the notion that Jason Hammel and Wei-Yen Chen have locked up the top two spots in the rotation, and that righties Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tilman have a leg up on the competition for two other spots, the fifth starter’s role will be one of the primary position battles in Sarasota, Fla.
Manager Buck Showalter has two young pitchers in camp who made a nice impact in the club’s late-summer push to the 2012 playoffs, lefty Zach Britton and righty Steve Johnson. They’re joined by lefty Brian Matusz, who may be better suited for a relief role after a lights-out performance in the playoffs, and last year’s Opening Day starter, right-hander Jake Arrieta. Right-hander Tommy Hunter would need an eye-opening spring to earn back his starting role.
Then there are the new guys, led by former Braves All-Star Jair Jurrjens. The veteran signed a minor league contract after an injury-riddled 2012, and he has minor league options remaining, so the club could let him start slowly and build toward a mid-year call-up.
One pitcher who is new to camp but doesn’t have the luxury of a minor league option is lefty T.J. McFarland. The tall hurler is a Rule 5 pick, and he has impressed club officials and scouts. If he doesn’t make the club, he’d have to be offered back to the Indians.
By the time October rolls around, the fifth starter may be irrelevant. The club’s top two prospects — righties Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman — are projected to be ready by year’s end. And by next season, that duo may be locked into starting roles.
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MLB Team Report – Baltimore Orioles – NOTES, QUOTES
–LHP Tsuyoshi Wada reported that his first outing off a half-mound went well. Wada threw about 20 pitches off the slightly elevated bump as he battles back from ligament transplant surgery on his pitching elbow. He’s looking to make his major league debut after missing all of 2012. Wada is eyeing a May return.
–RHP Luis Ayala opted to skip the World Baseball Classic. Ayala, who was solid for the Orioles in his first season with the club last year, was slated to pitch for Team Mexico. Instead, he’s looking to build up for the regular season, where he should work in the sixth and seventh innings.
–1B Chris Davis got off to a positive start in the club’s initial intrasquad game, blasting an opposite-field home run off RHP Tommy Hunter. Davis should be in a position to repeat his 2012 success, as he’ll get regular at-bats at first base or designated hitter.
–RHP Darren O’Day signed a two-year, $5.8 million contract extension that solidifies his role as the club’s middle relief ace. He’s taken on a new role this spring, too, mentoring RHP Adam Russell and LHP Mark Hendrickson. The pitchers are tinkering with new arm slots — something the submarine-style O’Day knows a little something about. Both are long-shots to make the 25-man roster, while O’Day should work in the sixth and seventh innings in 2013.
–1B/OF Conor Jackson departed a recent workout with a sore back. Jackson was being held out as a precaution and downplayed the issue. The former Diamondbacks prospect will need to impress club officials to earn a role on the Orioles’ 25-man roster, but his right-handed bat could help his chances.
BY THE NUMBERS: 11 — Left-handed pitchers in Orioles camp, likely competing for two rotation spots and two relief spots.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s pretty much the same team. Bullpen, starting pitching, a little more depth and pretty much the same lineup. We’re just more experienced.” — SS J.J. Hardy, on the 2013 Orioles vs. the 2012 version.
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MLB Team Report – Baltimore Orioles – ROSTER REPORT
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. RHP Jason Hammel
2. LHP Wei-Yin Chen
3. RHP Miguel Gonzalez
4. RHP Chris Tillman
5. LHP Zach Britton
The first two slots are virtually locked up, barring a surprise acquisition. There are others competing for spots, including last year’s Opening Day starter, RHP Jake Arrieta, former starters RHPs Steve Johnson and Tommy Hunter, and LHP Brian Matusz. RHP Jair Jurrjens signed a minor league contract, and he’s in the mix for the fifth starter’s role, too.
Two key contributors from last season — RHP Steve Johnson and LHP Zach Britton — may be forced to open the year at Class AAA Norfolk. Meanwhile, RHPs Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, both top prospects, could have the big-league starters looking over their shoulders.
PROJECTED BULLPEN:
RHP Jim Johnson (closer)
RHP Pedro Strop
RHP Darren O’Day
RHP Luis Ayala
LHP Brian Matusz
LHP Troy Patton
RHP Tommy Hunter
The bullpen was the club’s greatest strength in 2012. But relief corps, year to year, are inconsistent groups. Johnson was a lockdown closer last year, and if Strop can rediscover his midseason form, he’ll work the eighth. O’Day was invaluable in relief, particularly in the postseason. Steve Johnson and Arrieta could also factor in as long relievers.
The left side of the bullpen offers more flexibility, and there are plenty of candidates. Rule 5 pick LHP T.J. McFarland and offseason pickups LHP Mike Belfiore and LHP Daniel Schlereth have legitimate shots to crack the staff.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
1. LF Nate McLouth
2. SS J.J. Hardy
3. RF Nick Markakis
4. CF Adam Jones
5. C Matt Wieters
6. 1B Chris Davis
7. DH Wilson Betemit
8. 3B Manny Machado
9. 2B Ryan Flaherty
The lineup revolves around the health of two players: left fielder Nolan Reimold and second baseman Brian Roberts. Both could hit leadoff, and both could potentially be out for a prolonged stretch.
The bench and designated hitter position may be one in the same unless the club is able to acquire a bat in the spring — which the club’s pitching depth seems to indicate is on tap. Overall, no one bat stands out above the others. Wieters and Machado could be in for an improvement similar to what Jones saw last year.
TOP ROOKIES: 3B Manny Machado (.262, seven homers in 51 games) may not be a rookie by some accounts, but he’s in his first spring training as a big-league starter. RHPs Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman are the headlining pitchers in the Orioles’ system, and both should make appearances in Baltimore in 2013. Another player to watch is INF Jonathan Schoop (.245, 14 HR, 56 RBI at Class AA), who could factor in at second base late in 2013 if he can handle it defensively.
MEDICAL WATCH:
–LHP Randy Wolf (Tommy John surgery in October 2012) likely will miss the season.
–LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (left elbow surgery in May 2012) was pitching off a half-mound early in spring training. He’s aiming for a May return.
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