With two Silver Sluggers and an Most Valuable Player award, the Texas Rangers’ Josh Hamilton has always been one of baseball’s elite, but his on-field injuries and off-the-field substances have limited his potential throughout his career.

However, you’ve probably heard that 2012 is a completely different story. Through his first 30 games, the Rangers’ outfielder has amassed a whopping 18 home runs and 41 runs batted in, with an eye-popping .402/.457/.873 slash line.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock recently, you probably also heard about Hamilton’s power surge last Tuesday night, when he teed off on the Baltimore Orioles for four home runs, eight RBIs, and 18 total bases at Camden Yards. With only 16 four-HR games in Major League Baseball history, the feat ranks among perfect games (21) and unassisted triple plays (15) as one of the most rare achievements in baseball. With that being said, how much luck was involved in Hamilton’s epic night?

Let’s break down each of his long balls:

Home Run No. 1: Hamilton started his off the fireworks with a bomb off of Orioles’ starter Jake Arrieta in the top of the first. The 79-mph curveball stayed up over the leftmost third of the plate, a meatball for the left-handed Hamilton considering it was thrown by a right-hander. The baseball traveled a mere 404 feet, barely escaping the center-field wall and Andruw Jones’ outstretched glove. Move the walls back a yard, and Jones could have hauled it in. According to ESPN’s online Home Run Tracker, this tater had “just enough” to escape Camden Yards, but would not have left any other ballpark under standard weather conditions. However, MLB Advanced Media recorded a 6-mph breeze blowing to straightaway center field at first pitch, which gave the ball some extra lift over the fence. Conclusion: Lucky

Home Run  No. 2: Hamilton’s second dinger also came off of Arrieta in the third inning, but unlike the first, there was no question about this one. The right-hander’s 93-mph sinker wound up in nearly the same location as his first offering, but Hamilton redirected the faster pitch 387 feet into the left-center bleachers. Clearing the fence by a whopping 23 feet, ESPN’s database claims that it would have left 26 of the 30 stadiums in the Majors. In other words, only the offense-killing confines of Petco and Marlins Park might have kept this one in the yard. Conclusion: Legit

Home Run No. 3: After doubling off the wall in right-center field, Hamilton slammed another home run to left-center field. Again, the offering (a 78-mph slider from left-handed rookie Zach Phillips) was on the outer third of the plate, but hung up in the zone, easy pickings for a red-hot Hamilton. Number 3 ended up in nearly the same spot as Number 1, landing 406 feet from home plate. With the wind continuing to blow toward center field, Jones jumped but had no hope of snagging it. ESPN estimates that the breeze added six feet to this shot, turning an easy can-of-corn into Hamilton’s third dinger of the night. Conclusion: Lucky

Home Run No 4: Ex-Texas Ranger reliever Darren O’Day was Hamilton’s final victim. For a fourth time, the pitch (another slider clocking in at only 83 mph) landed in Hamilton’s wheelhouse, giving him another opportunity to show what he can do with off-speed pitches landing on the outer third of the plate. Number 4 traveled 425 feet to left-center, so far from numbers 1 and 3 that Jones could only give a half-hearted jog across Camden’s outfield. The wind actually knocked a foot off this long ball’s distance, but this one would’ve left 87 percent of Major League Baseball parks anyway (ESPN). Kudos to Orioles’ manager Buck Showalter for not ordering an intentional walk, but at this point, Hamilton was so locked in that he could have hit one out even if it was two feet off the plate. Conclusion: Legit

With four juicy outside pitches and a strong wind to work with, Hamilton clearly caught some breaks last Tuesday night. Achieving this feat during a night game probably made things a bit easier. Hamilton is historically a poorer hitter during day games, batting .260 versus .332 during night contests from 2009-2011. But does a .402 hitter really care what time he takes his hacks? It’s interesting to consider the factors behind his epic performance, but it can’t take away from Hamilton’s ability with the bat.

His otherworldly start makes for a more enthralling off-season, when he will be the top free agent on the market.

I didn’t bother writing a March reflection for the Orioles.  I didn’t have much hope for the upcoming season, or for the roster assembled by new GM Dan Duquette.  To make matters worse Zach Britton, the top returning starter from last year, was sidelined in the Spring with a shoulder injury.  I simply couldn’t see through all the team’s shortcomings to muster up any sort of positive thoughts.  A 14-9 April record had a remarkable effect on my disposition.

The Orioles‘ April success was powered by some terrific performances from unfamiliar faces.  Jason Hammel, acquired from the Rockies for Jeremy Guthrie, has been a rock solid addition to Baltimore’s rotation.  Hammel struggled in Colorado and was removed from the Rockies’ rotation at one point last summer.  I gave him a vote of complete no confidence coming into the season.  Hammel is currently 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA in five starts for the Orioles.  I can’t imagine he’ll keep pitching at his current pace but you won’t hear me complaining if he does.

Wei-Yin Chen, imported from Japan during the offseason, has also been terrific.  Chen is 2-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four starts for the O’s.  Chen didn’t come with the fanfare or price tag of Yu Darvish, and rightfully so, but he has made a huge impact for the Orioles.  The 26 year old lefty looks like he may be a solid middle of the rotation starter.

The Orioles have also benefited from some terrific outings from two pitchers who struggled last season, Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz.  Arrieta earned the Opening Day start and has pitched well following August surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching elbow.  Matusz was beyond awful in 2011.  He didn’t look very good in his early outings this season either, but he rebounded to turn in two straight quality starts against the Blue Jays and Yankees.  Orioles fans should keep their fingers crossed in hopes that the Matusz of 2010 has returned.

Mark Reynolds and JJ Hardy are off to slow starts with the bat.  The pair led the Orioles in home runs last season but others have picked up the slack.  Catcher Matt Wieters is morphing into a outright star.  Now in his third full big league season Wieters leads all catchers in home runs and has become a force in the middle of the Baltimore lineup.  Center fielder Adam Jones also had a terrific April.  Jones has settled nicely into the cleanup spot and is stating his case for a long term deal with the Orioles.  Jones will be a free agent following the 2013 season.  The Orioles may regret not getting the former All Star and Gold Glove winner locked up sooner.

The Orioles’ offense has also received a power injection from Chris Davis.  The 26 year old was acquired from the Rangers last summer along with Tommy Hunter in return for Koji Uehara.  Davis has already hit five home runs this season after hitting just two home runs in 31 games with the O’s in 2011.  Could Davis be the Orioles’ long sought after solution at first base?

I’m not ready to start ordering playoff tickets, or even season tickets, but the Orioles have certainly been entertaining and competitive in the early going.  As a fan who has suffered through 14 years of losing, entertaining and competitive is about all I can hope for these days.  I’m taking it one day at a time and hoping that the O’s can carry their April success into May.

It’s not out of the ordinary for a Big League team to face college competition at some point during Spring Training. It’s a tradition that several clubs have honored for years as both a showcase for fans and a special treat for the college kids. It is out of the ordinary, however, for a Big League team to lose to college competition. Enter the Baltimore Orioles.

The O’s lost 2-1 in a charity game against State College of Florida on Tuesday and, just as you’d expect, a media frenzy ensued, resulting in two very different spins on the game. First came the more obvious take: your classic doomsday predictions of an 0-162 season. The O’s couldn’t beat Little Leaguers, never mind a college team! Or my favorite: Playing the Orioles will kill SCF’s RPI! There were also plenty who chose to downplay the significance of the event. After all, it was a charity game, and the bulk of the Baltimore starting lineup was out of the game by the 5th inning. Who cares? They probably just wanted to get their work in and get out of there.

It’s a classic “story vs. non-story” debate, and having heard both spins, I was prepared to form my opinion on the matter. But then another factor was thrown into the mix that changed everything: since SCF is already into their season and wanted to save some pitching, there were a few innings that featured Orioles pitchers and catchers playing for the college team. And just like that, what had become such a hot and lively debate got flipped on its head. In my mind, the Oriole vs. Oriole matchups negate the entire story – case dismissed.

But just for fun, let’s say the teams played straight up. Now is it a story?

At this point in the Spring? Absolutely. I’ve played the game, I know the difference in competition, and while baseball is the only sport that offers a college team a realistic chance to beat a professional team, I believe the Major League club should win this game 99 times out of 100. The only exception would be a lights out pitching performance by the college squad’s ace (sometimes you just can’t beat good pitching). But that’d only be if the game actually meant something and the college team was pitching their stud, playing to win. In today’s world of Spring Training exhibition games, the MLB club should win every time.

I understand both sides of the argument, but at the end of the day, it’s Big League talent vs. college talent. Sure it’s Spring Training, but if you think the professionals aren’t trying during their at-bats you’re out of your mind. You think they want to strike out against some snot-nosed college kid? While it may not be the end of the world, losing to a college team is flat out embarrassing.

When I was in college my team played against a Big League squad every year, and while we managed to give them a good game once or twice, no one, ourselves included, expected us to win. Even though our dugout was full of energy and we played harder than our professional opponents, we were in college. We weren’t used to wood bats, we weren’t going to waste our best arms on an exhibition game, and only a small fraction of us would evolve into minor league ballplayers, let alone Big Leaguers.

If a MLB team lost to a minor league team - or a Division 1 college club lost to a D3 opponent, for that matter – I wouldn’t bat an eye. It’s baseball, anything can happen. But just as college should never lose to high school, professional should never lose to college. The talent gap is too great and the games are too long. Even if you want to argue that it’s mostly minor leaguers who play in those exhibition games, those are the absolute best minor leaguers – it’s not exactly an open invitation to Big League camp.

So had SCF beaten the Orioles straight up, I’d find it hard not to call it a story. It doesn’t label every future O’s win a miracle, but it’s a story. Any time a massive underdog overcomes great odds I believe appropriate kudos are deserved. But in this particular case, the details negate any significance - the unlikely victory is tainted by SCF’s borrowing of Baltimore pitchers and catchers. Well played, Buck.

Regardless of the details, congrats to State College of Florida on the win. As for the O’s – I’ve dismissed this game on a technicality but something tells me they’re in for another long summer in Baltimore. They do have those cool new hats, though. Baby steps.

SMALLS TALK Series
Terry Francona on Baseball Tonight
The Curtain Call
Coolest park to hit a home run?
Top 5 Questions Heading into the 2012 Season
Would you want Manny on your team?
College Baseball’s Opening Day
On-Field Composure
When did “Can I have your autograph” turn into “Give me a ball”?
Baseball Needs a 24/7 Show
Top 10 Things to Do in the Dugout During a Day Off
The Spit Hit
Being Friends with Pitchers
The Yankee Core
Opening Day
You Play Right Field?
It’s Not Always Sunny in Arizona
Tee Work
Helmet for Pitchers?
Approaching Spring Training
Top 5 Things I Won’t Miss About My Local Gym
Getting New Equipment
Last Day at Work
My Bat of Choice
The Superstitions and Quirks of a Ballplayer
The Art of the Autograph
Greensboro’s ‘Bat Dogs’
Tim Kurkjian is a Man Among Boys
Baseball Movie All-Star Game: Starting Lineups
Walk-Out Music
Pre-Draft Medical Questionnaires
The Ryan Howard Namesake
The Magic of the Rally
Jeter and A-Rod, How Times Have Changed
Summer Leagues – Cape Still Cream of the Crop?
SportsCenter Commercials are Better Than Most Shows
Schilling’s Bloody Sock
Red Sox Nation Goes Crazy, JD Drew Can’t Be Bothered
Minor League Hats are the Way to Go
Who Has the Best Uniforms in College Baseball?

Photo of Dan Duquette taken from Google Images

The Dan Duquette era in Baltimore has started with a collective yawn among the orange and black clad faithful.  Duquette said all the right things in his introductory press conference about building the farm system, increasing the team’s International scouting presence, and generally upgrading the talent level across the organization.  Perhaps it’s unfair to judge Duquette’s clearly long range goals after less than two months but the Orioles do have a season to play in a few months and several gaping holes left on an already unspectacular roster.

Baltimore stills needs an everyday third baseman, assuming Mark Reynolds stays at first.  The internal options at third are the defensively challenged Chris Davis and 26 year old rookie Matt Antonelli who is a second baseman by trade.  Former prospect Josh Bell has been so overmatched in his stints in Baltimore that he shouldn’t be counted on as more than organizational filler at this point.   Baltimore selected Cubs minor leaguer Ryan Flaherty in the Rule 5 draft.  Flaherty has some power but has struggled to play third in the minors.  He could get a look at the hot corner in Spring Training.  There are no reliable third base options on the free agent market so any answer will have to come through a trade or one of the options mentioned above.

The Orioles also need a second baseman.  The status of two time All Star Brian Roberts is still unclear.  Roberts missed the last four months of the 2011 season with post concussion symptoms.  Roberts also missed over 100 games in 2010 and can no longer be considered a regular contributor despite the $20 million he’s owed over the next two seasons.  Baltimore’s options at second base include the aforementioned Antonelli, Roberts, Robert Andino and prospect Ryan Adams.  Andino filled in admirably in Roberts’ absence last season but he is best suited for a super utility role.

While second and third base are huge question marks, the Orioles biggest area of need remains starting pitching.  Former GM Andy MacPhail‘s mantra of “Grow the arms, buy the bats” was a colossal flop.  Now it’s up to Duquette to sort out the mess and come up with a new slogan.  The Orioles have added two potential starters this offseason though neither has garnered much faith among the fan base.  Duquette traded for former Oakland starter Dana Eveland during the Winter Meetings.  Eveland spent most of the 2011 season with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate but did make a few starts for LA and was a likely non-tender candidate.  He should join once promising prospects Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman, Brad Bergesen and Jake Arrieta for a spot at the back end of the Orioles rotation.  The other starter added by Duquette is Japanese lefty Tsuyoshi Wada, a 30 year old control artist likened to Jamie Moyer.  Wada reportedly tops out at around 89 mph with his fastball.  He exhibited excellent control during his tenure in Japan.  It will be interesting to see how he fares in the AL East.  In addition to Wada the Orioles have been rumored to have interest in two other Japanese free agent pitchers Wei-Yin Chen and Hisashi Iwakuma.  If Duquette is able to land another Japanese starter perhaps he can copyright “Import the arms, buy the bats.”  The only thing the Orioles grow in abundance is fan unrest.

Duquette was once able to bring in talent like Pedro when he was with the Red Sox. How will he do with Baltimore?

November was an eventful month for the Baltimore Orioles.  The team’s clumsy, haphazard search for a new General Manager concluded with Baltimore taking former Red Sox front man Dan Duquette out of mothballs.  Duquette built half a championship team in Boston before he was kicked to the curb to make way for whiz kid Theo Epstein nearly a decade ago.  Frankly, the Orioles are probably lucky to have landed someone with as much experience and past success as Duquette.  Most of the young up and comers around baseball’s front offices turn downed the Orioles with Toronto Assistant GM Tony LaCava apparently leaving Baltimore at the altar.

Now that Duquette has the job he has the unenviable task of fixing the Orioles two biggest ongoing problems: lack of pitching depth and a chronically broken player development system.  Actual, the Orioles biggest problem sits in the owner’s box and signs Duquette’s checks, but that’s another concern in itself.  Time will tell if Duquette has the authority to truly fix the Orioles.  His predecessors all spoke of returning the Orioles to glory and we’ve seen how those efforts have turned out.

Duquette’s first move as GM was a bit of a head scratcher.  He signed minor league infielder Matt Antonelli to a major league contract.  Antonelli was once a top prospect in the Padres system before injuries derailed his career.  He has only 65 Major League plate appearances, all with the 2008 Padres, to his credit.  He missed most of the 2009 and 2010 seasons due to injury before bouncing back to post a .853 OPS for Syracuse of the International League last season.  While the major league deal for a 26 year old career minor league seems rather odd, Antonelli does give the Orioles another option at second base to go along with the oft-injured Brian Roberts, Robert Andino and prospect Ryan Adams.  He also reportedly could be in consideration for playing time at third base.

For years the Orioles have been criticized for their lack of activity in acquiring talent from the International market.  Duquette has moved quickly to rectify that problem as the Orioles are reportedly close to a deal with Korean pitcher Chong Tae-Hyon.  He is reportedly a submarine style right hander who could help bolster the Orioles beleaguered bullpen.  He would probably be the fourth righty in the pen after Kevin Gregg, Jim Johnson and Pedro Strop.  There is speculation that Johnson could be moved to the rotation placing even more importance on Chong’s potential addition.

The Orioles have also reportedly signed 17 year old Venezuelan right hander Yeizer Marrugo to a contract with a $120k bonus.  Marrugo may not help the Orioles at the Major League level for years, if at all, but the fact that Baltimore is actively signing International talent in the first few weeks of Duquette’s reign is a significant shift in philosophy from the Andy MacPhail era.

I don’t expect the Orioles to be particularly active in the free agent market.  Duquette has essentially said that fans shouldn’t expect any major free agent additions.  It is more likely that Duquette will approach building the team’s depth through trades, minor league free agents, perhaps some additional Asian imports, and repairing the farm system.  All of that probably means another disappointing season in 2012, but hopefully a deeper farm system and improved long term prospects.  When you’ve been terrible for over a decade there are simply no quick fixes.

The Baltimore Orioles wrapped up another disappointing season a few weeks ago. 

The team did end the season on a high note as they posted a winning record (15-13) in September. The most memorable moment of the year occurred on the season’s last play as Robert Andino‘s sinking liner to left evaded Carl Crawford‘s glove and knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs.

The team has much work to do in preparation for the 2012 season, beginning with the hiring of a new general manager to replace the departing Andy MacPhail (above). In MacPhail’s four seasons in Baltimore the club’s on field performance didn’t improve, but I do think he did some things that will prove to be positives for the organization in the long run. The creation of a true spring training site in Sarasota
solves an organizational problem that existed for far too long. The ability to have all of the players, both major and minor leaguers, in one spring location is a positive step. The fact that it took nearly 20 years to happen is ridiculous, but that’s too often how things are done with the Orioles. MacPhail also brought in potential cornerstone players in Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy, and allowed the club to begin drafting and signing overslot players in the June draft.

The search for MacPhail’s replacement is under way. Buck Showalter is expected to have a great deal of influence in the hiring process. It doesn’t seem like a great idea to me to have the field manager essentially hiring his boss, and it will clearly create a rather strange hybrid management structure in the Orioles baseball operations, but again Peter Angelos‘ Orioles operate a little differently than other clubs. The search seems to be focused on established executives like Jerry DiPoto, Tony LaCava, Al Avila and potentially Jerry Hunsicker or J.P. Ricciardi.

The Orioles have seven players participating in the Arizona Fall League. The list of names doesn’t include any of the club’s top prospects. The Orioles seem to be using the AFL as a chance to sort out some potential 2012 bullpen options in Steve Johnson and Cole McCurry. Joe Mahoney is in Arizona trying to make up for time lost due to injury this season. Mahoney played just 88 games in 2011. He was impressive when healthy as he posted 11 home runs, 67runs batted in and a .845 OPS in 315 at bats for AA Bowie. All Oriole farmhands are playing for the Mesa Solar Sox.

2011 has been a source of frustration for Roberts and the Orioles.

Coming into the season, the Baltimore Orioles had high expectations on getting the team back to a competing level. With all the key moves the Orioles were hoping this would become reality. Let’s take a look back at the Orioles first half of the season.

First off the Orioles started the season fast and hot, as they would go 6-4 in the first ten games of the season. They would soon cool down; they would go 12-13 in the first month of the season. That’s not too bad of a mark, but that needs to be better to compete.

With the start of May, the Orioles were hoping to win some more games and try and climb in the standings. They would finish the month with a 12-16 mark, as they would have a back and forth fight with winning and losing. After 2 months of the season the Orioles had a 24-29 record not too bad, but still needs some fixing.

Just like in the beginning of the season the Orioles would have the same result in their first 10 games of June (6-4). They would start off hot, but that would cool down, as the Orioles would go 11-14 in the month of June. The Orioles would have a record of 35-43 and would be 8 games under 500 heading into July.

The beginning of July was horrible as they would go 1-9 in the last 10 games before the All-Star Break. The Orioles would have an overall record of 36-52 and would be 12 games under 500, which is not good at all.

The record does not show everything, but it shows a lot. The Orioles would have some key injuries to star players like J.J. Hardy, Derrek Lee, and Brian Roberts. The Orioles would get back both Hardy and Lee, but would not get their lead-off man back. This does show a reflection in the record.

As the second half of the season is upon us, the Orioles are 2-3 so far after 5 games of the second half. With a 38-55 record, the Orioles look to get this turned around and start winning some more games.

With the talent the Orioles have and with the help of manager Buck Showalter, the Orioles should be able to fix some stuff and get this season back on track. Not saying the Orioles can get this turned and become a contender this season, but I am saying they can finish with a much better record than they have in the past.

So let’s take a seat and watch what the Orioles can accomplish in the second half of the season.

Image taken from Google Images c/o Zimbio

After suffering through an injury-riddled season in 2010, it looks like Brian Roberts will be spending a significant stretch on the sidelines again in 2011 following a serious concussion suffered in mid-May. Though the Orioles’ table-setter isn’t the All-Star he used to be, he is still a crucial part of the Baltimore offense and replacing his production will be a key as the O’s try to stay in contention in the AL East.

Much as it was the case a year ago, a big struggle for the Orioles in 2011 has been scoring runs in a consistent manner. The O’s rank 21^st in the majors in runs scored and have scored three or fewer runs in 25 of their first 51 games.

In an era when run production is down across the entire league, the Orioles must find ways to manufacture runs and try to improve their overall run production. They rank 16^th in team batting average, 19^th in walks, 26^th in stolen bases.

Even when Roberts was in the lineup, the two-time All-Star wasn’t playing at his peak, hitting just .221 with three home runs, 19 RBI and 18 runs scored during his first 39 games.

However, without Roberts the Orioles don’t have a legitimate leadoff hitter capable of regularly getting on base and sparking the offense. Felix Pie and Robert Andino, who have split the leadoff duties in Roberts’ absence, have combined to score only five runs since replacing Roberts as the leadoff hitter.

Baltimore has not scored a run in the first inning of a game since the last game Roberts was in the lineup and scored first in a game only once during the first 11 games of his absence.

These results are not significantly different than a year ago when the Orioles struggled to generate runs in the nearly four months that Roberts was out of the lineup. Baltimore was 29-62 during his absence in 2010 and then went 29-26 in games in which he played over the final two months.

Though Roberts will likely never return to the level that saw him average 100 runs scored every season between 2004 and 2009, he still is a solid veteran and capable table-setter.

However, given his recent lack of durability, it may be time for the Orioles to look for a permanent replacement to Roberts at the top of the lineup.

The O’s are obviously giving Andino a chance to audition while Roberts is on the sideline, but while a solid defensive player, he has shown no indication to be a top-level leadoff man. He has scored just three runs when serving in the leadoff role and in 35 total games so far this season has a .274 average with 11 runs scored and two RBI.

As the Orioles teeter on the edge of contention in the American League East, figuring out how to increase offense at the top of the lineup will be a key to whether they stay in the hunt or fall back during the heat of summer.

After more than a decade of mediocrity and a continual “building for the future” mentality, it appears that the future has finally arrived for the Baltimore Orioles.

Buoyed by the 34-23 (.596) record posted once Buck Showalter became manager in August of last season, the Orioles’ front office decided in the off-season to make moves designed to help the team take immediate steps toward contention in the difficult American League East.

The result is an everyday lineup that is comparable to the other powerhouse lineups in the American League.

For the Orioles in 2011, the key to success will be on the mound where the Orioles are relying on their young crop of talented hurlers to compete against the powerful American League lineups.

Below is a look at the 2011 lineup for the Orioles

Catcher:

After a promising rookie campaign in 2009, catcher Matt Wieters struggled for much of the 2010 campaign and finished with a .249 average, 11 home runs and 55 RBI. He has all the tools to be an All-Star and will look to have a breakout campaign in 2011.

Infield:

Image via Wikipedia

First base was a black hole for the Orioles in 2010, but the position should be in capable hands in 2011 with the acquisition of veteran Derrek Lee.   The three-time Gold Glover and two-time All-Star hit .260 with 19 home runs and 80 RBI a year ago. He will be playing in the American League for the first time after a 14-year career terrorizing National League pitchers.

Often you don’t know someone’s true value until they are gone. That was the case for the Orioles last season with second baseman Brian Roberts. Spending the first half of the season without their table-setter, the Orioles had trouble scoring runs and were the worst team in baseball. Though he was never at top form, the return of Roberts in late July coincided with the return to respectability.

Shortstop Cesar Izturis has been a steady defensive performer and occasional offensive threat for the Orioles over the last two seasons. However, the team signed veteran J.J. Hardy in the offseason with the hope that he will provide more offensive spark. If both players remain on the roster, the Orioles should be well positioned at this important position.

Another disappointing position for the Orioles a year ago was third base. They are hopeful that Mark Reynolds, who hit 32 home runs for the Diamondbacks a year ago, can fill the void and give the Orioles another powerful offensive weapon.

Outfield:

Image via Wikipedia

The outfield duo of Nick Markakis (.297 BA, 12 HR, 60 RBI) and Adam Jones (.284, 19, 69) is as solid as any centerfeld and rightfield combo in baseball. Both players struggled when Brian Roberts was out of the lineup because the Orioles were unable to get men on base. However, the additions to the lineup this season should help take offensive pressure off both players.

The third outfield spot will likely be split between Felix Pie and Luke Scott. After struggling with injuries for much of the season, Pie was healthy for most of the second half of 2010 and showed that he could be an everyday fixture in leftfield. Scott hit .284 with a team-high 27 home runs last season and could see time at a variety of spots in 2011.

Designated Hitter:

Newcomer Vladimir Guerrero could be the addition that puts the Orioles lineup over the top. A proven winner, Guerrero has been in the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons and Baltimore is hopeful that he can deliver similar magic for the O’s like what he did for the Texas Rangers a year ago. Now 36-years-old, Guerrero hit .300 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI a year ago.

Starting Pitchers:

It will be left to see if the decision not to bring in a quality veteran to go with the young starting rotation was a smart move or a regrettable one.

Instead, team president Andy MacPhail spent significant money on upgrading the offense and will look for the pitching staff to continue the strides made over the final two months of the 2010 season.

Though veteran Jeremy Guthrie (11-14, 3.83 ERA) is the opening day starter, the success of the Orioles in 2011 will go hand-in-hand with the performance of the young starters in the rotation.

Brian Matusz (10-12, 4.30) showed glimpses of brilliance a year ago and has the ability to be a number one starter.

Brian Bergesen (8-12, 4.98) was never as good in 2010 as he had been during his rookie campaign of 2009. He is a solid control pitcher who puts the ball in play. However, last season he allowed 26 home runs and more than a hit per inning. If he can regain his 2009 form, Bergesen will be a solid third starter.

Both Jake Arrieta (6-6, 4.66) and Chris Tillman (2-5, 5.87) are talented hurlers who could become staples of the rotation. If they can harness that talent, the Orioles will have a solid starting staff.

The one veteran brought into the mix is former Oakland A’s All-Star Justin Duchscherer. Primarily a reliever with the A’s before moving into a starters role the last three years, he serves as a backup plan if one of the young guns falters.

Relief Pitchers:

In the bullpen, the Orioles have a number of solid arms led by closer Kevin Gregg. Koji Uehera, Mike Gonzalez, Jim Johnson and Jason Berken are all solid pitchers who give the Orioles important pitching depth.

The key for the pitchers in 2011 will be for the starters to go deep enough into games that the bullpen isn’t asked to pitch four or more innings per game. That was a big difference after Showalter’s arrival in 2010 as the starters went an extra inning per game and the bullpen was no longer over-burdened on a nightly basis.

If the Orioles can replicate that situation for the entire 2011 season then they should have enough quality arms to contend.

Overall:

There is little doubt that the Orioles will be able to score runs, but the offensive key will be for the top of the lineup to get on base enough to allow the power hitters to drive them home.

The pitching staff is young, but if the glimpse of promise displayed in the final months of the 2010 campaign can be duplicated then the Orioles should post their first winning season since 1997.

Unfortunately, since the Orioles live in the same division as the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, they may end up as the best fourth place team in baseball.

However, while that won’t excite the Orioles’ faithful, the fact that the team is starting a season thinking about this year instead of the future should bring a renewed excitement to Camden Yards.

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With the recent signings by the New York Yankees of Bartolo Colon and Andruw Jones, the Tampa Bay Rays of Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez and the Baltimore Orioles of Derrek Lee and Vladimir Guerrero you have to wonder if these teams realize that it is 2011 and not 2005.
If it were 2005, the impact of these signings would without question make these three contenders the top teams in the division and favorites for the World Series.
In 2005, Bartolo Colon won 21 games for the Anaheim Angels and was named the American League Cy Young Award winner.
In the2005 American League MVP race, Vladimir Guerrero finished third, Manny Ramirez was fourth and Johnny Damon placed 13th.
On the National League side, Andruw Jones placed second while Derrek Lee was third.
Unfortunately as the Yankees, Rays and Orioles look toward 2011, most of these former superstars are years removed from performing at that high level.
That is especially the case for the two new Yankees Jones and Colon.

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Since his Cy Young season, Colon has won a grand total of 14 major league games and did not pitch in the majors in 2010. With the retirement of Andy Pettitte and inconsistency of A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes, the Yankees are crossing their fingers that Colon and fellow non-roster invitees Freddy Garcia (third in 2001 Cy Young voting) and Mark Prior (third in 2003 Cy Young voting) can return to past form.
They are also hopeful that at the age of 33, five-time All-Star Andruw Jones still has some pop in his bat. Though expected to serve as the fourth outfielder for the Yankees, the team would certainly like to see him provide another offensive weapon. However, if recent years are any indication, how much pop he has left is questionable. In his final three years with the Atlanta Braves (2005-2007), Jones smashed 118 home runs and drove in 351 runs. In the three seasons since he left Atlanta, Jones has hit a grand total of 39 home runs and driven in 105 runs. He also has gone from being a 10-time Gold Glove fielder to being a part-time outfielder and part-time designated hitter.
But New York is not alone in looking to the past to help save their present.
While the Tampa Bay Rays cut significant salary during the off-season, they still have a solid nucleus that is capable of contending in 2011. For that reason, the addition of Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez is hoped to help fill some of the void left by the loss of Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena.
Though he is now 37 years old, Damon is still capable of serving as a table setter for the Rays. Last season he played in 145 games for the Tigers and hit .271 while scoring 81 runs. He is no longer a base stealing threat, but he should be a solid addition to the lineup.
It is difficult to predict what the Rays will get out of Ramirez, who will turn 39 on May 30th. Since serving a 50-game suspension for violating the MLB drug policy in 2009, Ramirez hasn’t been the same dominating player that he was for most of his career.
Splitting time between the Dodgers and White Sox in 2010, Ramirez played in only 90 games and hit .298 with nine home runs and 42 RBI.
If he is healthy and motivated in 2011, he could be a huge addition to the lineup. However, if he struggles, Ramirez could become a distraction and have a short tenure with the Rays.
Of the three teams that went back in time looking for help in 2011, the Baltimore Orioles seem to have the best chance of seeing big dividends.

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The 36-year-old Guerrero had a tremendous season in 2010 helping lead the Texas Rangers to the World Series. Though he struggled during the playoffs, his regular season was still tremendous as he hit .300 with 29 home runs and 115 RBI.
If he can come close to a repeat performance in 2011 Guerrero will give the Orioles a much needed run producer in the middle of the lineup and take pressure off the young Baltimore hitters.
A similar statement can be made about the other big signing for the Orioles in first baseman Derrek Lee. The 35-year-old Lee had a solid season in 2010 with 19 home runs, 80 RBI and a .260 average. In 2009 he hit 35 home runs with 111 RBI and a .306 average for the Cubs.
If Lee is able to produce at a level somewhere in between those two seasons, he will be a huge improvement over what the Orioles had at first base a year ago.
Though the Orioles could have used a veteran starting pitcher, signing Guerrero and Lee will certainly help make them even more competitive in 2011 than they were over the final two months of the 2010 season when they went 34-23 under new manager Buck Showalter.
Because it is 2011, instead of 2005, the reality is that all three teams will likely spend the season chasing the only team in the division that spent the offseason signing players actually reaching the peak of their careers, the Boston Red Sox.