Eutaw Street and Beyond

As Opening Day becomes closer it is important to remember where the Orioles stand in 2011. They will likely not contend in the all-powerful American League East. They are a rebuilding team and have been for quite some time. There is hope for the near future, however, as Andy MacPhail has accumulated a solid core of young talent, but there are still a couple pieces missing for a successful playoff run. Let’s take a look at Baseball America’s projected lineup for 2014:

The pitching staff looks like a force of cost-controlled young starters. The O’s front office has done an excellent job growing arms that are projected to contribute at the big league level. Sure they have had some less than stellar draft picks (Matt Hobgood?), but for the most part this staff has been built through the draft. Matusz, Britton, and Arrieta were all picked by the Orioles, while Chris Tillman came over in a trade for another O’s draftee, Erik Bedard. Guthrie is the exception, as he was drafted by the Indians and later claimed off waivers. However, Guthrie is eligible for free agency in 2013 so there is no guarantee that he will be on this staff anyway. Wynn Pelzer could be the closer, or a veteran reliever could be brought in to fill that void. Either way, relief pitchers are not huge on my list of concerns as they are easy to find.

The position players look a bit foggy compared to the pitchers. If you read the scouting reports for Wieters before he debuted, you might think he was eight feet tall, swung a tree trunk instead of a bat, and could leap tall buildings in a single bound. Unfortunately, this has not been the case and it is safe to say that his offense has been utterly disappointing. He is still young, and even if his bat never comes along, his defense will keep him in the league for a long time. Machado is the O’s best prospect and will be on the fast track to Baltimore. He looks to be a star in the making, and will be watched carefully as he progresses through the system. Markakis and Jones will remain the 2110 Eutaw Street tandem that the Orioles’ marketing folks are so fond of for many seasons to come if all goes well.

B-Rob is under contract through 2013 and with his brittle back and neck, his future is iffy so he may be let go in favor of L.J. Hoes. Hoes is athletically gifted and has shown good plate discipline. His defense could use some work, but he has the tools to play in the majors. 2011 will be a big year for Hoes, as he can solidify his place as a legitimate prospect with a strong season.

The corner infield spots pose the biggest problem. Josh Bell earned high praise while knocking the cover off the ball in the minors (.836 OPS), but his major league debut was about as fun to watch as the Saw movie franchise. His wOBA was embarrassingly low (.228) for anybody, let alone a third basement. His plate approach seemed to be much worse than in the minors and he could benefit from a little more seasoning. That being said, Josh Bell as the surefire third basemen of the future makes me a little nervous.

At first base, Baseball America lists Joe Mahoney as the future starter. Mahoney has a smooth left-handed swing that oozes with raw power. However, he did not demonstrate this power until 2010, and his walk rates are below average. His bat speed is not remarkably fast and he will strikeout a lot at the big league level. The Orioles will need a better first basemen than Mahoney if they plan on competing in the AL East. The Yankees and Red Sox each have gold-glove caliber first baggers in Mark Teixeira and Adrian Gonzalez respectively, who also happen to hit the stuffing out of the ball.

In the outfield the only position up for grabs is the left field spot. Baltimore has a few options here. Nolan Reimold, Felix Pie, and Xavier Avery seem to be the leading candidates for the long-term spot. Reimold’s fall from glory has been well documented, and Pie hasn’t had much glory at the big league level to begin with. Each possesses unique skillsets and could become above-average major league players if they live up to their quickly evaporating potential. Avery, is super athletic but raw. He makes use of his plus-plus speed, but often takes poor routes to the ball. He may not ever hit enough for left field, but he is still young and could certainly be a good player if he keeps his OBP around .350, like it was in Frederick.

First, second, and third base are all major problems for the future. Left field could also become an issue, but Reimold, Pie, or Avery could easily step up and fix that problem with a breakout year. The biggest issue is first base, where the Orioles do not have a big time prospect or anyone under contract at the major league level. When shopping veterans at the trade deadline, a young first basemen with some pop should be high on MacPhail’s list. It also would not hurt to get some depth at third, second, and of course, pitching. Pitchers are fragile and inconsistent, so any chance to add depth to that category should not be passed up. The Orioles do not have the behemoth of a farm system that Royals have grown, but they do have a bright future and everyone in Charm City can look forward to 2014 with the hopes of a playoff berth.