Baltimore Orioles 2010 preview
Article By cbahr.tsn on 19th February, 2010
After 12 consecutive losing seasons and back-to-back last-place finishes, the Orioles had a productive offseason. They added four veterans — two corner infielders, a No. 1 starter and a closer — to a core that features several in-their-prime hitters as well as several ready-for-prime-time youngsters. However, Baltimore still plays in the majors' toughest division, and bad luck already has struck: Righthander Brad Bergesen injured his shoulder while filming an Orioles TV commercial in December.
Kevin Millwood’s veteran leadership should give the Orioles a nice anchor atop their rotation. Three questions
1. How much better will the rotation be?
It can't be much worse. Orioles starters finished last in the A.L. and 29th in the majors with a 5.37 ERA last season. Jeremy Guthrie led the Orioles with 10 wins last season but also had 17 losses and a 5.04 ERA. Enter Kevin Millwood, acquired from the Rangers this offseason. Millwood is the veteran workhorse this young rotation needs. "I don't think a lot of people realize his ERA was as low as it was—and he pitched in Texas," Orioles Hall of Fame righthander Jim Palmer said. "He should help everybody. He's been around. He came up with Atlanta, so he was there with (John) Smoltz, he was there with (Tom) Glavine, he was there with (Greg) Maddux. He's a No. 1 guy on that staff and takes a lot of pressure off Guthrie."
Still, the back of the rotation is young, with Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Bergesen having combined for 39 career starts—all last season.
2. Can Miguel Tejada play third base?
For several seasons, Tejada resisted making the move from shortstop to third. However, as he entered free agency this offseason, he admitted it was time for the change. Orioles third basemen (namely, Melvin Mora) finished fifth in the majors with a .968 fielding percentage in 2009, so the bar is set high.
In his 13-seaso...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Kevin Millwood’s veteran leadership should give the Orioles a nice anchor atop their rotation. Three questions
1. How much better will the rotation be?
It can't be much worse. Orioles starters finished last in the A.L. and 29th in the majors with a 5.37 ERA last season. Jeremy Guthrie led the Orioles with 10 wins last season but also had 17 losses and a 5.04 ERA. Enter Kevin Millwood, acquired from the Rangers this offseason. Millwood is the veteran workhorse this young rotation needs. "I don't think a lot of people realize his ERA was as low as it was—and he pitched in Texas," Orioles Hall of Fame righthander Jim Palmer said. "He should help everybody. He's been around. He came up with Atlanta, so he was there with (John) Smoltz, he was there with (Tom) Glavine, he was there with (Greg) Maddux. He's a No. 1 guy on that staff and takes a lot of pressure off Guthrie."
Still, the back of the rotation is young, with Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman and Bergesen having combined for 39 career starts—all last season.
2. Can Miguel Tejada play third base?
For several seasons, Tejada resisted making the move from shortstop to third. However, as he entered free agency this offseason, he admitted it was time for the change. Orioles third basemen (namely, Melvin Mora) finished fifth in the majors with a .968 fielding percentage in 2009, so the bar is set high.
In his 13-seaso...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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