I am going to write up a post for each team that I think has the ability to "surprise" the lines makers the way Tampa Bay surprised them last year. The performance of certain key players will dictate whether the turn around happens or not.
Hayden Penn, at one time a top prospect has battled injuries and just plain bad luck. If he can overcome these problems he can supply the much needed middle relief.
David Pauley languished in the Red Sox farm system with no real way to break into the big leagues. He has a solid sinker and a wicked curve ball. If the Orioles give him a real chance he could be a starter.
Rich Hill, a promising southpaw in the Cubs rotation in 2007 fell apart last year. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz and Hill played together before, perhaps re-uniting Hill and Kranitz can fix Hill's control problems from last year.
Matt Albers is trying to come back off injuries, if he is healthy and pitching good the Orioles could be much improved.
The Orioles are building an outfield around Nick Markakis. How he matures will be important. Keep an eye on him.
Catching prospect Matt Wieters will be kept in the minors until a few weeks into the season in order to push his free agent availability out beyond 2015. With Zaun in Baltimore Wieters will have to fight for the starting spot but some say he is the best catcher in baseball. Zaun is one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball, but Wieters needs a mentor and Zaun is a leader. Look for Zaun and Wieters to split catching duties with Zaun spending time at DH. If Wieters comes up with a hot bat then look for Zaun and Wieters to alternate on C and DH with Zaun spelling Wieters behind the plate every 4th or 5th game and Wieters moving to the DH spot.
Adam Jones needs to shake off some injuries and he needs to learn patience at the plate. Keep an eye on his BB to PA and KO to PA ratios. If he learns to stop hacking at bad pitches he could be much improved.
Felix Pie sat on the bench for two years while with the Cubs. He is an excellent fielder. Will being on a team where Pie knows he has a real shot at playing everyday improve his morale and his hitting? An outfield consisting of Markakis, Jones, and Pie would give the O's one of the best fielding outfields in baseball. But can they hit?
In the bullpen the O's have a good problem to have. Lots of contenders for the closing slots.
Chris Ray comes back from surgery, he will compete with George Sherrill who is trying to shake off a sore shoulder from last year. If Ray comes back Sherrill can be the left handed specialist the O's need which will take pressure off Sherrill. Some think his shoulder problems were due to being overworked. Jamie Walker will be vying for the lefty specialist spot but to say he was "struggling" at the end of last year is to be polite. Jim Johnson returns as a set up man.
If the O's prospects who are vying for starting pitching spots help in fixing the O's starting pitching problems and the returning relievers can shake off their injury problems the O's could have an excellent pitching staff. How big an IF is that? No one knows for sure.
If 1/2 or a 1/3 of these players can perform up to expectation the O's could be much improved. Keep an eye on their stats.
Hayden Penn, at one time a top prospect has battled injuries and just plain bad luck. If he can overcome these problems he can supply the much needed middle relief.
David Pauley languished in the Red Sox farm system with no real way to break into the big leagues. He has a solid sinker and a wicked curve ball. If the Orioles give him a real chance he could be a starter.
Rich Hill, a promising southpaw in the Cubs rotation in 2007 fell apart last year. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz and Hill played together before, perhaps re-uniting Hill and Kranitz can fix Hill's control problems from last year.
Matt Albers is trying to come back off injuries, if he is healthy and pitching good the Orioles could be much improved.
The Orioles are building an outfield around Nick Markakis. How he matures will be important. Keep an eye on him.
Catching prospect Matt Wieters will be kept in the minors until a few weeks into the season in order to push his free agent availability out beyond 2015. With Zaun in Baltimore Wieters will have to fight for the starting spot but some say he is the best catcher in baseball. Zaun is one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball, but Wieters needs a mentor and Zaun is a leader. Look for Zaun and Wieters to split catching duties with Zaun spending time at DH. If Wieters comes up with a hot bat then look for Zaun and Wieters to alternate on C and DH with Zaun spelling Wieters behind the plate every 4th or 5th game and Wieters moving to the DH spot.
Adam Jones needs to shake off some injuries and he needs to learn patience at the plate. Keep an eye on his BB to PA and KO to PA ratios. If he learns to stop hacking at bad pitches he could be much improved.
Felix Pie sat on the bench for two years while with the Cubs. He is an excellent fielder. Will being on a team where Pie knows he has a real shot at playing everyday improve his morale and his hitting? An outfield consisting of Markakis, Jones, and Pie would give the O's one of the best fielding outfields in baseball. But can they hit?
In the bullpen the O's have a good problem to have. Lots of contenders for the closing slots.
Chris Ray comes back from surgery, he will compete with George Sherrill who is trying to shake off a sore shoulder from last year. If Ray comes back Sherrill can be the left handed specialist the O's need which will take pressure off Sherrill. Some think his shoulder problems were due to being overworked. Jamie Walker will be vying for the lefty specialist spot but to say he was "struggling" at the end of last year is to be polite. Jim Johnson returns as a set up man.
If the O's prospects who are vying for starting pitching spots help in fixing the O's starting pitching problems and the returning relievers can shake off their injury problems the O's could have an excellent pitching staff. How big an IF is that? No one knows for sure.
If 1/2 or a 1/3 of these players can perform up to expectation the O's could be much improved. Keep an eye on their stats.