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djtestudo · 04-06-2004, 03:32 PM

Since we had one for the NFL last year, I figured a baseball one might be in order.

Team: Baltimore Orioles

2003 Record: 71-91
2004 Prediction: 82-80

The Orioles are a much improved team to begin the 2004 season. They have three new batters, a revamped pitching staff, and a rookie manager in Lee Mazzilli.

Lineup:

The 2004 lineup is a powerful one. Leadoff is second-year 2B Brian Roberts, who played well last season while Jerry Hairston was hurt, and is continuing in Hairston's spot after a ST injury. Next is Melvin Mora, formerly a utility player, taking over at 3B for the departed (thank God) Tony Batista. He led the AL in batting for a large portion of the year until an injury slowed his production.

Third through fifth in the lineup are all newcomers. New shortstop Miguel Tejada replaces Deivi Cruz at SS, and hits third. Future Hall-of-Famer Rafael Palmiero returns to the Orioles after a five-year stint with the Rangers to bat cleanup. Catching will be Javy Lopez, who is coming off the best season ever by a catcher.

Sixth is the Orioles' best returning slugger, Jay Gibbons. Seventh will be a DH rotation of veterans BJ Surhoff and David Segui, and Jack Cust, an OPS machine. Eighth and ninth will be the Orioles two biggest suprises from last season, outfielders Larry Bigbie and Luis Matos.

Pitching:

Returning to the Orioles after half of a season in San Francisco, Sir Sidney Ponson will be the ace of a very young pitching staff. #2 is Eric DuBose, who pitched suprisingly well in half of a season in Baltimore last year. #3 will be Kurt Ainesworth, who came to Baltimore in the Ponson trade and was regarded as one of San Francisco's top prospects. #4 is Matt Riley, a former phenom in the Orioles system who had Tommy-john surgury but has returned to his former ability. Finally, the suprise of the spring was Eric Bedard, who was the Orioles top prospect before his own surgury two years ago, and has managed to pitch his way into the #5 spot. DuBose, Riley, and Bedard are all lefties in a division with a number of powerful left-handed slugers.

The bullpen is looking solid for this year. Former 15-game winner Rodrigo Lopez stands ready to help if one of the younger starters falters. Rick Bauer has proven to be an effective long- and middle-reliever. Lefties John Parrish and veteran Buddy Groom provide valuable middle-relief for this young team. BJ Ryan is considered as one of the hardest pitchers for a leftanded hitter to face in all of baseball. Mike DeJean is a former closer who will fit in well as a setup man and insurance for the closer. That man is Jorge Julio, who registered 36 saves last season, and was third in the rookie of the year voting the year before.

Overall:

This team is not a playoff team yet. The pitching staff is too unproven for that. However, the lineup can go against any in baseball and hold it's own. Very similar to the Blue Jays' situation.

I believe that the Orioles and Blue Jays will finish with nearly identical records around .500. Whichever finishes above gets third place, whichever finishes below gets fourth.

04-06-2004, 03:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	MLB Predictions Since we had one for the NFL last year, I figured a baseball one might be in order. Team: Baltimore Orioles 2003 Record: 71-91 2004 Prediction: 82-80 The Orioles are a much improved team to begin the 2004 season. They have three new batters, a revamped pitching staff, and a rookie manager in Lee Mazzilli. Lineup: The 2004 lineup is a powerful one. Leadoff is second-year 2B Brian Roberts, who played well last season while Jerry Hairston was hurt, and is continuing in Hairston's spot after a ST injury. Next is Melvin Mora, formerly a utility player, taking over at 3B for the departed (thank God) Tony Batista. He led the AL in batting for a large portion of the year until an injury slowed his production. Third through fifth in the lineup are all newcomers. New shortstop Miguel Tejada replaces Deivi Cruz at SS, and hits third. Future Hall-of-Famer Rafael Palmiero returns to the Orioles after a five-year stint with the Rangers to bat cleanup. Catching will be Javy Lopez, who is coming off the best season ever by a catcher. Sixth is the Orioles' best returning slugger, Jay Gibbons. Seventh will be a DH rotation of veterans BJ Surhoff and David Segui, and Jack Cust, an OPS machine. Eighth and ninth will be the Orioles two biggest suprises from last season, outfielders Larry Bigbie and Luis Matos. Pitching: Returning to the Orioles after half of a season in San Francisco, Sir Sidney Ponson will be the ace of a very young pitching staff. #2 is Eric DuBose, who pitched suprisingly well in half of a season in Baltimore last year. #3 will be Kurt Ainesworth, who came to Baltimore in the Ponson trade and was regarded as one of San Francisco's top prospects. #4 is Matt Riley, a former phenom in the Orioles system who had Tommy-john surgury but has returned to his former ability. Finally, the suprise of the spring was Eric Bedard, who was the Orioles top prospect before his own surgury two years ago, and has managed to pitch his way into the #5 spot. DuBose, Riley, and Bedard are all lefties in a division with a number of powerful left-handed slugers. The bullpen is looking solid for this year. Former 15-game winner Rodrigo Lopez stands ready to help if one of the younger starters falters. Rick Bauer has proven to be an effective long- and middle-reliever. Lefties John Parrish and veteran Buddy Groom provide valuable middle-relief for this young team. BJ Ryan is considered as one of the hardest pitchers for a leftanded hitter to face in all of baseball. Mike DeJean is a former closer who will fit in well as a setup man and insurance for the closer. That man is Jorge Julio, who registered 36 saves last season, and was third in the rookie of the year voting the year before. Overall: This team is not a playoff team yet. The pitching staff is too unproven for that. However, the lineup can go against any in baseball and hold it's own. Very similar to the Blue Jays' situation. I believe that the Orioles and Blue Jays will finish with nearly identical records around .500. Whichever finishes above gets third place, whichever finishes below gets fourth. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun