I’ll be honest, the Orioles bore me to tears. Now nursing a nine-year run of losing records, the Orioles continue to rearrange the furniture, but without a meaningful youth movement, they’ll forever be the AL East’s fourth-place team (until the Devil Rays get enough pitching to pass them, that is). Nick Markakis might be the real deal in right field, but there’s no one behind him in the high minors and now that Melvin Mora’s fallen back to earth he’s less of a production addition than a production replacement. Erik Bedard, whom the Yankees will face on Sunday, is actually about a week older than Johan Santana. Chris Ray is nice and all, but he’s a band-aid on a severed limb. That just leaves the ongoing mystery that is Daniel Cabrera–who acquitted himself well over his last ten starts last year and his first outing of 2007, but still hasn’t shown the dominant form that’s long been predicted for him–and tonight’s starter Adam Loewen. As a rookie in 2006, Loewen faced the Yankees more than any other team, excelling in those four starts (2.62 ERA, 23 K in 24 IP), and Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein likes him more than either Cabrera or Ray. Tonight marks his first start of 2007, and it will be interesting to see what he can do against the Yankees’ lefty-heavy lineup after so much exposure to same last year.
As for the O’s as a group, the were swept by the Twins in their opening series by a combined score of 17-8, with half of those runs coming off Johan Santana himself, and are punting the catcher position while trying to decide what to do about Ramon Hernandez’s strained oblique muscle. The Hernandez situation brings to mind the Yankees’ deliberations over Johnny Damon’s sexy calves, but with inferior stand-ins. Actually, Peter Abraham reports that Damon’s feeling better and could play tomorrow. Hernandez, however, is likely DL-bound.
The Orioles are ripe for the picking, but the Yankees have to help themselves first. After making six errors in their first two games, three of them coming from the Captain, who’s never looked worse in the field, their ability to pick anything in doubt.
Baltimore Orioles
2006 Record: 70-92 (.432)
2006 Pythagorean Record: 69-93 (.426)
Manager: Sam Perlozzo
General Manager: Mike Flanagan
Home Ballpark (2006 Park Factors): Oriole Park at Camden Yards (99/99)
Who’s Replacing Whom?
Aubrey Huff replaces Jeff Conine and Luis Matos
Freddie Bynum is standing in for Jay Payton (DL) who replaces Brandon Fahey (minors) and David Newhan
Paul Bako replaces Javy Lopez
Alberto Castillo replaces Raul Chavez, Chris Widger and Danny Ardoin
Jaret Wright replaces Rodrigo Lopez
Steve Trachsel replaces Kris Benson (DL)
Adam Loewen inherits Bruce Chen’s starts
Danys Baez replaces LaTroy Hawkins
Jamie Walker replaces Chris Britton
Chad Bradford replaces Todd Williams (minors)
Scott Williamson replaces Russ Ortiz
John Parrish replaces Kurt Birkins (minors) and John Halama
Jeremy Guthrie replaces Sendy Rleal (DL)
25-man Roster
1B – Aubrey Huff (L)
2B – Brian Roberts (S)
SS – Miguel Tejada (R)
3B – Melvin Mora (R)
C – Paul Bako (L)
RF – Nick Markakis (L)
CF – Corey Patterson (L)
LF – Jay Gibbons (L)
DH – Kevin Millar (R)
Bench:
R – Chris Gomez (IF)
L – Freddie Bynum (OF)
R – Alberto Castillo (C)
R – Ramon Hernandez (C)*
Rotation:
L – Erik Bedard
R – Daniel Cabrera
R – Jaret Wright
L – Adam Loewen
R – Steve Trachsel
Bullpen:
R – Chris Ray
R – Danys Baez
L – Jamie Walker
R – Chad Bradford
R – Scott Williamson
L – John Parrish
R – Jeremy Guthrie
15-day DL: R – Jay Payton (OF), R – Sendy Rleal
60-day DL: R – Kris Benson
*Hernandez has yet to play this season due to a strained left oblique
Lineup:
S – Brian Roberts (2B)
R – Melvin Mora (3B)
L – Nick Markakis (RF)
R – Miguel Tejada (SS)
L – Aubrey Huff (1B)
L – Jay Gibbons (LF)
R – Kevin Millar (DH)
L – Corey Patterson (CF)
L – Paul Bako (C)
