If you haven’t noticed, my blogging had been reduced the last few months. It was baseball season! I just don’t have the free time to do both in a constructive manner. This year I had resolved to keep up with the blog at all costs but my favorite team made this season so enjoyable that the resolution went down the drain. For those that may remember, I happen to be a Baltimore Orioles fan. A very long suffering Baltimore Orioles fan. Sure they had their glory years from 1966 to 1983 when I was a kid and got hooked on the team, but since then it’s been way more losing seasons than winning. And the last three of four years they lost over 100 games each year, having the worst record in all of baseball all three of those years. The only exception was 2020, which was Covid shortened. But they would have lost 100 games then too.
So it’s been tough. But this year they became the first team in history to have a winning record after losing over 100 games the previous season. In fact they nearly made the playoffs, just falling short by three games. They started that first month just like the previous years, pathetically losing, but after April they started to have winning month after winning month. They didn’t have any star pitchers. Their ace (John Means) was actually injured from April on and out for the season. They really didn’t have any superstar hitters either. A couple of their young prospects (Adley Rutschman especially) were promoted to the majors and that turned it around. They won with really good defense and an exceptional bullpen and a lot of hustle. The starting pitchers would hold the opposition in the early innings; the defense would pull out plays to save the game; the bullpen would shut the opposition down in the late innings; and the team would amazingly pull out quite a number of late inning victories. What a joy!
You can get a summary of the Orioles' 2022 season here.
They ended the season with a record of 83-79. But they also played in the toughest division in baseball, the American League East. Sometimes referred to as the American League Beast. Three of the five teams made the playoffs. If the Orioles played in any other division I think they would have made the playoffs. Was it a disappointment they didn’t? Sure, but there were too many thrills that in the end it didn’t matter. There were too many thrills. What a thoroughly enjoyable season. Last year I complained the development was taking too long. This year they caught up. There was no stepping stone from 100 losses to .500, but so be it. This is where the development plan should be. In fairness, I think Covid did set everything back about a year. In the end, this became one of the most memorable of seasons. To go from a 100+ loss team to above .500 is great. Yes, I know there is always criticism, but nothing is perfect, except in heaven. Overall from the very top to the lowest ball boy, this team needs to be commended. Thank you 2022 Orioles. Next year we’ll make the playoffs!
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Some random thoughts on next year and the off season.
As to the off season acquisitions, I'm not sure this team needs that much. We're going to have Gunnar Henderson and Adley for a full year and more mature. Hopefully Ryan Mountcastle shakes the sophomore blues and hits his potential. Jordan Westburg at second base should be a plus. Austin Hays gets better and platoons with Kyle Stowers, who will be more mature. Grayson Rodriguez comes up and John Means returns. Tyler Wells, Kyle Bradish, and Dean Kremer improve. This looks like a very solid team.
I guess you could use a big bat at DH behind Mountcastle. A Trey Mancini type but the Trey of several years ago who hit 35 homers. Otherwise I don't think there is a lot to change.
We could use a backup first baseman. If Westburg could play first base, that would solve a lot of problems. I wonder why Terrin Vavra hasn't tried backing up first base. That would put it over the top for him.
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Thinking this over for next year, most teams will field 13 pitchers and 13 fielders. So other than the starting nine hitters, there are four backups.
Here's an assumption for the starting nine: Gunnar (3B), Jorge Mateo (SS), Ramon Urias (2B), Mountcastle (1B), Hays (LF), Cedric Mullins (CF), Stowers (RF), Anthony Santander (DH), Adley ©.
You
need a backup catcher, Robinson Charinos or whoever they pick up.
A
fifth outfielder, Ryan McKenna.
A
back up infielder who can play first base.
A utility player, perhaps Vavra.
Out of the starting nine, I would think Urias may be the weakest argument for starting but he might be a better choice for utility player over Vavra. Maybe. I think the rest of the eight are definite unless they get traded.
McKenna is probably not guaranteed. We have a few outfielders waiting in AAA.
Rougned Odor is probably not picked up, especially if Westburg is ready for the majors. But, and I may be in a very small minority on this, if it comes down to picking two between Vavra, Odor, and Urias, I would pick Odor and Urias. Remember Odor drove in over 50 RBIs. It's not how high you hit but what you do with the hits you get. Plus Odor was the heart and soul of the team this year.
I have to say, the bullpen is really solid. I hope they all come back, but you can never have too much pitching. Hopefully we can pick up another top relief pitcher.
We'll see where General Manager Michael Elias goes. I can see Elias trading one of our outfielders, but remember no one is going to want your weakest outfielder. If they are going to trade value, they will want value back.
Here are some of the great highlights of a remarkable year.
Now can you blame me for being glued to the Orioles the past few months?
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It
will be an interesting off-season, but I really can’t wait until next seasons
starts!
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