ALEast_Baltimore Orioles

2014 Arizona Gameday HQ

BALTIMORE ORIOLES AL EAST 5-YEAR SCORECARD 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 WINS 85 93 69 66 64 RUNS PER GAME 4.59 4.39 4.37 3.78 4.57 RUNS ALLOWED PER GAME 4.37 4.35 5.30 4.84 5.40 OPENING-DAY PAYROLL (millions) $92 $84 $86 $73 $67 STRENGTHS: • The starting pitching may be their best in the last decade • Experience at every position WEAKNESSES: • Bullpen durability • Thin bench • Holes in the defense The Baltimore Orioles won 85 games last season, but it wasn’t enough to propel them to consecutive trips to the postseason. Still, they were much improved and dealt with numerous injuries throughout the season. Third baseman Manny Machado is a budding star and the addition of Nelson Cruz is huge, especially if he can produce like has in the past. Ubaldo Jimenez gives the Orioles a No. 1 pitcher, the type who can carry a club. If the newcomers can step in and contribute right away, the Orioles easily can return to their playoff form of two years ago. The front office has done a great job of building depth and adding pieces. If the team stays healthy, manager Buck Showalter could work his magic once again and guide this club to the playoffs. HITTING Manny Machado was one of the most improved players in Major League Baseball with 14 home runs, 71 RBIs and 51 doubles. He had 189 hits in 667 at-bats and proved he could thrive in the lineup while playing every day. Adam Jones was terrific all season with 33 home runs and 108 RBIs. Anyone who kept waiting to see Jones slow down was disappointed. It didn’t happen. He was as consistent as any player all season. Catcher Matt Wieters belted at least 22 home runs for the third consecutive season, and Nelson Cruz hit 27 home runs and added 76 RBIs in 109 games for the Texas Rangers. He could be one of the biggest offseason additions made by any team. And all this is not even factoring last season’s power king in the middle of the lineup, Chris Davis (53 home runs with 138 RBIs and 370 total bases). The Orioles’ lineup is dangerous all the way through, and they could easily challenge in this talented division. Chris Davis GREG FLUME/GETTY IMAGES SPORT


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