2008 Baltimore Orioles Season Preview

1997: The Baltimore Orioles go wire-to-wire, win the American League East title for the first time since 1983, sport a team featuring names like Cal Ripken, Harold Baines, Roberto Alomar, and Albert Belle, managed by Davey Johnson, their second straight postseason appearance, and fall short by two games of the World Series. Outside of that long-awaited Series win, how can things get any better?

2008: The Orioles enter spring training in full-on rebuilding mode, still reeling after their tenth straight losing season, trading away Erik Bedard for five Seattle Mariners, Brian Roberts possibly next, Miguel Tejada already gone. Things look bleak, and fans have to ask, how can it get any worse?

OFFENSE: C-

All in all, believe it or not, the offense had little to do with the team's lack of success. Right fielder Nick Markakis had the breakout superstar-type season the Orioles figured they would soon get from him (.300, 23 homers and 112 RBI), and the team overall hit .272, good for sixth in the league, not a lot of power, but not bad. This season, the power may be even more of a problem, but they do have an upgrade in left field from the Tejada to Houston trade in Luke Scott (a solid 18 homers and 64 RBI) and Adam Jones may be a superstar in the making. If Roberts hangs around, he's one of the best leadoff hitters in the game (50 of 57 in steals, .432 on-base percentage). The offense won't be the worst thing you'll ever see...

PROJECTED LINEUP: 1 Roberts 2B 2 Mora 3B 3 Markakis RF 4 Scott LF 5 Jones CF 6 Millar/Huff 1B 7 R. Hernandez C 8 Huff/Millar DH 9 L. Hernandez SS
STARTING PITCHING: E

...because the rotation may take that "honor." Jeremy Guthrie looked solid until he hit the wall hard in the second half, and he could pull down double-digit wins if his conditioning is better this season, but he is possibly the only one with that kind of shot. Daniel Cabrera continues to entice and enfuriate the orange and black with his potential, but wildness (108 walks in 204.1 innings) continues to be his downfall. Troy Patton looks to be the fourth starter, he of three career starts for the Astros, and Garrett Olson is the five, another young Bird who couldn't find the plate last year (32 innings, 28 walks). Which leads to the bullpen...

PROJECTED ROTATION: Guthrie, Loewen, Cabrera, Patton, Olson

BULLPEN: D+

...which got shelled due to overwork last year. Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker, the veteran specialists acquired in free agency last year, did solid jobs and did their best to hold the house of cards together. Danny Baez was beyond ineffective and is now injured. Chris Ray showed more potential yet again, but he got hurt last year and will miss significant time this year as well, leaving George Sherrill, a lefty specialist acquired in the Bedard trade, as the best possible closer candidate standing. Not good, and that's a huge understatement.

CONCLUSION

For the first time since the Tampa Bay Rays entered the league, they may have a legitimate shot to climb up to at least fourth in the American League East, as the Orioles have only been just barely holding them there of late. Success may be measured in how many losses shy of 100 this team accumulates and if manager Dave Trembley makes it through the year. The future looks bright, but Charm City is still at least two years from breaking out the shades.

PREDICTION: 63-99, fifth in American League East