Baltimore Orioles Closing Gap -- Still a Year Away

TRIVIA: What do you get when you put Baltimore's pitching staff and the Yankees' batting order on the same team?

ANSWER: READ ON!

There is an old saying in coaching that goes something like this: You can't make chicken salad out of chicken @* This has never been more appropriate than it is in Baltimore this year. Though they lost three pitchers to free agency or trade, the Orioles look set to compete with the rest of the A.L.--on the mound.

Gone are Chris Britton, Dave Newhan and LaTroy Hawkins. However, the additions of Scott Williamson, Danys Baez, Jaret Wright, Chad Bradford, and Jamie Walker have O's faithful saying, "Ya never know." Despite their potentially enimic lineup, Baltimore's pitching staff, led by pitching coach genius of Leo Mazzone, looks to keep the Orioles in a lot of close contests.

Mazzone has big plans for his second season as the pitching coach. Also, manager Sam Perlozzo thinks the new arms will make Baltimore competitive again. Perlozzo will send a rather young, yet solid rotation. Talented left-hander Erik Bedard will surely improve on his 15 wins of a year ago. Furthmore, he needs to lower his ERA from last season's 3.76 mark. The power pitcher has all the making of an all star. Next, the senior statesman of the rotation is 33-year old Kris Benson. The slightly-above-average right hander is expected to finish at or near the .500 mark, with an ERA around 4. Then, there is a wonder on every staff, and Baltimore's wonder is Daniel Cabrera. The big righty has electric stuff but needs to master the mental aspect of dealing on the mound. He has the stuff of another all star, but does not always use it. Rounding out the rotation is newcomer Jaret Wright and 23-year-old Adam Loewen. With Mazzone's tutelage, expect these hurler to make big strides.

While the starting rotation has the potential to be very good, the bullpen is already good. Baez looks to be a sure-fire eighth inning man, while Williamson, Bradford, Hayden Penn, and Rodrigo Lopez will plug in the gaps. Left specialist Jamie Walker has proven to be very dependable, as well. Closer Chris Ray came into his own last season. The right-handed stopper notched 33 saves last season, on a team that won only 70 games. Toss in his four wins and Ray had a hand in over half of the Birds wins. Should anyone falter or become injured, Baltimore fans can expect to see 6-6 strikeout-ace Jim Hoey re-called from the minors.

The top 1/3 of the lineup that Baltimore will feature includes past all-stars Brian Roberts (2B), Melvin Mora (3B) and Miguel Tejada (SS). This trio can strike fear in the eyes of any pitcher. After all, the three have been all-star representatives. Roberts and Mora are great table setters for the booming bat of Tejada, a long-time all star.

The top of the lineup is impressive--no doubt--but the middle 1/3 is less so. Aubrey Huff will likely fill the cleanup spot, while Jay Gibbons and Jay Payton following him. Of the three, Payton has enjoyed the most success at the plate. However, Huff does add some much-needed pop to the lineup. From 2002-2006, the 1B belted at least 20 dingers. Gibbons batted a respectable .277. Spending half of the season on the IR limited his production to 13 homers and 46 RBI.

Though the bottom third of the lineup can be described as lackluster, at best, it also has its upside. Ramon Hernandez posted a respectable .275/23/91 season a year ago. But, make no mistakes, the rapidly-improving batter's main job is handling this potentially solid pitching staff. Corey Patterson will round out the lineup in center field. The speedster batted .276, but his 45 steals are especially impressive, considering he is on base for the potent 1-2-3 attack of Baltimore. The surprise of the three, and the lineup, should be Nick Markakis. The right fielder is slated to bat eighth, but do not be surprised if he is moved closer to the Dynamic Three before season's end. He batted .291 during his rookie campaign a year ago. Expect his average to continue to climb.

With a few holes and question marks in the lineup, Perlazzo's Orioles are looking to climb above the 80-win mark for the first time since 1997. Winning seasons have obviously not been heard of at Camden Yards recently. However, with a pitching staff like thiers able to keep opponents run total down, a Tejada big-fly here, and a Huff bomb there, one never knows.

Though Baltimore is improving, pitching guru Mazzone will need one more year. Don't be surprised if the phenomenal pitching prospects of Hoey are used as trade bait to acquire a much-needed bat. To be more specific, could a deal sending Hoey in exchange for a big bat, such as--Oh, lets see...maybe...can you say...Soriano?

PREDICTION: 81-81 record; at season's end, they'll be the team of next season

TRIVIA ANSWER: A World Series Championship