We have finally made it…Opening Day is here.
Tell your friends, tell your family, the Baltimore Orioles are here and they finally have some expectations.
Just going to highlight some players and point.
Buckle up, baby.
And real quick, this is the first season the Orioles will have some sort of positive expectations.
They aren’t playing for draft positioning, those days are over.
It will be exciting to see how these young guns respond to the pressure and expectations.
I think they’re up to the task.
But it’s because he’s unreal, he’s already a top 2 catcher in the game.
I’ll give it to J.T.
right now, but Adley isn’t that far behind.
Oh, and he played only 90 games at catcher.
The entire Orioles season turned around the day he came up.
Everything changed for the better.
And he’s still improving.
He was AWFUL his first 50 games, and then took off from there.
Probably going to start the All Star game too.
The #1 prospect in baseball came up and made noise right away.
He doesn’t turn 22 until June which is terrifying.
A guy this good at the plate, and that good with the glove shouldn’t be that young.
He’s the odds of favorite for ROY on the Barstool Sportsbook for a reason.
Another guy who I think is really going to have a great season?Ryan Mountcastle.
Guy got super unlucky last year and still ended up with decent numbers.
Battled through a wrist injury mid-season and put up 22 homers with 65 RBIs and a .250 average.
He’s bigger and stronger this year so some of those unlucky balls that hit the wall for doubles?
They’re homers now.
Anthony Santanderhad a sneaky really good year in 2022.
33 homers and 89 driven in, decent numbers for a guy who always seems kind of forgotten.
His defense has taken a step back the last few years but he can still swing it.
.240 average isn’t great but the power is.
Super limited at-bats last year but I fully expect to see more Stowers this season.
Another guy with 20-25 homer power….he just has to be consistent.
Mateo may be the fastest guy in baseball, he’s incredible.
The only problem is he isn’t a great hitter.
Get that average up to maybe .250-.260 and the OBP around…..300?
He may steal 60 bases if that happens.
Both also play unreal defense, two of the better defensive players in the game.
Couple more notes on some guys…
-Terrin Vavrais going to be your mom’s favorite player.
Learn how to play first.
Ultimate grinder guy, someone every team needs.
All about the ripping and the Terrin.
-Ramon Uriaswon a Gold Glove at third last year and may not have a job in 2023.
Gunnar will likely play third and Mateo at short with Frazier/Vavra at second.
Ummm where do you put Ramon?
Could be trade bait, who wouldn’t want a GG third baseman?
Weird problem to have.
-They finally got a backup catcher for Adley, welcomeJames McCann.
That is all I have on him.
He’s for sure a guy.
He had an ERA over 5 last year but played in front of a disgusting Phillies defense.
That ERA will drop with the defense of the O’s and the wall.
3.23 ERA in 22 games, he ended up with a really good season.
Cole Irvinis the lone lefty in the rotation after coming over in a trade with Oakland.
Irvin is another guy who should love the awesome defense behind him along with the wall being moved back.
He’s got a good changeup and his breaking stuff is good enough to get outs with.
Going to be a fun guy to watch this year.
He had some great starts down the stretch and really showed how nasty his stuff can be.
Had one bad blow up inning in spring when he was working on something and that’s really it.
A big dude with a big fastball, a bulldog on the mound too.
Pitcher Notes -
- John Meanswill be back from Tommy John this season, probably mid-summer.
That will be huge for this club.
From a leadership/mentor role as well as a guy in the rotation.
Can’t wait to see 47 back out there.
Remember when he threw that no-hitter?
Did I flip out?
Was he awesome in AAA last year before his lat injury?
Has he looked the same since?
It sucks to hear but that is the truth.
Don’t worry O’s fans, he’s coming.
Hallis also coming up eventually.
The lefty top prospect battled some spring injuries and will be stretched out as a starter in Norfolk.
After a shaky start last year he was AWESOME his last 8 games.
Kid is going to be so good.
He is simply one of the best relievers in baseball.
Not only is he like 6'9, 270, he also throws unhittable junk.
Sureeeee, not an issue.
Oh, he also has a disgusting splitter that you will not hit.
2.19 ERA, 88 strikeouts in 65.2 IP in 65 games last season and averaged 12.1 K/9.
God damnit I love him.
The rest of the bullpen are just dudes.
The bullpen did take a hit withMychal GivensandDillon Tatebeginning the season on the IL.
Hopefully both are back soon, but until then we’ll see a rotating cast of guys.
No one saw them over .500.
No one saw them winning 10 straight.
No one had them winning 83 games.
This is a team who gets stronger because of the balanced schedule now.
No more 19 games vs the Yankees, 19 vs the Blue Jays, 19 vs the Rays.
That is gone and HUGE for the Birds.
It’s an exciting time to be an Orioles fan.
This team has to be better than last year, it just has to.
Baring any injuries I think this is a 88-90 win team.
I just think that.
I think they make a Wild Card spot.
I think they have 3-4 All Stars.
I think that the tide is turning in Baltimore and I think it’s almost over for you hoes.
