TP: Part 1A- Baltimore

Aaron Bjorkstrand is a professional writer, and you are not. You can read him professionally covering Husky Hockey for USCHO.com, as well as dishing baseball over at A-Roid. Here's his take on the Orioles.....

(So, you wanna go shoot up a couple after work?)

Thank goodness for Michael Phelps, Ray Lewis and Alexander Ovechkin. Because beside these three and their sports they rule in, all Baltimore is left with, is the Orioles.

Remember Cal Ripken? How sweet was Cal? I mean really, look at Cal and the way he played the game. Gritty, poised, and just a simple swagger, that to me, remains unseen today.

Now look at a guy like Manny Ramirez. Don't get me wrong, I love Manny, but with players like Mr. Ramirez, we seem to slowly be losing the actual "game of baseball."

Fast forward from the retirement of Ripken and take a look into the 2009 Orioles. A team full of no-names and guys who many consider won't be able to hack it in a very tough AL East. I am one of those guys.

It is my pleasure to rank the Baltimore Orioles the worst team heading into the 2009 season.

The Orioles could be good, don't get me wrong. But with some of the players on their 40 man, it could be a long season in Baltimore.

The strongest parts of the Orioles in 2009 will be their closer (if they get to him) George Sherrill (acquired from Seattle in the Eric Bedard trade) and the young outfield: Felix Pie, Adam Jones (also acquired from Seattle in the Bedard trade) and slugger Nick Markakis.

A true gem also lies on the Orioles, but unfortunately for O's fans (per GM Andy McPhail), prospect catcher Matt Wieters will most likely being the 09' campaign in AAA-Norfolk. According to the baseball guru gods with the Bill James Handbook, Wieters is projected for 2009 at: 133g, 25 2B, 25 HR, 85 rbi, and a 76/63 BB/K ratio; all this while hitting .311, with a .407 OBP. Wieters tore it up in the minors at the A and AA levels in 2008, playing in 130 games while hitting 22 2B, 27 HR and 91 rbi with a .355 average.

But, only time will tell if Wieters can live up to the hype of being a highly touted prospect at catcher (much like Mauer in Minnesota).

Along with veteran second baseman Brian Roberts, infielders Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff are joined by new shortstop Cesar Izturis. Izturis, a career .260 hitter, sits past his prime and will be lucky to hit for 15 doubles with 25 rbi. The bulk of the offense will have to come from the rightside, with Huff and Roberts. Huff, a career .287 hitter, batted .304 for Baltimore, with 48 doubles and 32 HRs. Roberts, who has spent his entire nine year career with the O's (and will probably retire in B-more after signing a 4year/$40M extension over the off season) still has the ability to hit over .300 in a lineup meant to hit doubles.

Alongside Izturis on the left side will be Mora and Ty Wigginton slugging it out for the hot corner. Mora, who hit .285 with 23 HRs and 77 RBI, should have the starter role as he currently sits as the 2nd highest paid Oriole, set to make $9M in 09'.
And now to one of my favorite outfields in baseball: Pie, Pac-M...I mean Adam Jones and Markakis. Pie and Jones make for quite the speedy duo covering left and center, while Markakis provides the lumber, projected at: .309 with 46 2B, 22 HRs and 99 rbi. If and this is a big if, IF the youngsters (Pie and Jones) can set the table for Roberts, Markakis and Huff, the O's could be in for a decent little season. I just don't see them coming around for at least another year and probably the biggest problem: you also need to pitch in baseball.

Watch out for the ever dangerous rotation of: Jeremy Guthrie, Rich Hill, Mark Hendrickson, Adam Eaton and the lone pitcher in the Baltimore roto you should care about, Koji Uehara. Uehara had amazing years for the Yomiuri Giants of 20-4, 17-5, 16-5, and 4-3 in 1999 (12 complete games & a 2.09 ERA), 2002, 2003 (11 cg & a 2.60 ERA) and 2007 (32 saves & 1.74 ERA). But besides Uehara, there’s not a lot of excitement around the Baltimore starting five.

So maybe the Orioles will be able to take advantage of Sherrill after all. Well, maybe at least 20 or 30 times.

Sorry O's fans, it could be a long season. I'm sorry you have to play Boston, New York and Tampa Bay a combined 54 times this year (including a stretch from August 31st-September 20th, with 15 of the 18 games against the three).

Dear Matt Wieters, please come soon...
-Orioles fans.