Baltimore Orioles- 2013 Preview

2012 Results: 93-69 (2nd in AL East, Won Wild Card Game, Lost NLDS to NYY 3-2)

You want to talk about a surprise team, how about Baltimore? Baltimore was not a very good team since Davey Johnson managed the team in the 90's. The Orioles came out of nowhere and became a force in the AL East. The crazy part? The Orioles manged to miss winning the AL East crown by 2 games! The Orioles ranked 20th in batting average (.247), 14th in ERA (3.90), and 18th in Fielding percentage (.983). The stats can be completely thrown out on the Orioles because of one simple fact. According to the stats, the Orioles shouldn't have won as many games. The Orioles gave up 705 runs and managed to only score 712, a run differential of +7. According to all the stats, the Orioles should have only won 82 games.

Just that one stat alone puts the Orioles in an odd group. The +7 run differential puts them WORSE than San Diego, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays. Those teams managed records of 76-86 (SD), 74-88 (NYM), and 73-89 (TOR). It's a crazy stat but that's the honest look into the numbers. Yet Baltimore remained one of the most surprising stories of 2012. Another surprising thing about the Orioles? They managed to beat the Texas Rangers in the Wild Card Game and gave the New York Yankees a real fight in ALDS by pushing the series to 5 games.

How does 2013 look?

Offseason Moves: ARRIVALS

3B Danny Valencia - Trade (BOS)
IF Alexi Casilla - Waivers (MIN)
IF/OF Yamaico Navarro - Trade (PIT)
OF Trayvon Robinson - Trade (SEA)

DEPARTURES

1B Joe Mahoney - Waivers (MIA)
1B Mark Reynolds - Free Agent (CLE)
IF Robert Andino - Trade (SEA)
OF Endy Chavez - Minor League Free Agent (KC)
RHP Jhondaniel Medina - Trade (PIT)
LHP T.J. McFarland - Rule 5 (CLE)
DH Jim Thome - Free Agent
SP Joe Saunders - Free Agent (In Talks with BAL to return)

The Orioles haven't managed to improve the team this offseason but they haven't gotten worse either. The Orioles still need to get pitching help, mainly in the starting rotation. They also could use some help in the lineup, especially a DH. Considering the Orioles were a complete surprise team in 2012, I'm not sure the team's budget allows for too much spending. The Orioles and Joe Saunders, whom they picked up from Arizona during the 2012 season, are still talking about a deal for him to return to Baltimore.

2013 Prediction: 89-73 (3rd in AL East)
The Orioles will be a "threat" in 2013 but not to the extent they were in 2012. Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Boston have all improved in the AL East. The Orioles have not done any moves this offseason to combat what the other AL East teams have done. I think Baltimore will be a good team in 2013 but they are not going to repeat 2012. Unless they make a splash before the season starts, expect Baltimore to battle it out between 3rd and 4th place in the division. It's not because the Orioles aren't good but simply because the rest of the AL East teams have improved greatly.

The Orioles have alot of positive things happening on the team. They have good, young players on the roster that will help the team win games. Until the Orioles improve the starting rotation, they are going to find it difficult to compete against the remaining AL East teams. It's truly hard to tell though. No one thought the Orioles would be even a .500 team entering 2012 and they surprised everyone. The Orioles might be able to pull it off again but I wouldn't count on it