Expectations of this team

[Maxito]

I want to know of your expectations of this tem compared to last years.


I am going to say Average because our pitching is a question mark. I believe that Ray Miller will help our pitchers improve but there is no true number 1 ace in this team.

[RyansRangers]

9-7 with wild card if they play well.. If they play up to potential 11-5 with division title

[TheDoyler23]

well, on another orioles board, (orioleshangout.com) they had a poll question that asks if pressing the button means a locked in 88 wins, would you hit it. The results were about 60-40 saying no, they'll take their chances toward wining more.

I said yes. I think they'll be ABOVE .500 this season with improvements by Bedard, Cabrera, and Ponson.

Gammons said that Bedard could be a 20 game winner this year with his new and improved changeup.

The lineup has improved with Sosa and Raffy will bat better as a DH than starter @ 1b. Gibbons is healthy and hitting well. Bigbie is poised to have a breakout year. Mora, Tejada and Lopez are still studs as well.

[aejm1400]

I think they will do quite a bit better than last year. Big keys are Miller(we seen what he did with just half a year last season), Sosa(he brings the team more confidence in themselves which will help them from trying too hard) and the fact that our staff is underrated.

I know people say we don't have a #1, but after the season starts that don't mean a whole lot since guys pitch in a rotation. I'll take 3 or 4 #2's instead of just a #1.

[Thiscat41]

I definitely think they'll be better than last season. The young pitching has a year under their belt and an entire Spring Training with Miller underway. Miller works wonders with young pitchers and gave us a glimpse of what to expect the 2nd half of last season. Our offense should be AMAZING with the addition of Sosa and with getting a healthy Gibbons back. I agree that Bigbie is in line for a breakout year and Miggy, Mora, Roberts and Javy should continue their domination of AL pitching. Our biggest chance of competing this season, I believe, will rest on the bullpen which has been upgraded remarkably. Reed & Kline will definitely improve things plus having BJ Ryan as a closer should end the fiasco Julio demonstrated closing out ballgames. Overall, our team should be considered a top 5 ballclub. I'm predicting a wild-card season, keeping the Yanks at home this season and Ol' Georgie scrambling for more aging vets next offseason:laugh:

Good luck O's! See you in September!!:cheers:

[SAMB0]

I think we will finish third in AL East but hopefully push for the Wild card :(

[Spaceman Spiff]

An improvement, but not by much. I think 85-90 wins would be reasonable.

I hate to say it, I hate to be negative, but I don't like our staff. I think the bullpens fine, but when you have staff thats not that great, you're just going to have a bunch of tired relievers 2/3's of the way through the season.

I like R-Lo. I hate Ponson. I hope Cabrera isn't a fluke. The rest are unproven, in my eyes.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I think we can finish above .500. I don't think it's realistic to think we can hang with the Sox or Yanks...at least not after July or August.

[jaxskins]

Originally posted by RyansRangers
9-7 with wild card if they play well.. If they play up to potential 11-5 with division title

:insane:


Uh... Wrong sport.. lol

[galentjm]

I really think this team isn't that far away from contending. I think Bedard and Cabrera will be solid pitchers at this level. Niether will likely be an ace of a staff but I think both could develop to be very effective number twos.

Lopez is certainly not a shut down pitcher but he's crafty and is good for double digit wins. Anything we get out of Ponson is a bonus because he's not being relied upon to lead the staff any longer, and he does show flashes. If this team were able to land/develop a legitimate number one and a fifth starter that could just eat innings I think we could compete for the wild card.

The offense is very balanced having a good mix of speed, money ball guys, and power. The defense won't be tops in the league but is certainly not a weakness. And the bullpen is lights out. I love the Kline pickup, and I think Ryan will thrive in the closer role.

[aejm1400]

You know, I actually think Cabrera can develop into a #!. The amount of work he has put into his game and he hasn't even played at a major league level for a year yet. Tomorrow will show how far he's come since last year.

[galentjm]

Now that we're a month in and off to a great start I'm wondering if anyone has changed their mind. I think my favorite stat thus far is that the O's are hitting .346 as a team ON THE ROAD. Talk about getting it done.

With the Sox banged up and the Yanks struggling, this home stand is key. If we can win the next three series (Toronto, KC, Minnesota) we have a chance to take a commanding lead in the east.

This team has got to feel good knowing that they're 10 games over .500 and have yet to see much from Sammy, Bigbie, Raffy, Gibbons, and Cabrera. If those guys could get it going this team will be extremely difficult to beat. Add another starter (much easier said than done) and a stick at 1B at the deadline and this team could make some serious noise in the postseason (if they get there).

Having said all that, its still extremely early. Keep it up O's!

[Maxito]

Yes my opinion has changed, I predicted this team to be average, but sweeping the Yanks, Red Sox, and Toronto. Blue Jays. I am going to change my vote to better. This team has showed me that they are not afraid. Before the season started I never expected our pitching will be pitching very well.