MLB Spring Training Thread

[MichaelWinicki]

Fowler ends up taking less than the QO.

Apparently he thinks he's worth more than anybody was willing to offer so he'll try again next year. His family would have really struggled on that 35 million over 3 yrs . . . .

The Orioles were able to protect themselves contract wise after looking at Gallardo's MRI for his shoulder. Team has an opt out option after 2 years.

I see there are some questions about Gallardo's shoulder and the ever decreasing speed of the fastball. It will be interesting to see how he pitches this season.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I see there are some questions about Gallardo's shoulder and the ever decreasing speed of the fastball. It will be interesting to see how he pitches this season.

Its been reported that its normal wear and tear for any pitcher his age. The Orioles seem to be more thorough in their physicals than a lot of teams.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The Orioles have taken it on the free agency chin the last couple of days... It's reported Gallardo has some issues and Dexter Fowler backed out of a deal that appeared to be set.

That's all the Orioles do is take it in the chin!

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Astros win their first spring training game 3-2 over the Phils.

Yeah.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Astros beat the Card 6-3 today. The 'stros dropped 3 bombs on them.

Wandy Rodriguez started the game and went 2 innings with 4 K's. He probably will not start the season with the big-club, but sometime this season I could see him giving the team a few starts.

Last season the Astros used 13 starters and they've got a half-dozen starters that will be part of the 25-man.

 

[Tabascocat]

 

[MichaelWinicki]

For WPB...

Orioles are going to hit a ton of home runs.

The defense though looks to be maybe the worst in the league... and the starting rotation looks bad.

If they win half their games, they'll be lucky.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

For WPB...

Orioles are going to hit a ton of home runs.

The defense though looks to be maybe the worst in the league... and the starting rotation looks bad.

If they win half their games, they'll be lucky.

Had the fewest errors in MLB last year so I dont see worst in the league even with Kim & Trumbo in the OF. Ubaldo looked good today and Tillman will bounce back this year. The rest of the rotation will be good enuff. Good defense, really good bullpen, and maybe the most potent lineup in all of baseball will bring the AL East title back to Baltimore where it belongs if the starters are just good enough. Like the rest of the division the starting pitching is the big question mark.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

The O's currently project to roll out one of the hardest-hitting lineups this year,

the O's can now lay claim to four of last season's top 21 hardest-hitting sluggers.

To put that further into perspective, not only are the Orioles the only team with four players in the top 40, but 21 of the other 29 teams have four or fewer players in the entire top 100. Put it all together and the 2016 O's combined for an average velocity of 90.5 mph last season, ranking highest among any current roster.

Average exit velocity
1. Orioles: 90.5 mph
2. Blue Jays: 90.1 mph
3. Mariners: 89.7 mph
4. Mets: 89.5 mph
5. Dodgers: 89.5 mph




After all, players currently on the O's roster topped 95 mph on 44.1 percent of the balls they put in play last year. That mark ranks second among rosters across the big leagues, just behind Toronto's 44.3 percent.

Baltimore is one of only five teams -- along with the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Rangers and Mariners -- to eclipse the 40-percent mark, and its 44.1 percent is more than 10 percentage points higher than both the Reds and Braves. For added reference, the league average last year for the percentage of balls in play hit at least 95 mph was 38.8 percent.

Batted balls above 95 mph
1. Blue Jays: 44.3 percent
2. Orioles: 44.1 percent
3. Dodgers: 42.1 percent
4. Rangers: 42.5 percent
5. Mariners: 40.7 percent

Average batted-ball distance
1. Mets: 217.7 feet
2. Orioles: 217.3 feet
3. Cubs: 215.6 feet
4. Rockies: 215.5 feet
5. Dodgers: 215.1 feet

The Orioles are also one of only three teams -- along with the Blue Jays and Rockies -- that currently have five players who hit at least one 450-foot home run last regular season. Each of the two newcomers, Alvarez and Trumbo, hit a 450-foot bomb last year, while Davis, Jones and Schoop each did so once as well.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/166723974/statcast-orioles-among-top-hard-hitting-teams

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Had the fewest errors in MLB last year so I dont see worst in the league even with Kim & Trumbo in the OF. Ubaldo looked good today and Tillman will bounce back this year. The rest of the rotation will be good enuff. Good defense, really good bullpen, and maybe the most potent lineup in all of baseball will bring the AL East title back to Baltimore where it belongs if the starters are just good enough. Like the rest of the division the starting pitching is the big question mark.

You have to get to balls in order to have errors.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

You have to get to balls in order to have errors.

Our gold glovers get to them.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Our gold glovers get to them.

LOL!

I'm a Yankees fan, but Derek Jeter winning multiple "Gold Gloves" tells me everything I want to know about winning a "Gold Glove"... It's about guys not making miscues with balls they can reach but when it comes to infielders, range goes right out the window.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

LOL!

I'm a Yankees fan, but Derek Jeter winning multiple "Gold Gloves" tells me everything I want to know about winning a "Gold Glove"... It's about guys not making miscues with balls they can reach but when it comes to infielders, range goes right out the window.

No doubt Jeter winning any gold glove diminished the award but Machado covers ground and is the closest we've seen to Brooks Robinson since Brooks played. Hardy at SS is as steady as anybody but it'll be interesting to see how his range is this year coming back from injury. Schoop has better range than it appears and a canon like Machado. C Davis is pretty good defensively as well. Adam Jones in the OF covers a lot of ground but the 2 COF's are suspect.

The Orioles 2 biggest concerns are SP and OBP. But I think each team in the AL East is rolling the dice with their rotations. Once again, SP will decide which teams are contenders.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The Orioles 2 biggest concerns are SP and OBP. But I think each team in the AL East is rolling the dice with their rotations. Once again, SP will decide which teams are contenders.

Oh I agree. The Orioles could use a couple table-setters. Right now it's looking like a lot of solo-HR's.

And yes, the rotation question is in flux for everyone in the division.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Oh I agree. The Orioles could use a couple table-setters. Right now it's looking like a lot of solo-HR's.

And yes, the rotation question is in flux for everyone in the division.

Its a great time of year. NOTHING better than spring time when baseball gets going again. And the AL East should be fun this year. And, if the BoSux are in the basement all year it will be even more fun.

BTW, our manager on my kids little league team is a Yankee fan. He took his 2 boys to see the Yankees play the Mets here in Port St Lucie the other day and texted me a pic from the game - of his 2 boys outside the stadium with Joe Girardi. They were pretty geeked.

Im taking my kid to Sarasota tomorrow for the Orioles Phillies game. I was able to get seats 4 rows behind home plate. Should be fun. He has a Chris Davis bat he wants to get autographed. We'll see. Dad will be the one carrying it around. He did get Chris Davis to sign a ball last year in Miami before the game.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Oh I agree. The Orioles could use a couple table-setters. Right now it's looking like a lot of solo-HR's.

And yes, the rotation question is in flux for everyone in the division.

Dexter Fowler could have been that guy . . . . . . .

If the SP works out it will be fine.

 

[CCBoy]

A great thread going on here. Thanks for the shares. Me, I'm an old Brave fan...treading water. But excited about a possible future that overtakes the likes of Houston. (fingers crossed)

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Alvarez doubles off the CF wall in his first ST at bat driving in a run.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

BTW... Orioles are last in the league in both ERA and team defensive efficiency.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

BTW... Orioles are last in the league in both ERA and team defensive efficiency.

They looked like it today in Ft. Myers against the Twins