Scott Garceau: Four O's To Watch In 2015
With pitchers and catchers at work (and several position players) we've officially moved past the hot stove season. With record low temperatures in Baltimore and no hot stove it would seem just a matter of time before hypothermia does us in. If somehow we can survive, it should be another bright and warm summer in Baltimore hon. Let's deal with Spring first and the Orioles have some obvious areas of interest as they gather in Sarasota.
There's the rebound three of Matt Wieters, Manny Machado, and Chris Davis. When will Wieters be ready to catch? Will he still throw like the guy who was one of the best in baseball at cutting down base-stealers? Can Manny (he's full go) get back to his 2013 form when he looked like Brooks Robinson at third base and hit like an all-star?
Will Chris Davis (aka The Deputy) get back to being one of the game's premier power hitters? Then there's the 6 starters for 5 spots in the pitching rotation, is this the year talented Kevin Gausman's career takes off, can Ubaldo Jimenez throw strikes and be relevant? FYI I'm not concerned about the 6 for 5 It wasn't too long ago that the Orioles would go to Spring training with 1 or 2 solid starters for 5 spots. More is better, and with 2 or 3 starting candidates in the minor league system the Orioles have developed what Earl Weaver would describe as "deep depth."
Above are some of the big stories this spring in Sarasota and we'll hear a lot about them but I've got my eyes on 4 under-the-radar guys. Most won't break North with the Orioles but all four could have impact on the Orioles future and I'm anxious to see them.
Dariel Alvarez --- The 26 year old Cuban outfielder looks like he's just about ready for the show. He was very good last year splitting time between AA Bowie and AAA Norfolk he hit .306 with 15 HR's and 86 RBI. I've been told he has the best arm in the organization and that includes the Orioles. He could improve plate discipline, but he only struck out 62 times in 532 at bats. Alvarez isn't much of a base-stealer with 8 in 13 attempts in 2014.
Dylan Bundy --- The 4th pick in the 2011 draft has no physical restrictions after Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow in June of 2013. In limited work last season, Bundy had a 9.36 ERA in his first three starts at Frederick, but bounced back with a 1.23 ERA in his next three starts before a lat injury ended his season. He'll likely start this season in AA Bowie but could be in Baltimore in late summer. Bundy is still only 22.
Mike Wright --- The 6-6 right-hander was the organizations pitcher of the year in 2013. Wright struggled last year, going 5-11 with a 4.61 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk. But he finished like Cy Young, in his last 7 starts he had an 0.95 ERA with 37 strikeouts and only eight walks. He throws a nasty mid 90's sinkerball and if he can pitch like he did late last season Baltimore could be in his near future.
Travis Snider --- He may not qualify as an under the radar guy and unlike the other 3, Snider should be in the lineup on opening day. He's a former top 10 prospect in all of baseball and now 27 he's likely the guy taking over in right field for Nick Markakis. Snider considered an above average outfielder is coming off a good year with the Pirates. After a slow start, he hit .264 with 13 homers in 359 plate appearances. He was hot after the All-Star break, hitting .288/.356/.524 in 188 plate appearances.
You can hear The Orioles first Grapefruit League game (vs Detroit) Wednesday, March 4 at 1:00 on 105.7 The Fan.
