Examining the offense and the winter moves
Monday: More on Tejada, some on Guthrie | Tuesday: Bits on Tejada, Scott and Guthrie | Wednesday: O's farm system is getting stronger | Thursday: Hendrickson back for a second year | Friday: A look at the bullpen, Snyder and Hendrickson | Sunday: Reviewing the winter
Saturday, January 30:
Roch Kubatko has an update on Koji Uehara: "Uehara is expected to work out of the bullpen this summer, though his role hasn't been clearly defined." [masnsports.com]
Steve Melewski examines the O's offense: "A bigger key for this O's team may be improved baserunning. So many O's were cut down on the bases in 2009 due to foolish mistakes. Just cutting that down to size will increase scoring chances.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not against adding a 40-homer type, it is certainly not a bad thing. But there are many ways for a team to score over 800 runs.
The O's could lead the league in 20-homer players this year.
While the pitching will tell a lot about the Orioles this season, an improved offense and more runs will be needed. It will help the young pitchers and maybe help in the close games. In 2009, 44 percent of O's games were decided by one or two runs and the team went 29-43 in those contests." [masnsports.com]
Keith Law names Caleb Joseph as a sleeper for 2011: "Caleb Joseph was hitting .331/.365/.493 on Aug. 1, then went into a 14-for-91 tailspin the rest of the way that obscured what a good year he had had to that point. Joseph doesn't have a traditional catcher's body -- he's built more like a shortstop -- and the arm is average, but the O's like his makeup behind the dish, and of course .300 with a little pop plays every day back there." [ESPN.com (Insider Only)]
Jayson Stark reports on Erik Bedard: "Miguel Tejada might not be the last ex-Oriole to pull back into Camden Yards this winter. The Orioles also have been working on bringing back their old amigo, Erik Bedard. And according to a source familiar with Bedard's thinking, that interest is "mutual." Whether they can agree on price, in the wake of the Ben Sheets contract, is another story." [ESPN.com]
Danny Knobler names the O's as successful this winter: "[Kevin] Millwood might have been the perfect pickup for a team that has talented young starters and needed a veteran to lead it. Miguel Tejada should be a help, now that he has accepted a move to third base. This still isn't a team that can win in the American League East, but it does feel more and more like one that is moving in the right direction." [CBSSports.com]
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