DragonRider23

Orioles Top Prospect Stats through April 11th........

Mike Costanzo/3B Norfolk Tide(AAA) - .226; 7-31; 1 2B; 1 HR; 5 RBI; .333 OBP;

Chris Tillman/P Bowie Baysox(AA) - 0-0; 9.00 ERA; 1 GS; 2.0 IP; 4 H; 2 R; 3/3 K/BB; .400 OBA

Tony Butler/P Delmarva Shorebirds(A) - 0-1; 6.00 ERA; 2 G, 1 GS; 6.0 IP; 5 H, 4 R; 5/0 K/BB; .227 OBA

Kameron Mickolio/P Bowie Baysox(AA) - 0-0; 1.69 ERA; 3 G; 5.1 IP; 3 H, 1 R; 3/2 K/BB; .167 OBA

Matt Wieters/C Fredrick Keys(A Adv.) - .529; 9-17; 1 2B; 2 HR; 6 RBI; .629 OBP

Radhames Liz/P Norfolk Tide(AAA) - 0-1; 7.49 ERA; 2 G; 2 GS; 9.2 IP; 13 H; 10 R; 9/3 K/BB; .333 OBA

Nolan Reimold/OF Bowie Baysox(AA) - .176; 6-34; 1 HR; 3 RBI; .250 OBP

Billy Rowell/3B Fredrick Keys(A Adv.) - .000; 0-1;

Brandon Snyder/1B Fredrick Keys(A Adv.) -  .290; 9-31 ; 1 2B; 4 RBI; 1 SB; .303 OBP

Jake Arrieta/P Fredrick Keys(A Adv.) - 0-0; 6.75 ERA; 2 G; 2 GS; 6.2 IP; 6 H; 5 R; 11/5 K/BB; .240 OBA

Chorye Spoone/P Bowie Baysox(AA) - 1-0; 3.60 ERA; 2 G; 2 GS; 10.0 IP; 13 H; 4 R; 9/5 K/BB; .310 OBA

Pedro Beato/P Fredrick Keys(A Adv.) - 0-1; 10.80 ERA; 1 G; 1 GS; 3.1 IP; 6 H; 4 R; 1/2 K/BB; .375 OBA

Brandon Erbe/P Fredrick Keys(A Adv.) - 1-0; 0.79 ERA; 2 G; 2 GS; 11.1 IP; 4 H; 1 R; 13/1 K/BB; .103 OBA

Garrett Olson/P Norfolk Tide(AAA) - 1-0; 0.90 ERA; 2 G; 2 GS; 10.0 IP; 7 H; 1 R; 11/6 K/BB; .206 OBA

All around the MLB fanbase, I have heard that the O's will finish lasy place in the AL East, that they will not win more than 50 games, and they will lose somewhere way over 100 games. I understand that some people believe the Bedard and Tejada trades were huge downgrades, but in reality, its not. Erik Bedard was a huge contributer to a 69 win Orioles team in 2007, but he was not fully there in April and missed all of September, ending the season of the Cy Young candidate. In the trade, the O's recieved two key pieces to this O's team in 2008, Adam Jones and George Sherrill. Jones stepped into the O's organization and was quickly granted a starting spot in center field over veteran Jay Payton. Jones has superstar potential, and will probably start slow, but should work out in a major way as the season progress'. Sherrill stepped in as the leading candidate for the closer role, vacant due to Tommy John surgery on Chris Ray. Not only will Sherrill be a key to the O's season, he will be a very good trade chip at the deadline, as well as the O's other two veteran relievers(Walker, Bradford). In that trade, the O's also reciever the M's Top Pitching Prospect, Chris Tillman(19) and one of the M's best pitching prospects, Tony Butler(20) and Ms relief prospect Kameron Mickolio(23). Mickolio could a be a helpful asset to this young O's team if any reliever get injured/traded.

~ O's new closer George Sherrill will be a big help for several reasons for the O's in 2008 while Erik Bedard trys to boost the Mariners to 1st in the AL West.

Now we go to the Tejada trade. The O's gave up a key component to there offense in 2007, but he was begining his slow down and was starting to be a cancer in the clubhouse. Orioles GM Andy MacPhail turned him around and found a good trade for him in the Astros, one day before his name was set to appear on the Mitchell Report. In the deal, he acquired 3 players that will help right off the bat. Those three are righty-starter Matt Albers, righty reliever Dennis Sarfate and outfielder Luke Scott. Albers has been compared to Curt Schilling and has talent to be a number 4 starter in this league. Sarfate, if Sherrill gets traded, would probably become the closer. He has a fastball that can reach 100 mph, and Luke Scott is a power bat the O's have needed for a while. Also in the deal, the O's recieved the 'Stros Top Pitching prospect in Troy Patton and power hitting third base prospect Mark Costanzo. Costanzo will get some time in at AAA before any moves up to the majors. He is currently blocked by Melvin Mora and third base prospect Scott Moore. Patton will miss the season with a torn labrum, and should come back by next year. The Astros will be getting a good shortstop who should return back to better power numbers in the small Minute Maid Park.

Both trades boosted the offense with a stud(Adam Jones, Luke Scott) and both gave the O's some young talent along with young pitchers. Out of the ten players acquired, 5 will be expected to be helpful to the O's in 2008. 2 of them are expected to see a call-up later in the season, one will miss the whole season. 7 of the 10 are 25 or young. 2 of the 10 are 20 or under. 2 of the 10 are Baseball America Top 100 prospects. Whatever happens in 2008, do not sleep on the O's to get 4th place. This team looks like a horrible team on paper, but are a unit of one, and together they stand, alone they fall. Let the game and the season, the sprited America's game, diside the outcome of the of the O's fatality.

Toronto Blue Jays Season Preview

2007 Record: 83-79, 3rd in American League East

Key Additions: Scott Rolen(3B); David Eckstein(SS); Marco Scutaro(2B); Armando Benitez(RHP)

Key Departures: Josh Towers(RHP); Troy Glaus(3B)

Starting Pitchers:

Projected Rotation: Roy Halladay(RH); A.J. Burnett(RH); Dustin McGowan(RH); Shaun Marcum(RH); Jesse Litch(RH)

The Blue Jays have an incredible staff on paper. McGowan had a breakout year in 2007, same goes to Shaun Marcum, but injury problems continue to harness the talent of both Cy Young pitcher Roy Halladay and his sidekick, A.J. Burnett. If one or both can get over the injury hump, the Jays could be a serious contender. The number 5 slot is all open at this time, but it appears as if Jesse Litch will be the 5th starter. Injury bug Gustavo Chacin will most likely start in AAA Syracuse. With all 5 healthy, the Blue Jays have a Top 10 pitching staff.

Bullpen:

Projected Bullpen: B.J. Ryan(CL); Jeremy Accardo(RH); Scott Downs(LH); Jason Frasor(RH); Brian Tallet(LH); Brandon League(RH); Armando Benitez(RH)

Closer B.J. Ryan will not be healthy or ready to go on Opening Day, but when he comes back, he will assume the closer role from Jeremy Accardo. The first 3 in the Jays bullpen are very good pitchers, but from Frasor to Benitez, it becomes trashey. When healthy, B.J. Ryan is a dominate closer and one of the few lefty closers in the Major Leagues. Scott Downs is one of the best lefty relievers in the league. Frasor was once a reliable reliever for the Jays, but has fell apart since.

 ~ Jeremy Accardo will be the Jays closer on opening Day

Line-up:

Projected Line-up:

1) David Eckstein/SS

2) Lyle Overbay/1B

3) Vernon Wells/CF

4) Frank Thomas/DH

5) Scott Rolen/3B

6) Alex Rios/RF

7) Matt Stairs/LF

8) Gregg Zaun/C

9) Aaron Hill/2B

Bench: Rod Barajas/C; Marco Scutaro/INF; John McDonald/INF; Reed Johnson/OF

The Line-up looks like a strong line-up when healthy, but the key word there is healthy. Overbay, Wells, and Rolen were all injured last year, and Frank Thomas has a history of health problems. Eckstein is an upgrade offensively for the Jays, after batting over .05 more than McDonald last year. Overbay will, for the Blue Jays sake, be healthy this year, and can go back to producing his average seasons of .275-.315 and hitting 15-25 home runs. Vernon Wells had a tpsy-turvey year in 2007, but comes back strong and still one of the best outfielders in the American League. Frank Thomas could be entering his final season of a Hall of Fame career and you should expect a solid number of home runs between 15-30. Scott Rolen will give you great defense and a strong bat. Alex Rios is a potential break-out candidate in 2008, meaning he should have a career year. Matt Stairs had a good year for his home team in 2007, and xpect a weaker season, but still strong enough to help the Jays out. Gregg Zaun should not be the starting catcher, but there are little options left other than a trade for Michael Barrett or Ramon Hernandez. Finally, Aaron Hill produced a good season in 2007, nd I see another out of the second baseman.

 ~ Jays outfielder Alex Rios is a good candidate to be a breakout star in 2008.

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Key Additions: