ORIOLES OPTION THREE TO NORFOLK

            The Orioles today announced that they have optioned RHP ZACH CLARK, LHP MIKE BELFIORE andOF XAVIER AVERY to Triple-A Norfolk.

With these assignments, the Orioles now have 53 players at major league spring training, including 16 non-roster invitees.

–orioles–

In the coming weeks, I will be doing a four part 2013 Orioles season preview in which I will tell you what you can expect from every player who played significant time for the Orioles or another team last season.  I will be dividing the series into starting pitchers, relief pitchers, infielders (and catchers), and this editions subject, the outfielders.  Hope you enjoy!

2013 Orioles Outfielders Preview 

Nate McLouth – McLouth was arguably the biggest surprise for the Orioles last season.  Starting the season at Norfolk (after having disappointing campaigns in Pittsburgh and Atlanta), McLouth was eventually brought up due to injuries to Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold.  He had a solid season of 55 games for the team and was a huge part of the playoff run, even batting third and leadoff at some points in the season.  However, we’ve seen this type of production from Nate before, only to have a disappointing follow up season.  McLouth will have to fight for a starting job with Nolan Reimold this season in order to prove that he can be a consistent contributor.

Last season’s numbers (in 55 games):  .268 BA, 7 HR, 18 RBI

2013 Prediction: .262 BA, 16 HR, 70 RBI

Nick Markakis – It was frustrating watching Markakis sit on the bench during key games down the stretch and throughout the ALDS.  Knowing what a tremendous season Nick had had during the regular season filling in at the leadoff spot, will always have fans wondering what could have been if he had played during the playoffs.  Nonetheless, those injuries were rare instances (one being a cheap shot from C.C. Sabathia) and Markakis is expecting to play a full season even though he is dealing with a minor neck injury.  It remains to be seen where Markakis will bat in the lineup.  It all depends on what the Orioles can get out of Brian Roberts or Nolan Reimold at the leadoff spot. It is however, nice to know that Markakis can be a valuable fill in at that spot if needed.

Last season’s numbers (in 104 games): .298 BA, 13 HR, 54 RBI

2013 Prediction: .289 BA, 16 HR, 75 RBI

Nolan Reimold – Reimold played a mere 16 games last season but in that time showed the potential he has shown throughout his time in Baltimore.  It’s been injuries that have held Nolan back.  In those 16 games last season, Reimold was on a tear.  He was on pace for 45 homers and was batting .313.  Obviously no one expecting that kind of season from him but it would be nice to see what he can do in a full season.  If he can stay healthy, I expect him to take over the left field job at some point in the season.

Last season’s number (in 16 games): .313 BA, 5 HR, 10 RBI

2013 Prediction: .270 BA, 15 HR, 55 RBI

Xavier Avery – Avery was a pleasant surprise last season and filled in nicely during his short time in the big leagues.  He added some needed speed and base stealing prowess (stealing 6 bases) to a team devoid of both last year.  At only 23 years old, I don’t expect him to get much playing time this year unless the injury bug hits the Orioles again but it’s good to see such potential in a young player.

Last season’s numbers (in 32 games): .223, 1 HR, 6 RBI

2013 Prediction: .240, 2 HR, 15 RBI

Adam Jones – I guess this is the one you all have been waiting for.  After signing his long term deal last season, Adam went into a bit of a slump which carried into a postseason in which he had two hits and batted an abysmal .077.  However he had a stellar first half of the season which kept his numbers afloat throughout the season.  Let’s hope the post season let down and experience makes Adam “stay hungry” this year.  He is the face of the franchise now and he needs to be the leader both off the diamond and on it.  The biggest positive we can take from his 2012 season is that he played every single game.  You do not find that much anymore and that is huge impact no matter how you are playing.

Last season’s numbers (162 games): .287 BA (career high), 32 HR (career high), 82 RBI

2013 Prediction: .290 BA, 30 HR, 90 RBI

Check back next week when I preview the relief pitchers and in the meantime, listen to WNST’s Weekend Warriors every Saturday 9AM-12PM, like us on Facebook here, and follow me on Twitter here.

If I understand the way the math works, the Baltimore Orioles’ magic number to clinch an American League Wild Card spot currently sits at 48.

I really felt the need to tell you that because for some goofy reason I sat and worked on it Sunday while I was supposed to be watching the Baltimore Ravens practice at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Congratulations Birds, you’ve successfully gotten me to take attention away from the Ravens and place it on the orange and black. The moment has actually occurred. I’m blown away.

The magic number is 48.

That means that if the total combination of O’s wins combined with losses (individually) from any other team in the Wild Card race reaches 48 before the end of the season the now 15 year playoff draught will officially be over.

It means the Birds will be playing on Friday, October 5 as part of Major League Baseball’s first ever Wild Card play-in games.

I honest to God can’t believe I’ve just typed all of this.

It’s time to cue the music.

I feel like it’s safe to say that I’ve been as reluctant (if not more reluctant) than anyone in town to accept this as an actual, realistic possibility. And if truth me told I would still say “no” if an assailant questioned my belief that the Orioles make the playoffs with a gun pointed to my temple.

It might seem like a four game split with the Kansas City Royals at home would be an odd time for me to suddenly stand and pledge allegiance to the “Why Not?” bandwagon, but…you know…Machado and all.

My original idea for my weekly “Reality Check” column was to write about the realities of 3B Manny Machado’s hot start (6-16, 3HR, 7RBI in four games). I had planned to say “I hate to be the bad guy, but let’s remember that the most likely scenario is that Machado won’t be able to continue this success for the rest of the season or likely even for the rest of August.”

I had intended to say something along the lines of “American League pitchers will likely end up catching up with Machado, who also won’t have the benefit of facing Kansas City Royals pitching every time out.” I was going to add thoughts along the lines of “let’s not forget that even OF Xavier Avery collected 10 hits in his first eight games after getting called up to Baltimore earlier in the season.”

I probably would have mentioned that in the coming week Machado would have to go up against veteran pitchers like Red Sox starters Josh Beckett (albeit a Beckett that has struggled mightily in 2012) and Clay Buchholz as well as reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and MVP Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers. It’s a bit more legitimate than a group of KC starters that included Will Smith, Luke Hochevar and Bruce Chen.

I also think I would have mentioned that Machado had not hit .300 in a single month while playing in the Eastern League this season, making a market correction from a very hot start to August seem likely at some point.

That’s what I WAS going to do. But for some reason, it just didn’t stick.

As we’ve repeated ad nauseum during the 2012 Orioles campaign, there is no statistical explanation for why the Birds have won 62 of their first 115 games. Those of us who have been watching understand that the team has benefitted from an incredible bullpen, a number of home runs, great success in close games and expert guidance from AL Manager of the Year candidate Buck Showalter.

That’s why I couldn’t write the Machado column. I didn’t have it in me.

Maybe there IS a chance Machado can continue to make significant contributions as a 20 year old in a lineup that has been seeking an additional spark. The Birds don’t have a full season .300 hitter in their lineup, but they’ve managed to get continued contributions from unexpected places.

Career journeyman INF Omar Quintanilla is batting .328 in just 20 games sense being acquired in a deal with the New York Mets. Veteran (and by “veteran” I mean “washed up”) OF Nate McClouth has eight hits in his first 24 AB’s since being called up from the Norfolk Tides. Even the miserable bat of Mark Reynolds (.211 and just nine home runs in 289 AB’s) provided what proved to be the game winning RBI in Sunday’s win over KC.

I don’t think it can be sustained. I didn’t think it could be sustained two months ago. I was wrong then. Maybe I’m wrong now. I don’t think I’m ever going to understand exactly how all of this has happened this way this season.

So can Manny Machado keep contributing to an Orioles team pushing towards an appearance in the postseason?

What the hell?

Or…why not?

-G

The Orioles Thursday night announced that they have optioned outfielder Xavier Avery to Triple-A Norfolk. Avery has batted .233/.317/.356 in 24 games over three stints with Baltimore.

While no corresponding roster move was announced, the club is expected to activate outfielder Endy Chavez from the 15-day disabled list.