Josh Hamilton Offer from the Orioles

[WolvesJagsOs]

The Raptors in 2006 managed to win the Atlantic Division. What does this have to do with the Orioles? After that year the Raptors never got close to that again.

In order for the Orioles to repeat what they did last year they need either the Jays, Rays or Yankees to stumble.

Last year the Orioles we're benefitted by both the Jays and Sox colapse. Their record against both teams we're extremly good.

The Jays last year had HORRIBLE pitching. I wouldn't put a bet on the Jays pitching that horrid again. The Jays offence before the injuries really hit was top 5. The offence just got better.

The Red Sox sure collapsed. However in their deal with LA they only lost 1 player of value that contributed.

Beckett could pitch with a low 3 era or an era around 5. Crawford barely played. Also, I can easily see both Lestor and Buch having bounce back seasons. I honestly think the Sox can be an over .500 team next year.

The Yanks are the Yanks and until they prove otherwise, are the team to beat. The Rays have that stellar proven pitching.

Imo, while certainly not impossible, more has to go right for the Orioles to contend than any other team.

The same goes for everyone in the AL East. Every team is going to be tough, you think it will be easy for the Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, or Rays either? No, they all have to play eachother as well as us.

As for the Raptors comparison, there is also teams that sucked, became good, and stayed good for a while. Look at Tampa for example.

[Jeffy25]

This. All of this. That can't of close game record just doesn't happen, let alone happen on a year to year basis.

The 08 Mariners
61-101 (100 million dollar payroll btw)
18-30 in one-run ball games

The 09 Mariners
85-77
35-20 in one-run ball games

The 10 Mariners
61-101
21-28 in one-run ball games


They had basically the same bullpen (for the most part) all three seasons. The caliber of the team didn't change, their record in one-run games did.


And that 35-20 isn't even as extreme as the O's record was this year (but then again, they were under .500 the other seasons in one-run games).

The O's COULD get to 90 wins again next year. But it is HIGHLY unlikely. Unless they can find a new pitching rotation. Offensively, they are fine.

[Vampirate]

The same goes for everyone in the AL East. Every team is going to be tough, you think it will be easy for the Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, or Rays either? No, they all have to play eachother as well as us.

As for the Raptors comparison, there is also teams that sucked, became good, and stayed good for a while. Look at Tampa for example.

Thing is, no team in the AL East can compare with Tampa when it comes to pitching. As long as Tampa has one of the best staffs in baseball they are a threat to win the AL East.

Can the same be said of Baltimore.

And yes, the AL East is an uphill battle for everyone, it's just everyone besides Os fans thinks the Os will have the toughest battle, and yes I like the Red Sox over the Os next year.

[VRP723]

You base all the hate on the Orioles rotation how? Our rotation was very solid in the 2nd half and that was without Hammel who was incredible in the 1st half. On top of that, we have both Bundy and Gausman who should be up not to long after the season starts from what I heard.

The fact of the matter is, we had 93 wins this year, we had our ace out the entire 2nd half essentially as well as our best hitter in Markakis for the final stretch. This team has a lot of talent.

Doesn't this right here tell you everything? Your "ace" is Jason Hammel and your self proclaimed "best hitter" is Nick Markakis? That team wins 93 games again? C'mon.

[Vampirate]

The 08 Mariners
61-101 (100 million dollar payroll btw)
18-30 in one-run ball games

The 09 Mariners
85-77
35-20 in one-run ball games

The 10 Mariners
61-101
21-28 in one-run ball games


They had basically the same bullpen (for the most part) all three seasons. The caliber of the team didn't change, their record in one-run games did.


And that 35-20 isn't even as extreme as the O's record was this year (but then again, they were under .500 the other seasons in one-run games).

The O's COULD get to 90 wins again next year. But it is HIGHLY unlikely. Unless they can find a new pitching rotation. Offensively, they are fine.

The Jays, Yankees or Rays also COULD win over 110 games next year. But it is HIGHLY unlikely

[Jeffy25]

The Jays, Yankees or Rays also COULD win over 110 games next year. But it is HIGHLY unlikely

yup

[VRP723]

The Jays, Yankees or Rays also COULD win over 110 games next year. But it is HIGHLY unlikely

Lol. Like a stroll down memory lane.

[Bob Loblaw]

and its not like 1 player can make that big of an impact, i thought the 2012 Angels were going to be way better then the 2011 version after adding Pujos and Wilson not to mention Trout and halfway through Grienke. They only gained 3 more wins.

[WolvesJagsOs]

Doesn't this right here tell you everything? Your "ace" is Jason Hammel and your self proclaimed "best hitter" is Nick Markakis? That team wins 93 games again? C'mon.

Nick got hurt early, came back, and hit .340+ until he hurt his wrist. I think a .340 hitter would be a lot of teams best hitters...maybe that's just me.

Hammel had an amazing first half and was a strong All-Star candidate (yes, I realize being an All-Star isn't everything). And also, no one said we had a good ace. Miguel Gonzalez, Jason Hammel, Chen, and Tillman is good 1-4. Than you add Britton who pitched well down the stretch and Bundy/Gausman near ready for the MLB, not sure how that rotation looks bad.

Also, Wieters and Jones are worthy of our best hitter, but again, Kakis hit .340 in a stretch that got our offense going. That qualifies to me as our best hitter. Chris Davis is emerging as a big hitter in the middle of our lineup as well. Machado will only improve.

[WolvesJagsOs]

We won 93 this year, that's all that needs to be said. Until they do worse, saying "they'll be lucky to get 90" is laughable. There is no way to show they will get worse next year with the way our rotation pitched in the 2nd half and 2 of our top prospects being close to ready as well as possibly adding a few solid pieces this offseason.

[Bombtista]

We won 93 this year, that's all that needs to be said. Until they do worse, saying "they'll be lucky to get 90" is laughable. There is no way to show they will get worse next year with the way our rotation pitched in the 2nd half and 2 of our top prospects being close to ready as well as possibly adding a few solid pieces this offseason.

Every aspect of their season is 100 % unsustainable. They have a good core, hitting wise. But no team can be structured to win games the way the orioles won games last season. It just wont happen again

[WolvesJagsOs]

Every aspect of their season is 100 % unsustainable. They have a good core, hitting wise. But no team can be structured to win games the way the orioles won games last season. It just wont happen again

1st half, yes. 2nd half, no. We played like a very good baseball team in the 2nd half. 1st half, yes, we did get lucky. Regardless, we won 93 games in a 162 game season.

[BrianWestKins]

Baltimore makes the most sense for him if you ask me. They have the clear need, the money, and the motivation coming off a great season to make this kind of big acquisition.

[mtf]

We won 93 this year, that's all that needs to be said.

Not really. This is a discussion board and this thread is about predictions for next season. Almost everything said here has been fair speculation about the Orioles and the other teams in the AL East in 2013.

As you said, the Orioles (not "we") won 93 games this year. The thread is about next year.

Until they do worse, saying "they'll be lucky to get 90" is laughable.

It's not laughable. It's perfectly reasonable to predict a team will not be as successful from one season to the next, just as it's plausible to predict certain teams will do better (like the Blue Jays as the most notable example at the moment).

Jeffy25 provided you with some evidence of projecting the future of a team (like the Orioles) who relied so much on winning games by only 1 or 2 runs in a successful season.

[Vampirate]

We won 93 this year, that's all that needs to be said. Until they do worse, saying "they'll be lucky to get 90" is laughable. There is no way to show they will get worse next year with the way our rotation pitched in the 2nd half and 2 of our top prospects being close to ready as well as possibly adding a few solid pieces this offseason.

The Jays one year won 87 games, very close to 90 wins, the next year I believed they bombed. The message here? Context. Alot went right for the Os last year, alot went wrong from their opponents in the AL east.