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Baltimore Orioles Predictions / 2010 Season Preview

Shea Matthews weighs in with his Baltimore Orioles 2010 Team Preview. Don’t be surprised if the youth movement helps Baltimore fly out of the gate for an optimistic start. Do your MLB betting with Cappers Picks MLB expert picks in 2010 and get ready to cash in big!

2010 MLB Predictions/Previews: Baltimore Orioles

Hard to believe, as many of us watch the snow fall outside, that the Boys of Summer are almost back. But it’s true; pitchers and catchers have reported to 2010 Major League Baseball training camps and it’s time to start our team-by-team baseball gambling previews for the year.

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MLB Team Preview – Baltimore Orioles

We opened our 2010 MLB preview with a bleak outlook for the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. Time to view the glass as half full. Thanks to a sneaky-good batting lineup and some up-and-coming arms, the Baltimore Orioles have a real chance to surprise this season. In the AL East, “surprise” simply means passing Tampa to finish third with 80-plus wins, but that would still qualify as a nice improvement for the O’s.

There’s no denying that Baltimore should and will score this season. As long as he overcomes some back pain, Brian Roberts should remain an on-base machine and fixture atop Baltimore’s lineup. Adam Jones broke out last season as a true five-tool outfielder and should build on his success if he stays healthy. Nick Markakis is already an All-Star-caliber bat. Toss in the power potential of Luke Scott and Noland Reimold, the experience of Miguel Tejada and, last but not least, the “next big thing” at catcher in Matt Wieters and you have a truly dangerous lineup.

As we see for far too many American League teams, however, pitching remains a sore spot for Baltimore. Help is on the way assuming prospects like Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman can grow. Kevin Millwood is a stabilizing presence but he’s 35 years old and his ERA rose 60 points after the All-Star break last season, so the Orioles must temper their expectations with him. His main role this season may be that of “mentor”; his locker in spring training is reportedly right between Matusz’s and Tillman’s. No coincidence there.

Relief pitching hasn’t been a strength for Baltimore since injuries got the better of Chris Ray a few years back but it at least has a chance to improve in 2010. Mike Gonzalez should close and has been effective in the past when healthy – but that’s obviously no guarantee. Guys like Jim Johnson, Mark Hendrickson and Cla Meredith are all proven major leaguers who can chew up innings when called upon.

We’ve established that Baltimore will almost undoubtedly improve this season – winning more than 64 games isn’t exactly a challenge – but there’s a limit to what they can do in the East.

Sure, Oriole fans can and should get legitimately excited about all the young bats, but the truth is that the Yankees, Red Sox and even the Rays can match that offensive production while also blowing Baltimore away in pitching depth.

To put things in perspective, Millwood is Baltimore’s de facto ace for 2010. Javier Vazquez, who had a 2.87 ERA and struck out 238 guys last year, is slated to open 2010 as the Yankees’ fourth starter. The O’s just can’t compete with that kind of pitching depth.

Don’t be surprised if the youth movement helps Baltimore fly out of the gate for an optimistic start, sort of like what the Blue Jays did last April, but the Orioles should call 2010 a success if they can reach .500 baseball in the end.

Orioles Prediction: Fourth, American League East

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By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"

One reply on “Baltimore Orioles Predictions / 2010 Season Preview”

The Orioles will be better in 2010 but they will not be able to keep up with Tampa and Toronto let alone Boston and New York. They might climb to 4th, 3rd if everything goes perfect.

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