Baltimore Orioles

Jeremy Guthrie – From waiver wire pick-up to opening day starter, that’s the one-year history of Guthrie and the Orioles.  I’m still trying to figure out how the pitching poor Tampa Bay Rays passed on Guthrie in the off-season waiver claims last year.  Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Guthrie featured a ‘breakout’ season for the Orioles in 2007, recording a 3.70 ERA, which included 10-straight quality starts.  Yes, he can be expected to regress to the mean this season, more inline with his peripheral numbers.  However, he does offer three plus pitches with a sinking fastball that can touch 97-MPH, curve and slider.  The onetime ‘hot’ Stanford product regained his confidence last year and is capable entering the 2008 campaign.   

Steve Trachsel – Trachsel is back with the O’s this season after pitching the majority of the season in Baltimore last year, before a late flip to the Cubs.  Obviously, guts and guile are all the Human Rain Delay has left, as his peripherals are simply awful.  In 2006 with the Mets, the 37-year-old right-hander garnered just a 78/79 SO/BB ratio in 165 innings.  Meanwhile last season the numbers slipped even further into oblivion with just a 56/76 ratio in 158 frames.  Again, it’s amazing he kept his ERA under 5.00, but he did.  The O’s are hoping the veteran cannot only induce a league average job done on the hill, but also help tutor their young arms.  The latter looks like a much better bet.   

Daniel Cabrera – You know the adage ‘Million dollar arm and .10 cent ___’, well that description seems to fit Cabrera spot on.  No one doubts his killer potential on the hill, but Cabrera remains an enigma at best, while unfortunately declining along the way.  Last year, he led the majors in walks, while placing second in hit batsmen.  The 6’9”, 270-pound right-handed hurler just can’t harness his stuff at a consistent level.  He’s extremely streaky with his mechanics and his streakiness can turn from batter to batter.  This spring he’s taking a businesslike approach, while working on using his change-up and two-seam sinking fastball more.  Again, bet him on his streakiness and leave the door open for his off the charts potential.   

Adam Loewen – Loewen is another Orioles hurler high on potential, but short on substance, while injury and command hold him back.  Late in 2006 he flashed his upside with a 4.50 ERA and 56/29 SO/BB ratio in August and September.  Unfortunately, last season the southpaw could never hit the ground running as an elbow injury ended his season in May.  He was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his elbow, while now pitching with a screw in his right wing.  The native toils with bad command and streaky mechanics.  Already this spring he’s missed a start with a sore shoulder.  Loewen is a work in progress at best.   

Brian Burres – Burres recently won the fifth starter job this spring.  He’s a flyball hurler with a low-90’s fastball, good breaker and average change-up.  The left-hander doesn’t have a real high ceiling, while he’s working on adjustments this spring including a dropdown curveball, while sacrificing some velocity for command.  He flashed potential early in 2007 before eventually a sore shoulder got the best of him.  A tempered enthusiastic approach is the right one with Burres.