2006 Baltimore Orioles - Why Not? (MLB 06: The Show)

[Millennium]

Sliders: favre4ever's HOF
Rosters: SCEA's 4-24-06 Update (with inactive brought up)

Hoping to recreate the "Why Not?" season of many moons ago for the O's, and probably going to need some help and a lot of luck along the way.

Here goes nothing...

[Millennium]

Re: 2006 Baltimore Orioles - Why Not? (MLB 06: The Show)

2006 BALTIMORE ORIOLES PREVIEW

Catchers

55 Ramon Hernandez
18 Javy Lopez

The pick-up of Hernandez in the offseason is what pitching coach Leo Mazzone hopes is the key to keeping a inconsistent starting rotation in ball games. Ramon is an elite signal caller and can keep an opponent's running game in check. Anything on the offensive side of the ball is a plus. Lopez, on the other hand, is around for his bat. Manager Sam Perlozzo said he plans on using Javy 1 to 2 times a week behind the dish, while committing most of the catcher's time to DH. Rumor has it Lopez is not happy with this move, we will have to wait and see how it plays out. Raul Chavez is at AAA Ottawa if the team needs a third catcher in the future.

Infielders

19 Jeff Conine
14 Chris Gomez
15 Kevin Millar
6 Melvin Mora
1 Brian Roberts
10 Miguel Tejada

With 3/4 of the infield set to play near every day, getting at bats to split between Conine, Millar, and Gomez will be tough. Even though Niner can also play LF, Perlozzo would rather only use him there on a limited basis, attempting to keep defense a priority. Tejada looks to bounce back from a weak second half of 2005, while Brian Roberts will be coming back from off season elbow surgery. There have been grumblings that Mora would like a contract extension, and to keep his place as third hitter in the line-up. With his age and the O's lack of a polished two hitter, both of those requests might be denied.

Outfielders

31 Jay Gibbons
21 Nick Markakis
32 Luis Matos
11 David Newhan
17 Corey Patterson

After having one of the most horrendous hitting outfields in the MLB last year, it looks the Orioles still did not make that many changes. The trade for Corey Patterson looks to be low risk, high reward even with Patterson's struggles in Chicago. Gibbons looks to be ready for a break-out year, but only if his health is maintained. He always seems to have one injury that slows him down during the season. That is nothing compared to the walking emergency room named Luis Matos. A career underachiever due to injuries, Matos is on his last chance with Baltimore. As of now, he is looking at a platoon with Patterson for CF, and that could change based on both men's performance early. The wildcard of this group is rookie Nick Markakis. Widely regarded in the organization for his patience, stroke, and professionalism at the plate, Markakis is looking to make his mark early and often in LF. Even though RF is his natural position, he can play CF in a pinch.

Starting Rotation

45 Erik Bedard
34 Kris Benson
35 Daniel Cabrera
27 Bruce Chen
13 Rodrigo Lopez

This is what Leo Mazzone was brought to Baltimore for. These 5 (and Hayden Penn at AAA Ottawa) are the basis for what Baltimore hopes is a strong year for their staff. The addition of Benson in the slot previously occupied by Sidney Ponson represents an upgrade in talent, presence ont he mound, and hotness of signifigant other. Benson hopes Mazzone can put it all together for him on the mound and finally allow him to reach the potential he had as a former #1 overall draft pick. The key to this rotation is the development of Cabrera and Bedard. Bedard had a phenomenal first half in 2005 before a knee injury put him on the DL for over a month. He wasn't the same pitcher after he came back. Cabrera, on the other hand, showed great promise in the second half, and looks to be an ace in the making. He needs to refine his control and work on his change-up, but his fastball reaches the upper nineties with great movement. Lopez and Chen are the veterans, and expected to be solid as they were last year.

Bullpen

40 Tim Byrdak
50 John Halama
23 LaTroy Hawkins
36 John Parrish
37 Chris Ray
43 Sendy Rleal
49 Todd Williams

The bullpen is the weak link to this team. Ray is a first year closer with electric stuff but no experience, and Hawkins setting him up is a risk after the troubles in San Francisco. Halama looks to be the long man, while Byrdak and Williams will work most of the middle relief. Parrish is an interesting case, coming off arm and shoulder injuries in 2005, but still looks to be the left handed specialist for the time being. Rleal, a rookie, throws gas and has two change-ups that he will throw in any count, but isn't someone Perlozzo will look to rely on in tight situations. Also on the farm are Cory Morris, Jim Brower, Chris Britton, Aaron Rakers, and Eddy Rodriguez. Rakers would be the most likely call-up if any injuries happen to the bullpen.

While this is not the playoff team most fans envisioned during the offseason that owner Peter Angelos promied "would not be like the last seven years", they seem to be a competetive group. Hitting doesn't look to be an issue, and team speed is outstanding. They have to keep the pitching together or any hitting the team does will be null and void. Rumor has it the team is still interested in getting an outfield bat (possibly Kevin Mench or Brad Wilkerson from Texas) but is not willing to part with Bedard, Cabrera, or Penn to do so. Rodrigo Lopez looks like a prime candidate for a trade, but the team wants to make sure Penn is ready before calling him up for the 2006 campaign.

Predicition: 83-79, 4th place AL East

[Millennium]

Re: 2006 Baltimore Orioles - Why Not? (MLB 06: The Show)

GAME 1 - Opening Day

@
Scott Kazmir (0-0, 0.00) vs. Rodrigo Lopez (0-0, 0.00)

TAM 000 130 400 700 8 7 0
BAL 000 000 000 000 0 10 0

Craword, LF 0-4, RBI, R, BB
Hollins, RF 2-4, HR, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB
Cantu, 2B 0-4, R, BB
Gomes, DH 2-4, HR, 3B, RBI, R, BB
Lee, 1B 0-4, 2 RBI, K
Huff, 3B 1-3, BB
Hall, C 0-4, K
Lugo, SS 0-2, R, 2 BB
Gathright, CF 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, K

Roberts, 2B 1-4, K, SB
Conine, LF 0-4, K
Mora, 3B 2-4, 2 K, SB
Tejada, SS 1-3, K, HBP, SB
Gibbons, RF 1-4, 2 K
Hernandez, C 1-4, 2 K
Lopez, DH 1-4, 2 K
Millar, 1B 2-4, K
Matos, CF 1-3
a-Patterson, PH 0-1

a - Batted for Matos in 9th

Kazmir (W, 1-0) 7.1 IP, 10 H, 12 K, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA
Orvella 1.2 IP, 0 H, 2 K, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA

Lopez (L, 0-1) 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 K, 2 BB, 4 ER, 6.00 ERA
Rleal 0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 108.00 ERA
Byrdak 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB, 0 ER, 0.00 ERA

Player of the Game: Damon Hollins

Next Game: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1-0)
Pitching Match-Up: Seth McClung (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Erik Bedard (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

[Millennium]

Re: 2006 Baltimore Orioles - Why Not? (MLB 06: The Show)

GAME 2

@

Seth McClung (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Erik Bedard (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

TAM 100 000 100 2 5 0
BAL 000 000 001 1 7 0

Crawford, LF 1-4, R, SB
Hollins, RF 1-4
Cantu, 2B 0-3, K, BB
Gomes, DH 0-2, K, 2 BB. SB
Lee, 1B 1-4, HR
Huff, 3B 0-4
Hall, C 2-4
Lugo 0-3, K
Gathright, CF 0-3, K

Roberts, 2B 2-4, 2B
Markakis, LF 2-3, 2B, R, K
Mora, 3B 0-4, 2 K
Tejada, SS 0-4
Gibbons, RF 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2K
2-Matos, PR 0-0
Hernandez, C 0-4, 3 K
Lopez, DH 1-3, K
1-Newhan, PR 0-0
Millar, 1B 0-3, K
Patterson, CF 1-3, K

1-Ran for Lopez in the 8th
2-Ran for Gibbons in the 9th

McClung (W, 1-0) 7.0 IP, 5 H, 11 K, 0 ER
Orvello 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER
Miceli (S, 1) 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER

Bedard (L, 0-1) 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K, 2 BB
Hawkins 0.0 IP, 1 BB
Parrish 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER

Player of the Game: Travis Lee

Next Game: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2-0)
Pitching Match-Up: Casey Fossum (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Kris Benson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

[Psyblast]

Re: 2006 Baltimore Orioles - Why Not? (MLB 06: The Show)

Nice setup. Keep this up, I'll be reading, especially since I'll be coming to this forum more often (*hint, hint*).