With the addition of Vlad Guerrero to the Orioles roster, Baltimore is set going into Spring Training. Assuming that the Orioles enter Opening Day healthy, here is how I see Buck Showalter’s lineup card on April 1st in Tampa Bay.
- Brian Roberts – 2B
- Nick Markakis – RF
- Derrek Lee – 1B
- Vlad Guerrero – DH
- Luke Scott – LF
- Mark Reynolds – 3B
- Adam Jones – CF
- Matt Wieters – C
- J.J. Hardy – SS
Though the Orioles only have two left handed bats in the above lineup, Nick Markakis and Luke Scott, the have switch hitters leading off and batting eighth. This lineup provides a great set up for Guerrero with Roberts, Markakis and Lee all as batters who are willing to take a walk in order to get on base.
Having the ability to keep Adam Jones and Matt Wieters in the bottom third of the lineup is crucial as well. I project better numbers for both young guys hitting in the 7 and 8 holes with all of that protection in the top 2/3rds.
More than anything, this Orioles lineup has such great depth. If Guerrero needs a day off Luke Scott can DH and Nolan Reimold or Felix Pie can fill the position in left field. Additionally, Scott can see time at first base for Derrek Lee on occasion.
What’s your projected Orioles Opening Day lineup?
That COULD be a formidable lineup.
I am still interested in seeing more about this hitting coach. It will be interesteing who gets the blame now that The Crow is out.
I'm gonna' miss the crow.
Hmmm, deja vu?
I'd move the Windmill up to the 3rd spot and slide D Lee down to the five hole followed by Jones, Scott, Wieters, and Hardy
Lee will be hitting in the top 4, that's a given IMO.
I have seen people say they want Adam Jones hitting 2nd. Do they not remember how poorly he contributed in the top few spots of the lineup when stuck there last year, then how he thrived deeper in the order? That's another given IMO that he should be in the 6-8 area.
Luke Scott batting in the 5 hole is ridiculous. Have you looked at his numbers with runners on base?! 27 hr's and only 75 rbi's to go with that tells the tale. I'm not anti Scott; he just seems to tighten up with runners on base and get behind in the count early and susequently not make any contact in the at bat. You need a good contact hitter in that slot; ….and don't tell me Jones would be any better in the 5 hole, .. 'cause he suffers the same affliction. He should never bat higher than 7 were he doesn't have quite the pressure. The best guy for the 5 slot of the bottom group is weiter's. I look for him to be a little more consistent at the plate this year now that he is getting more relaxed behind the plate. When he's seeing the ball real well, he really drives the ball in the gaps. Options, …we actually have options – what a miracle!
I agree with you, though I think you have to bat Reynolds 5th to provide some protection for Vlad (even though Reynolds is going to strike out 170-225 times this season). My lineup would be:
1. Roberts
2. Markakis (if not for Lee, he'd be batting 3rd)
3. Lee
4. Guerrero
5. Reynolds (you need him protecting Vlad in the lineup, though he'll still strike out often)
6. Scott
7. Jones (you need a speed guy batting 7th, so Jones is the perfect fit here)
8. Wieters (his batting 8th has more to do with his youth and not his talent)
9. Hardy/Izturis (you can almost argue batting Izturis 2nd when he plays; everyone else would get slotted down one spot- yes Wieters would bat 9th, and Jones 8th).
By far, this is the most explosive lineup top to bottom the O's have had since 1996/1997 (when all of their starting 9 had 20 or more homers- to this day an MLB record).
Brian Roberts – 2B (Will be on DL 1/2 of year with back problems)
Nick Markakis – RF (Good player)
Derrek Lee – 1B (Traded by deadline) (Scott takes 1st)
Vlad Guerrero – DH (Traded by deadline) (Reimold takes DH)
Luke Scott – LF (Back to 1st after Lee is traded) (Pie takes LF)
Mark Reynolds – 3B (Like the trade for him)
Adam Jones – CF (Needs to turn it up)
Matt Wieters – C (Should me moved to 1st for the rest of his career) (Craig Tatum (Who???) is not the replacement)
J.J. Hardy – SS (Traded by dealine) (Izturis back at SS)
Your picking Lee batting 3rd, Vlad 4th, Reynolds 5th, Scott 6th…. So basically it will be station to station base running…
I cannot wait to bash all your Oriole hopes and dreams this year!!!!
i cant say ive ever heard someone make the argument that a batter hitting in the 7th or 8th spot will put do better bc there are better hitters in spots 1-6. protection comes from the person batting behind you, as in they cant pitch around you bc the person on deck can do some damage. you dont get protection from the people who bat in well in front of you.
and to the prior commenter, where did you get the idea that you need a speed guy batting 7th