Baltimore Orioles preview: Meet the placeholders

Gregg Zaun is back in Baltimore, where he started. Melvin Mora has been in Birdland a long time. Danys Baez is trying to restart his career.

None will be in an Orioles uniform next year. They're just waiting for the next wave of guys to overtake them. For the first time in a very, very long time, that's good news for Orioles fans.

Help is on the way. A crop of excellent young players, particularly a group of quality pitchers and superstud catcher Matt Wieters, will be ready to make the Orioles contenders by 2011. But, for now, things at the big league level remain less rosy.

Strengths: The Orioles have a lot of left-handed power, particularly in the form of cornerstone Nick Markakis, Aubrey Huff (.304, 32 HR, 108 RBI in 2008) and Luke Scott. They also have possibly the best defensive outfield in baseball with Markakis, emerging star Adam Jones and Felix Pie. Their bench, with Ty Wiggington and Ryan Freel, is as good as any in the AL. Their bullpen, anchored by former closer Chris Ray and current stopper George Sherrill (don't be surprised if they flip-flop during the season) is strong, from long man Matt Albers on up.

Weaknesses: Their pitching staff remains a tragedy, at least for the time being. Jeremy Guthrie is a solid starter, but wouldn't be an ace on most staffs; he'd be the #2 guy. Koji Uehara will probably get off to a good start because he's a strike-thrower and Japanese pitchers always do get off to nice starts, but how long until the league catches up with him? From there, it's a total crap shoot. Rich Hill, who the O's got from the Cubs, is likely the #3 guy. Adam Eaton, he of the 6-plus ERA with the Phillies, will probably be the #4. After that, who knows?
The Orioles also have a lack of right-handed power. Adding the switch-hitting Wieters will help in May or so, but until then, Jones and Mora are about it.

It's a good season if: The Orioles can stitch together a rotation that keeps Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta and Brian Matuz out of the conversation for another year. If the likes of Radhames Liz and Hayden Penn aren't expected to do anything, because they won't. If Scott, the ultimate streak hitter, gets hot and stays that way for a year. If Jones continues to progress. If nobody, especially shortstop Cesar Izturis, gets hurt. Then the Orioles can stay around .500.

It's a mess if: Guthrie struggles, Scott slumps, Huff comes back to earth and has no trade value, Mora gets old and there are any injuries. Then the rumbles for the kids will get louder.

Pitching:
Rotation--Jeremey Guthrie, Koji Uehara, Rich Hill, Adam Eaton, Brad Begesen OR Mark Hendrickson OR Danys Baez OR David Pauley
Bullpen--Mark Hendrickson, Matt Albers, Dennis Sarfate, Jamie Walker, Jim Johnson, Chris Ray, George Sherrill

Lineup:
Brian Roberts, 2B
Adam Jones, CF
Nick Markakis, RF
Aubrey Huff, 1B
Luke Scott, DH
Melvin Mora, 3B
Gregg Zaun, C/Matt Wieters come May-ish
Felix Pie, LF
Cesar Izturis, SS

Bench:
Ty Wiggington, IF/OF
Ryan Freel IF/OF
Chad Moeller, C
Chris Gomez, IF

Prediction: 2009 will probably not be that great a season for the Birds. But they could be good again, for the first time in a long time, shortly. But getting a core to help the young kids and staying at .500 should be a starting point for this year.