Orioles fans always knew 2023 was going to be a good year in Baltimore, but I think it’s safe to say nobody had a 101-win season on their Orioles bingo card.
While it’s safe to say the Orioles have definitely earned respect, many fans and analysts don’t believe Baltimore will be quite as lucky this time around.
I figured it was the perfect time to highlight some ways Baltimore could ensure a repeat of the magical year that was 2023. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
Youth Movement
The gap between the O’s farm system and whatever team you believe is second is large, and it’s time Baltimore fully embraces that advantage.
Obviously, Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson are going to be everyday starters, but I think a lot of us would love to see regular playing time for Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser.
It is a crowded outfield in Birdland, but with free agency creeping up on Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays and Anthony Santander, it would make GM Mike Elias’ job a lot easier to see how well Kjerstad and Cowser can fill those roles.
The infield is a much simpler decision. While depth pieces like Ramón Urías and Nick Maton are never a bad thing, Urías finished 2023 with a .703 OPS while regressing defensively, and Maton posted an almost unplayable .593 OPS.
Jackson Holliday, who’s teared up every level of Minor League Baseball, and Jordan Westburg, who proved to be very serviceable despite getting thrown into the mix of things mid-season with the Orioles, are both better players and give the O’s offense much more firepower. Plus, don’t tell me an infield of Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Ryan Mountcastle doesn’t pique your interest.
An Elite Pitching Staff
It’s fair to say that the O’s bullpen probably takes a small step back without Félix Bautista in 2024. However, they have something they haven’t had in decades, and that’s one of the best rotations in baseball.
Headlined by newly-acquired ace Corbin Burnes, who just might be the most established starter the Orioles have had since Mike Mussina, to go along with Kyle Bradish, who finished fourth in Cy Young voting with a 2.83 ERA last year, and Grayson Rodriguez, a former top 10 prospect, who posted a 2.58 ERA after rejoining the Orioles in July, the rotation is more stable than ever.
We will have to see how it comes together, but on paper, the Orioles have quietly built maybe the best three-headed monster in baseball.
Baltimore has more than just star power, though, as the organization has a tremendous pool of depth behind their big three with John Means, Dean Kremer, Cole Irvin and Tyler Wells. While Irvin and Wells are more so safety nets who will likely see most of their time in the bullpen, Means and Kremer are legitimate starters who could probably be threes on a lot of teams.
Means, coming off injury, had a very small sample size in 2023, but in his 23.2 innings pitched, he posted a 2.66 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. Kremer should slot in as a fantastic fifth starter, winning 13 games in 2023, and while it was an up and down year, Dirty Dean did post a 3.23 ERA in 2022, so he does carry upside.
As I mentioned earlier, it’s unfair to expect the same level of dominance from the O’s bullpen without The Mountain, but they will get Dillon Tate back, who had a 3.05 ERA in 2022 before missing 2023 with various injuries. The addition of Craig Kimbrel should take care of the closing role, and Yennier Canó getting back to his set-up role should make his life a lot easier.
A more consistent Cionel Pérez, along with Danny Coulombe, Jacob Webb, and Mike Baumann, is a very serviceable bullpen, especially since the improved rotation should ask a lot less of them. It wouldn’t be a surprise if a reliever is a trade target for the O’s at the deadline.
Dominating the Division
Admittedly, this is a tall task, especially with the Rays getting healthier and the Yankees making some noise this offseason. But the Orioles did it last year, and they got better themselves.
Baltimore finished with an above .500 record against all four division rivals, going 10-3 against Toronto, 8-5 against Tampa Bay, 7-6 against Boston and 7-6 against the Yankees.
Manager Brandon Hyde has always taken a very serious approach to divisional games, pulling out all the stops in them, and because of that, the O’s found a lot of success in them and won the AL East because of it.
Expect the same approach this year from Hyder, and with the most talented roster he’s had in his time with Baltimore, the Birds will have their shot to make another statement.
Consistency
To wrap things up, I had to go with a very boring but very useful trait both in life and in baseball. If the Orioles can channel a similar approach this season like they’ve had for a season and a half now, there is no reason they shouldn’t be successful.
Baltimore hasn’t been swept in the regular season since the summer of 2022 (91 consecutive series), which over time has added up to a lot of wins. Even in a series where things go wrong, a team that avoids huge skids is incredibly hard to keep up with.
The offense did encounter some slumps last year and had stretches where the approaches were difficult to watch for fans. But with a year of experience under all the young guys’ belts, the O’s offense should be in the best shape it’s been in quite some time, especially if Henderson and Rutschman can deliver the huge seasons we’re all expecting.
Having such a young roster certainly has its risks, and Fangraphs, along with many other analytical sites, don’t seem to trust the Orioles to be able to replicate what they did in 2023. However, anybody who watched this team play last year knows there is nothing fluky about them.
With a similar approach to this season, a better rotation and a more consistent offense, there’s no reason the Orioles aren’t right back to where they were for the 2024 campaign.
Let’s hear from you, though. Will the Orioles repeat as AL East Champions? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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