The injury to Orioles designated hitter and backup infielder Wilson Betemit may not seem like a big blow to some, at least on the surface, but it very well could be a test to the depth of the organization. Betemit suffered a tear of the PCL in his right knee in Tuesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox and will most likely miss a significant amount of time (6-8 weeks at least, according to The Sun’s Eduardo Encina). The injury will open the door for players like Ryan Flaherty, Steve Pearce, Conor Jackson and Russ Canzler to possibly see playing time on the big league squad. With the depth being tested once again on this team, prepare yourself for a replay of last year’s revolving door between Baltimore and Norfolk.
The O’s must have broken some sort of record last season with the amount of transactions they made within their own organization. Part of the reason Baltimore made the postseason for the first time in 14 years was the depth down on the farm. Guys like Nate McLouth, Lew Ford, Taylor Teagarden, Nick Johnson, Omar Quintanilla, Xavier Avery, Jim Thome, Endy Chavez, Bill Hall and Steve Tolleson all made contributions at one point or another. While some of those players including the likes of Flaherty are sure to contribute this season, others have moved on. The depth of the team will be tested mightily with the absence of Betemit. The switch-hitting veteran was sure to start as the DH against right-handed pitching and be a backup in the infield on the Opening Day roster. Someone else will now have to step into that role and Dan Duquette seems content on letting that player come from within the organization. The question becomes who?
The 31-year-old Betemit was never a favorite in my household last season, but I’ve grown to understand his role on the team and to value it as well. He struggled mightily this spring but did hit a three-run homer just before his injury and seemed to be waking up right before Opening Day. He can provide pop with the bat at times even and did carry a respectable .261 average in 102 games last season. He still strikes out about once a game and isn’t of much value with the glove other than perhaps at first base, but there isn’t currently someone that can step into his role and pick up where he left off.
By no means am I sounding off the sirens or hitting the panic button in late March over an injury to Wilson Betemit. Trust me. This is really the first significant injury the Orioles have suffered this spring. The Yankees are going to be without their starting shortstop, first baseman and center fielder on Opening Day. They also have a 43-year-old closer that’s coming off a torn ACL. Baltimore is obviously in much better shape than New York on the injury front. Betemit’s injury still leaves me with this feeling of uncertainty in the early part of the schedule. The Orioles will really need to get off to a strong start to the season if they want to keep the momentum rolling from last year. I’ve seen what the experts think about the American League East and I agree with most, the division is about as up for grabs as it’s ever been in my lifetime.
The immediate future will likely see Flaherty break camp with the team. The fact that he can play first base, third base and the outfield makes him just the type of versatile player Buck Showalter likes in his dugout. Another player though will likely emerge and provide some magic. Isn’t that the way it goes with this team? The Orioles Magic was quite evident last year in these types of situations. Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette will be forced to recreate some of that to replace a guy like Betemit. But hey, if this campaign gives us anything like what we saw last season, that really can’t be bad.
