REALITY: Ubaldo Jimenez has improved this spring, but a glance around Twitter reveals that he doesn’t seem to be making many new fans.
PERCEPTION: Why is that? Why are Orioles fans hoping or wishing that Jimenez fails? Everyone complains that the Orioles do not spend enough money in the offseason. You do realize that if Jimenez fails, you can kiss any chance of the Orioles spending money in future offseasons goodbye?
Last offseason, the Orioles spent the most money they have ever spent on a free-agent pitcher to sign Jimenez. If he fails, a team that hesitates to risk a big contract on free agents will hesitate even more before signing someone to a long-term deal.
Orioles fans should be cheering on Jimenez as he shows improvement this spring. If he can break out of this funk and throw with control and give the club solid innings, it can give the Birds hope that his contract is not a bust.
Improvement, you say? Jimenez threw five scoreless innings in his last outing, and he’s only walked one hitter in his last 13 innings. That is drastic improvement to his first couple of spring outings when he couldn’t find the plate. Hopefully, he continues that trend Sunday.
REALITY: As Jimenez improves, his chances to start the season in the rotation improve.
PERCEPTION: With five more experienced starters ahead of him, Kevin Gausman looks like he might again be the odd man out. Gausman has pitched well. He deserves a shot at starting this season, but the Orioles have too many quality arms… and that is a good problem to have. You know there will be an injury this season. So having Gausman as the 6th starter is a great option. He can make relief appearances early this season to help monitor his innings, and then make starts as the season goes on.
No, I wasn’t a fan of the back and forth the Orioles did to Gausman last year, but the ballclub has to look at the long haul. Having too many options is a good thing. That’s how the Orioles have won these last three seasons. They have had guys come off the bench and provide quality at-bats or innings. That seems to be the new “Oriole Way”.
REALITY: Matt Wieters will start the season the disabled list.
PERCEPTION: You’ll see Caleb Joseph as your opening day starter behind the plate. I think you’ll see Ryan Lavarnway be the back-up with Steve Clevenger being sent to the minors to be called up if the help is needed. J.P. Arencibia will be released.
Last year, when Wieters went down, the Orioles went out and make a trade for a back-up catcher. It was helpful, but was not the true answer. So I think you’ll see the Orioles stay in-house for as long as they can. If Joseph and Lavarnway can’t handle the duties on both offense and defense, then in a month or two, they may need to re-evaluate if Wieters isn’t back yet. Obviously, the hope is that Wieters will be back by mid-April, but that remains to be seen.
REALITY: More cuts are coming as the O’s continue to pare down to 25 men.
PERCEPTION: This is a huge week for bubble players. Do Jimmy Paredes, Nolan Reimold or Davis Lough come off the bench? Does Everth Cabrera make the big league club? Does Ryan Flaherty become the shortstop if JJ Hardy goes on the DL? Do Ryan Webb, Logan Verrett, or Jason Garcia make the club?
With less than two weeks until Opening Day, this week will be very important for players on the bubble, as Dan Duquette and Buck Showalter adjust to figure out their 25-man and 40-man rosters.
REALITY: One year ago, the season had already started.
PERCEPTION: For weather reasons, I’m glad MLB backed up the start of the season… but man, I just want to be watching baseball! And I mean meaningful games. I am ready for the season to start.
