They might be the worse team in baseball. This might be one of those teams with a .400 winning percentage when all is said and done.
Here's some info to keep in mind when capping them this year.
If you're going to bet an over on this team or bet on this team you should at least pause.
First of all, they are pretty strong defensively up the middle. Bordick has good hands though his range and his arm have definitely fallen off as he's moved more into his 30's. Hairston also has good hands and quick feet. Cameron gives them solid coverage in center. Gil has made some nice stops behind the plate and looks to be a fine backstop though I haven't seen a lot of him.
Gibbons showed weaknesses in left last year, but has been better in right.
With Erickson (if he stays on form) on the mound against *anybody*, I'd have a hard time betting a total over 7. With anyone else on the mound I'd shy away from anything over 7.5. The O's can't hit. Everyone knew it going in, and its clear (so far)that everyone was right. Since a hot streak when he first came up, Hairston has not shown he can hit big league pitching. He's got speed, but he's not a lead off man you can count on. Bordy's bat has slown down. Can you really expect better than .260 from Batista? Gibbons is hitting well, and of course Conine has talent, but this order is so porous (and the bottom of it so weak) they just don't have the ability to string hits together and have a 3 run inning. Its too inconsistent to put together many 1 or 2 run innings and they're going to be hard-pressed to score more than 3 on any night.
They will probably get some dingers from Gibbons, but I still don't think he can hit. When pitchers figure out his weaknesses, I think he'll drop off massively. Maybe Batistia can hit some homers this year, but he's going to have to show me before I bet on it.
On the other hand, their staff is getting better and better each year. Keep an eye on Ponson. Its still early to tell if he achieves what he is capable of, but if he puts some good starts together, don't look at it like a fluke. He's got the goods, but is sort of a head case. Jason Johnson continues to improve. He's 0-2 but he's been sharp, striking people out and not walking many.
Buddy Groom has been somewhat solid for them. I'd take him over a lot of other teams closers. Some of their set-up men, its still too early to tell.
With series coming up against the Yanks, CWS, and at TB, they could get themselves into a MASSIVE hole and give up early. Look for value in O's getting 1.5 runs, particularly on the road. Look for ANYONE getting positive value against the O's (which will probably be limited to Detroit and TB and then only at Camden Yards). Look for unders any time it hit 8 or more.
Tonight, I like TB +115 (sia) and a total u8 (Ev). Both leans though. I've not done a lot of baseball capping and I'm still getting the hang of it. The O's line-up is heavy on righties, but they've been shut down by two lefties already this season (Pettitte and Wells). You'd need to see a 5-4 or 6-3 job to lose that total, and I don't see that happening here.
TheShrimp
Here's some info to keep in mind when capping them this year.
If you're going to bet an over on this team or bet on this team you should at least pause.
First of all, they are pretty strong defensively up the middle. Bordick has good hands though his range and his arm have definitely fallen off as he's moved more into his 30's. Hairston also has good hands and quick feet. Cameron gives them solid coverage in center. Gil has made some nice stops behind the plate and looks to be a fine backstop though I haven't seen a lot of him.
Gibbons showed weaknesses in left last year, but has been better in right.
With Erickson (if he stays on form) on the mound against *anybody*, I'd have a hard time betting a total over 7. With anyone else on the mound I'd shy away from anything over 7.5. The O's can't hit. Everyone knew it going in, and its clear (so far)that everyone was right. Since a hot streak when he first came up, Hairston has not shown he can hit big league pitching. He's got speed, but he's not a lead off man you can count on. Bordy's bat has slown down. Can you really expect better than .260 from Batista? Gibbons is hitting well, and of course Conine has talent, but this order is so porous (and the bottom of it so weak) they just don't have the ability to string hits together and have a 3 run inning. Its too inconsistent to put together many 1 or 2 run innings and they're going to be hard-pressed to score more than 3 on any night.
They will probably get some dingers from Gibbons, but I still don't think he can hit. When pitchers figure out his weaknesses, I think he'll drop off massively. Maybe Batistia can hit some homers this year, but he's going to have to show me before I bet on it.
On the other hand, their staff is getting better and better each year. Keep an eye on Ponson. Its still early to tell if he achieves what he is capable of, but if he puts some good starts together, don't look at it like a fluke. He's got the goods, but is sort of a head case. Jason Johnson continues to improve. He's 0-2 but he's been sharp, striking people out and not walking many.
Buddy Groom has been somewhat solid for them. I'd take him over a lot of other teams closers. Some of their set-up men, its still too early to tell.
With series coming up against the Yanks, CWS, and at TB, they could get themselves into a MASSIVE hole and give up early. Look for value in O's getting 1.5 runs, particularly on the road. Look for ANYONE getting positive value against the O's (which will probably be limited to Detroit and TB and then only at Camden Yards). Look for unders any time it hit 8 or more.
Tonight, I like TB +115 (sia) and a total u8 (Ev). Both leans though. I've not done a lot of baseball capping and I'm still getting the hang of it. The O's line-up is heavy on righties, but they've been shut down by two lefties already this season (Pettitte and Wells). You'd need to see a 5-4 or 6-3 job to lose that total, and I don't see that happening here.
TheShrimp
