What are your goals/expectations for the Baltimore Orioles in 2013?

[ba9oriole]

What are your goals/expectations for the Baltimore Orioles in 2013? Personally, I would be satisfied with a .500+ record and a fourth place or better finish in the standings. Anything more would be a bonus for me. As long as we don't have an awful offseason, I think that my expectations are pretty realistic and attainable.

[clapdiddy]

I would expect us to be in the thick of the AL East race, but I'm not sure we can replicate what we did last year without some additions to the current team.

[luismatos4prez]

I expect development and improvement to be shown by the young guys and consistency and leadership from the vets.

In terms of team performance, I'd set my expectations at being in the hunt for the wild card depending on the rest of the offseason.

I'm a little nervous that there aren't posters declaring this team a 50 win team at best. Where's that guy atomic? Did he get cut?

[El Gordo]

I am looking for improved, consistent SP and a modest upgrade on offense. How far this takes us who knows, but I am hoping we are serious contenders once again.

[Birdland]

If they bring back the same team- .500

[DrinkinWithFermi]

Goal: A Champ-Een-Ship.

Expectation: A fun, competitive season in which we're right in the thick of the race until the very end. In other words, meaningful games in August and September.

[NewMarketSean]

I am hoping for meaningful games in September...especially the later half of September. Anything less than 85 wins would be a disappointment.

[maybenxtyr]

For me it is still the same as years past. Pick a direction and go with it. If this team can't afford to raise their payroll they need to adjust what they spend on keeping players. What point does it serve to sign Nick, and AJ if that puts you close on your budget. They should move those players and keep restocking younger less expensive guys.

I'm happy that they accomplished a playoff birth last season, but if they have to let some of those players leave in order to make up for potential costs in arbitration it doesn't serve a purpose. We could argue about what the team can afford, but the results of their actions tell more than an internet argument will.

[Brendan25]

If they bring back the same team- .500

82-85 wins with the team we have now is a success. It means our core is good enough to win in this league.

I am expecting around 85 wins. I am expecting Chris Davis to have a very big season. I am expecting our pitching to be the strength of our team.

[TradeAngelos]

82-85 wins with the team we have now is a success.

Uh, when you win 93 games the year before no it is NOT success, it is a team that regressed allowing players to walk without replacing them.

It means our core is good enough to win in this league.

No it means our core, which is in their prime and poised to have maximum production right now is being wasted.

I am expecting around 85 wins.

That would be on the high end with this team.

I am expecting Chris Davis to have a very big season. I am expecting our pitching to be the strength of our team.

Good to know we will be able to look back on 2013 and smile because Chris Davis had a very big season.

[wildcard]

Right now its to win the World Series. I'll adjust my expectation as we see what the O's do this off season.

[canonfaz]

I'm hoping for more great baseball in September. I think that the pitching staff will be much improved over last year and we won't be moving starting pitchers back and forth from AAA all season. I think we have at least two pitchers with more than 200 innings pitched.

[BrunoCherrytown]

Matt Wieters will finally live up to all of his potential and we will all be wondering why he wasn't cast as the lead in this movie...

[Dr. Unk]

Improve upon last year. I'm skeptical at the moment, but then again, didn't expect too much last year.

[MurphDogg]

I'm happy that they accomplished a playoff birth last season, but if they have to let some of those players leave in order to make up for potential costs in arbitration it doesn't serve a purpose. We could argue about what the team can afford, but the results of their actions tell more than an internet argument will.

The players the Orioles lost and their WAR last year:
Saunders (.3 WAR)
Nick Johnson (0 WAR)
Reynolds (-.1 WAR)
Andino (-.1 WAR)
Quintanilla (-.4 WAR)
Chavez (-.7 WAR)

You can be angry that the Orioles didn't add any players, but to say that they let contributing players leave isn't really borne out by the facts.

I think the Orioles will do as well this year as they did last year, save for some regression to the mean in one-run games. I don't think that necessarily means they will go .500 in one-run games, because the bullpen is still a strength but I could see it costing them 8 games, and settling at a level of 85 wins by last years record.

I think that we can expect improvement out of every infield position with a decline at DH unless they make a move. Hopefully the starting rotation is slightly improved with Hunter, Britton, Matusz and Arrieta's starts being replaced by better starters and Gonzalez, Hammel and Tillman coming close to replicating last season. There will likely be some regression in the bullpen but I expect it to remain a strength.