Steve Pearce the key as the Orioles zag their way to the playoffs

[Camden_yardbird]

A lot of Pirates players got really messed up during the Jim Tracy days. He tried to turn players into archetypes of the players he succeeded with when he was with the dodgers. Poor Chris Duffy, who came into the league with a bang, had his career derailed by an organization that tried to dissuade players from being pull hitters. Bautista, Pearce and others were told to abandon what got them to where they were (similar to the twins and Hardy).

So it doesn't surprise me in the least that we are seeing Pearce succeed now that he can hit the ball where he wants.

[FanSince88]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/assessing-steve-pearces-breakout/

He had a great year this year, but if he is seriously the "key" to 2015, be afraid, be very afraid.

[weams]

He had a great year this year, but if he is seriously the "key" to 2015, be afraid, be very afraid.

Considering that the Orioles and the rest of Baseball figured that Ryan Flaherty would be more valuable last season. And indeed Delmon Young, I'll just be glad he is ours.

[Roll Tide]

Yep. I expect him to be good next year.... not as good as 2014, but a solid everyday RF who will lead the team in OBP. We need it.

I expect him to be more like the old Steve Pearce than the one they had last season.

[e16bball]

Yeah and he had close to 3.0 war in his 28 year. I don't think the two are comparable and Pearce looked overmatched in the playoffs. I don't mind giving Pearce a chance but you better have a plan B.

Not sure the bolded part is quite fair. Yes, he struggled against KC --- but so did virtually the entire team. He had a solid series against DET (.300/.417/.300/.717), and he only struck out 3 times in 30 postseason PAs. It's not like they were blowing him away.

Moreover, though I think everyone agrees the degree of difficulty goes up for hitters in the postseason when you aren't facing #5 starters and long relievers anymore, it's also not like Pearce can't hit quality pitching and just feasted on the bums last season. The sample sizes are all small, but he's posted an OPS over .800 (in at least 5 PAs) against the likes of David Price, Adam Wainwright, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Chris Sale, C.J. Wilson, Homer Bailey, Jake McGee, et al. Clearly, he can hit even the best stuff.

I agree that you need a plan B. Especially if plan A involves Pearce putting up a .930 OPS again. But I don't really believe that he was "exposed."

As for the article, I haven't read it but I'm assuming that Pearce is considered a "key" to the upcoming season not because he's the best player we have or because he's the one who we're counting on to carry us --- but because he has the most potential variability. Without even taking health into account, he could reasonably be a 6-win player (he's already done it) or he could reasonably be a replacement player (he's already done that, too). I would add Davis as well, giving us two players who could very conceivably combine to give us 10+ wins...or 1 win.

Assuming decent health, we know basically what the likes of Jones, Hardy, Machado, Wieters, etc. are going to give us. Those guys will be the horses that carry us. But Pearce/Davis may end up being the "key" to our overall success, because they both have the potential to put up terrifying seasons --- the question is whether they'll terrify opposing pitchers or O's fans. The combined production we get from those two will likely prove to be the difference between a solid offense and a great one.

[wildcard]

I am hoping that the O's have:

De Aza in left with Pearce platooning or sharing time

Aoki in right with Pearce backing up offensively

Davis at 1B with Pearce backing up

and Pearce DHing with Young sharing time.

There should be 500 at bats for Pearce if he stays healthy and hits. If he doesn't there are enough players to cover for him plus Lough. Walker and Alvarez being available by June or July.

Depth has been the key for the O's.