Duquette Dynasty? Best of the 2012-16 Orioles

[now]

Hired after the 2011 season, GM Dan Duquette oversaw a 5-year renaissance of Orioles success, before the window of contention closed in 2017.  Oriole teams had a combined record during that stretch of 444-366 (.548), averaging 89 wins per season, with one first-place finish (2014) and three playoff appearances (2012, 2014, 2016).

Over the years as an Oriole fan I have played every computer sim game I could get my hands on: Strat-O-Matic, ABPA, Diamond Mind, Lance Haffner, Pursue the Pennant, Out of the Park. I’ve been obsessed to find the greatest teams of all time, and made a project of comparing team dynasties over 3-, and 5-year spans. 

The O’s of the Showalter–Duquette era were no true dynasty; but a roster of the best individual seasons during that stretch shows this composite team was no slouch, either. It’s a team we have come to expect: with big-time power throughout the lineup, a mediocre rotation, and a world-class back end of the bullpen. Here are my picks for the Orioles 2012-16 all stars:

C     Wieters 2014    .308/.339/.500/.839
1B     Davis 2013    42 2B, 53 HR
2B     Schoop 2016    38 2B, 25 HR
SS     Hardy 2013    27 2B, 25 HR
3B     Machado 2016    40 2B, 37 HR
LF     DeAza 2014    .293/.341/.537/.877    
CF     Jones 2012    39 2B, 32 HR
RF     Markakis 2012    .298/.363/.471/.834
DH     Cruz 2014    32 2B, 40 HR
Bench     Valencia 2013    .304/.335/.553/.888
Bench     Pearce 2014    .293/.373/.556/.930
Bench     Alvarez 2016    20 2B, 22 HR
Bench     Trumbo 2016    27 2B, 47 HR

SP1     Chen 2014    16-6, 3.54
SP2     Tillman 2012    9-3, 2.93
SP3     Norris 2014    15-8. 3.65
SP4     Gonzalez 2012    9-4, 3.25
SP5     Gausman 2016    9-12, 3.61
Closer    Britton 2016    47 SV, 0.54
Setup    Johnson 2012    51 SV, 2.49
RP    O’Day 2015    1.52
RP     Miller 2014    1.35
RP     Brach 2016    2.05
RP     Strop 2012    2.44
RP     Patton 2012    2.43