The biggest development of 2023 will be…

[Go_Os]

To add a new name, I'd like to see Jordan Westburg win the starting 3B job by May and hit .285 with an OPS over .800.  He and Gunnar are close friends and I hope to see them play together for a while.

[now]

And now for something completely different: for Wells and/or Means to return to form and pitch to their potential as #2-3 rotation pieces by the end of the year.

[Il BuonO]

1 hour ago, now said:

And now for something completely different: for Wells and/or Means to return to form and pitch to their potential as #2-3 rotation pieces by the end of the year.

Wells and Means are nice stories, but I hope we have others who are actually #2-3. Means needs his CH to be effective and Wells needs to miss more bats.

Coming off TJ there will be many questions to be answered for Means. Staying healthy would be number one. Wells’ road is less complicated, but still no less of a climb for him to be a mid rotation guy. His walk rate is fine, but his SO rate needs work. Then again, as a R5 guy it’s a nice problem to have with Wells. Similarly, no one expected Means to produce as he has. 

[Frobby]

Some of the responses are getting away from the intention of my OP.   I wasn’t asking for predictions of what would happen that would impact the 2023 season.  I was asking what developments would most affect the long term outlook for the team.  That’s why I chose Gunnar’s rise for 2022 even though it didn’t affect the 2022 Orioles much at all.  And I’m not asking for a prediction of how this year’s development turns out, just what’s important one way or the other.  

[foxfield]

I think the biggest development is the sheer number of folks we have who even have a potential to impact the future.  It is truly fascinating and it makes me very excited for the future.  The fact is there are players who could bust and simply be jumped by others who have tremendous upside potential.  

If the key to last year was the pitching, I think it is safe to say it will be again.  We almost expect growth and improvement from the offense.  If the Orioles are to improve in their climb to contention, it is going to take an upside breakout of starting pitching.

The Orioles can compete with competent starting pitching.  They become serious contenders if they someone emerges at the higher end of their potential.  If two of them were to break out...

[connja]

The nice thing going in to this year is that I feel there are many more ways things can go right than things can go wrong.  

[AnythingO's]

I guess it depends on what is long term? If it's say the next 5 years I would say does Mateo revisit his discipline of 6 weeks last summer and maintain his defense in 2023. If yes then Ortiz can displace Frazier and we have 3 GGs in the infield even with Holiday eventually displacing Mateo., and GGs at C and CF. If no, then Ortiz to SS and Westburg/Norby fight it out until Holiday displaces Ortiz. All the rest will work itself out (Hays, Cowser, Stowers, Santander, Kjerstead, Beavers, Fabian). Someone will be converted to 1B. I would extend Gunnar above all else, given age and talent, he is a generational talent.

[OriolesMagic83]

GrayRod showing he is at least a middle of rotation starter.  It needs to happen to show this organization can develop starters.  I'm hoping for more for the future, but if GrayRod looks like a #3 starter and stays healthy, I'll be very happy.

[OriolesMagic83]

9 hours ago, AnythingO's said:

I guess it depends on what is long term? If it's say the next 5 years I would say does Mateo revisit his discipline of 6 weeks last summer and maintain his defense in 2023. If yes then Ortiz can displace Frazier and we have 3 GGs in the infield even with Holiday eventually displacing Mateo., and GGs at C and CF. If no, then Ortiz to SS and Westburg/Norby fight it out until Holiday displaces Ortiz. All the rest will work itself out (Hays, Cowser, Stowers, Santander, Kjerstead, Beavers, Fabian). Someone will be converted to 1B. I would extend Gunnar above all else, given age and talent, he is a generational talent.

I would extend Adley before anyone, even Gunnar.  I've never seen one player change a team like Adley did.  I wasn't born in 1966, I imagine Frank did the same for the O's then. 

[AnythingO's]

21 minutes ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

I would extend Adley before anyone, even Gunnar.  I've never seen one player change a team like Adley did.  I wasn't born in 1966, I imagine Frank did the same for the O's then. 

I will let Frobby weigh in on Frank's impact but from my perspective the O's were already a very good team. Frank taught them how to win. I agree with you about Adley's impact but catchers generally don't age well re: extending. 

[OriolesMagic83]

11 minutes ago, AnythingO's said:

I will let Frobby weigh in on Frank's impact but from my perspective the O's were already a very good team. Frank taught them how to win. I agree with you about Adley's impact but catchers generally don't age well re: extending. 

Adley seems to be the core of the O's core.  You have to do what you can to extend what Adley brings to the team.  Don't offer him a 13 year/$350 million deal, but something that might not make sense on the "catchers don't age well" scale.  Maybe a 8 year deal w/ a couple of options.  Would 8 years/$120 mill get it done?  I don't know.  Adley brings something to this team that no player in my O's fan life (since early 80's) has brought.  If you're in charge or a team owner who cares about winning (not sure we have one of those), you have to make the effort. 

[Frobby]

8 hours ago, AnythingO's said:

I will let Frobby weigh in on Frank's impact but from my perspective the O's were already a very good team. Frank taught them how to win. I agree with you about Adley's impact but catchers generally don't age well re: extending. 

I agree on the impact of Frank Robinson.  He turned a very good team into a great one, partly through his play, partly through his attitude that carried over and impacted his teammates.  But the team was very good to start with.   

I think Adley’s presence on the team went beyond his contributions on the field, as well.   

I’d like to see him locked up.  The Posey deal would probably make a good template, adjusting for where Adley is on the service time spectrum.  

 

[Sports Guy]

27 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I agree on the impact of Frank Robinson.  He turned a very good team into a great one, partly through his play, partly through his attitude that carried over and impacted his teammates.  But the team was very good to start with.   

I think Adley’s presence on the team went beyond his contributions on the field, as well.   

I’d like to see him locked up.  The Posey deal would probably make a good template, adjusting for where Adley is on the service time spectrum.  

 

There is no doubt his presence changed things. The players talked about the boost he gave.  They had all been hearing about him for 3 years.  They saw him in ST. Hell, some of them played with him in the minors.

The guy is a walking definition of why WAR doesn’t always give you a good indication of the worth of a player.

Edited February 13, 2023 by Sports Guy

[Ceciltrav]

Mateo will take another step forward in his development and will hit .270 with 60 SB's 20 HR's and play Gold Glove D.

[Il BuonO]

Ownership will realize the deal they have with the state of Maryland and sign a long term lease agreement.