ESPN: The O's will finish in last place

[weird-O]

I don't have the issue, so I didn't get to read the article or see how they explain why they will finish in last. but it seemed like something worth posting

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/o...,4330560.story

[LarryN]

I wonder how much analysis they had to do to figure out that Andrew Luck has better legs than RGIII? Maybe just watch the video of the Haloti Ngata hit a few times?

As far as the Orioles finishing last...I don't doubt it could happen. I think places one through five is the AL East are all up for grabs this year.

[NCBirdfan]

I guess there is no need to waste my time watching the games on MASN then, since the outcome is already etched in stone. ESPN was really good at predicting the late-season swoon the Orioles exhibited last year, touting how lucky they were in the earlier part of the season. And the Orioles did indeed drop like a hot potato after the All-Star Break...

...oh wait!

[NCBirdfan]

I wonder how much analysis they had to do to figure out that Andrew Luck has better legs than RGIII? Maybe just watch the video of the Haloti Ngata hit a few times?

As far as the Orioles finishing last...I don't doubt it could happen. I think places one through five is the AL East are all up for grabs this year.

I agree. But ESPN has no inside track on the fate of the Orioles this year, any more than you or I. They are still trying to prove they were right all along last year and if the Orioles fall this year, the network will have their big-mouths claiming, "I told you so."

[Steveg85321]

Not that ESPN needs me to defend them, but I can certainly understand why they would pick so. The Orioles have done almost nothing to improve the team, on paper at least. If I were the Orioles, I would certainly take this as motivation to be the very best team in baseball. While I am disappointed in the offseason stagnation, I certainly won't say it can't be done. There's nothing better than rooting for the underdog and having them come out on top.

[Gizmo]

Wait for it...

[Pickle20]

They picked the Orioles to finish last season too.

[BiggSeth]

I guess we don't need to worry about watching all 162 games on MASN (and other networks), miss all those commercials selling us things like Jack Daniels and Toyotas....

I suppose we don't need to go to games this year, since the all knowing yappity yaps at espn have deemed the Orioles as losers!

I don't know what I will do with all my summer evenings now that I am no longer concerned about how the O's do this year after PROVING EVERY TALKING HEAD WRONG LAST SEASON.....

[Brian]

The O's really didn't improve this off season,the fact is they might be a little weaker. The one bright spot will be a healthy Reimold. Time will tell,I don't think the Yankees will be that strong either.

[durango46]

ESPN should have asked me how I felt

I would have told them that the Yankees will finish last

BOOK IT

[Jimmy Jazz]

The O's may not have done much this off season but other than the Blue Jays neither did anyone else in the division. We do know Duquette won't sit on his hands if things go poorly.

[Joy in Mudville]

The Yankees are a walking disaster area. The Rays didn't do much but they are always competitive. I think the O's are marginally better this year than last and if the pitching takes a step forward they could be very good. A lot rides on BRob. If he's healthy, he's definitely an upgrade over Andino.

[infinite looper]

The Yankees are a walking disaster area. The Rays didn't do much but they are always competitive. I think the O's are marginally better this year than last and if the pitching takes a step forward they could be very good. A lot rides on BRob. If he's healthy, he's definitely an upgrade over Andino.

Take away the 16-2 extra inning record and replace it with something much closer to .500. How are they better again?

[Joy in Mudville]

Take away the 16-2 extra inning record and replace it with something much closer to .500. How are they better again?

Compared to April of last year...

They are better defensively and offensively at 3rd.

Davis is an offensive upgrade over Reynolds and we'll see what he brings defensively

Roberts is better at 2nd and in the order than Andino

An outfield of Reimold, McClouth, Markakis, and Jones is a better outfield than what we were able to field last year.

We're getting Wada at some point this year and generally have very good pitching depth. Like I said, we're marginally better.

Our extra inning record reflects an excellent bullpen and very good defense. That hasn't changed. What has changed is that we are better offensively.

[infinite looper]

I'd argue the extra inning record largely reflects luck. Nobody had done that since what, the 40s?

[Omaha Beach]

Isnt this the same sports network that was full of so called experts in December and January saying the Ravens could not beat the Broncos, Patriots and 49ers?

[OsfaninCA]

Isnt this the same sports network that was full of so called experts in December and January saying the Ravens could not beat the Broncos, Patriots and 49ers?

This!

[Joy in Mudville]

While I don't think the O's will finish last, the truth is that the division is strong enough that the last place team could still have a winning record.

[Brian]

Reimold has speed and power,he needs to play daily to be effective. That platoon crap dosen't work for everyone and he's one of those who it dosen't work well for.

[LarryN]

While I don't think the O's will finish last, the truth is that the division is strong enough that the last place team could still have a winning record.

Agreed. As I said earlier, any team finishing in any spot 1 thru 5 in the AL East wouldn't surprise me, nor would all five finishing over .500. Anyone making any "analytical" prediction of the 2013 AL East is full of ****. They're just guessing.