Post-Season Baseball

Before the season started I had a lot of questions about the Orioles.  We all did.

I also had the answers, some right, some wrong.  Let's take a look back.

First Base
Will Chris Davis finally step up and become a full time big leaguer? Full time hitter, part time reliever.  Will he strikeout more than 200 times this season?  Not even close, only 169 K's.  Can he find a consistent power stroke?  Can't be more consistent than 6 straight games.  Can Nick "Journeyman" Johnson still play and provide a spark to the lineup?  Wrong journeyman, Wilson Betemit filled in admirably early in the year.
Second Base
Will Brian Roberts ever play again? If so, will he ever be effective again? Hopefully not.  I like the core of this team.  Can someone please get him some more HGH or clear, whatever he used in the past would be fine? Any chance Robert Andino or WIlson Betemit could fill his void? Add in Omar Quintanilla and Ryan Flaherty.

Shortstop
How good can J.J. Hardy be? Good but inconsistent all season long.   How long before he moves to second base?  Perhaps never.  Is Manny Machado ready? Damn right he's ready.  Can we please find out?  Absolutely, just not at the right position.

Third Base
Did the demotion to first base make Mark Reynolds realize he has to field ground balls in order to play third? Yes he realized that.  No, it didn't matter. Will Reynolds injure a fan in the first row of the stands with an errant throw? Fortunately, no fans were harmed in the making of this Playoff run. Has he realized the right and left field lines are pretty damn short? Can he hit 50? Health issues kept him well short, not to mention he was awful starting the year.  Will he strike out more than Chris Davis? Biggest shocker of them all here, 10 K's behind Smash Chris Davis.

Catcher
How good can Matt Wieters be? Team MVP if you ask me.  The staff would have been so much worse without him. Will anyone steal a base against him? Matt threw out nearly 40% of base stealers.

Left Field
Can Nolan Reimold capture some of the magic from his rookie campaign? Uh No.

Center Field
How long will Adam Jones be in Baltimore? Long term deal.  Thank God.  Jones is here for a while.

Right Field
Where did Nick Markakis' power go? Does he have the ability to protect the power hitters in our lineup? Best hitter on our team before his second injury.  Not your conventional lead-off guy, but effective.

Starting Staff
Can a staff loaded with #3 starters develop an ace? Will Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz make strides toward their potential? Will the new Asian Persuasion be effective against MLB batters? Can Chris Tillman develop and build on his good Spring? Can Zach Britton get healthy?  Only Chen and Tillman made an impact.  I wasn't even in the ballpark regarding starting pitching.

Bullpen
Can Jim Johnson get it done in the closer role? Best closer in baseball this season and Oriole history.  Pretty good year.  How often will Kevin Gregg pour gasoline on a fire? Good riddance.

April 2012, a Herculean effort would be needed for the Orioles to make a Playoff run.  Each player would have to have career years with little mistakes.  Perfect baseball and execution and they might have had a chance. 

And...that was no the case.  They are just a good baseball TEAM.  No one willing to let down their fellow players and come through clutch.  I LOVE this baseball team.  Now all they have to do is play perfect baseball and beat the Rangers.  Then Yankees.  Then Detroit, Then Washington.  Not too much to ask, right?