Season Previews: Baltimore Orioles

Ending our preview of the AL East, not to mention the entire American League, is none other than the Baltimore Orioles.
We'll begin with the biggest news out of Baltimore, starting pitcher Kris Benson's season-ending rotator cuff injury. No faster could you say Anna Benson is a freak, the O's scooped up veteran Steve Trachsel to take his place.

That may be one of the club's bigger stories, but the latest is reliever Jose Acevedo's motorcycle accident in which he broke four ribs and his collarbone, colliding with a car in the Dominican Republic.

Erik Bedard, who just settled with the club out of arbitration on a $3.4 million, one-year deal, will lead the O's rotation, joined by strikeout pitcher/giant Daniel Cabrera, newly acquired Yankee Jaret Wright, and lefty Adam Loewen, who went 6-6 with a 5.37 ERA in 19 starts during his first major league season last year.

The newly revamped bullpen, which the club spent $40 million on this offseason, may be one to reckon with in 2007. Righty reliever Todd Williams will return along with veterans Chad Bradford, Danys Baez , Scott Williamson and lefty Jamie Walker, who were brought in to fill a gigantic hole of nothingness in the pen and bring a little thing called experience to aid closer Chris Ray.

The outfield is pretty stacked, with bag-thief Corey Patterson spending another year in center and 23-year-old Nick Markakis' cannon in right, expected to bat third in the order. The O's also found a full-time left fielder in Jay Payton, who was signed this offseason along with backup outfielder Aubry Huff; two huge additions.

The middle infield will be as strong as ever, with All-Star slugger Miguel Tejada (still one of the most impressive in the game) at short, teamed up with Brian Roberts' defensive prowess at second. Veteran utilityman Chris Gomez will be back, thanks to a productive September where he hit .437 despite returning from a broken bone in his right hand. Gomez will find competition in Brandon Fahey, who will be ready to step in at a moment's notice at either spot, and Freddie Bynum, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in an offseason trade.

You'll also find depth at the corners behind old reliable Melvin Mora at third and Kevin Millar at first, the same duo that won your hearts last year. Though Millar didn't provide the power expected from a first baseman in the beginning of last season, he posted Baltimore's second-highest on-base percentage (.347) and hit almost .300 in the second half.

The addition of Huff, who can play both corners but will likely spend a lot of time in left field, adds some depth along with Jay Gibbons, who may also see some time at first. Of course, Gomez can do anything, anytime, anywhere, so don't be surprised if you see him shuffling between infield positions.

With Javy Lopez taking his healthy bat and questionable glove to the Red Sox Colorado Rockies, Ramon Hernandez remains as the starting catcher, backed up by veteran Paul Bako, who should be able to share time at the plate even with a third insurance catcher in Adam Donachie.

Filling the designated hitter spot should be an easy task for manager Sam Perlozzo. With Huff, Millar and Gibbons vying for at bats between DH and first, it's a welcome turnaround from what was a short bench in 2006.

Baltimore finished the year at 70-92, a dismal 27 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees. But look anyway for the Orioles to seriously bring the business this season in the hefty AL East with some new additions, more experienced pitching, stronger defense and bigger bats.