Chris Ray
4-4, 2.73 ERA, 33 saves, 66 IP, 1.09 WHIP, 6.95 K/9
Grade: B+
2007 outlook: Ray erased any and all doubts about his ability to close out games. He should be entrenched in the closer position for a while. Is a little prone to the long ball, but still gets the job done more often than not. I expect another great season for Chris next year.
Nick Markakis
.291/.351/.448, 25 doubles, 2 triples, 16 homeruns, 62 RBIs, 2 stolen bases
Grade: A-
2007 outlook: Markakis cemented himself as the Baltimore Orioles starting right fielder for at least the next 5 years this season. If someone told me Markakis would finish his first MLB season at 22 years old with these numbers, I would have been ecstatic. He should improve on his power numbers as he develops and he needs to be more consistent. He started off ice cold for the first 2 months, caught fire over the summer before tiring out in September and struggling again. Franchise player in the making.
Jay Gibbons
.277/.341/.458, 23 doubles, 13 homeruns, 46 RBIs
Grade: C
2007 outlook: Injuries once again hampered Jay’s season. Started off in right field and hitting good before hurting his knee. While he was gone, Nick Markakis took over right field permanently. When he came back, Gibbons became the DH. He showed more patience in his approach after coming back and should get regular playing time in 2007 at DH and first base. He can also fill in the outfield if needed.
Corey Patterson
.276/.314/.443, 19 doubles, 5 triples, 16 homeruns, 53 RBIs, 45 stolen bases
Grade: B-
2007 outlook: Patterson will be the starting center fielder to start next season. He is a great benefit with his defense and speed on the bases. He has some power too, but don’t count on him to draw a walk. Patterson struggles against left handed pitching and in a perfect world would get the at bats against righties in a platoon with a lefty basher.
Luis Matos
.207/.278/.331, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homeruns, 5 RBIs, 7 stolen bases
Grade: D
2007 outlook: Matos’ 2007 season will not be with the Orioles. Got picked up by the Nationals after being designated for assignment by the O’s. Struggled mightily with the O’s for the first couple months.
David Newhan
.252/.294/.374, 4 doubles, 4 homeruns, 18 RBI, 4 stolen bases
Grade: D
2007 outlook: Newhan will either be on the bench, in the minors, or with another team in 2007. He would be decent as a bench player, but we need right handed hitting outfielders more than left handed options. He would be someone nice to have waiting in AAA in case of emergency. You know what you’re going to get from him.
Luis Terrero
.200/.238/.300, 1 double, 1 homerun, 6 RBI
Grade: D+
2007 outlook: Terrero got a raw deal this year. He hit AAA pitching fairly hard all year and never really got a chance when we had a gaping hole in left field. We didn’t even call him up in September when we could have used a right handed hitting outfielder. Terrero filed for free agency after the season, so I doubt we’ll see him on the O’s next year.
Jeff Fiorentino
.256/.375/.308, 2 doubles, 7 RBI, 1 stolen base
Grade: D+
2007 outlook: Fiorentino is another player I feel should have been used more in September in left field. But instead of giving him a chance to get at bats in left, we kept throwing Brandon Fahey out there. Jeff is now playing in the Arizona Fall League and hitting very well out there. Could earn a spot on the bench as an extra outfielder if he keeps it up. If not, he starts in AAA Norfolk most likely.
Howie Clark
.143/.333/.143
Grade: D-
2007 outlook: Clark only got 7 at bats and didn’t really play left field, but I didn’t know where else to put him. Not much to say except that he probably won’t be back in the system next year. If he is, it’ll be at AAA Norfolk most likely.