Series Preview: Orioles By The Numbers

I know the Twins still have five days until they get to play the Orioles, but I can’t wait. The roster is set. There are a couple more meaningless games against the Rays, because you can’t play enough meaningless games against the Rays. And then a game versus the Miracle? Really? I’ll be damned if I’m not going to look forward to Friday.

Overall

69.5 – The over/under Vegas set for Orioles wins this year. Which means if they go 70-92, they would still exceed expectations. That’s the worst over/under in the American League.

103-116 – Manager Buck Showalter’s record with the Orioles.

[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

2-6 – Twins record against the Orioles last year.

Pitching

30 – Where the Orioles whole pitching staff ranked in ERA last year, one spot behind the Twins.

5.39 – The collective ERA of the Orioles starting rotation, worst in the major leagues.

0.57 – How much worse that ERA was than the second worst team.

3 – Days before the season opener that Showalter will be announcing his Opening Day starting pitcher and the rest of the Orioles rotation. That’s Tuesday.

13 – Combined number of wins the Opening Day starting pitching candidates, Jake Arrieta and Tommy Hunter, had last year. (Both are right-handers.)

Offseason

$3.25M – Biggest contract the Orioles paid to a free agent from MLB this offseason. That’s not per year - that’s total.

$19.5M – Amount Orioles spent on a pair of Japanese starting pitchers, Wei-Yin Chen and Tsuyoshi Wada.

.290 – The highest batting average of an Orioles everyday player last year. It belonged to Vladimir Guerrero, who was not signed during the offseason and is considering playing in Japan.

Offense

14^th – Where the Orioles offense ranked in runs scored last year in MLB.

196 – Number of times Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds struck out last season while hitting .221.

.806 – The highest OPS of any Oriole regular last year. It belonged to Mark Reynolds.

7/9 – The fraction of this year’s Orioles lineup that had an OPS of at least 750 last year.

0 - Percent chance JJ Hardy will not be ready for Opening Day, according to JJ Hardy. He’s been out for a week with discomfort in his right shoulder and received a cortisone shot for it on Thursday.