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Orioles Stealing: Conservative Yet Effective?
The 2011 Baltimore Orioles were 5th in SB% at 76%. However, they only had 81 SB, which ranked 25th in the MLB. This shows that while the Orioles were very effective at stealing bases, they were often very conservative on the base paths. What possible reason could there be for such an effective but conservative approach on the base paths? It could very well be Showalters' style of managing, or it could be the fact that the Orioles might lack the necessary speed to even attempt more SB.

If you take a look at the Orioles top five SB leaders for the 2011 season, it might surprise you a little.

1) Robert Andino: 13/16 for an 81% SB%
2) Nick Markakis: 12/15 for an 80% SB%
3) Adam Jones: 12/16 for a 75% SB%
4) Matt Angle: 11/12 for a 92% SB%
5) Nolan Reimold: 7/9 for a 78% SB%

(All % were rounded up)

As you can see, the Orioles "Utility INF" was the leading SB threat for the Orioles in 2011. Personally, I do not think of Andino as a guy who is a SB threat, so it comes to a surprise that he led the team. But if you delve deeper into the subject, you see how little speed the Orioles truly have in their starting lineup. Markakis and Jones could certainly increase their SB attempts, but it may make them less effective. Angle will have a tough time cracking the Orioles roster, with the recent signings of OF Endy Chavez and Jai Miler (who is out of options).

Another option that you have to consider for the Orioles' strong conservatism on the bases is that they are often down in games early and a lot. With the disaster called the Orioles' rotation, it is tough to be in many scenarios where they can risk attempting a SB. The Orioles also had plenty of "turtles" on the base-paths. Vlad Guerruero, Matt Wieters, JJ Hardy, and Chris Davis were not exactly the most fleet of foot.

In reality, the Orioles will most likely continue their conservative and effective approach on the base-paths this season. If  Brian Roberts returns to the club healthy he could have an impact on these statistics. Let's remember that he led the club in SB for the past couple years he was not hurt. Obviously SB are probably the least of the Orioles' worries right now, and it sure seems that Showalter has taken that approach as well. I expect them to have under 100 SB again in 2012.

Quote (tuckerblair89 @ Jan 5 2012 01:28pm)

btw my personal blogs' new name is "The Entrepreneurial Oriole"

It rhymed, I was an Entrepreneur Major, and it's an Orioles blog.

Quote (Frazzles @ Jan 5 2012 01:30pm)

Worst title ever bro

Quote (tuckerblair89 @ Jan 5 2012 01:28pm)

btw my personal blogs' new name is "The Entrepreneurial Oriole"

It rhymed, I was an Entrepreneur Major, and it's an Orioles blog.

Quote (kkpkpkkp @ Jan 5 2012 03:07pm)

was LmaO's taken?

Quote (tuckerblair89 @ Jan 5 2012 03:07pm)

OMG lol i should check

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Orioles, Cubs Discussed Alfonso Soriano

By: Tucker Blair 
Published: January 6, 2012 10:43 am

The Orioles and Cubs discussed a trade involving OF Alfonso Soriano, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Soriano has been known as a potential trade candidate for months, and there were rumors that the Orioles and Cubs had discussed a trade involving him before.

At least eight AL teams have discussed Soriano over the past six weeks, according to ESPNChicago.com. He is largely viewed as a DH, due to his defensive liability in LF.  The Cubs also owe Soriano $54MM over the next 3 years, making it a necessity for them to eat a large portion of his contract in any potential deal.

Soriano, 36 on Saturday, posted a .244/.289/.469 batting line with a .325 wOBA, .266 BABIP, and 26 HR for the Cubs in 2011. His OPS+ in 2011 was only 104, which was well below the OPS+ of current Orioles’ Nick Markakis (109 OPS+), Adam Jones (114 OPS+) and Nolan Reimold (113 OPS+).

It would be a curious move for the Orioles if they did follow through with a potential deal. They already have five OF on their current projected 25-man roster (Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold, Endy Chavez, Jai Miller), and one could argue that he is nothing more than an average player at this point in his career.