Orioles Players Predicted for Similar Performance in 2016

Jul 30, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) is congratulated by Manny Machado (13) after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /

Looking toward the 2016 season, there are multiple Baltimore Orioles players that we may anticipate having a similar season of production as in 2015.

On multiple occasions this is good news, as 2015 was a great year. But for a handful of others, it is a prediction of not moving beyond some measure of disappointment or mediocrity.

This will be true every year, and of course the hope is that this yearly series will feature many players who performed consistently at a very high level, making that a repetitive process year-to-year.

The 2015 article (speaking of players predicted to repeat their level of performance, high or low) began with hopes for three pitchers to maintain their recent success.

After an analysis on Chris Tillman that showed how the Orioles won 24 of his 34 starts — equal or better than the very top pitchers in baseball — I wrote, “There is no reason to expect any regression. He has experience and is at peak health and condition.”

This was followed with more praises for Miguel Gonzalez, concluding with, “It is difficult to find a better example of consistency than Miguel Gonzalez. He may have the least talent of any pitcher on the Orioles, but he is a true pitcher.”

We know the rest of the story now.

But Zach Britton was as good or better in 2015 as the year before. And writing that Ubaldo Jimenez would not be better and make any sort of bounceback, he did actually improve.

But J.J. Hardy was not as good as the year before, and Ryan Flaherty was equally as bad (and maybe worse), just as predicted.

As we talk about players we believe to repeat success levels of 2015, let’s do so in three categories: looking to repeat great success, looking to repeat good success, expected to repeat moderate performance.

Looking to Repeat Great Success

Manny Machado — What a great season was 2015. How could it be better this year? 40+ home runs? That would be very amazing. It could be that his average will go up, along with run production if he gets to hit down the lineup. But everything points to Machado now being one of the premier players in all of baseball.

Zach Britton — Like Machado, how much more can Britton improve? He already has what has been acknowledged as the nastiest pitch in all of baseball. I suppose if he could completely miss the bats that hit little non-defensible, dinker infield singles, that would really help. What a great weapon he is. Now the Orioles need to just put him into more closing situations.

Looking to Repeat Good Success

Adam Jones — The Orioles center fielder did take a step back last year, as predicted (more on this tomorrow). However, it was due to some injuries more than a slow pattern of decline (which is discernable). Even so, when fully healthy such as he was at the beginning of the season, he can put together some epic stretches and carry the team for a week or so. He’ll have another good year … maybe short of great, but very solid.

Caleb Joseph — His value to the Orioles is so much more than offense. As things stand, we may expect he will play less due to the return of Matt Wieters. Joseph is surely now about the best overall backup catcher in the game. He does not hurt the Orioles at all when he plays.

T.J. McFarland — It could be another strange year for McFarland. He remains one of few optionable pieces. T.J. presents great value as a lefty long-reliever to follow what looks like will be an entirely right-handed rotation. McFarland has demonstrated great skill in this role, only occasionally getting lit up, but more often holding the game under control and giving the O’s a chance to win.

Expected to Repeat Moderate Performance

These are three players where hopes might be for greater successes to come from their play, but that I do not anticipate to be a new reality …

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J.J. Hardy — It was a difficult 2015 for Hardy. And though we cannot fault his defense, and though we can applaud some decent propensities for clutch hitting, his overall offense has been anemic. My view is that some injury of some magnitude will again inhibit his full capacity and that we may anticipate nothing better than what has more recently been seen.

Ubaldo Jimenez — Thankfully he was better in 2015 than 2014, but that was not a high bar. Ubaldo is what he is. The pitch movement is great, though he has no more idea where it is going than does the batter who sees it coming. Sometimes Jimenez will be great, sometimes he will shot himself in the foot. That is what will be the story over this year and next. Momma don’t let your little leaguers grow up to have mechanics like UJ.

Next: Orioles Players Predicted to Improve in 2016

Brian Matusz — The stats are better than the test of the eye. Matusz plays a bullpen role and can be effective in it. He too, as a lefty who can be stretched out in the spring, could have an important middle innings or long relief role like McFarland. But there is some “thing” that is missing that prevents him from high-level accomplishment. Logic says that “thing” should have been found by now. Maybe if traded to the Cubs he would find it.

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