Baltimore Orioles Lineups: The Difference a Year Makes

Apr 8, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) looks on against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Orioles lineup for opening day of 2016 is going to look quite a bit different than it did just a year ago, and by any measurement it also looks to be greatly stronger.

Actually, it was only a month or so ago that we wrote here on The Baltimore Wire that the 2016 Orioles were looking a lot like the O’s of last season. That was before the addition of Yovani Gallardo and probable acquisition also of Dexter Fowler (assumed here for the purposes of this article). But even without the latter player, the probable opening day right fielder would be Nolan Reimold, who was not on the roster at the beginning of 2015.

As well, in referencing recently that the team looked much the same as a year ago, we were honestly speaking more of the roster composition at the end of the season, rather than the beginning. You will recall that in April of the past year, both J.J. Hardy and Matt Wieters were not yet playing, while hopes also ran high for Alejandro De Aza to be a workable leadoff hitter and for Travis Snider to be a serviceable middle-of-the-order bat with power. No, and no.

There was also a DH for the opening day who provided great excitement at the end of 2014, a Mr. Delmon Young. It is certain that he will not be playing this year, probably anywhere. And batting cleanup on Day 1 and playing first base was Steve Pearce.

Here is the opening day lineup from 2015. Notice that four of these players are no longer with the Orioles, and only three are likely to be on the scorecard carried to the plate by Buck for the first game this year.

Game 1 of 2015 — a 6-2 win over the Rays …

Alejandro De Aza – LF

Manny Machado – 3B

Adam Jones – CF

Steve Pearce – 1B

Travis Snider – RF

Delmon Young – DH

Ryan Flaherty – SS

Jonathan Schoop – 2B

Caleb Joseph – C

You would be correct in remembering that Chris Davis was still serving his final game of suspension, so that would be an extra current Oriole in the lineup. But even when he played in Game 2, you can see from that batting order that, again, only three probable starters from this year were in it.

Game 2 of 2015 — a 6-5 win over the Rays …

Alejandro De Aza – LF

Steve Pearce – 1B

Travis Snider – RF

Adam Jones – CF

Chris Davis – DH

Manny Machado – 3B

Ryan Flaherty – 2B

Caleb Joseph – C

Everth Cabrera – SS

Neither of those orders are terribly frightening, are they? It looks like something for a team that might go about 81-81 … ah … yep.

So let’s posit a potential opening day batting order for this year, barring injuries between now and then. Here is what it could look like …