Baltimore Orioles Lineup: A Bunch of Big Boys

Now that the Baltimore Orioles lineup and roster is taking shape, the shape that it is taking is of a team with a lot of big guys for a baseball squad.

Of the major pro sports, of course football and basketball have more specific demands for people of large size as significantly necessary for success.

Baseball was the game where a roster might well consist of players of varied heights and weights. Often the first baseman and catcher might be larger individuals, and occasionally some corner outfielders or a third baseman. Later, the designated hitter position would often become a landing spot for a less mobile larger player who was perhaps a defensive liability.

Pitchers are a category all their own. Over the years, the mound has become the home of very tall people, such that even a 6-2 pitcher is on the shorter side of the scale.

It used to be that middle infielders particularly were the abode of quick, short players with great hand skills, though not possessing offensive power potential. Among the foremost trendsetters away from this in baseball history was one Cal Ripken at 6-4, 200.  (I think he weighs more than that now!)

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But even given the fact that baseball players are generally taller and stronger than ever before, the 2016 Baltimore Orioles lineup is a group of rather impressively big guys.

To put them in a list, let’s have some fun by comparing them to the AL East Lilliputians, the Boston Red Sox. Often when watching the two teams play, I get to laughing at how tiny they are, player after player. There are surely many high school teams with a bigger lineup. Even Big Papi is not as tall or large as you might imagine.

Really now, you have to wonder about these numbers for some of the Boston players. Honestly, do you think the Panda only weighs 255?  And do you truly believe Pedroia is even as tall as 5-9 in cleats?  Other than shortstop and DH, which are relatively equal, the O’s on the chart are generally much bigger dudes. Without graphing it, the other three teams in the AL East would trend as closer to the Orioles, though the Birds would be the tallest average lineup.

At the same time, smaller players can make large contributions. I hate seeing it, but it is impressive what Pedroia can do with a baseball bat. And small players like Jose Altuve at 5-6 / 165 can be a major force on a baseball field. It is just not as common as it was three to four decades ago.

Next: Evaluating the Dexter Fowler addition

One of the smallest players in the history of the game had one of the best one-line responses to a question I have ever heard. Former Royals shortstop Freddie Patek (5-5, 148) was asked one time what it felt like to be the smallest player in the Majors. And he said, “It feels a lot better than being the biggest player in the Minors!”