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Baltimore Orioles: Left Field a Wasteland in 2016 in the AL East

By Nate Wardle

Sep 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) in the dugout prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) in the dugout prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Corey Dickerson
Sep 24, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon (3) tags out Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Corey Dickerson (10) as he slides into home plate during the second inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Tampa Bay Rays – Corey Dickerson, Desmond Jennings, Brandon Guyer, Mikie Mahtook, Nick Franklin

Preseason prediction – 1st, Dickerson, Jennings, Guyer

In my preseason rankings, I thought that Corey Dickerson‘s high batting average would play well in the AL East. Not so fast.

Dickerson came to the AL East and struggled. He only played about half of his games at the position, starting 69 in left field. He hit .245/.293/.469 with 24 home runs, 36 doubles, 70 RBIs and 57 runs. So while the power numbers are good, the on-base percentage and batting average were not. Dickerson walked 33 times, struck out 134 times.

In my preview, I exclaimed that Dickerson struggled defensively and was better in for Tampa. His range was still a bit below average, but his fielding percentage was right near the league average, if not slightly above and his runs saved total was also positive.

Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer both started more than 20 games, while Mikie Mahtook and Nick Franklin each started 16. Jennings hit .200 as he continued to underwhelm for the Rays. Guyer hit .241 for the Rays before he was traded to the Cleveland Indians at the trade deadline. Franklin hit .270 for the year; Mahtook hit below .200.

When you have five players play significant team and several are underwhelming, it will help drop you to the bottom of the rankings.

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