The Baltimore Wire
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Michael Saunders
Oct 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Michael Saunders (21) hits a single during the second inning against the Cleveland Indians in game four of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Toronto Blue Jays – Michael Saunders, Ezequiel Carrera, Melvin Upton

Preseason prediction – 4th, Michael Saunders, Dalton Pompey, Ezequiel Carrera, Junior Lake, Chris Colabello

Going into 2016, I figured that as long as Michael Saunders was healthy, he would get the chance to win the LF position. Well, he was, and he did to start the season. He hit .298/.372/.551 with 16 HRs, 25 RBIs, 42 RBIs and 45 runs in the first half. He was an All-Star, and in many ways, he carried a struggling Jays’ offense at times.

In the second half, Saunders hit .178/.282/.357 with 8 HRs, seven doubles, 15 RBIs and 21 runs. His second half was abysmal. But, his first half was tremendous, so superb that it places the Jays’ ahead of Tampa Bay Ray and Baltimore Orioles.

Ezequiel Carrera also did a decent job in his 27 starts in left field (Saunders started 100 games in left field). Carrera hit .248/.323/.356 with 6 HR, 9 2B and 7 SBs.  Melvin Upton started 24 games, and was pretty bad for the Jays, hitting under .200.

Both Saunders and Upton rated badly defensively, particularly Saunders. However, his first half, combined with the lack of great success in Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays, helps Toronto Blue Jays come in at third in a weak position in the division.

Home/Baltimore Orioles