[新聞] Around the Horn: Outfielders
From http://0rz.tw/1f3Fv
O's look solid at the corners, but concerns remain in center
One spot remains wide open in Baltimore's outfield, but the Orioles will go
into Spring Training with a comfortable arrangement in both corner slots. Luke
Scott, acquired in the Miguel Tejada trade, is the likely starter in left field
and emerging force Nick Markakis will reprise his role as right fielder and
Baltimore's most selective hitter.
Center field, as it stands, may well be a melange between Jay Payton, Tike
Redman and Chris Roberson. Last year's incumbent, Corey Patterson, is still
unsigned and may be a darkhorse candidate to return and reprise his old job. If
not, the Orioles will likely let the starting job sort itself out through
performance during the early part of the season.
There's no such positional jockeying in right field. Markakis has shown steady
growth in his first two big league seasons, both of which showed a significant
spike in performance after the All-Star break. The former first-round pick
batted .279 before the break and .325 after it last season, breaking through
the tape with 14 second-half home runs.
Perhaps most importantly, Markakis settled into the No. 3 slot in the batting
order, a role perfectly suited to his blend of offensive talents. Markakis
walked 61 times and drilled 69 extra-base hits last season, and he managed to
lead the team in batting average (.300), slugging percentage (.485), hits
(191), homers (23), RBIs (112) and doubles (43).
Markakis also stole 18 bases and notched 13 outfield assists and was voted the
team's Most Valuable Player by the local media at the end of the season. That
was an impressive sophomore season by any estimation, and at 24 years old,
Markakis can expect to hit for more power and to make a case for the All-Star
team sooner rather than later.
Enter Scott, who appears to be a perfect bookend fit in the other corner. The
29-year-old has also proven to be patient and powerful in his brief big league
career, but he'll have to switch leagues and maintain his production. Scott, a
part-time player for the Astros the last few season, will look to make a splash
in his first shot at a full-time job.
If the statistical record is any indication, he appears to be perfectly capable
of bigger things. There's an eerie similarity in Scott's numbers at the Minor
League level (.280 batting average, .366 on-base percentage and .534 slugging
mark) and in his first few seasons as a big-leaguer (.273 average, .366 on-base
and a .516 slugging percentage.)
Scott drilled 51 extra-base hits in 369 at-bats last season and is expected to
provide some mid-lineup protection for Markakis in Baltimore. He may even move
into Tejada's vacant cleanup slot and will be a distinct threat to lead the
team in home runs. Scott, a left-handed hitter, also will help balance out the
middle of the batting order.
Unlike Markakis, Scott's age suggests that he may be about as good as he's ever
going to get, but he's champing at the bit to prove that he's a full-time
player and that his late start in the Majors is merely a matter of
circumstance.
"My personal wishes and desires aren't really important," Scott said earlier
this winter of earning a regular job. "Unfortunately, the opportunities just
haven't presented themselves. I would've liked to be a full-time guy. I've been
an everyday player coming through the Minor Leagues. This is something I've
expected to happen and I've been working hard."
Scott and Markakis both have experience in center field but seem to fit more
comfortably in a corner slot. That opens up a derby between Payton, Redman and
Roberson that has no clear favorite and limited upside in any configuration.
Payton started in left field and cratered last season, and Roberson was brought
in this winter to push Redman for at-bats.
Payton, an eight-year veteran, was Baltimore's least productive regular last
season. He notched a .256 batting average, a .292 on-base percentage and a .376
slugging mark, arguably his worst offensive season since 2001. Payton may not
have the range to play center field every day anymore, but the Orioles may test
him early to see if he bounces back.
Redman did exactly that last season, when he authored an improbable comeback
story. The former Pirate was cut by the Red Sox in Spring Training and began
his season playing Independent League baseball, but he hit his way out of that
league and batted .300 for Triple-A Norfolk before earning a late-season callup
to the Orioles.
Redman kept hitting above .300 as a member of the Orioles and put himself in
the mix for a reserve job -- or perhaps more -- this season. The former starter
learned all about resiliency last season and hopes to put those lessons into
effect in 2008.
"It's been a journey, but I made it out," Redman said when he was promoted last
August. "I feel like a rookie, just excited and nervous at the same time. I've
been in the big leagues before. I'll still be nervous, no matter what."
Roberson, who came over from the Phillies this winter, is likely the best
defensive player in the bunch. He's struck out (486) more than twice as many
times as he's walked (224) in his Minor League career, though, and has scored
more than 70 runs just once in seven seasons. Roberson, 28 years old, is a .278
career hitter in the Minors.
Roberson hasn't had much success in the big leagues, but he hasn't had much of
a chance to play every day. The jury's still out on whether he'll get that
opportunity in Baltimore. Roberson, much like Payton and Redman, has to hope he
can make a good impression in Spring Training and get off to a good start
whenever the Orioles call his number.
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