The 2019 season is going to be a very long season for fans of the Baltimore Orioles. Before the year begins, we make five bold predictions for 2019.
First, there was a rush of optimism as fans learned more about new Baltimore Orioles general manager Mike Elias and new man in charge of analytics, Sig Mejdal. The optimism continued to rise as young prospects like Austin Hays, Yusniel Diaz, and Ryan Mountcastle came out of the gate firing in spring training.
Then the Baltimore Orioles started playing against more major league regulars, the top prospects were sent to the minor leagues, intriguing young players like Chance Sisco, Anthony Santander, and Tanner Scott were optioned to AAA, Mark Trumbo went from more regular playing time to the 60-day injured list, and Opening Day starter Alex Cobb was shelved with a groin injury.
The Opening Day roster isn’t set in stone but we do have a preliminary 25-man roster which you can view here. It doesn’t exactly invoke happy feelings or an eager longing for the 2019 season, but this is who we have to watch.
Are you sure you’re ready for a 162 game season of the rebuilding Orioles? This team will test the patience of all of us. The relationship will be rocky at times, but will come out of this stronger than ever. At least this is what I’m going to continue to tell myself throughout the summer.
Before Thursday’s Opening Day game against the New York Yankees, let’s take a look at five bold predictions for the 2019 season. I’m going out on a limb for a few of these, but none of these predictions are unachievable.