Blogging About Baseball

It’s been a while since Oriole’s fans have experienced a little thing called hope.

They’ll feel it tonight when their #1 prospect, switch-hitting catcher Matt Wieters, debuts against the Detroit Tigers.

Wieters has been hyped as the savior of the Oriole’s franchise since he was drafted as the fifth overall pick in 2007. He has done nothing but deliver on that promise, winning Baseball America‘s Minor League Player of the Year award in his lone professional season. Wieters shows above-average plate discipline (.355 average in 130 games in 2008) and above-average power (27 homers, 91 RBI in 2008). He calls a good game behind the plate and threw out 46 percent of baserunners last season. If you’ve ever been to a minor league game, you’ll know that’s an absolutely ridiculous success rate for a rookie catcher. This year, Wieters spent time with the AAA Norfolk Tides, where he batted .305 with five homers and 30 RBI.

Those are the well-known Wieters’ facts. Here are some lesser-known, though important, facts to know before he makes his season debut:

• Matt Wieters is only a switch-hitter because the league will not allow him to hit backwards with his hands tied behind his back.

• Brian Roberts will ride Matt Wieters to victory in next year’s Preakness.

• Matt Wieters doesn’t take pitches, he shows them mercy.

• When Matt Wieters is hungry, he snacks on batting donuts.

For up-to-the-minute updates on God’s return to Earth, check out Frost King’s Oriole’s blog.

Oh yeah.

Jordan Zimmermann snatched his first major league win in his first major league start, giving the Washington Nationals their first win in a good, long while. The victory came against the Atlanta Braves and ever-reliable Derek Lowe. The final line for the Man(n) looked like: 6 IP, 6H, 2 ER, BB, 3 SO. In the fourth inning, Brave’s outfielder Matt Diaz took him deep for a two-run shot. It was his only real blemish as he pounded the strike zone all night and made his pitches.

I’d look for him to win a few more, but with the sometimes anemic National’s offense, wins will be hard to come by. They’ll probably still work him like a dog though and he’ll have some great performances along the way. 2010 will be the true test.

I think so.

After his great ’06 and ’07, Justin Verlander was the poster boy of the Detroit Tigers. But last year, the fireballer took a step back when instead of pitching, he simply threw. And anyone knows that someone who pitches beats someone that throws. Just ask the Washington National’s Daniel Cabrera.

Well Detroit, there’s a new face for your pitching staff.

Last night, the Detroit Tiger’s Rick Porcello won his first major league game after shutting down the Seattle Mariners for 7 innings. He only struck out three, but he also walked none.

Porcello is the Tiger’s top prospect. He draws comparisons to both Josh Beckett and Roy Halladay (to Beckett because of his advanced skills and to Halladay for his body and pitching style). Here’s his scouting report:

• Fastball: Can reach 97 mph.
• 2-Seamer: Perhaps his best pitch, it ranges from 92-95 mph with great action, especially against righties.
• Changeup: Is not afraid to use it in any count.
• Curve: It’s a work in progress, but he’s demonstrated an ability to throw it for strikes. It’s of the 12-to-6 variety.

In his two games this year, Porcello’s demonstrated a veteran ability to get out of jams with the strikeout and also to control the strikezone. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make strides towards becoming the Tiger’s new ace.