Prediction Friday: Quick-fire Orioles' predictions
OK, as Buck Showalter says, I get it.
I have been a terrible barkeep lately.
This joint has been open about as often as a Ravens’ wideout in a Steelers’ game.
Blame by bar malaise on spring training. By the time we’ve gotten back to the Sarasota condo each tonight, I was too bushed to serve you bad swill and stale pretzels. But I left the side door cracked and one keg tapped, if you were really thirsty.
I am making it up for it today in an epic Prediction Friday, because today is the season opener for the Orioles in St. Pete. In celebration of no more No. 92s pitching in the eighth, Prediction Friday is going to be a two-parter today, starting with this entry.
Sun O’s writer Jeff Zrebiec, Sun columnist Peter Schmuck and I had dinner together tonight in Tampa and we wrote down our predictions for various Orioles and national baseball categories (we figured it was a working dinner, so we let Schmuck get two desserts).
We made so many predictions we will present one group now and another mid-morning Friday. So check back around 11 a.m. or so to see the second round. These will all focus on the 2011 Orioles. We’ll give you our national predictions later this weekend. (Yeah, long dinner. Ever watched Schmuck eat dessert?)
If you want to join in the frivolity, do so. Provide your own thoughts on each category we suggest. Or just tell us how wrong our predictions are. It’s for amusement purposes only.
Here is Part 1, the first 10 categories. Remember, this one is all about the 2011 Orioles
HR leader: Jones (Jeff); Guerrero (Dan); Reynolds (Pete)
RBI leader: Markakis (Jeff); Lee (Dan); Guerrero (Pete)
Highest Avg.: Markakis (Jeff); Markakis (Dan); Guerrero (Pete)
Wins: Guthrie (Jeff); Britton (Dan); Arrieta (Pete)
Strikeout leader: Arrieta (Jeff); Matusz (Dan); Matusz (Pete)
Team wins: 75 (Jeff); 77 (Dan); 79 (Pete)
Lone All-Star: Jones (Jeff); Markakis (Dan); Matusz (Pete)
Will be traded in 2011: Lee (Jeff); Gonzalez (Dan); Uehara (Pete)
First Norfolk callup: Jakubauskas (Jeff); Tatum (Dan); Drese (Pete)
Showalter’s first ejection: May 16 (Jeff); April 14 (Dan); April 21 (Pete)
Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Quick-fire Orioles Prognostications
Categories: Connolly's Corner Sports Bar
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Vlad
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Matusz
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 88
Lone All-Star: Vlad
Will be traded in 2011: Gonzo
First Norfolk callup: Britton
Showalter’s first ejection: April 3rd
O's win on Friday 6-2
Posted by: Birdland Todd | March 31, 2011 11:25 PM
HR leader: Guerrero
RBI leader: Markakis
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Matusz
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 83
Lone All-Star: Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Fox
First Norfolk callup: Tatum
Showalter’s first ejection: April 1st- Why not? Earl will be there to take over for the rest of the game.
Posted by: oriole20 | March 31, 2011 11:27 PM
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Vlad
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Matusz
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 88
Lone All-Star: Vlad
Will be traded in 2011: Gonzo
First Norfolk callup: Britton
Showalter’s first ejection: April 3rd
O's win on Friday 6-2
Posted by: Birdland Todd | March 31, 2011 11:29 PM
Opps, that should be April 4th for the ejection.
Posted by: oriole20 | March 31, 2011 11:30 PM
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Guerrero
Highest Avg.: Markakis ( he will also lead in doubles and get 20+ hrs)
Wins: Tillman! Matusz a close second
Strikeout leader: I don't know and I don't care, just win baby!
Team wins: 90 if our pitchers have career years 82 if not
Lone All-Star: Guerrero
Will be traded in 2011: Luke Scott
First Norfolk callup: Reimold
Showalter’s first ejection: Friday 4/22 @ 7.06 PM right after the first pitch
Oh and as a side note, I will never write about anything on here except Orioles less confusion that way plus the fact I am tired of getting bopped on the nose.
Lastly, Brooks Robinson Get Well!
Posted by: The Squirrel | March 31, 2011 11:47 PM
Ok, Just for kick.
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Guerrero
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Guthrie
Strikeout leader: Matusz: Reynolds
Team wins: 84
Lone All-Star: Roberts
Will be traded in 2011: Pie
First Norfolk callup: Hendrickson
Showalter’s first ejection: May 8
Posted by: Cecilcanton | March 31, 2011 11:58 PM
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Guerrero
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Guthrie (20!)
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 90 (optimistic)
Lone All-Star: Guerrero
Will be traded in 2011: Izturis
First Norfolk callup: Reimold
Showalter’s first ejection: April 1st, fool!
(Wild Card Birth if all stay healthy)
Posted by: jongermany | April 1, 2011 12:30 AM
HR leader: Vladimir Guerrero
RBI leader: Vladimir Guerrero
Highest Average: Nick Markakis
Wins: Jeremy Guthrie
Strikeout leader: Brian Matusz
Team wins: 80
Lone All-Star: Nick Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Luke Scott
First Norfolk callup: Zach Britton
Showalter's first ejection: April 12, after seeing Jeter overreact to an inside pitch
Posted by: Phil | April 1, 2011 1:19 AM
HR leader: Jake Fox
RBI leader: Jake Fox
Highest Average: Jake Fox
Wins: Jeremy Guthrie
Strikeout leader: Brian Matusz
Team wins: 94
Lone All-Star: Nick Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Jake Fox :(
First Norfolk callup: Zach Britton
Posted by: Anonymous | April 1, 2011 1:57 AM
HR leader: Guerrero (My Wife); Reynolds (Me)
RBI leader: Markakis (My Wife); (Guerrero (Me)
Highest Avg.: Markakis (My Wife); Guerrero (Me)
Wins: Guthrie (Me); Arrieta (My Wife)
Strikeout leader: Arrieta (Me) Matusz (My Wife)
Team wins: 70 (My Wife, not a believer); 79 (Me)
2 All-Star(s): Jones & Markakis (The Mrs.); Markakis & Guerro (Me)
Will be traded in 2011: ?? (Me); Scott (Wife)
First Norfolk callup: Britton (My Wife); Tatum (Me)
Showalter’s first ejection: April 15 (My Birthday); April 21 (My Wife)
Posted by: Kevin In Iraq | April 1, 2011 2:26 AM
Home Runs: Scott
RBIs: Vlad
Highest Average: Markakis
Wins: Arrieta
Strike Out Leader: Matusz
Team Wins:84
Lone All Star: Markakis
Will Be Traded in 2011: Scott
First Norfolk Call-up: Britton
Showalter's First Ejection:April 23rd (Saturday Night's Alright!)
Friday: O's win, 5-3
Posted by: Icterus galbula | April 1, 2011 3:15 AM
HR leader: Guerrero 42
RBI leader: Guerrero 134
Highest Avg.: Markakis .326
Wins: Britton 17, Guthrie 17, Matusz 17
Strikeout leader: Matusz 186
Team wins: 97 (win division)
Lone All-Star: (4 all-stars) Guerrero, Jones, Wieters, Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Lee, Fox, Andino
First Norfolk callup: Britton
Showalter’s first ejection: April 2nd
Posted by: George in Reisterstown | April 1, 2011 5:40 AM
This joint has been open about as often as a Ravens’ wideout in a Steelers’ game. -- Great line, Dano!
Hrs: Reynolds
RBI: Vlad
AVG: Nick
Wins: Matusz
SO: Matusz
Team wins: 86
All Star: Roberts
Trade: Scott
Call up: Britton
Ejection: early June
Bonus:
Saves: Gregg
Starts:Guthrie
Games (relief): Johnson
Biggest surprise: Tillman
Opening day: Os 6 Rays 4
Posted by: The Big E | April 1, 2011 6:14 AM
date at which idiot angelos fires Buck---July 31.
Posted by: Bob | April 1, 2011 6:19 AM
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Guerrero
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Guthrie
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 76
Lone All-Star: Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Lee
First Norfolk callup: Britton
Showalter’s first ejection: April 12th
Posted by: Josh | April 1, 2011 6:54 AM
HR leader: Scott
RBI leader: Markakis
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Arrieta
Strikeout leader: Arrieta
Team wins:84
Lone All-Star: Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Pie
First Norfolk callup: Britton
Showalter’s first ejection: April 19
Posted by: Tom M | April 1, 2011 7:46 AM
HR- Reynolds
RBI- Vlad
Avg. - Markakis
Wins- Matusz
SO- Matusz
Wins-84
All Star- Hardy
First call up- Britton
Traded- Izturis, Scott, Gonzales
Buck ejected- May 6
Posted by: Roy | April 1, 2011 8:24 AM
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Gurrero
Highest Average: Markakis
Wins: Matusz & Britton Tie
Strikeout leader: Britton
Team wins: 86
Lone All-Star: Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Felix Pie
First Norfolk callup: Zach Britton
Showalter's first ejection: April 23 at home vs. Yankees.
Posted by: Shawn | April 1, 2011 8:55 AM
HR leader: Mark Reynolds
RBI leader: Vladimir Guerrero
Highest Average: Nick Markakis
Wins: Brian Matusz
Strikeout leader: Brian Matusz
Team wins: 80
Lone All-Star: Nick Markakis
Will be traded in 2011: Derrek Lee
First Norfolk callup: Zach Britton
Showalter's first ejection: April 27th
Posted by: Andrew | April 1, 2011 9:03 AM
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Guerrero
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Matusz
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 85
Lone All-Star: Selling dem O's short, are we? I say Guerrero AND Wieters
Will be traded in 2011: Fox
First Norfolk callup: Tatum
Showalter’s first ejection: Friday, April 22 -- In front of a large crowd to see the Yanks come to town for the first time, Showalter flips his lid at strikes called balls (maybe for Jeter) that get the O's into trouble.
Posted by: B | April 1, 2011 9:14 AM
Sure I'll play.
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Vladimir Guerrero
Highest Average: Guerrero
Wins: Jeremy Guthrie
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 76
Lone All-Star: Guerrero
Will be traded in 2011: Andino, Reimold, Fox
Norfolk cal-up: Hendrickson
Showalter's first ejection: May 14th (???)
Posted by: Orsulakfan | April 1, 2011 9:30 AM
HR leader - Reynolds
RBI leader - Guerrero
Avg. leader - Markakis
Wins leader - Guthrie
Strikeout leader - Matusz
Team wins - 85
Lone All-Star - there'll be more than one. I'll say Guerrero and either Markakis or Jones
Will be traded - Luke, Izturis
First Norfolk callup - Britton
Showalter's first ejection - home opener
Posted by: Keith | April 1, 2011 9:33 AM
I predict that Brummie will lead the blog in childish rants and name changes.
Also, Markakis will hit for the highest average, Vlad will lead the team in HRs and RBIs, and Matusz will lead the team in wins. .Don't let his spring stats fool you. He's an ace in the waiting.
Gregg will lead the team in saves.
Unfortunately, there's no saving Brummie.
Posted by: Moron Detector | April 1, 2011 9:47 AM
The only stats that matter: 88 wins and 74 losses
Posted by: C. J. | April 1, 2011 9:49 AM
HR leader - Reynolds
RBI leader - Lee
Avg. leader - Markakis
Wins leader - Matusz
Strikeout leader -Arrieta
Team wins - 81
Lone All-Star - Markakis (FINALLY)
Will be traded - Guererro and Pie
First Norfolk callup - Tatum
Showalter's first ejection - April 6th
Posted by: Dave in Bel Air | April 1, 2011 9:55 AM
My first prediction was that Dan would have a prediction Friday about the Orioles. I got that right, but missed on the fact that there would be two of them. I love Opening Day! My wife commented on me being particularly cheerful this morning. I told her it was because I loved her and did not mention anything about the renewal of life that is the beginning of the baseball season.
HR leader: Reynolds
RBI leader: Guerrero
Highest Avg.: Markakis
Wins: Guthrie
Strikeout leader: Matusz
Team wins: 82 (I am being conservative with my optimism.)
Lone All-Star: Markakis will be one; you do realize that it is not part of the league by-laws that the Orioles are limited to only one?
Will be traded in 2011: Andino
First Norfolk callup: Tatum
Showalter’s first ejection: April 23
Posted by: CSB Jack | April 1, 2011 10:13 AM
HR leader: Vladdy (39)
RBIs: Reynolds (130, going out on a limb here)
Avg: Nicky (.339)
Wins: Matusz
Strikeouts: Jake
Team Wins:89
Lone All-star: I think two, Vlad and Nick
Will be Traded: Luke
First Norfolk Call-up: Zach Britton
Showalter's first ejection: lets go with the home opener
Posted by: Clint | April 1, 2011 10:37 AM
HR Leader: Reynolds
RBI Leader: Vladdy
Avg Leader: Vladdy/Markakis tie at .327
Wins: Guthrie
K's: Matusz
Team Wins: 93
All Star(s): Roberts/Jones/Vlad
Traded: Tillman
First Call Up: Britton
Ejection: April 13
ERA: Matusz
Posted by: king of the donkeys | April 1, 2011 12:04 PM
HR: Reynolds
RBI: Vlad
Highest Avg: Markakis
Wins: Matusz
Strike Outs: Matusz
Team Wins: 87
Lone All Star: Markakis
Will Be Traded: Felix Pie
First Call up: Britton 1st, Reimold 2nd
Ejection: April 12th at NYY
Posted by: JoseB | April 1, 2011 12:29 PM
HR leader - Foxy
RBI leader - Foxy
Avg. leader - Foxy
Wins leader - That's right, Foxy
Strikeout leader -Again, Foxy
Team wins - 78
Lone All-Star - Foxy
Will be traded - Lee
First Norfolk callup - Snyder
Showalter's first ejection - April 6th because of arguing with Foxy for knocking out a beachball on a 3-0 count.
Posted by: Fox | April 1, 2011 12:32 PM
This years team should be called the IFFY-O's. IF is Bucks biggest opponent.
HR leader: Scott
RBIs: Scott
Avg: Markakis
Wins: Arrieta
Strikeouts: Matusz
Team Wins:77-85
All-star: Scott, Arrieta
Will be Traded: Gonzalez, Berken, Uehara (Blockbuster for pitcher from Mets)
First Call-up: Britton
Showalter's first ejection: 1st home game vs Yankees
Posted by: nobull | April 1, 2011 12:52 PM
Man, this is like homework. So I'm going to do the same as when I was given to much homework. I'm going out and play. Go Birds.
Posted by: Rich M. | April 1, 2011 3:44 PM
Gimme a Natty Boh (on tap) and a shot of Pride of Balto whiskey.
HR leader - Reynolds
RBI leader - Vlad
Highest Avg - Markakis
Wins - Matusz
Strikeouts - Reynolds...oh, pitching? Matusz
Team Wins -82
Lone All Star - Markakis
Traded in '11 - Luke Scott
Norfolk call up - Britton (please)
Showalter 1st ejection April 21st
Get well Brooksie!
Posted by: Rob K. | April 1, 2011 4:56 PM
I got one right !
Britton- First Called Up.
Who would have guessed this would happen before the first game was over.
Good Luck with your predictions
Posted by: nobull | April 1, 2011 10:02 PM