The SeatGeek Sports Blog will be doing Team Profiles for all the Major League Baseball teams over the next couple of months.  Each profile will include 5 topical questions about the team, answered by those who follow the teams the closest, the bloggers.  For the Baltimore Orioles Team Profile Daniel Moroz of Camdencrazies.com was nice enough to provide some insight on the team.

SeatGeek: Although it has been a bad start to the season, as a baseball fan I have been really impressed by Matt Wieters, Adam Jones, and Brian Matusz.  Do you think the Orioles are heading in the right direction in terms of being able to compete with the big 3 in the division anytime soon?

Daniel Moroz: The team is certainly heading in the right direction. There’s really no way for the Orioles to compete long-term in the AL East without developing young players. That’s often a risky proposition and doesn’t always go according to plan (though free agency isn’t really that different in those regards), but it’s the best way for the O’s to challenge for a division title. I know it’s frustrating, but as long as the team looks like they have a good plan in place I’m willing to be patient – I’m looking at 2012 as the first year where they can really start making some noise. And I also understand that they can make every decision correctly.

 SeatGeek: Who is the next player in the O’s minor league system that will have a impact on the Major League ball club?  Can you give me a little scouting report?

Daniel Moroz: Would it be cheating to say Chris Tillman, who was up with the team for a substantial part of 2009? The right-handed pitcher started this year in Triple-A due to a roster crunch in the rotation and a lack-luster Spring Training, but he’s turned things around in the minors recently – he even pitched a no-hitter a couple starts ago.  Tillman’s a flyball pitcher, which resulted in some home run issues last year and may in the future as well. He looks like he’s really improved his control, though it may have come at the cost of fewer strike-outs (though still a healthy number). As far as his stuff, he’s got a low 90s fastball that I would say is average to a little above, a plus-plus curveball, a surprisingly good change-up, and he’s been working on a cutter apparently as well. He still has the ceiling of a top of the rotation starter, but the more likely outcome is as a good #3. If the starting rotation needs reinforcements, then he – or Jake Arrieta, with a great start in Triple-A himself – are probably next in line.

 SeatGeek: Since 2003-2004(The signings of Tejada, Lopez, Ponson, Palmerio) the O’s have not signed any big name free agents.  Is it that Peter Angelos in unwilling to spend money or is it the recent bad stretch the O’s have gone through that has kept the big name players away?

Daniel Moroz: I’d say mostly neither (the team probably does need to spend a little extra because of the losing, but I don’t think it’s a huge issue). People often have this complaint, but then don’t say what they would have done differently. Which guy in particular would you (a general “you”) have signed? I’ve found the responses to be pretty lacking there, when you get passed the guys name and the excitement and actually look at the production and the cost involved.  Mark Teixeira was offered $140 M, but went to New York for $180 M (without even asking the O’s to match it, apparently). Beating that price wouldn’t have been a smart move for the team – especially considering they were still at least a couple of years from contending. When the team is closer – 2011 or 2012 – is when it makes sense to try to get that last big piece via free agency. Giving tens of millions of  dollars to a guy who will get the team from 70 to 75 wins now but will be 35 years old and well past his prime (but still making a ton of money) when the younger Orioles’ players are hitting theirs (and the team is starting to make a run), is poor planning.  As an additional argument, I’ll point to the list of names you mentioned. How well did those deals turn out?

 SeatGeek: How has Tejada’s transition from short to third gone so far?

Daniel Moroz: Miggy’s got a good arm, which certainly helps. I think he’s still getting used to playing there, and seems to have a tendency to pull an ole move on balls hit to his left. I looked at how Tejada might transition before the season – http://camdencrazies.com/2010/02/01/how-well-might-miguel-tejada-transfer-to-third-base/ – and came up with about average to a little below with regards to his fielding at third. I think that’s what we’ll get.

 SeatGeek: What is the secondary ticket market like in Baltimore in terms of baseball? When people look to get tickets do they usually go to the team or are they more likely to buy from scalpers, StubHub, etc.?  I’m from NY and I have never been to a game at Camden Yards, but I plan to go in the beginning of June, where would you recommend someone sit on their first trip to the stadium?

Daniel Moroz: I’ve never used the secondary ticket market in Baltimore, though there are usually 4-5 scalpers offering tickets between the metro stop and the stadium. Often I’ll just pick up a ticket when I get there. The ballpark is really nice, and I think you get a good view of the game from just about anywhere – which means that even the cheap seats provide good value. Hope you enjoy your trip down.

 I’d like to thank Daniel for taking the time to answer some Orioles questions from SeatGeek.  You can find Daniel Moroz at CamdenCrazies.com and on Twitter @CamdenCrazies.   Watch out for more MLB Team Profiles weekly on the SeatGeek Sports Blog.

The SeatGeek Sports Blog will be doing Team Profiles for all the Major League Baseball teams over the next couple of months.  Each profile will include 5 topical questions about the team, answered by those who follow the teams the closest, the bloggers.  For the Toronto Blue Jays Team Profile Mat Germain of JaysJournal.com and Ian Hunter of Bluejayhunter.com were nice enough to provide some insight on team.

SeatGeek: The Blue Jays have been a sort of a surprise this year, what are your expectations for this team in the tough AL East?

Ian Hunter: It’s hard to tell whether the Blue Jays are playing over their heads right now, or not. When they jumped out to that phenomenal 27-13 start last year, everyone was saying the true litmus test would be versus AL East opponents. Currently the Blue Jays are 2-7 against Red Sox and Rays, but they have fared pretty well against everyone else.  If the Blue Jays can hover around .500 or dip a little bit below that by year’s end, I’d say that’s a pretty big accomplishment for this rebuilding team.

Mat Germain: I was actually one of the very few who picked the Jays to finish the season 2 games above .500 and the only one to do so publicly – to my knowledge, so to me it’s no surprise at all. Everyone was so focused on the loss of Roy Halladay that they forgot to take note of what the Jays do have. No pressure, a great pen with depth, lots of young up-and-coming starting pitching, and a good offensive force that can win some games even when the pitching is not so great.  My expectations are that they will make a few deals in the coming weeks to shore up 3B (using a starter and reliever as trade bait) and that they’ll promote Brett Wallace who should help the Jays out big time at 1B. They’ll spend big in the draft and then wait for that talent, and the ones already in house, to mature to become THE dominant AL East team.

SeatGeek: Do you think the team is heading in the right direction to eventually compete with the big 3 in the division for a playoff spot?

Ian Hunter: I think the Blue Jays are making all the right moves to win down the road, but they aren’t going to contend in the immediate future. General Manger Alex Anthopoulos realizes that he’s not doing to be able put up the kind of payroll that the Yankees and Red Sox have at their disposal, so the Jays will have to build a winner from the bottom up.

Mat Germain: I believe that the aging Red Sox and Yankees will be looking up at the Jays and that the budget woes of the Rays will force them to deal too much talent to compete with the Jays. The Jays are putting it all together right now under Alex Anthopolous. A great scouting crew, some of the best statisticians in the game, lots of draft picks, a huge amounts of budget space to grab free agents, and more pitching depth than anyone gives them credit for. With the catching position in the minors being the strongest on the Jays than any other MLB team (JP Arencibia in AAA, Brian Jeroloman in AA, Travis d’Arnaud in Hi A, AJ Jiminez in Lo A, and Carlos Perez in the GCL), the Jays are more than set at that position and have now resolved their long term needs at SS with the addition of Adeiny Hechavarria who could have just easily been the heir apparent to Derek Jeter in New York – a clear indication of his talent level.

SeatGeek: Also a surprise is the reemergence of Vernon Wells this year. Do you think he keeps it up, and what has he changed from the previous couple years to get back to where he is now?

Ian Hunter: I certainly hope that Vernon Wells can keep it up. After last year’s dismal season, he really didn’t have anywhere to go but up. Apparently he tweaked his swing a little bit just prior to the season, which seems to be working very well for him so far. It’s allowed him to turn on pitches a little quicker. Wells also played through a nagging wrist injury last season which probably contributed to his lack of numbers.

Mat Germain: I doubt he can keep the pace he is on up, but an end season total of .300 and 30 HRs is more than within reach for Vernon, and every Jays fan I know is ecstatic to get that kind of performance since that’s exactly what the Jays are paying him for. What has changed? His wrist is healthy and the club house is now the way Vernon likes it – nice and loose and full of potential. I also think he’s got a chip on his shoulder and wants to prove his contract was no mistake because he would have done this in years past if he had been healthy.

SeatGeek: Are there any Jays minor leaguers on the horizon that could make an impact on this team?  If so give me a little scouting report.

Ian Hunter: The big names that will be making a splash with the Blue Jays oddly enough are all thanks to the departed Roy Halladay. Brett Wallace and Kyle Drabek were two players that came over to the Jays in the Halladay trade with the Phillies, and expect them to make an appearance with the big league club at some point this year.

Wallace is a slugging first baseman who looks to take over for Lyle Overbay at first base by season’s end. Kyle Drabek is the son of Doug Drabek, and has the potential to become a solid number two or three starter in the big leagues.

Mat Germain: My Top 3 are as follows:

Brett Wallace – He will be the best 1B the Jays have had since Carlos Delgado and will change the face of the franchise because the middle of the lineup will now feature 4 bats in a row that could reach 30 HRs (Hill, Lind, Wells, Wallace). No other team, even the Yankees, feature that much power. Add the rejuvenated Fred Lewis at the top of the lineup and his great average/OBP combination, and teams will have a hard time with the Jays lineup for years to come. Brett is good enough to be as potent as Ryan Braun offensively. Don’t believe me? Check out this post I made up to compare the two in December, it proves my point.

Jarrett Hoffpauir – Having praised Aaron Hill for having 30 HR potential, I still have a feeling he is playing injured and will need some time on the DL. If he does go on the DL, Jarrett Hoffpauir could get the call, and he is deserving of a shot. He’s hitting .324 with 3 HRs and only 4 strike outs in 105 ABs. He doesn’t have a ton of extra base power, but his .410 OBP is something the Jays could get a lot from as he would fit in the 2-hole Hill usually hits out of.

Brad Mills – I have a strong feeling that the Jays will deal some starting pitching very soon, and when they do, Brad Mills will climb the ladder to become a factor in the rotation this season. He has 40 Ks in 35 IP this season and sports a decent 3.09 ERA. He started out on fire, making BA’s hot prospect list, but has regressed a little since then. While others are huge fans of Mills, I’m still on the fence that he can be effective in MLB. However, he has been pitching extremely well this season and is pushing for a shot. He doesn’t have a ton of velocity (87-90 MPH fastball) and is known to elevate pitches when he misses his spots while I usually like guys who miss down and/or away instead. Still, there’s no reason to give up on Brad before he gets to prove himself and he could have a good impact on the Jays if he pitches effectively when needed.

SeatGeek: In terms of going to the game and seating, do you recommend buying tickets through the club or on the secondary ticket market?  Is there a large secondary ticket market in Toronto?  If someone was coming to Rogers Centre for the first time where would you recommend sitting?

Ian Hunter: Personally, I’m always a little weary of buying tickets from scalpers, so I usually just buy my tickets online through the Blue Jays website. With the dip in attendance though, sometimes you can actually get tickets for half the face value from scalpers who are desperate to get rid of the tickets.  For someone making their first trip to Toronto to see the Blue Jays, I would advise getting your tickets online just to be certain that they are legit and are in your hands when you get to the gate.

Mat Germain: Everyone has a favorite spot, but my favorites are the Field level bases tickets that give you the broadest view while not breaking the bank at $44 apiece. You can get a 10-pack of these seats for an average of $42.50 each or 15 at an average of $41 a piece with what they call Flex packs. That would be my suggestion if someone can afford it and lives nearby enough to see them often.

I’d like to thank Mat and Ian for taking the time to answer some Blue Jays questions from SeatGeek.  You can find Mat Germain at Jaysjournal.com and on Twitter @BlueJaysDaze.  You can find Ian Hunter at Bluejayhunter.com and on Twitter @BlueJayHunter.  Watch out for more MLB Team Profiles weekly on the SeatGeek Sports Blog.

SeatGeek forecasts the price of sports or concert tickets. So before buying tickets to an event, you can check SeatGeek for a price forecast. If the price is going up, you’ll want to buy your tickets right away. Essentially, we want to save you money when you are purchasing tickets to your favorites events.

As you may have guessed, we are extremely passionate about sports and music, and love engaging in debate and sharing our thoughts on these topics. As a result, we have launched SeatGeek Sports as a dedicated part of our site to discuss key sports trends, player developments, upcoming events, and any unique experiences we have interacting with players/teams/organizations. We are already very active in the sports microblogging world on Twitter and Facebook, but often need more than 140 characters to get our view across or respond to another blogger’s sports column.

We view SeatGeek Sports as an open forum for debate and discussion with fellow sports enthusiasts and as an extension of the conversations we are already involved in on Twitter. So we encourage you to check back often, leave comments, and to Follow us on Twitter and Fan us on Facebook to get involved in our daily sports discussions.

Thanks,

The SeatGeek Team