26-year old lefty swinging RF Nick Markakis has hit o.k. for average this year but his power was just not there. He has played in 151 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 174 of 594 (.293 avg, .791 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 10 homers, 54 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Markakis has now played in 777 games in his first five years with the O’s and he is 878 of 2,959 (.297 avg, .828 OPS) with 442 runs scored, 87 homers, 416 RBIs and 43 stolen bases. Unless Markakis can hit six homers the rest of the year he will establish a new career low. The Orioles need Markakis to get back into a production groove in 2011 if the team is going to start to really compete in the A.L. East.

23-year old switch hitting 3B Josh Bell is looking overmatched at the plate so far this year. He has played in 45 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 31 of 145 (.214 avg, .535 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs. Bell’s biggest problem so far is that he swings at everything! He has whiffed 51 times while only walking 2 times for the Orioles. Bell had batter adjust to major league pitching as pitchers will scour scouting reports and pitch to his weaknesses if he won’t take a walk.

24-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Arrieta has been shut down for the rest of the year as he will have surgery on his right elbow next Wednesday. He should be ready for spring training by having the surgery now. Arrieta has started 18 games for the O’s this year and he was 6-6 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He also pitched in 12 games (11 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he was 6-2 with a 1.85 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Arrieta has a bright future for the O’s as a top end of the rotation starting pitcher.

The Orioles were 34-73 when they hired Buck Showalter. Since then, the Orioles are 24-15 as they look like a team with a plan now. Showalter has to like what he has in the future with his starting rotation. I would think that the O’s would want to keep 31-year old righty Jeremy Guthrie around to be a example for the younger pitchers on the team. He has started 29 games for the O’s this year and he is 10-13 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Guthrie has outstanding stuff but he is mis-cast as an ace right now. 24-year old lefty Brian Matusz has struggled a bit this year but he has fought through it. He has started 29 games for the O’s this year and he is 8-12 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. 24-year old Jake Arrieta was one of the Orioles’ top prospects coming into this season and he has battled on the mound in his first taste of the majors. He has started 17 games for the Orioles this year and he is 5-6 with a 4.96 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Arrieta, like Matusz, just seems to ooze with potential. 24-year old righty Brad Bergesen seems to be a back of the rotation type of starter. He struggled big time early this season but he has been very solid since Showalter’s arrival on the scene. He has pitched in 26 games (24 starts) for the Orioles this year and he is 6-10 with a 5.29 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. 22-year old righty Chris Tillman also has big time potential even though he has struggled for the O’s this year. Tillman has started 8 games for the Orioles so far this year and he is 1-4 with a 6.32 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP. 22-year old lefty Zach Britton is another elite prospect that’s almost major league ready. Britton has pitched in 27 games (26 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 10-7 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The Orioles have a lot of good, young pitching which is exactly the way the Tampa Bay Rays built their team. So hang in there Orioles’ fans.

When the Orioles traded for 35-year old righty starting pitcher Kevin Millwood they figured he would give them quality innings at the top of the rotation while setting a good example for the kids coming up. After all, he started 31 games for the Rangers in 2009 in which he was 13-10 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. But, Millwood has been awful this year for the Orioles. He has started 27 games for the O’s this year and he is 3-15 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. Millwood has given up 201 hits (26 homers) in only 165 2/3 innings for the Orioles this year as he is pretty much throwing batting practice. There is almost no chance of Millwood returning in 2010 to the Orioles.

The Orioles have designated Luis Montanez for assignment. The 28-year old righty swinging outfielder played in 26 games for the O’s this year and he was 8 of 57 (.140 avg, .296 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Montanez played in 93 games in his three years with the Orioles and he was 56 of 251 (.223 avg, .579 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 4 homers, 23 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Orioles gave Montanez enough time to show what he could do and they didn’t like what they saw.