Hernandez is a bright young pitcher and seemed to come into his own once he was switched to the bullpen (7-3, 3.16 ERA, 45 K in 37 IP), and Mickolio took a major step backward in 2010 - he'll be 27 in May, and can't be considered a prospect any more. I'm just relieved that they didn't break up Chris Tillman as previously rumored. As far as Mark Reynolds, the deficiencies in his game jump right out at you. In 2008, he was the first player to take out 200 times in a season, and he blew his own record out of the urine with 223 the next year. Last year he had 211 whiffs and his batting average plunged from .260 to .198. But strikeouts aren't as stigmatized as they formerly were; they're not any worse than any other case of out, and they're better than double plays (I'm looking at you, Miguel Tejada). And even with all of the strikeouts and the low batting averages (.242 for his career), he however has a lot of treasure as a hitter. Unlike the aforementioned Tejada and the rookie Josh Bell, Reynolds is not afraid to make a walk. Last year he walked a career-high 83 times, nearly 4 times as much as Baltimore's cast of third basemen combined. Then, of course, there's the power. Whether or not the University of Virginia product ever matches the 44 home runs he hit in 2009, there's no doubt that he is a lawful power hitter. In a down year last year, he still clouted 32 homers, one every 15.6 at bats. The O's have just had three 30-homer seasons in the final decade: Aubrey Huff in 2008, Miguel Tejada in 2004, and Tony Batista in 2002. Besides, Reynolds is still comparatively young (27) and affordable. He's under contract for two more years, with a team selection for a third. I think what I'm saying is that he is not another Garrett Atkins. Welcome to Baltimore, Mark. I look ahead to watching you swing for the fences at Camden Yards.
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