masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles still want to add a left-handed hitting outfielder, reliever and catcher before opening day on April 6. Their shopping list is written out clearly. No smudges.
What remains unclear to me is who’s going to bat first in the lineup.
Nick Markakis is gone, having signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves. He was the Orioles’ leadoff hitter in 148 games last season.
Now what?
I never received a clear answer when I asked executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager…

The Orioles still want to add a left-handed hitting outfielder, reliever and catcher before opening day on April 6. Their shopping list is written out clearly. No smudges.

What remains unclear to me is who’s going to bat first in the lineup.

Nick Markakis is gone, having signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Braves. He was the Orioles’ leadoff hitter in 148 games last season.

Now what?

I never received a clear answer when I asked executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. Maybe the leadoff hitter isn’t here yet.

If the Orioles sign Colby Rasmus, they still haven’t answered the question. Rasmus has batted first in seven games, including five starts, and is 2-for-20 with a home run. He has a career .313 on-base percentage and averages six stolen bases in six major league seasons.

Nori Aoki has a .353 on-base percentage in three seasons. He’s batted first in 338 games. He’d be the obvious candidate if the Orioles held more interest in him.

If the season began today, my assumption is that Alejandro De Aza would be batting first and starting in left field. It’s a process of elimination. Who’s a more viable candidate?

De Aza has hit first in 304 games, easily the most of any spot in the lineup, but he’s got to earn regular playing time with the Orioles. He batted .138/.194/.207 versus left-handed pitching last season, compared to a .277/.340/.426 line versus right-handers.

De Aza is a career .247/.311/.366 hitter against lefties. Not great, but a heck of a lot better than his 2014 splits.

David Lough also could hit first, but he’s not currently projected as more than a fourth outfielder.

machado-swing-gray-sidebar.jpgManny Machado has hit second for the Orioles, but he’s more likely to move down in the order. Showalter indicated at the Winter Meetings that Steve Pearce could bat second. Again, this doesn’t solve the leadoff issue.

J.J. Hardy has batted first in 65 games over his 10-year career. He owns a lifetime .312 on-base percentage. He’s not a candidate to lead off for the Orioles unless they’re keeping it a secret.

Here’s my revised lineup:

LF Alejandro De Aza (L)
RF Steve Pearce (R)
1B Chris Davis (L)
CF Adam Jones (R)
C Matt Wieters (S)
DH Delmon Young (R)
3B Manny Machado (R)
SS J.J. Hardy (R)
2B Jonathan Schoop (R)

That’s too many right-handed hitters at the bottom, but it’s subject to change once the Orioles find another left-handed hitter.

This lineup still needs work. Does it need someone else to bat leadoff?