Matt Wieters Comes Through at the End...

Looking back at 2009, there's a lot to go through, ponder, and look back in anger about; therefore, I probably will spend a good bit of time just giving my opinions about the season. There was some good, a lot of bad, and even ugly; however, I guess my first entry this offseason will focus on Matt Wieters.

Wieters, as we all know, was touted as the next Johnny Bench -- only taller and a lot wealthier -- and the expectations on him were so lofty and outrageous that they seemed ridiculous in my mind. Yes, he started off slow, and seemingly had his troubles at the plate, but towards the end of the season, he looked like a new man. Folks, he raked.

His average howevered in the .240-260 range for much of the summer -- it was not bad for a rookie, but not earth-shattering, but then it creeped up to the .270 range. Then September came around and Matt turned it at the plate on to the tune of a .359 average, and moreover, he showed power and hit the ball with amazing authority to all fields.

He had an outside chance of hitting the .300 barrier with a hot weekend at the plate, but when Sunday ended, he ended his rookie season with a .288 average, 9 homers, 43 RBIs, a .340 OBP, and an OPS of .753.

Those numbers are not too shabby for a rookie ballplayer whose major league career began in June. Furthermore, when the Orioles moved up him in the order to bat third -- even during the losing streak -- he managed to shine and deliver. As well, he looked very impressive behind the plate at times, and also had to deal with one of the youngest starting rotations in the majors.

It remains to be seen where he'll bat in the order in 2010; however, one could assume it could be anywhere from the 3-to-6 hole (I don't see him hitting cleanup, but never say never).

2009 was a job well done by Matt Wieters, and if the past few weeks are any indication when it comes to the talent level and potential of the young man, the future could be very bright with the Orioles.

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