|
 |   |
EVENTS AD PARTNERS
|  |
1999 Recap: Whatever shot the Orioles had of challenging the Yankees in the AL East went phffft! when they dropped 31 of their first 50 games. Injuries sidelined Cal Ripken Jr., Will Clark and Delino DeShields for significant chunks of the season, and the bullpen blew 25 saves. End result? Neither manager Ray Miller nor GM Frank Wren is working at Camden Yards this season. 1999 Highlight: Ace Mike Mussina, the league's top pitcher after Pedro Martinez, may have had his finest season (18-7, 3.50 ERA) considering the surrounding cast. 1999 Lowlight: Closer Mike Timlin signed a four-year deal worth $16 million, then blew 12 of his first 19 save opportunities before righting himself in the second half. Manager: Mike Hargrove (first season with Orioles, 721-591 in nine seasons) Coaches: Terry Crowley (hitting), Sammy Ellis (pitching), Brian Graham (first base), Sam Perlozzo (third base), Elrod Hendricks (bullpen), Eddie Murray (bench/outfield), Jeff Newman (bench) Camp Site: Ft. Lauderdale Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Pitchers & Catchers: Feb. 17; Full Squad on Feb. 22 Additions: DH Harold Baines, LHP Buddy Groom, LHP Chuck McElroy, C Greg Myers, RHP Pat Rapp, RHP Mike Trombley, RHP Tim Worrell Subtractions: RHP Mike Fetters, RHP Scott Kamieniecki, RHP Doug Linton, LHP Jesse Orosco, IF Jeff Reboulet, LHP Arthur Rhodes Spring Cleaning: OK, so there's no truth to talk that the Orioles' favorite off-field activity is watching "Matlock" reruns. But the O's are, um, experienced. Shortstop Mike Bordick is 34, outfielder B.J. Surhoff 35, first baseman Will Clark and outfielder Brady Anderson 36, and Cal Ripken Jr. 39. Add 40-year-old DH Harold Baines, and the starting lineup's average age is over 34.
Key Acquisition Right-hander Mike Trombley, signed as a free agent for $7.75 million over three years, gives the Orioles a couple of options. Ideally, he'll be a reliable setup man, something they sorely missed a year ago. And if Mike Timlin gets off to another rocky start, Trombley, with 24 saves in 30 chances for the Twins last season, also offers the O's a viable Plan B at closer. Pivotal Player: Except for a monster finish in 1998 that helped him hit .328 with 49 homers and 152 RBIs, Albert Belle has had -- for him -- a so-so career since leaving the Indians three years ago. But now the temperamental slugger has been reunited with Mike Hargrove and is already promising to be more focused in 2000. It could be very bad news for the rest of the AL. The Future is Now: The question for Ryan Minor is whether it's in Baltimore. At 26, Minor is past being a prospect, and he didn't exactly knock anyone's socks off (.194, three homers, 10 RBIs in 124 at-bats) filling in for Cal Ripken Jr. last season. It's time for him to produce, but if Ripken is healthy again the former basketball star may not get a chance. Opportunity Knocks: An injury also opened the door for second baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. in '99. The difference is that when Delino DeShields went down, the 23-year-old Hairston hit a respectable .269 in 175 at-bats, stole nine bases and played sparkling defense. Another DeShields injury, and the youngster could win the job for good. Prospects to Watch: OF Eugene Kingsale, OF Darnell McDonald, 1B Calvin Pickering, LHP Matt Riley, C Jason Werth
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
