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Baltimore Orioles
Players to Watch
Scouting Report | By the Numbers | Projected Roster
The
X-Factor
As a Mariner last year,
Norm
Charlton was a key part of a five-man group that couldn't pick up a
save in a Salvation Army thrift shop. For the Orioles this
year, his main job will be to set the table for Armando
Benitez. At this stage in his career, Carlton is too wild
to be a closer (49
walks in
69 1/3
innings last year) for a good team like Baltimore. That's
fine, except for the fact that Benitez may
also be too wild to be a closer. So
if Charlton relieves Benitez 10 times, that'll mean the O's
closer can't find the
plate.
And that could cost the Orioles the division
title.
Off-Season
Moves
What They Needed: With Randy Myers and Geronimo Berroa defecting to Toronto
and Cleveland, respectively, a solid arm or two for the pen
and a powerful
bat.
What They Got:The O's hope Joe Carter has one or two more 30 HR seasons
in his bat. Norm Charlton, late of the disastrous Seattle
bullpen, brings last year's 7.27 ERA to town. Doug Drabek
was signed as a fifth starter. Shortstop
Ozzie Guillen was signed as a
backup.
What it All Means:This team is a little older, and even better: Carter is
still a threat, Guillen adds depth, and Charlton and Drabek
have been in pennant races before. The downside: Cal Ripken
suddenly seems
young.
—by Tom Verducci
Scouting Report | By the Numbers | Players To Watch | Projected Roster
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