The Book

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Orioles

"The orioles may be good enough for the wild card, but a lot of things have to go right. More likely, they're .500. Their bullpen depth isn't strong. Chuck McElroy is an important lefthander, but he's definitely on the downswing. Buddy Groom is serviceable, nothing more. Mike Timlin has top closer stuff, but Ray Miller really got into his head last year, and he looked like he had no confidence....

Will Clark's bat has slowed down to a slider bat, and he can't hit lefties. I like Jeff Conine more. He can play first and the outfield, and you know he'll go .280, 20 homers and 75 RBIs....

Brady Anderson doesn't play with his old intensity, and he's lost serious bat speed. If he's your every-day center-fielder, you're in trouble....

Cal still plays third pretty well—soff hands, good instincts. Ryan Minor looks like he'll never be ready to take over. He has more holes at the plate than a wheel of Swiss cheese. I question how much he wants to play. If he was offered an NBA contract, he'd take it. I wouldn't be surprised if the Orioles offer him to an NBA team."