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Baltimore
Orioles
»Roster
»Schedule
2000
RECORD: 74-88 (4th IN AL EAST)
REVIEW
The lone highlight of the 2000 Orioles was CAL RIPKEN JR. picking up his
3000th hit. Aside from that, this collection of overpaid veterans plundered
along and at the trade deadline, four of them, WILL CLARK, CHARLES JOHNSON,
B.J. SURHOFF and MIKE BORDICK, were shipped out. ALBERT BELLE struggled
with an arthritic hip and slugged only 23 home runs after averaging 39
over his previous nine seasons. A late season surprise was first baseman
CHRIS RICHARD, who came over from the Cardinals in the CLARK trade. He
slammed 14 home runs in just 215 at bats. RYAN KOHLMEIER was given the
closer's role over the last two months and saved 13 games in 25 appearances.
LOOKAHEAD
Those who don't learn from their past are doomed to repeat it. With that
in mind, the Orioles went out and signed another batch of veterans, while
losing ace MIKE MUSSINA to the Yankees. Former Cy Young award winner PAT
HENTGEN was signed as a free agent, as well as DAVID SEGUI and MIKE BORDICK,
who returns from the Mets. Though he's been given clearance to work out,
ALBERT BELLE's hip has to worry manager MIKE HARGROVE. Without him, the
majors 20th ranked offense will suffer. SIDNEY PONSON will be asked to
assume the MUSSINA role as an inning-eater, but the back end of the rotation
will be decided at spring training with non-name, inexperienced pitchers
auditioning for 2 spots.
UNDER
THE MICROSCOPE
With his consecutive games streak a distant memory, CAL RIPKEN JR. is
looking every bit his 40 years. The last link from the Orioles glory days
of the 80's, RIPKEN should be used more as a DH and less in the field.
Let's hope he knows when to hang it up instead of staying past his usefulness.
STATS
MAN SAYS
Angelos curse continues > 4th
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