Orioles Bank on a Rebuilt Bullpen Team’S Fortunes Could Hinge in Part on Three Free Agents Who Signed in Offseason
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6BLACK E6 DAILY 02-11-07 MD RE E6 BLACK Sunday, February The Washington Post E6 11, 2007 R x OriolesSpring Training By Jorge Arangure Jr. KEY DATES FIVE STORY LINES First pitchers-catchers workout: Thursday Is Erik Bedard an Ace? Is Melvin Mora on the Decline? First full-squad workout: Feb. 20 No Orioles starter has pitched better the past two seasons than Bedard. Last season he pitched a Mora was expected to snap out of his early-season 1 Home opener: April 9 vs. Detroit career-high 196 ⁄3 innings and won a team-high 15 games. Bedard’s 3.76 ERA was the best for an funk last year as soon as he signed his three-year Orioles starter since 2004. His next challenge: to become the No. 1 starter, a role vacated by the contract extension. Instead, he posted his lowest recently traded Rodrigo Lopez, who had been the Opening Day starter three of the past four batting average (.274) and on-base percentage (.342) SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE seasons. With some run support, Bedard is capable of winning 20 since 2002. The Orioles gave him a $25 million ex- (All dates in March, all sites Florida unless games and perhaps moving into the top tier of American tension in part because the third baseman is a popular otherwise noted; all times p.m. Asterisk League starters. player in the community. But they also thought he’d be indicates games on MASN.) productive, even at 35. This season could tell whether Day Opponent Site Time Will the Leo Mazzone they miscalculated. Magic Finally Emerge? 1 Florida Jupiter 1:05 What Does Aubrey Huff Have Left? 2 Florida Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 Mazzone was supposed to dramatical- ly improve the Orioles’ pitching. The Orioles’ most significant offensive addition has 3* Washington Viera 1:05 Instead, the team ERA last year seen his numbers decline with age. Part of Huff’s al- 4 N.Y. Mets Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 (5.35) was worse than in lure is his versatility: He can play first and third base and left field. But what can he offer offen- 5 Florida Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 2005 (4.57). Mazzone’s supporters point out that sively? It’s unlikely Huff, 30, will ever match his 6 St. Louis Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 the team’s ERA should career highs of 34 home runs and 107 RBI from 7 Florida Jupiter 1:05 drastically improve now 2003. But a slight improvement on last year’s 8 N.Y. Mets Port St. Lucie 1:10 that Lopez (5.90) and season (.266, 21 home runs) should be enough Bruce Chen (6.93) are to please the Orioles’ front office. 9* Washington Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 gone. They also assert 10 St. Louis Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 that Mazzone’s lessons Just How Good 11 Boston Fort Myers 1:05 usually take one season Is Nick Markakis? 12 L.A. Dodgers Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 to be appreciated fully by In the first half of last season Markakis hit his staff. Mazzone’s team .268 with two home runs. In the second 13 Florida Jupiter 1:05 ERA in Atlanta improved half, Markakis hit .311 with 14 home runs. 14 Florida Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 by more than a run from His true level of talent likely lies some- 15 Minnesota Fort Myers 1:05 his first year (4.58) to his where between the two. Never projected to second (3.49). be a huge home run threat, Markakis likely 16 Minnesota Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 will settle into the 20 to 25 home run range 17 Florida Jupiter 1:05 Nick Markakis, right, was much with an average near .300 as the starting N.Y. Mets Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 more productive in the second right fielder. 18* Boston Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 half of the season than the first. 19 Off BY GAIL BURTON — ASSOCIATED PRESS 20 N.Y. Mets Port St. Lucie 7:10 21 St. Louis Jupiter 1:05 40-MAN ROSTER NON-ROSTER INVITEES 22 L.A. Dodgers Vero Beach 1:05 Pitchers B/T Age *2006 W-L, ERA, SO DEPTH CHART Pitchers B/T Age 2006 W-L, ERA, SO Danys Baez Jose Acevedo 23 Boston Fort Myers 1:05 — R/R 29 5-6, 4.53, 39 (LA, Atl.) — R/R 29 Has 111 career saves CENTER FIELD Eight shutout innings in first start in Caribbean World Series 24* L.A. Dodgers Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 45 Erik Bedard L/L 27 15-11, 3.76, 171 Corey Patterson — Rob Bell R/R 30 Won seven straight last season Last pitched in majors in 2005 N.Y. Mets Port St. Lucie 1:10 Jay Payton 34 Kris Benson R/R 32 11-12, 4.82, 88 LEFT FIELD RIGHT FIELD — Francis Beltran R/R 27 1 25 St. Louis Jupiter 1:05 Team has $7.5 million option for 2008 Nick Markakis Has pitched 61 ⁄3 innings in major league career Aubrey Huff Nick Markakis 26 Minnesota Fort Myers 1:05 25 Kurt Birkins L/L 26 5-2, 4.94, 27 Jay Gibbons — Fredy Deza R/R 24 Elbow injury led to late-season decline Jay Payton Has never pitched past Class A 27 Florida Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 Jay Payton — Chad Bradford R/R 32 4-2, 2.90, 45 (NYM) Jay Gibbons SHORTSTOP SECOND BASE — Cory Doyne R/R 25 28* Washington Viera 1:05 Career ERA of 3.40 Miguel Tejada Brian Roberts Drafted by the Astros in 2000 St. Louis Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 56 Brian Burres L/L 25 0-0, 2.25, 6 Chris Gomez Chris Gomez — Steve Green R/R 29 Late-season call-up surprised team Played in the World Baseball Classic for Canada Freddie Bynum Freddie Bynum 29 Washington Columbus, OH 4:05 35 Daniel Cabrera R/R 25 9-10, 4.74, 157 — Jon Leicester R/R 28 30* Washington Norfolk 2:05 Has lowered hits allowed in each of his 3 seasons Career 4.80 ERA in the majors — Jeremy Guthrie R/R 27 0-0, 6.98, 14 — Radhames Liz R/R 23 31* Washington RFK Stadium 1:05 Claimed on waivers from Cleveland Hard thrower considered a top prospect 47 Jim Hoey R/R 24 0-1, 10.24, 6 — Victor Moreno R/R 27 Likely will start years in minors THIRD BASE FIRST BASE Pitched in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela TEAM FACTS 47 Jim Johnson R/R 23 0-1, 24.00, 0 Melvin Mora Kevin Millar — Garrett Olson R/L 26 Unimpressive in one MLB start last year Prospect could jump to majors this year COACHES Aubrey Huff Aubrey Huff 81 Ryan Keefer L/R 25 STARTING — Paul Shuey R/R 36 Sam Perlozzo, manager; Tom Trebelhorn, Chris Gomez Chris Gomez Has yet to pitch in the majors PITCHERS RELIEVERS Setup man for Eric Gagne in Los Angeles bench coach; Sam Mejias, first base; Juan 29 Adam Loewen L/L 22 6-6, 5.37, 98 — Chris Waters L/L 26 Samuel, third base; Terry Crowley, Out of options, so must remain in majors Erik Bedard Chris Ray 14 losses last season in the minors hitting. 36 John Parrish L/L 29 Daniel Cabrera Danys Baez Catchers B/T Age 2006 Avg., OBP, RBI Leo Mazzone, pitching; Rick Dempsey, Trying to recover from elbow surgery Kris Benson Chad Bradford — J.R. House R/R 27 .000, .000, 0 (Hou.) bullpen. 49 Hayden Penn R/R 22 0-4, 15.10, 8 Adam Loewen Jamie Walker Once held national prep record for passing yards Despite struggles last year, still in team’s plans FORT LAUDERDALE STADIUM Jaret Wright Scott Williamson — Ryan Hubele R/R 26 37 Chris Ray R/R 25 4-4, 2.73, 51 Teammate of Brandon Fahey at U. of Texas Built: Todd Williams 1962. Ranked 10th in AL in saves DESIGNATED CATCHER — Eli Whiteside R/R 27 Seating capacity: Kurt Birkins 8,340. 43 Sendy Rleal R/R 26 1-1, 4.44, 19 HITTER Ramon Hernandez Three hits in 12 major league at-bats Dimensions: 322 feet to the left field Likely will start year in minors Jay Gibbons Paul Bako Infielders B/T Age 2006 Avg., OBP, RBI fence, 320 to the right field fence and — Jamie Walker L/L 35 0-1, 2.81, 37 Adam Donachie — Mike Cervenak R/R 30 401 to center field. 1.29 ERA in late innings of close games last year Kevin Millar Played at the University of Michigan Address: 1301 NW 55th St., Fort 53 Todd Williams R/R 35 2-4, 4.74, 24 Aubrey Huff — Brandon Sing R/R 25 Could be the long man in the bullpen Hit 32 HRs in the minors in 2004 Lauderdale, Fla. 33309. Infielders cont. B/T Age 2006 Avg., OBP, RBI Outfielders cont. B/T Age 2006 Avg., OBP, RBI — Scott Williamson R/R 30 2-4, 5.72, 42 (ChC, SD) — Terry Tiffee S/R 27 .244, .306, 6 Children — Luis Hernandez S/R 22 31 Jay Gibbons L/L 29 .277, .341, 46 Only question is health Braves prospect signed as minor league free agent Will mostly DH; may play some first base Spent three seasons with the Minnesota Twins 14 and — Jaret Wright R/R 31 11-7, 4.49, 84 (NYY) Outfielders B/T Age 2006 Avg., OBP, RBI TICKET PRICES Adult under 15 Kevin Millar R/R 35 .272, .374, 64 — Aubrey Huff L/R 30 .266, .343, 65 (Hou., TB) Best year as starter in ’04 with Mazzone as coach OBP ranked second on team among regulars .299, 20 HRs, 63 RBI in his career against the Orioles — Roger Cedeño S/R 32 Box seats $20 $20 Catchers B/T Age 2006 Avg., OBP, RBI Stole 66 bases in 1999 with Mets 6 Melvin Mora R/R 35 .274, .342, 83 63 Val Majewski L/L 25 — Paul Bako L/R 34 .209, .261, 10 (KC) Lowest HR total (16) since 2003 Hit .260 in the minors while recovering from shoulder surgery — Jason Dubois R/R 27 Reserved grandstand $14 $14 Front-runner for backup job Attended Virginia Commonwealth 1 Brian Roberts S/R 29 .286, .347, 55 21 Nick Markakis L/L 23 .291, .351, 62 General admission $10 $5 — Adam Donachie R/R 22 9 of 10 HRs came after the all-star break Hit .403 in July — Cory Keylor L/R 27 Acquired in Rule 5 draft Will likely make the jump to Class AAA this year 10 Miguel Tejada R/R 30 .330, .379, 100 17 Corey PattersonL/R 27 .276, .314, 53 HOW TO GET TICKETS 55 Ramon Hernandez R/R 30 .275, .343, 91 1,080 consecutive games played 45 steals were a career high — Jon Knott R/R 28 .000, .000, 0 (SD) Career-high 91 RBI last year Career .373 OBP in minors On the Internet: www.orioles.com.