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07-16-2002, 08:48 AM
*sigh* I could just turn this into the Mike Bordick Forum, I guess. :biggrin: :lust:
Bordy is wondering what next year will bring, but is first concerned with this season. And his wife sounds like a very smart woman. ("Just have fun." )
I hope he comes back next year.
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Orioles' Bordick Ponders Future
Mon Jul 15, 3:21 PM ET
By DAVID GINSBURG, AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) - The man who replaced Cal Ripken as the Baltimore Orioles' shortstop is now chasing several of the Iron Man's most impressive records at the position.
In the process, Mike Bordick is building a substantial case for himself to remain the Orioles' shortstop in 2003.
Playing in the final season of a two-year contract, the 36-year-old Bordick is an anomaly in a clubhouse filled with players who were in high school when he broke into the majors with Oakland in 1990.
Although it would appear that Bordick would have no place next year on a team geared toward youth, the Orioles are beginning to wonder if they can do without his glove in the middle of the infield.
No shortstop in the big leagues is enjoying a better season defensively than Bordick, who had a streak of 72 straight errorless games through Sunday. He owns an amazing .998 fielding percentage, and his 383 consecutive errorless chances ranks third in baseball history among shortstops, behind Ripken (428) and Cleveland's Omar Vizquel (425).
He's also on course to break Ripken's single-season mark for best fielding percentage (.996) by a shortstop and fewest errors (3). Bordick's only error this season was April 10.
His is batting .233 (up from .137 on May 1), but Bordick long ago proved that the Orioles made a wise choice by signing him as a free agent and moving an aging Ripken to third base in 1997.
Ripken turned 37 that season; Bordick will be 37 this Sunday. But Orioles manager Mike Hargrove wouldn't dare think of using anyone else at shortstop.
"Mike Bordick is a very valuable player to us. I can't imagine where we would be right now without him in our lineup," he said.
Yet Hargrove isn't sure if Bordick fits into the team's plans for next year.
"I've thought about it a lot, and I'm going to say no comment. That's a contractual thing," he said. "As far as next year's concerned, as we get closer to that, we'll see where we're at."
Bordick also wonders about next year.
"Right now it's just going to be a kind of wait and see thing," he said. "Play this year out and hopefully continue to stay healthy and have a good year and just see what next year brings. There are going to be some things I have to look at, but right now my biggest concern is this season and trying to help the team be successful."
Avoiding injury is also a priority. Bordick played in only 58 games last year, his season cut short when he separated his right shoulder in a collision at second base on June 13.
He played in 79 of Baltimore's first 89 games this year, but there's no telling how many starts he's got left in his career. Bordick has pondered the possibility of retirement, but will probably seek to return in 2003 if he feels he can still play at a high level.
"My wife encourages me to have fun playing baseball. She wants me to enjoy it for as long as I can," he said.
Ideally, Bordick would like to play next year with Baltimore.
"I haven't been approached by the Orioles," he said, "and we haven't approached them."
Bordy is wondering what next year will bring, but is first concerned with this season. And his wife sounds like a very smart woman. ("Just have fun." )
I hope he comes back next year.
------------------------------------------------
Orioles' Bordick Ponders Future
Mon Jul 15, 3:21 PM ET
By DAVID GINSBURG, AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) - The man who replaced Cal Ripken as the Baltimore Orioles' shortstop is now chasing several of the Iron Man's most impressive records at the position.
In the process, Mike Bordick is building a substantial case for himself to remain the Orioles' shortstop in 2003.
Playing in the final season of a two-year contract, the 36-year-old Bordick is an anomaly in a clubhouse filled with players who were in high school when he broke into the majors with Oakland in 1990.
Although it would appear that Bordick would have no place next year on a team geared toward youth, the Orioles are beginning to wonder if they can do without his glove in the middle of the infield.
No shortstop in the big leagues is enjoying a better season defensively than Bordick, who had a streak of 72 straight errorless games through Sunday. He owns an amazing .998 fielding percentage, and his 383 consecutive errorless chances ranks third in baseball history among shortstops, behind Ripken (428) and Cleveland's Omar Vizquel (425).
He's also on course to break Ripken's single-season mark for best fielding percentage (.996) by a shortstop and fewest errors (3). Bordick's only error this season was April 10.
His is batting .233 (up from .137 on May 1), but Bordick long ago proved that the Orioles made a wise choice by signing him as a free agent and moving an aging Ripken to third base in 1997.
Ripken turned 37 that season; Bordick will be 37 this Sunday. But Orioles manager Mike Hargrove wouldn't dare think of using anyone else at shortstop.
"Mike Bordick is a very valuable player to us. I can't imagine where we would be right now without him in our lineup," he said.
Yet Hargrove isn't sure if Bordick fits into the team's plans for next year.
"I've thought about it a lot, and I'm going to say no comment. That's a contractual thing," he said. "As far as next year's concerned, as we get closer to that, we'll see where we're at."
Bordick also wonders about next year.
"Right now it's just going to be a kind of wait and see thing," he said. "Play this year out and hopefully continue to stay healthy and have a good year and just see what next year brings. There are going to be some things I have to look at, but right now my biggest concern is this season and trying to help the team be successful."
Avoiding injury is also a priority. Bordick played in only 58 games last year, his season cut short when he separated his right shoulder in a collision at second base on June 13.
He played in 79 of Baltimore's first 89 games this year, but there's no telling how many starts he's got left in his career. Bordick has pondered the possibility of retirement, but will probably seek to return in 2003 if he feels he can still play at a high level.
"My wife encourages me to have fun playing baseball. She wants me to enjoy it for as long as I can," he said.
Ideally, Bordick would like to play next year with Baltimore.
"I haven't been approached by the Orioles," he said, "and we haven't approached them."