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06-09-2003, 05:23 PM
Well, knock me over with a feather. :eek:
06/08/2003 2:06 PM ET
O's notes: Cruz heating up
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- When there were doubts about his talent and ability, Deivi Cruz remained patient. Hey, April is just not his month.
Cruz hit .177 in his first month for the Orioles, causing concern about whether he was the right choice to replace Mike Bordick at shortstop.
The former Detroit Tiger has eased those worries with a blazing 25-game stretch, hitting .356, including notching his first multihomer game as an Oriole in Saturday's 8-1 win over St. Louis.
The Orioles have been on an offensive tear since mid-May, and Cruz has been a key contributor. But that appeared to be an unlikely scenario when Cruz was swinging at bad pitches, grounding into double plays and hitting balls right at fielders in April.
"I always get off to a slow start," he said about his career .216 average in April. "That's just the way is it. I just deal with it and keep giving my best effort, and then the hits start coming."
Cruz has seven homers in two months, a definite power upgrade from the departed Bordick, who was sparkling defensively but slumped his last two years in Baltimore. Cruz is an aggressive hitter, hence just two walks and 12 strikeouts in 190 at-bats. But he is making better contract in the past month and is driving the ball into gaps.
"Cruz had a lot of bad luck in the first month," manager Mike Hargrove said. "But he's done nothing but continue to play, and now the hits are falling. That's the reports we got when we talked to the San Diego people before signing him.
"He keeps his mouth shut and just plays every day and plays hard. That's all we have asked of him."
And here's what Grover thinks about R-Lo returning.....
Lopez on hold: It is not a sure bet Rodrigo Lopez will return to the starting rotation after just one rehabilitation outing. Lopez threw Saturday in the bullpen, a session Hargrove called "atrocious."
"He had no command of anything," Hargrove said. "Players always say they're ready, but this rehab will be well worth it."
Lopez was placed on the disabled list May 2 with a strained left oblique muscle. He has said he is 100 percent and has been eager to return to the starting rotation. Hargrove said there will be no pitch limit on Lopez when he throws Monday for Double-A Bowie against Reading. If he fares well, Lopez could start Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Meanwhile, left fielder Larry Bigbie will begin his rehab assignment Monday for Triple-A Ottawa. He is expected to be in the Lynx lineup for at least a week.
06/08/2003 2:06 PM ET
O's notes: Cruz heating up
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- When there were doubts about his talent and ability, Deivi Cruz remained patient. Hey, April is just not his month.
Cruz hit .177 in his first month for the Orioles, causing concern about whether he was the right choice to replace Mike Bordick at shortstop.
The former Detroit Tiger has eased those worries with a blazing 25-game stretch, hitting .356, including notching his first multihomer game as an Oriole in Saturday's 8-1 win over St. Louis.
The Orioles have been on an offensive tear since mid-May, and Cruz has been a key contributor. But that appeared to be an unlikely scenario when Cruz was swinging at bad pitches, grounding into double plays and hitting balls right at fielders in April.
"I always get off to a slow start," he said about his career .216 average in April. "That's just the way is it. I just deal with it and keep giving my best effort, and then the hits start coming."
Cruz has seven homers in two months, a definite power upgrade from the departed Bordick, who was sparkling defensively but slumped his last two years in Baltimore. Cruz is an aggressive hitter, hence just two walks and 12 strikeouts in 190 at-bats. But he is making better contract in the past month and is driving the ball into gaps.
"Cruz had a lot of bad luck in the first month," manager Mike Hargrove said. "But he's done nothing but continue to play, and now the hits are falling. That's the reports we got when we talked to the San Diego people before signing him.
"He keeps his mouth shut and just plays every day and plays hard. That's all we have asked of him."
And here's what Grover thinks about R-Lo returning.....
Lopez on hold: It is not a sure bet Rodrigo Lopez will return to the starting rotation after just one rehabilitation outing. Lopez threw Saturday in the bullpen, a session Hargrove called "atrocious."
"He had no command of anything," Hargrove said. "Players always say they're ready, but this rehab will be well worth it."
Lopez was placed on the disabled list May 2 with a strained left oblique muscle. He has said he is 100 percent and has been eager to return to the starting rotation. Hargrove said there will be no pitch limit on Lopez when he throws Monday for Double-A Bowie against Reading. If he fares well, Lopez could start Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Meanwhile, left fielder Larry Bigbie will begin his rehab assignment Monday for Triple-A Ottawa. He is expected to be in the Lynx lineup for at least a week.