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11-06-2003, 11:09 AM
A little late, but here ya go.
Will they be back? Probably not Tony B. Any good 3rd basemen out there? I wonder if they'll re-sign BJ Surhoff for another year. His legs are shot, I think. Then there's the question of Mr. Deivi Cruz........... I'm betting he won't be back.
And some news about how a few of our boys are doing in the Arizona Fall League.
11/03/2003 3:38 PM ET
Cruz, Ligtenberg: Will they stay?
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- While the Orioles continue the search for their 15th manager, there are plenty of other issues that must be addressed in the next few weeks.
The club has until Nov. 15 to decide if it will honor the options of shortstop Deivi Cruz and right-handed reliever Kerry Ligtenberg. Last week, the club did not honor the options of right-hander Pat Hentgen and catcher Brook Fordyce.
Six Orioles also have filed for free agency, including third baseman Tony Batista and designated hitter/infielder B.J. Surhoff, who has said he intends to play next season despite nearing the age of 40.
Batista is not likely to return to the Orioles because of his subpar defense at third base and his struggles with production at the cleanup spot. Batista hit .235 with a .270 on-base percentage and led the team with 102 strikeouts.
The club is expected to actively seek a third baseman through trade or free agency, meaning Batista will playing for another club in 2004.
Surhoff has a solid season as a pinch-hitter and a spot starter but had two stints on the disabled list and was constantly bothered by leg problems. Surhoff proved he could still hit Major League pitching after missing nearly the entire 2002 season with a torn knee ligament.
Right-handed reliever Hector Carrasco also filed for free agency, as did right-hander Scott Erickson. Carrasco served as a capable bullpen fill-in after signing a minor league contract, but he is not expected to return to the Orioles. More important than the Orioles losing Erickson was the club ridding itself of his hefty contract.
Erickson had 4 1/2 solid years with the Orioles before having his career derailed by Tommy John surgery. After recovering to return to the rotation last year, he missed all of 2003 with a torn labrum and a partially torn rotator cuff. Erickson has expressed interest in pitching for the Giants.
Arizona Fall League update
First baseman Kris Wilken is second on the Mesa Solar Sox with a .385 average, the most impressive performance of any Oriole farmhand in the AFL. Wilken, who played for Double-A Bowie last season, has scored 14 runs with a .406 on-base percentage.
Wilken, 24, hit .263 with two homers and 43 RBIs for the Baysox last season.
Meanwhile, right-hander Aaron Rakers is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in nine games for the Solar Sox. Rakers has 14 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings and has allowed opponents just a .188 batting average.
Rakers, 26, spent nearly three seasons with Bowie before being promoted to Triple-A Ottawa. He likely will enter Spring Training with a chance to make the Orioles' roster.
Right-hander Rodney Ormond has a 3.00 ERA in 10 games, and righty Tim Corcoran has been roughed up in his six appearances, compiling a 9.00 ERA.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Will they be back? Probably not Tony B. Any good 3rd basemen out there? I wonder if they'll re-sign BJ Surhoff for another year. His legs are shot, I think. Then there's the question of Mr. Deivi Cruz........... I'm betting he won't be back.
And some news about how a few of our boys are doing in the Arizona Fall League.
11/03/2003 3:38 PM ET
Cruz, Ligtenberg: Will they stay?
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- While the Orioles continue the search for their 15th manager, there are plenty of other issues that must be addressed in the next few weeks.
The club has until Nov. 15 to decide if it will honor the options of shortstop Deivi Cruz and right-handed reliever Kerry Ligtenberg. Last week, the club did not honor the options of right-hander Pat Hentgen and catcher Brook Fordyce.
Six Orioles also have filed for free agency, including third baseman Tony Batista and designated hitter/infielder B.J. Surhoff, who has said he intends to play next season despite nearing the age of 40.
Batista is not likely to return to the Orioles because of his subpar defense at third base and his struggles with production at the cleanup spot. Batista hit .235 with a .270 on-base percentage and led the team with 102 strikeouts.
The club is expected to actively seek a third baseman through trade or free agency, meaning Batista will playing for another club in 2004.
Surhoff has a solid season as a pinch-hitter and a spot starter but had two stints on the disabled list and was constantly bothered by leg problems. Surhoff proved he could still hit Major League pitching after missing nearly the entire 2002 season with a torn knee ligament.
Right-handed reliever Hector Carrasco also filed for free agency, as did right-hander Scott Erickson. Carrasco served as a capable bullpen fill-in after signing a minor league contract, but he is not expected to return to the Orioles. More important than the Orioles losing Erickson was the club ridding itself of his hefty contract.
Erickson had 4 1/2 solid years with the Orioles before having his career derailed by Tommy John surgery. After recovering to return to the rotation last year, he missed all of 2003 with a torn labrum and a partially torn rotator cuff. Erickson has expressed interest in pitching for the Giants.
Arizona Fall League update
First baseman Kris Wilken is second on the Mesa Solar Sox with a .385 average, the most impressive performance of any Oriole farmhand in the AFL. Wilken, who played for Double-A Bowie last season, has scored 14 runs with a .406 on-base percentage.
Wilken, 24, hit .263 with two homers and 43 RBIs for the Baysox last season.
Meanwhile, right-hander Aaron Rakers is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in nine games for the Solar Sox. Rakers has 14 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings and has allowed opponents just a .188 batting average.
Rakers, 26, spent nearly three seasons with Bowie before being promoted to Triple-A Ottawa. He likely will enter Spring Training with a chance to make the Orioles' roster.
Right-hander Rodney Ormond has a 3.00 ERA in 10 games, and righty Tim Corcoran has been roughed up in his six appearances, compiling a 9.00 ERA.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.