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06-25-2002, 05:43 PM
Well, you just know I had to post this from MLB.com! I mean..... really! :biggrin:
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http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/images/2002/06/22/XIEDQNg7.jpg
Orioles notebook: Bordy better
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/images/2002/06/02/P6wTPYap.jpg
Mike Bordick is hitting .313 in the past 23 games. (Gail Burton/AP)
BALTIMORE -- Even at 36, Mike Bordick works to get better, continuously trying to improve his production.
It has not been a full year since Bordick had major surgery on his right shoulder, and he began this season in a major slump. But slowly, Bordick is improving his batting average while his arm strength shows flashes of his vintage days.
Bordick knocked in two runs in Saturday's 4-3 Orioles win over the Giants and added a single Sunday to raise his average to .228, but he is hitting .313 in the past 23 games.
While there have been questions whether the club should look for replacements at shortstop, manager Mike Hargrove maintains confidence in Bordick, one of the team's leaders.
http://www.mlb.com/bal/photo/ph_play_mugshot_111234.jpg
Mike Bordick
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175
Position: SS
Bats/Throws: R/R
"Bordy is a good player and we all had the tendency to forget that this time last year Mike Bordick had surgery on his shoulder," Hargrove said. "As the season has progressed, Bordy's arm strength has come back more. I really think, and I may be all wet in this, but I think Mike Bordick is going to have a big second half for us."
Bordick will not make any predictions about the remainder of the season or the future -- he is a free agent at season's end -- he said he will just work to raise his average while regaining the strength in his shoulder.
"Every day is a battle out there," he said. "I guess you might say since I am a veteran that I should just wait for things to get better. But who says it is? I have to work to get there. (Hitting coach) Terry (Crowley) has been everything for me in trying to get through this."
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Hargrove remembers 1993
After the tragic death of Cardinal pitcher Darryl Kile, Hargrove was asked about dealing with the passing of a player, as he did as Indians manager in 1993 when pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews were killed in a boating accident during Spring Training.
"The Cardinals have a long road ahead of them, I don't envy them at all but they have good people over there," he said. "They really are. (General manager) Walt Jocketty, (manager) Tony LaRussa, with the leadership they have over there with the players, they will get through this, but it will be awfully, awfully difficult and then beyond that, even more important, is Darryl's wife and kids. It's terrible."
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Getting comfortable
Jay Gibbons was pressed into duty at first base with Jeff Conine's hamstring injury a week ago. He played just seven games last season at first after getting regular work in the minor leagues.
http://www.mlb.com/bal/photo/ph_play_mugshot_400158.jpg
Jay Gibbons / OF
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200
Bats/Throws: L/L
After a few days of solid but unspectacular play, Gibbons made two sparkling catches of foul balls in Sunday's win over San Francisco. Both times he ran into separate railings in foul territory. Gibbons is beginning to mesh into his new position.
"I'm starting to come around," he said. "I am starting to feel like I played there a little bit. The first few days were strange, but now I am getting familiar. I didn't even think about running into anything. You don't think of getting hurt, you just do it."
Gibbons is expected to be the regular first baseman until Conine is healthy, which could be two weeks.
Gary Washburn covers the Orioles for MLB.com and can be reached at gwashb7519@aol.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/images/2002/06/22/XIEDQNg7.jpg
Orioles notebook: Bordy better
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/images/2002/06/02/P6wTPYap.jpg
Mike Bordick is hitting .313 in the past 23 games. (Gail Burton/AP)
BALTIMORE -- Even at 36, Mike Bordick works to get better, continuously trying to improve his production.
It has not been a full year since Bordick had major surgery on his right shoulder, and he began this season in a major slump. But slowly, Bordick is improving his batting average while his arm strength shows flashes of his vintage days.
Bordick knocked in two runs in Saturday's 4-3 Orioles win over the Giants and added a single Sunday to raise his average to .228, but he is hitting .313 in the past 23 games.
While there have been questions whether the club should look for replacements at shortstop, manager Mike Hargrove maintains confidence in Bordick, one of the team's leaders.
http://www.mlb.com/bal/photo/ph_play_mugshot_111234.jpg
Mike Bordick
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175
Position: SS
Bats/Throws: R/R
"Bordy is a good player and we all had the tendency to forget that this time last year Mike Bordick had surgery on his shoulder," Hargrove said. "As the season has progressed, Bordy's arm strength has come back more. I really think, and I may be all wet in this, but I think Mike Bordick is going to have a big second half for us."
Bordick will not make any predictions about the remainder of the season or the future -- he is a free agent at season's end -- he said he will just work to raise his average while regaining the strength in his shoulder.
"Every day is a battle out there," he said. "I guess you might say since I am a veteran that I should just wait for things to get better. But who says it is? I have to work to get there. (Hitting coach) Terry (Crowley) has been everything for me in trying to get through this."
---------------------------------------
Hargrove remembers 1993
After the tragic death of Cardinal pitcher Darryl Kile, Hargrove was asked about dealing with the passing of a player, as he did as Indians manager in 1993 when pitchers Steve Olin and Tim Crews were killed in a boating accident during Spring Training.
"The Cardinals have a long road ahead of them, I don't envy them at all but they have good people over there," he said. "They really are. (General manager) Walt Jocketty, (manager) Tony LaRussa, with the leadership they have over there with the players, they will get through this, but it will be awfully, awfully difficult and then beyond that, even more important, is Darryl's wife and kids. It's terrible."
--------------------------------
Getting comfortable
Jay Gibbons was pressed into duty at first base with Jeff Conine's hamstring injury a week ago. He played just seven games last season at first after getting regular work in the minor leagues.
http://www.mlb.com/bal/photo/ph_play_mugshot_400158.jpg
Jay Gibbons / OF
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 200
Bats/Throws: L/L
After a few days of solid but unspectacular play, Gibbons made two sparkling catches of foul balls in Sunday's win over San Francisco. Both times he ran into separate railings in foul territory. Gibbons is beginning to mesh into his new position.
"I'm starting to come around," he said. "I am starting to feel like I played there a little bit. The first few days were strange, but now I am getting familiar. I didn't even think about running into anything. You don't think of getting hurt, you just do it."
Gibbons is expected to be the regular first baseman until Conine is healthy, which could be two weeks.
Gary Washburn covers the Orioles for MLB.com and can be reached at gwashb7519@aol.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.