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Orioles camp report
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Baltimore Orioles:
1. There are many orders of business here, starting with who's going to replace shortstop Miguel Tejada. Right now, the leading candidate is -- hold your breath -- 23-year-old Luis Hernandez, who was claimed off of waivers from Atlanta in October 2006. The Orioles have checked the scrapheap for a stopgap veteran, and one they were looking at, Alex Cintron, signed with the Chicago Cubs on Monday. With the on-again, off-again Brian Roberts trade rumors with the Cubs, it isn't out of the question that Cintron still could land in Baltimore as part of a package for the Orioles' leadoff hitter. As for Hernandez, he batted .290 with a .300 on-base percentage in a brief 30-game stint with the O's last season.
2. Another open job is that of closer, where Chris Ray remains out until probably at least August after undergoing Tommy John ligament replacement surgery last summer. Lefty George Sherrill, acquired from Seattle this winter in the Erik Bedard trade, appears to be manager Dave Trembley's choice, though veterans Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford could fall into the mix as well.
3. Newly acquired outfielder Luke Scott has even more of a leg up in starting because returning Orioles veteran Jay Gibbons, remember, will open the season with a 15-day suspension for using human growth hormone. "Embarrassment is a good word," Gibbons says. "Disappointment. It's just one of those things where you look in the mirror. I have no excuses. I blame myself. It's definitely something that was out of character. I took a shortcut and I'll pay the price for 15 days.
4. Regarding that unsettled closer situation: There isn't a lot to draw from, and no wonder the Orioles are looking at Sherrill. The latest example of the club throwing good money after bad: The bullpen was so wretched in 2006 that the club spent more than $40 million on free agents to improve it in 2007. Result? Last year's pen compiled a 5.71 ERA -- worst in franchise history.
5. There's a new pitching coach in Rick Kranitz, and he has one of the more difficult jobs in the game in preparing a young and unproven staff to face AL East monster lineups Boston, New York and Toronto. With Bedard gone, right-hander Daniel Cabrera should have been ready to ascend to the role of staff ace, but he continued to disappoint last season and led the AL in losses, walks and earned runs allowed. The only pitcher on the roster with more than 12 wins in a major league season is Danys Baez and, like Ray, he's coming off elbow surgery and probably is out for the season. Jeremy Guthrie, can you possibly improve upon the seven wins and 3.70 ERA from your rookie season? The boys are counting on you.