Orioles camp report
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Baltimore Orioles:
1. Two things need to happen to shore up Baltimore's horrendous 2006 bullpen: Free-agent relievers Jamie Walker, Danys Baez and Chad Bradford need to earn the $40 million or so the Orioles invested in them, and the starting pitchers -- Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera, Adam Loewen, Steve Trachsel and Jaret Wright are the projected five for now -- need to pitch deeper into games. Last year's Orioles starters worked an AL-low 1,419 innings.
2. It's only guilt by association for Bedard, regarding that last stat. Few noticed, but he was one of the best pitchers in the AL -- especially after the All-Star break. Bedard ranked ninth in the AL with a 3.76 ERA, including a 3.10 ERA in 14 post-break starts. "Just to know I can do it," Bedard says of what he'll carry over into 2007 from '06. "You always try to do something, but who knows? You try to have a great season, and you can have a great season or you can have a bad season."
3. Back to the bullpen: Baltimore's relievers last season ranked 29th in the majors with a 5.25 ERA, and they allowed the most home runs of any pen in the game (86). Overall, the Orioles bullpen was 19-25. The club's overall 5.35 ERA was the second-highest in the majors and the second-highest in club history (trailing only the record 5.37 in 2000).
4. Shortstop Miguel Tejada is determined to show more leadership skills this year, making it a point to arrive in top-notch condition and continue his conditioning work in camp. What the Orioles are especially excited about, though, is second baseman Brian Roberts being a year removed from elbow surgery. He batted .286 in 138 games for the Orioles last year, homered 10 times and compiled a .347 on-base percentage, but that was far removed from his .387 in 2005. "Last year was a tough year for Brian," manager Sam Perlozzo says. "He went through all of spring training trying to get his elbow in shape to play. It affected his right-handed hitting because it was nagging at him. I think you'll see a different Brian Roberts this year." Roberts' 2006 splits: .308 with nine homers batting left-handed; .235 with one homer batting right-handed.
5. You won't hear the Orioles speaking fondly of last year's World Baseball Classic. They contributed a major-league high 11 players to the various rosters, including eight from the opening day roster and three starters. The Birds say camp is running much more smoothly this season. Difficult to say for sure it will show up in the brutal AL East, but at least the Orioles feel like they've got a chance to be prepared for their April 2 opener at Minnesota.
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