June 23, 2008
Searching for a Shortstop
This from the Orioles notebook:
The Baltimore Orioles designated infielder Freddie Bynum for assignment yesterday, and manager Dave Trembley said Alex Cintron will be the team's third starting shortstop this season.
Baltimore shortstops are producing a .233/.274/.280 line this season. The AL average for shortstops is .260/.311/.361. Cintron's career numbers are a bit better than the AL average, so if he can just hits those marks it will be a huge improvement for the Orioles.
If you have a problem with offense at first base, it should be fairly easy to find a solution, provided you're willing to give up some defense. At shortstop, however, all the good hitters are already taken, so filling an offensive gap at the important defensive position is much more difficult, as the Orioles are discovering this season.