With Orioles, the O Is for Optimism

The Orioles believe lefty Bedard and right-hander Denny Bautista (who, coincidentally, was acquired from the Marlins last summer in the Jeff Conine trade) are potential out-of-nowhere impact players. Bedard, the surprise player of camp, made the Orioles' rotation out of spring training, while Bautista, whose spring debut was delayed a month by visa problems in his native Dominican Republic, will be at Class AA Bowie to start the season.

"With our club, we've got a pretty good lineup out there now," Wiley said. "We've got real hitters. We've got a good bullpen. But we need to have our starters do the job. We're going to have some young guys without a lot of experience in our rotation. But the stuff is certainly good enough."

The Orioles don't have a position player like Cabrera sitting around at Class AA, waiting to explode into the big leagues. But they feel young outfielders Matos and Bigbie, both of whom hit more than .300 in the majors last season in limited action, are capable of becoming stars in 2004.

Set the Table

David Eckstein and Erstad, the top two hitters in the Angels' lineup, were at their best in 2002, getting on base, disrupting pitchers, setting the table for the middle of the order. Likewise, last season Juan Pierre and Castillo were on-base machines, posting a combined .370 on-base average and stealing a combined 86 bases.

The Orioles know the middle of their order can produce. This winter, they trucked in a trio of sluggers -- Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro and Javy Lopez -- who bashed 108 homers last season. The question is whether they will have anyone to drive in.

The Orioles will break camp with second baseman Brian Roberts in the leadoff spot, and third baseman Melvin Mora (.418 on-base average last year) batting second. However, Jerry Hairston, the incumbent second baseman, is scheduled to return in early May, forcing a decision.

When Hairston got hurt last June, he was in the process of establishing himself as one of the more dangerous leadoff men in the league, with an on-base percentage of .387 and a league-leading 14 stolen bases.

"I want to be one of the best leadoff guys in the game. I think I was on my way to that last year when I got hurt," Hairston said. "I think I can hit .300, steal 50 bases, score 100-plus runs."

Open Up the Checkbook, Spend Wisely

Last year, the Marlins mortgaged a good chunk of their future -- giving up two excellent young arms, including Bautista -- to obtain Conine at the trade deadline. They also shrewdly traded for closer Ugueth Urbina. And despite the Marlins' cash-strapped finances, they coughed up several million dollars to make those two transactions.

Equally important, the Marlins picked up reliever Chad Fox after he was released by the Boston Red Sox, and Fox posted a 2.13 ERA down the stretch.

The Angels had a $62 million payroll in 2002; the Marlins' payroll was $48 million last year. The Orioles' will be about $53 million this year.

Beattie declined to characterize the Orioles' financial wherewithal when it comes to a major summer acquisition. But he left no doubt about the team's resolve.

"If we have a chance to make a run at it," he said, "I don't see any reason why we shouldn't push it."