Chris Singleton

Chris Singleton was acquired by the Orioles prior to the 2002 season to play center field every day for the team. The move was greeted with some derision by knowledgeable fans, because Singleton didn't have any power, and didn't walk much, so even if he managed the .300 average the Orioles hoped for, it would be a relatively "empty" .300.

The Orioles, and the fans, would have been happy with an "empty" .300. Instead, what they got was an "empty" .262.

Singleton quickly established himself in the spring as one of the "good guys," soft-spoken, stand-up, quality individual; the kind of guy Oriole fans usually respond to positively. His performance early in the year, however, was so bad, that he was never able to recover in the eyes of the fans. He became the "poster child" for the Orioles' anemic offense.

Singleton's .165 April average caused him to lose playing time to Melvin Mora, and later, to Gary Matthews. He recovered for the month of May, hitting .353/.404/.612, but that was but a fleeting memory by the time the dog days of summer were upon us.

The Orioles would love to unload him, but there have been no takers. There's a possibility they may drop him and just eat his 2002 salary.

One positive note: he had a great season running the bases: only caught twice in 22 attempts.

TO CONTRIBUTE AS A SIGNIFICANT ML PLAYER NEXT SEASON, HE SHOULD:

(1) be platooned, or somehow miraculously improve against lefties.

(2) somehow learn to take a base on balls, since developing power isn't likely.

(3) Be a fourth outfielder.

Notes: hit .227 with runners in scoring position (110 AB)...spent over 1/3 of the season in the #2 hole, where he managed a .285 OBP...hit .323/.405/.484 against Oakland, and .321 against Tampa, one of the few O's faring well against the Devil Rays.

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