Jeff Conine
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | OBP | SLG | AVG | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | OWP |
| 124 | 493 | 75 | 143 | 33 | 3 | 15 | 80 | 37 | 60 | 5 | 0 | .338 | .460 | .290 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 14 | .562 |
| Age: 37 Height: 6-1 Weight: 220 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Pos: 1B |
Born: June 27, 1966, Tacoma , WA Full Name: Jeffrey Guy Conine College: UCLA Experience: 13 years 2003 Salary: $4,250,000 |
| Jeff Conine was one of the few Orioles constants through
the past six Seasons of Despair. He certainly wasn't an offensive
powerhouse, but his versatility, gamesmanship, and consistency shone through
the fog that was the Orioles offensive output. He played five seasons for
the O's, and posted one outstanding year, one good one, and three so-so
ones. Not something to get all excited about, unless you're talking about
the offensively challenged Orioles. This past year, as in most others, Jeff started the season without a position, but, as usual, ended up at first base upon the annual injury to David Segui. Coming off a sub-par season following a year he had not seen the likes of since he was wearing teal and black, not a lot was expected of Conine. Fans and management were just hoping he could hold his own, and provide a little offense to the middle of the order, along with Segui, Batista, and Gibbons. Instead, his consistent play turned incandescent in July, as he hit .340 and slugged .629, while hitting 6 home runs. This was just in time to make him a popular guy to be looked at by other contenders as the trading deadline approached. It looked, though, as if he'd play out the string for the Orioles, but the Marlins made a last-minute deal that included signing Niner to an extension. As we all know, Jeff rebounded from a very slow start with the Marlins to hit five home runs in the month of September, and he hit well throughout the playoffs and World Series for the eventual World Champs. Meanwhile, the Orioles missed his bat, as they went into a tailspin to finish out the season after Niner's departure. Jeff is one of the truly good guys in the game, and a player who, at 37, had one of his best seasons. We'd say he's not likely to repeat it, but people have been saying that about him since his third monster season with the Marlins in 1996. Since he followed four mediocre years with two stellar ones out of the past three, we won't bet against him. He has demonstrated a bit of fragility the past couple of seasons. He missed a total of close to 150 games in his five years with the Orioles. Hopefully, Jay Gibbons will give the Orioles the same kind of offensive production the team got from Niner in two of the past three years. NOTES: Hit three home runs the last week of the regular season...hit three home runs and had 11 RBI in the interleague games with the Phillies...hit five home runs and slugged .706 against the Blue Jays...hit .394 against the Yankees, .313 against the Mets...in 95 "close and late" AB, hit .221.
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