So, the 1988 team was out of contention before April was half over...nothing to do now but wait for the chance to trade some people away...and the Orioles, just as their 2000 counterparts, found teams in contention to take a few veterans off their hands.
First, Mike Boddicker was traded to the Red Sox for Brady Anderson, a 24 year old powerless but fleet centerfielder who had shown little proclivity for hitting, as well as Curt Schilling, a 21 year old pitching prospect. Next to go was Jim Dwyer, who went to the Twins for Doug Kline, a young pitcher. Last, Fred Lynn was moved to Detroit on the last day of the trading deadline for young catcher Chris Hoiles, and two pitchers.
Down on the farm, good things were happening. Johnny Oates was piloting the Red Wings to the International League pennant, led by the league MVP, Craig Worthington, and IL Rookie of the Year, Steve Finley. Young pitchers Pete Harnisch and Bob Milacki were performing well.
In the off season, the rebuilding began in earnest. Don Aase, the oft-injured closer, was gone. Doug Sisk and Jeff Stone were dumped. Tom Neidenfuer was allowed to sign with Seattle as a free agent.
Meanwhile, the Birds began making some acquisitions of their own. Mickey Weston, who had pitched very well in the Mets system the year prior, was inked, as was Tim Hulett, a veteran utility man with the White Sox. A minor league pitcher, Pete Blohm, was traded to the Pirates for ex-International League MVP Randy "Moose" Milligan, who had been acquired by the Bucs just one season earlier from the Mets as a potential everyday first baseman. For some unexplained reason, they had soured on Milligan after only 82 AB the season before.
The acquisition of a first baseman meant only one thing to O's fans, and sure enough, it happened...Eddie Murray was traded to the Dodgers for shortstop Juan Bell, and pitchers Brian Holton and Ken Howell. The unthinkable had happened..."Ed-Die" was going to wear a different uniform. Of course, Howell never pitched an inning for the O's, because they turned around and traded him to the Mariners for outfielder Phil Bradley. Bradley was a great defensive outfielder with a career batting average of .293, but his outspokenness had found him out of favor with M's brass.
Next to go was Terry Kennedy, who was inexplicably desired by the Giants. The O's received catcher Bob Melvin in return. The last move made by the O's was trading pitcher Mike Morgan to the Dodgers for young outfielder Mike Devereaux.
So the team had three new outfielders, a new first baseman, a new utility man, a couple of new pitchers, and a new backup catcher, in addition to the young talent coming from the farm in Worthington, Finley, and the pitchers. Still, they were ignored by all the media as the season approached. When Vegas odds were unveiled, the Orioles were picked dead last in the majors as a 300-1 shot.
When camp opens, a review of the available players revealed why...there was not a 15 game winner on the roster. 26 of the 38 players in camp had less than two years of ML experience. Only one player, Larry Sheets, had ever hit 30 homers, and that was now understood as a fluke occurrence. Only three players had ever driven in 50 runs. And only four players on the entire roster went into spring knowing they were on the team...Ripken, Bradley, Holton, and pitcher Dave Schmidt.
Bob Horner, the 31 year old oft-injured slugging third baseman of the Atlanta Braves, is brought into camp to see if he can help this club. He can't, retiring for good three weeks into camp with a sore back.
So who DOES make it?
Milligan and Jim Traber are to be platooned at first base. Billy Rip stays at second after beating out injured Pete Stanicek, and Bell does not move Cal back to third. Instead, the third base job is won by Worthington, who shows a steady glove, though concerns exist about his hitting. Bradley is a lock in the OF, but Brady and Finley put together solid springs, as does Devereaux. They all make the roster, so it appears Joe Orsulak, the team's leading returning hitter, will have to share some playing time. Rene Gonzales wins the utility job, but Rick Schu manages to hold on with Billy Rip gets hurt before the end of the spring. Larry Sheets, the one time wonder, was slated to DH for the club.
The pitching in the spring was a surprise. Dave Schmidt, the returning 10 game winner, will anchor the rotation, which behind him is all kiddie corps...Jose Bautista, Bob Milacki, Jeff Ballard, and Pete Harnisch.
In the bullpen, Holton is a lock, and returnees Mark Thurmond and Mark Williamson are also slated for duty. The Birds' Number One draft pick from the season before, closer Gregg Olson, was going to pitch in Rochester, but after not allowing an earned run in the spring, he was kept with the big club.
The last opening slot is filled by 33 year old journeyman Kevin Hickey. The Hickman had not pitched in the majors in six years, sidelined several times with injuries. He was released four times, and had played for nine minor league teams in five seasons. In '88, he started with the Birds in Charlotte, and finished in Rochester, not able to even get a look when the team was desperate for pitching help.
But he never gave up. Living in the O's clubhouse in the spring because he was too broke to stay in a hotel, Hickey got out one lefty after another in the spring, until Robinson had no choice but to tell him he was on the Orioles' Opening Day roster.
Hickey personifies the new look 1989 Orioles...ragtag, overlooked, counted out.
Soon they would get a chance to show their stuff, and their first time out was going to be a formidable challenge...for waiting for them on April 3 in Memorial Stadium would be none other than the reigning Master of Disaster, The Rocket, Roger Clemens, and the slugging Boston Red Sox.
Next: The New Beginning