Cal Ripken expected to get his 3000^th hit early in the year, setting off a fine season of recovery from the back miseries that had sidelined him for large chunks of 1999, thus rendering him "mortal" for the first time. Although the hits came early in the year, the fine season was not to be.

Limited to a once unthinkable 83 games, Cal developed problems both at bat and in the field. Despite Hargrove’s attempts to take it easy on Ripken (not playing him in day games after night games, giving him at least one day off a week, playing him less on turf, etc.), Cal completely broke down after weeks of anemic play.

In the field, Cal appeared to display but a shadow of the defensive prowess fans had come to expect. He began an unusual hopping motion as each pitch was delivered to the plate, ostensibly to allow him to lessen the jarring of a sudden thrust to either side as the ball was struck. Stats would tell fans that Cal was better than he looked out there. His ZR (which, as we often note, is not a perfect stat) was HIGHER then the league average for a 3B at .772 (the average being .746), and his fielding percentage was a respectable .974, thirty points better than the average. His projected ZR was actually the third highest in the league. (Since Brady Anderson’s ZR was higher than say, Bernie Williams’, you can take this stat as you will.) Fielding percentages in and of themselves don’t lie, however. If Cal got to the ball, he did better with it than did the average AL third sacker.

It’s with the stick that Cal’s game has dropped off the most. His projected slugging percentage of .453 would have placed him seventh in the AL, but that’s more of a testimony to anemic third base play than to anything positive on Cal’s part; his Offensive Winning Percentage of .432 places him 11^th in the AL among regulars at third.

Cal’s had offensive seasons like 2000 before; six times, in fact. Certainly age and injury would appear to be the enemy as Cal approaches the 2001 season, but considering the number of times the man has bounced back when everyone thought he was declining, it’s no wonder that he is choosing to come out one more time.

Perhaps there is one last hurrah. Since the O’s have no viable alternative at third, it certainly isn’t going to hurt to find out.

TO CONTRIBUTE SUCCESSFULLY NEXT SEASON, HE MUST:

Stay healthy enough to play 120 games without excessive inhibitions from his back condition. (Already a concern because of his cracked rib.)

Keep working with Crow.

Ignore all of us who say it’s time for him to quit (no problem there).

NOTES: Cal hit much better at home in 2000 (.285/.357/.537) than on the road (.237/.276/.398)…he hit .289 as a DH in 38 AB…only hit .236 after the seventh inning.