HECTOR CARRASCO

G GS CG GF IP TBF H R ER HR SH SF HB TBB SO WP BR/9 W L PCT ShO SV-O HLD ERA
40 0 0 10 38.1 174 40 22 21 5 4 0 2 20 27 0 14.56 2 6 .250 0 1-3 8 4.93

SEASON SUMMARY
After going through the entire 2002 season without throwing a big league pitch, the Orioles signed Hector Carrasco to a minor league contract.  He pitched well with AAA Ottawa, the Orioles--beset by injury and ineffectiveness among the bullpen corps--recalled him in late June; he spent the duration of the season with the big club, and was heavily used (40 games in only about three months).

Carrasco's performance was, overall, mediocre at best and it remains to be seen if he'll have a job with any big league team in 2004.  Carrasco has been kicking around the majors as a 10th or 11th man on a variety of clubs for a decade, but is now 34 years old.  Regardless, he doesn't figure to be in the Orioles plans in 2004.

Hector's biggest problem as a major leaguer has been his control; he's walked just under 4.5 batters per nine innings for his career, and he actually was above that mark with the Orioles in 2003.  Carrasco doesn't have overpowering stuff, so he can't get away with putting that many runners on base (14.56 BR/9IP in 2003).

Should Carrasco discover a way to overcome his control problems, he could help a club in terms of its right-handed relief, but at this point it seems unlikely that this will happen.  He's had ten-plus years to figure out how to deal with this problem; there's no good reason to assume he'll figure it out now.

TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY NEXT YEAR, HE MUST:

1) Find work.

2) Throw strikes.

NOTES
No night owl; Carrasco compiled a 5.70 ERA in 27 night games in 2003...surrendered four home runs in 21.1 IP at Camden Yards...was tatooed by left-handed batters (.288/.347/.561 in 66 ABs...including all five of the HRs he allowed)...another pitcher who lived and died by the first pitch of a plate appearance; opponents hit .200/.264/.277 in 65 ABs after falling behind 0-1 but .321/.466/.500 in 56 ABs after getting ahead 1-0.

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