As the 2000 season began, Delino DeShields was a player without a position. His injury-riddled and slump-filled 1999 campaign had been a bitter disappointment, and fan and media favorite Jerry Hairston appeared poised to take over the reins at 2nd base.. The Orioles had actively shopped DeShields during the off season but found no takers for his $4M a year salary. Thusly, the Orioles' brain trust decided to try him in the outfield in Spring Training. He spent much of the spring cruising left and center fields; while he wasn't to be confused with Andruw Jones, he certainly didn't embarrass himself, either.
The experiment was short-lived, however, after Hairston was slowed by a groin pull. As the Orioles went north to start the season, DeShields was back at 2nd base, although few in the organization appeared enthusiastic about the situation. Any negative perception was altered when DeShields opened torridly, hitting .333 and slugging .505 in April, and then .308 with 11 extra base hits in May. He was getting on base nearly 40% of the time and scored or knocked in 57 runs in 47 games.
While his offense was a total positive, the same could not be said for his defense. DeShields had never been more than an adequate 2nd baseman, and now it was obvious that his limited range and abilities with the glove had declined. DeShield’s Fielding Percentage and Zone Rating for 2000 ranked 9th in the AL (22nd in the majors) at 2nd base. During his stint at 2nd, DeShields averaged 4.84 Chances per Game, 6% off the league average of 5.14 CPG (Jerry Hairston was at 5.45 CPG, though playing with basically a different pitching staff that may have induced more ground balls than did the first half staff.)
DeShield’s bat had cooled off in June and July as he hit only .261. As July moved into August, two events changed DeShield’s future with the O’s. On the last day of July, left fielder B.J. Surhoff was traded to Atlanta, and two weeks later, the sufficiently recovered Hairston was promoted from AAA. From that point on, DeShields was used almost exclusively as an outfielder or DH. His defense in the outfield was passable -- his .975 fielding percentage was about average but his .888 Zone rating was actually pretty good, better than Surhoff according to the numbers (though certainly a small sample). He finished the season with 2 errors and 2 assists, with 80 chances as an outfielder.
DeShields finished the season with the highest BA on the Orioles at .296, and stroked 10 HRs and 86 RBIs with an OPS of .813. These are solid numbers for a 2nd baseman, but sub-par for a left fielder, the .813 OPS ranking 11th among AL left fielders. He also led the Orioles in stolen bases (3rd in the AL) with 37, and was caught 10 times.
Delino Deshields was named the Most Valuable Oriole for the 2000 season by the local press corps. He did have a solid year, better than anyone could have expected, putting together the second highest Offensive Winning Percentage and Runs Created Ratios among AL second basemen, behind Robbie Alomar. The fact that Delino DeShields’ defensive shortcomings and solid though unspectacular season resulted in an MVP award, however, speaks more about the Orioles’ overall 2000 season than it does about the solid season of DeShields.
TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY NEXT YEAR, HE MUST:
1) Get on base more often. DeShields walked only 69 times last season in 151 games, resulting in an OB% of only .369.
2) Hit better against right handed pitching. He had a reverse platoon split last year, with an OPS of .896 against lefties but only .781 against righthanders. This split is probably a one year fluke, since his three year splits are more "normal".
NOTES: in 10 games as a DH hit .357 (.848 OPS)…hit .304 on grass but only .256 on turf…feasted on the pitching of both NY teams with a .447 BA in 13 games….hit .307 on the road while struggling a bit to a .283 average at Camden Yards….had a great "clutch" year in 2000…hit .321 with runners on, .346 with runners in scoring position (one of few O’s who managed to hit higher than their season average in these categories), and was 3 for 9 and a walk with the bases loaded.