SEASON SUMMARY

Gil was acquired in a waiver deadline trade with the Dodgers for Mike Trombley.  The catcher, who came over with a reputation as a strong defender, will be in his seventh pro season in 2002 and turns 27 in August.  Given the Dodgers' constant search for a backup to Mike Piazza and his successors (not to mention the search for a starter after dealing Charles Johnson), one has to wonder why Gil never received so much as a cup of coffee with Los Angeles.

In his limited action with the Orioles after being recalled from Rochester September 1, Gil showed the ability to hit singles...and not much else.  He had two extra base hits--both doubles--and five walks in 60 plate appearances.  In his month or so of play with the Red Wings, Gil demonstrated a bit more pop (nine extra base hits, including two home runs, in 85 at bats), but less patience.  In 85 plate appearances with Rochester, Gil didn't drawn a single base on balls.  In 1999 at San Antonio, the AA Texas League affiliate of the Dodgers, Gil drew 48 unintentional walks in fewer than 400 plate appearances.  The next year he drew 40 in 454 plate appearances split between San Antonio and then AAA affiliate Albuquerque.  But that walking ability wasn't in evidence in his first three minor league seasons, nor was it visible in the 82 games he played with the Dodgers' new AAA affiliate in Las Vegas in 2001 before the trade.  Overall last season, Gil drew 20 unintentional walks in nearly 450 plate appearances.

It's very difficult to say anything really positive about Gil's offense during his time in the Dodgers organization because he spent parts of four seasons there in a series of notorious hitters' parks.  Given the adjustment for the parks and the leagues, his performance was awfully marginal.

Defensively, in limited play (17 games, 150 innings), Gil committed a couple of errors and allowed an eye-opening five passed balls.  He threw out 28% of the 18 runners who attempted to steal against him (significantly better than Brook Fordyce, slightly worse than Fernando Lunar).

It seems incomprehensible that the Orioles will carry three catchers in 2002, so presumably someone's leaving.  Fordyce's salary almost demands his retention, so if Lunar isn't traded, Gil will have to battle for the second catcher's spot and given the generally poor catching situation in Baltimore these days, almost anyone has a shot to win the starting job.

TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY NEXT YEAR, HE MUST:

1) demonstrate an ability to hit; if Gil can do anything positive at all at the plate he has to figure to start for the Orioles given Fordyce's palpable defensive limitations and the offensive shortcomings of Lunar

2) demonstrate this great defense we've all heard about; a passed ball every 30 innings isn't going to cut it

3) have pitchers at least as happy to throw to him as they claim to be about tossing to Fordyce

NOTES

Kind of a Jekyll and Hyde home/road performance...hit .393 but with zero walks in eight home games; hit .200 with five walks in nine road contests...went 6-12 in his three day games; 11-46 in 14 night games...4-7 vs. LHP, 13-51 vs. RHP.