RICK HELLING

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
24 24 0 0 138.2 603 156 90 88 30 4 2 12 40 86 4 13.50 7 8 .467 0 0-0 0 5.71

SEASON SUMMARY
Rick Helling was a bad fit for the Orioles, given the team's home park.  The one place where Camden Yards specs out as a hitter's park is in its susceptibility to the long ball.  Rick Helling is a notorious fly ball pitcher who had led the American League in home runs allowed (note--that's not a good thing) twice in his career.  For his career, Helling had a groundball/flyball ratio of 0.68.  From 1997-2003, no major league pitcher has allowed as many home runs as Rick Helling (214).

In any case, the results were predictable.  Helling surrendered a gut-wrenching 30 home runs in 138.2 inings (1.95 HR/9IP) and was a prime candidate for the Piņata Award.  Helling allowed 12 home runs in 60.2 IP at home while with the Orioles but was just as bad on the road (18 in 78 IP).

Helling's ERA was never below 4.15 after any start during the 2003 season and on August 15, the Marlins picked him up after the Orioles released him after finding no takers at the trading block.

Helling has a fairly run-of-the-mill repertoire on the mound--fastball, curve, slider, change and his fastball is straight, and eminently hittable.  His best pitch is the curve, which he relies on to get out of jams.  It's also a pitch that hangs sometimes and...we all know what happens to hanging curveballs.

Given the home team's profile, the Orioles' signing of Helling was a mistake, one that won't be repeated.  Helling is presently a free agent in search of a team, but that team won't be the Orioles.

TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY NEXT YEAR, HE MUST:

1) Find work.

2) Keep the ball in the ballpark.

NOTES
Managed a 4.01 ERA at home, but was lit up to the tune of 6.62 on the road...lowest monthly ERA with the Orioles:  4.65 in July, his only month under 5...allowed a breathtaking seven home runs in just 12 IP vs. Boston...in three starts at Tropicana Field against the Devil Rays allowed a .400 BA against and five home runs in 13.2 IP, along with an ERA of 11.85...allowed five first pitch home runs.

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