Melvin Mora arrived in Baltimore after a rollercoaster ride with the Mets. The hero of last year’s NL playoffs had become the concern of the Mets’ brass while filling in this season for the injured Rey Ordonez, so he was traded to the O’s for Mike Bordick.

Mora got off to a great start with the O’s, hitting the ball with authority, while displaying an unfortunate tendency to play erratically in the field, making both throwing and fielding errors (19 at SS, 1 in CF) to the tune of an .955 fielding percentage and a low .813 Zone Rating that put him at the top of the lower third of AL shortstops.

Mora claimed he was an outstanding outfielder, and his past numbers and 1999 performance suggest this is an accurate assessment. He has not displayed a bat to this time that would support a move to a full-time outfield position, though his August hitting tear before he was injured may suggest that the ability is there.

Though blessed with speed, Mora with the O’s was a leading member of the Gang That Couldn’t Run Straight, stealing but five bases while being caught eight times.

Mora’s future is not unlike that of Richard and Fordyce, players who have shown talent, though a bit late in the typical "curve" of a traditional ballplayer’s career to hope for anything outstanding in the future. His ability to play so many positions, the pop in his bat, and the speed he possesses (assuming he, like several other O’s, can learn to harness it) makes him a very valuable guy to have around as a super sub…an everyday player? That remains to be seen.

TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY NEXT SEASON, HE MUST:

Be prepared to play either SS, LF, or CF with some defensive efficiency.

Improve his OB%…this team will need baserunners in 2001. Mora had a OBP of only .270 leading off innings and only .310 batting in the #1 slot.

Work at better clutch situational hitting. Numbers for hitting in scoring position, close and late, and bases loaded were all sub-par and suggest a pattern.

Learn to steal bases. This should be a major thrust of Spring Training 2001.

NOTES: Offensive Winning Percentage was only .446, making Mora the "best" of the "losing" shortstops. It shows how "offensive" this position has become…like most O’s, he hit very well when going after the first pitch, to a .412 clip with a .706 slugging percentage. He only put that ball in play 34 times, however…hit mostly first or second, and performed much better hitting in the #2 slot.