Geronimo Gil
| Overall | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | HBP | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Total | 422 | 33 | 98 | 19 |
0 |
12 |
45 |
21 |
1 |
88 |
2 |
2 |
.232 |
.270 |
.363 |
.633 |
Geronimo, also known as "The Chief," became the O's starting catcher when Brook Fordyce could not hold the job due to his continued problems with the bat. His reputation was that of a solid backstop with an outstanding arm and a suspect bat. Such was the nature of the Orioles' everyday player roster, that a performance indicative of that assessment would have been accepted, if not welcomed, by the Orioles and their fans.
Gil surpassed those expectations early on, showing some unexpected pop as he stroked five home runs in the first month of the season, slugging .567, and displaying an arm not seen at Camden Yards since the departure of Charles Johnson. He became a ballyhooed example of how Syd Thrift's rebuilding project was alive and well.
There were warning signs even then, however. First, Gil looked overmatched at the plate a great deal, with a lot of really ugly swings. And second, there were those walks...or rather, the lack of them. Putting the two together, one had to wonder is the .262 mark and .423 slugging percentage Gil took into the All Star break would hold.
They didn't. His batting average fell off the table in the second half (.198/.236/.297), and, inexplicably, he began to demonstrate a propensity for passed balls (19 of them.) Fordyce was no better, however, so Gil kept the job.
At this point, Gil looks like a very capable backup catcher, especially for defensive substitution (if he can overcome the passed ball problem.) As an everyday player, he remains quite suspect, as his minor league career had never suggested a capable ML bat.
TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2003, HE SHOULD:
(1) improve his footwork and concentration to reduce the passed balls to an acceptable level.
(2) ideally, be a backup catcher.
(3) learn some patience or strike zone, and draw some walks. 22 in 420 AB is not acceptable.
(4) if an everyday player, sit down more.
Notes: hit .155 in September...hit .318/.362/.682 with 4 HR against the Red Sox...only hit .200 in 55 AB against the Yankees...only hit .224 against the Devil Rays.