Buddy Groom
| G | GS | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | W | L | Hld | Sv | BS | BAA | WHIP | ERA |
| 70 | 0 | 62.0 | 44 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 2 | .196 | 0.90 | 1.60 |
Wedsel "Buddy" Groom has simply been one of the best relievers in baseball over the past two years. it's hard to believe after years and years of mediocre performance, but there it is. Of the Rogues Gallery of Timlin, Groom, McElroy, and Trombley, Groom alone emerged as a positive performer, and last year, a dominating one. It's a pity that this sort of performance is wasted on a team that needs a lot more than the 130 innings of top quality bullpen pitching the Orioles got from Julio and Groom.
What happened? The big thing is, Groom started to get out righthanders. In past years, one would wince to see Grover leave in Groom to pitch to a righthander because two more lefties were looming. It wasn't our imagination, either. In 1999, Groom gave up a .315 BA to righthanders. In 2000, it was worse...a .326 average and a .468 slugging percentage. In 2001, an "improvement" to .291...but in 2002, righthanders hit only .208 and slugged only an unbelievable .292 against him. And he faced more righthanders than lefthanders.
Since he's not throwing any new pitches, it's likely that there will be at least an adjustment in those numbers this coming year, but Groom has been improving every season he's been with the Orioles.
He's still exhibiting excellent control, and hitting that 70-outing number every year. What's not to like?
If the Orioles could get some real quality young players for him at mid-season, or any old time, they should, of course, consider it. As good as Buddy Groom has been, having one of the top lefty situational guys in the game on this club is like having a CD player in your Yugo.
TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTRIBUTE NEXT SEASON, HE SHOULD:
Do exactly what he did this year. Even a little less would be more than OK.
NOTES: pitched to a 0.54 ERA on the road...did not allow an earned run in 13 August appearances...did not allow an earned run to any of the following in at least five appearances: Yankees, A's, Devil Rays...cleanup hitters slugged .171 against him in 35 appearances.