The Orioles haven’t had a solid, reliable shortstop in nearly a decade. The average shortstop last year hit 13 home runs. The last Orioles shortstop to hit more than 13 home runs in a season was Mike Bordick’s 20 long-shots in 2000.
The ballclub selected high school shortstop Manny Machado in the MLB draft this year in the hopes of eventually solidifying their recent history of players underperforming in the position. Machado is still several years away from cracking the major league club. The team needs to sign a formidable shortstop who can hold down the position for the next several years before Machado is ready.
Can Cesar Izturis still be that man or has his time with the Orioles come to an end?
How he became an Oriole: With a barren minor league system and a need for a defensive specialist, the Orioles signed Cesar Izturis after the 2008 season. Izturis was known for his superb fielding range and speed on the bases. The 28-year-old shortstop had already been on 6 different teams in 8 seasons. Prior to joining us he played one season in St. Louis batting .263 with 24 stolen bases. We signed him to a 2-year contract worth $5 million dollars.
Original Story:
http://birdswatcher.com/2010/11/23/th...
