Orioles need to find big solution to shortstop problem

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - During a span of about 35 years dating to 1963, the shortstop position in Baltimore was manned almost exclusively by three men: Luis Aparicio, Mark Belanger and Cal Ripken Jr.

During the first 80 games of the season, the Orioles already have auditioned three players at the most dynamic position on the diamond. And they’re probably not done riding the merry-go-round this year.

While getting off to a solid, 39-36 start entering last night’s game against the Cubs, the Orioles defied logic.

Their offense has no bona fide cleanup hitter, no 30-homer, 100-RBI man and seemingly could not produce a big inning for two months. But the Orioles countered with timely hits and homers, before the offense finally carried the team somewhat in June.

Their starting pitching went deep into games with effectiveness and consistency in April and May. This month, however, the starters have put too much weight on the bullpen, which has been the team’s anchor from the first day of the season.

And here are the Orioles in late June, stubbornly hanging in the America East discussion, overachieving without a proven shortstop.

Luis Hernandez began the year at the position. He lasted only 26 starts before Manager Dave Trembley grew tired of his tentative approach in the field. Then came Freddie Bynum, a utility man whose inability to hit major-league pitching — watching him hack at a breaking ball was painful — sent him back to the minors after 29 starts.

Now, the spotlight is on Alex Cintron, a 29-year-old journeyman who has played for three teams during his eight-year career, alternating among second base, third base and shortstop. He logged a career-high 133 games at short with Arizona in 2004, when he committed 15 errors there and posted a respectable, .972 fielding percentage.

Cintron, a career .278 hitter who leads the Orioles with a .319 average —  albeit with only 47 at-bats in 20 games — is a stopgap. There is a reason he’s a well-traveled man without a position.

In Tuesday night’s 7-5 win at Wrigley Field, Cintron looked unsure of himself at times. He double-clutched a forceout toss to second base that blew an opportunity for an easy doubleplay. Fortunately for the Orioles, it did not lead to a Cubs’ run.

All of which leads me back to Triple-A, where Brandon Fahey is toiling for the Norfolk Tides with a .279 average and is working with the surest glove among all of the candidates.

Fahey, who was impressive on defense and not so with the bat during stints with the Orioles in 2006 and 2007, probably is not the long-term, shortstop solution for the Birds. But he should be making his way back to Baltimore in the coming weeks, and should be installed as the starting shortstop for the rest of the season, batting average be damned.

As much as the shortstop position has changed, as much as it has become a place for bigger, power hitters — a mold set by Ripken in 1982 — the Orioles have no choice but to think old school on this one.

This Orioles team is all about pitching, defense, timely hitting, more pitching, more defense. They don’t scare anybody with their lineup, although they have been a come-from-behind threat, partly by getting clutch hits with uncanny regularity.

At this point, the top priority for an everyday shortstop here should be steady, occasionally spectacular defense. Take the hits when they come, but more importantly, take outs away from the opposition. The Orioles should live with an average in the low-to-mid .200s, as long as defense is played at a high level.

Maybe the Orioles can swing a midseason trade that would bring a serviceable, major league shortstop to town. Maybe they’ll call up Fahey by the All-Star Break and throw him out there for an extended look.

It’s a testament to the Orioles’ resourcefulness that the glaring lack of a true shortstop has not hurt them noticeably, as the season nears its midpoint.

But the position, with all of its demands — shortstops are in the middle of more plays than anyone behind the pitcher — must be stabilized. And right now, Fahey looks like the best man for the job.

Gary Lambrecht writes about the NFL, Major League Baseball and college sports. He can be reached at glambrecht@baltimoreexaminer.com

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