April 6, 1969:
AL PREVIEW: ORIOLES by Lou Hatter (Baltimore Sun)
Baltimore - On the hypothesis that after a team's hitters hit rock bottom there is no place to go but up, Baltimore rates as a solid pennant contender if its bat swingers merely attain normal expectations this year.
Such is the theory of Manager Earl Weaver, whose Orioles finished second to Detroit last season, despite an inelegant .225 team average - lowest in the club's 15-year history.
Defensively led by perennial Golden Glove third baseman Brooks Robinson, the same cast is back that committed the second-fewest errors (126) in the American League.
To an already talented pitching staff that reaped 55 victories from lefty Dave McNally, Jim Hardin and Tom Phoebus, a fourth experienced starter, southpaw Mike Cuellar, has been added through a trade with Houston. What is more, Jim Palmer, hero of the 1966 world champion Orioles, demonstrated in spring training that his arm miseries of the last two years apparently are history.
Behind this array of five rotation hurlers, the bullpen should be competent. Team speed is ample. Bench reserves, featuring outfielder Merv Rettenmund, 1968 minor league plaeyr of the year at Rochester, and infield newcomer Bobby Floyd, figure to be stronger.
"I am going to hope that Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson have the same kind of year as last season," Weaver opened his estimate of 1969 hitting prospects.
Inference: That the bulky first baseman's .249 average will suffice if he again slugs 22 homers and drives in 85 runs; that repetition of Robinson's .253 mark, 17 home runs and 75 RBI is not an unrealistic target.
Weaver continued: "I am going to hope that Don Buford can duplicate an excellent season."
Inference: The peppery outfielder-infielder led the Orioles with a .282 average, slammed 15 four-baggers and stole 27 bases.
"I am going to hope that Frank Robinson has the same type of year he had in the second half of 1968, with a few more home runs and RBI."
The record: From a June low of .179 after recovery from a case of mumps and a sore arm, Baltimore's No. 1 slugger finished at .268 with 15 homers and 52 runs batted in.
Second baseman Dave Johnson, who hit .242 with nine homers, "is capable of a .275 average and 15 home runs," Weaver reckoned.
Other "bounce-backers" from whom the Orioles boss is expecting more potent plate production are:
Center fielder Paul Blair, who skidded from .293 to .211 last season following a fractured right ankle in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
Reserve outfielders Dave May and Curt Motton, both of whom flashed comeback form in Florida after hitting for embarassing .191 and .198 averages, respectively, last year.
"If Andy Etchebarren can bat .300 against lefthanded pitching again, I'll be satisfied," Weaver added. He implied that the .233-hitting catcher would be platooned with lefthanded-swinging veteran Elrod Hendricks.
"Although he should do better, I am not counting on Mark Belanger (.208) among my bounce-backers," Weaver added, "so long as he does the job with the glove at shortstop.
"It wouldn't be too hard for Powell and Brooks Robinson to hit five or ten points higher, with three or four homers extra," Weaver reasoned. "And it wouldn't be too difficult, now that he's healthy again, for Frank Robinson to hit 15 points higher, plus an extra ten home runs. He has done it before, often.
"Give us these, plus a normally good year from Blair and Johnson, and we are scoring a lot more runs.
"These are not extravagant goals that can not easily be accomplished by players of their experience and ability," Weaver concluded. "If they do it, the Orioles are back in business."
FRANK (L) AND BROOKS (R) ROBINSON