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May 17, 2008 6:43 pm US/Eastern
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Cintron Gets First Orioles Start
BALTIMORE (AP) ―
Alex Cintron made his first start at shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, but manager Dave Trembley said Freddie Bynum maintains a hold on the position.
"When Bynum came here, I told Bynum it was his job until he lost it," Trembley said before the Orioles' interleague game against the Washington Nationals. "And at this point in time, I don't think he's done anything to lose it."
Bynum had a shaky night in the field on Friday, when the Nationals got three infield hits on balls to short.
In an effort to get a read on Cintron -- who has one at-bat since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on May 11 -- Trembley finally made good on his promise to give the 29-year-old infielder a start.
"I'm kind of excited to have my chance to play today, the first game," said Cintron, an eight-year veteran who has also played with Arizona and the Chicago White Sox. "Hopefully we can win. We've been playing well and I'm excited to be part of the team. I haven't been a part of the team because I haven't been in the lineup."
Cintron took a circuitous route to the Orioles, who wanted to sign him as a free agent in the offseason.
He opted to go to spring training with the Chicago Cubs, who cut him in late March, then signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles, went to Norfolk and hit .288 in 16 games.
Trembley is committed to Bynum, who took over shortstop after Luis Hernandez struggled in the field at the beginning of the season, but appreciates having other options.
Bynum has hit .280 since being activated from the 15-day disabled list May 8 following surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
"What you've done in the past may help you somewhat, but I've never seen (Cintron) play, so we're going to have to give him an opportunity to show what he can do," Trembley said. "Obviously, he has a track record with experience, he's played there before, but Bynum's done a nice job for us."
Cintron said he was fully recovered from December 2006 surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
A slow recovery was partially to blame for last season's drop-off for the .277 career hitter, who batted .243 with two homers and 19 RBIs with the White Sox.
"I took me a lot of time to get healthy," Cintron said. "Finally, I'm healthy."
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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