What If?
Albert Belle Never Injured His Hip
2000 - Albert Belle had an all-star calliber year, hitting .316, with 24 HR and batting in 100 runs. The Orioles had a good news bad news year. They had a 86-76 record but only placed 4th in the tough AL East.
2001 - Albert Belle suffered a severed knee ligament under a month into the 2001 season. In only 76 at-bats Belle hit .237 with 4 HR's. The Orioles had another 4th place finish, but still went 85-77.
2002 - Belle posted fairly good numbers for a 35 YO coming off an injury. However he had limited playing time due to the Orioles signing young star Jose Guillen. In 116 games Belle posted a .249 batting average, hit 14 long balls and batted in 52 runs. The Orioles climbed to third in the division going 90-72. Belle reached two major milestones scoring his 1000th run and crushing his 400th longball.
2003 - Belle had virtually no playing time the whole year. He got only 7 hits in 39 at bats. The Orioles, unlike Belle had a great year winning 100 games. However they were eliminated in the ALDS. Belle was released at the end of the year.
2004 - No MLB teams wanted to sign Albert for the 2004 season. He spent the year in the Tx-La league and destroyed pitchers there blasting 18 HR's in 337 at-bats. Belle decided to call it quits at the end of the year. Belle's former team the Orioles, posted there second consecutive 100 win season and went on to win the World Series.
