Orioles, Matos agree to terms

02/03/2006
The Orioles today announced that OF Luis Matos has agreed to terms on a contract for the 2006 season, avoiding arbitration.
Matos batted .280 with 4 homers and 32 RBI in 121 games last season. He has hit .260 in 439 games while playing all or part of the last six seasons in the majors with the Orioles. His signing leaves RHP Rodrigo Lopez and 2B Brian Roberts as the Orioles' only remaining arbitration-eligible players.
The Orioles also announced that four other players on the 40-man roster have signed contracts for the 2006 season, including LHP Tim Byrdak, who spent part of last season with the major league team. Also agreeing to terms were OF Val Majewski, RHP Sendy Rleal and RHP Marino Salas.
Byrdak went 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA in 41 games with the Orioles after his contract was purchased from AAA Ottawa last July. Majewski spent the 2005 season on the disabled list rehabbing a torn glenoid labrum in his left shoulder. Rleal went 4-4 with 16 saves and a 2.04 ERA at AA Bowie, while Salas went 4-2 with 16 saves and a 3.63 ERA at Class A Frederick.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

O's give veterans another shot at bigs

02/03/2006
BALTIMORE -- They don't get the headlines, and by definition, they're minor rather than major. The Orioles will use Spring Training to look at 21 non-roster invitees, with the heaviest concentrations belonging to relief pitchers and backup infielder types. There are some interesting names on the list, including a few with recent big-league experience.
Former closer Ricky Bottalico is the most familiar name on the list, and he's coming off a moderately successful season with the Brewers. The 36-year-old has pitched in 562 Major League games with a 3.99 ERA, but the vast majority of his experience has come against National League opponents. Bottalico pitched for Kansas City in 2000, his only American League experience.
The Orioles may have room in the back of the bullpen, and Bottalico has familiarity with the team's decision-makers. Jim Duquette, Baltimore's vice president of baseball operations, signed Bottalico for the Mets in 2004. The right-hander has 116 career saves, but just five have come in the last five years. Still, he may be able to contribute as a middle-inning arm.
Another interesting name is Brooks Kieschnick, a former first-round draft pick who stalled out as a position player and revived his career by going back to pitching. Kieschnick spent two productive seasons with the Brewers, serving as a pinch-hitter and middle reliever.
Kieschnick is a right-handed pitcher and a left-handed hitter, which could afford the team a lot of options. The 33-year-old has 16 home runs on his big-league record, but he also has a 4.59 ERA in limited experience as a reliever. He played for Houston's Triple-A affiliate last year and signed a Minor League deal with the O's on Jan. 11.
That was the same day Baltimore signed Bottalico and former big-leaguer Fernando Tatis. The third baseman made baseball history by swatting two grand slams in the same inning back in 1999, but he hasn't played professionally since the 2003 season. Tatis went to Spring Training with Tampa Bay last year, but he was cut and didn't play in the Minor Leagues.
Of course, the Orioles made several moves on the big-league front. The non-roster invites are just an attempt to supplement the bigger moves meant to return Baltimore to contention.
"We've been awfully busy throughout the winter," said Mike Flanagan, Baltimore's executive vice president of baseball operations, a few weeks ago. "I guess our conclusion is that there is no offseason and there [are] no free agents. We're pretty happy at the point we're at right now."
There aren't many others with significant big-league experience, but there are a few players with ties to Baltimore. Utilityman Howie Clark, for instance, made his big-league debut with the Orioles in 2002. He went on to contribute in two seasons with Toronto -- notching 50 hits in 78 games -- but spent last year in the Minor Leagues.
John Stephens is another player that fits in that class, but with Baltimore's revamped rotation, it will be difficult for him to make any headway. The right-handed finesse specialist hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2002, when he went 2-5 with a 6.09 ERA for the Orioles. Stephens is expected to pitch in the World Baseball Classic, which could cut into his audition time.
Eddy Rodriguez, Tyler Yates and Orber Moreno -- none of whom pitched in the big leagues last season -- will all get a chance to compete for one of the last bullpen slots. The Orioles will also look at Winston Abreu, Scott Rice and Cory Morris, none of whom have pitched in the big leagues.
The middle infielders may have the most opportunity of any of the non-roster invites, because Chris Gomez is Baltimore's only reserve on the big-league roster. That bodes well for Clark, and Minor League veterans Napoleon Calzado and Ed Rogers will also get an opportunity to fill out the team's exhibition roster. Both players made brief appearances with Baltimore last season.
Outfielders Keith Reed and Esix Snead will also get a long look. Reed, the Orioles' first-round pick in 1999, spent three seasons with Double-A Bowie before moving to the next level for good. He's a .268 career hitter in the Minor Leagues, but Baltimore would be interested in his versatility more than anything else.
Snead doesn't have the same draft pedigree, but he does have three seasons of Triple-A experience. The switch-hitter hit .295 for Atlanta in Spring Training last year and narrowly missed earning a spot on the Opening Day roster. Snead is a defensive specialist and a base-stealing threat -- 492 career thefts in the Minors -- which could work in his favor.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

DUI charges against Williams dropped

02/06/2006
TAMPA, Fla. -- Prosecutors dropped drunken driving charges Monday against Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Todd Williams, who was arrested after authorities said he caused a three-car crash in November.
The 34-year-old Williams, who lives in Land O' Lakes, Fla., was driving a car that slammed into the back of two cars that were stopped at a traffic light on a major Tampa thoroughfare. A Breathalyzer test showed Williams had no alcohol in his blood, but he was charged with DUI with property damage after failing a field sobriety test.
Tests showed he had legal prescription drugs in his system, and his lawyer showed he likely failed the field sobriety test because he had injured an ankle in the crash, said Pam Bondi, spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office in Tampa.
"Like we said from the beginning, this was just a traffic accident," said Williams' agent, Tom O'Connell. "The DUI charges were unfounded, and that was proven today."
Williams went 5-5 with a 3.30 ERA and one save last season.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Keeping Javy happy?

02/06/2006
What is the deal with Javy Lopez? Are the O's actively shopping him or are the looking at him to be a backup catcher/DH/first baseman? Last I heard, Lopez wanted to be a starting catcher.-- Shawn L., Boston
Lopez hasn't spoken publicly this winter, so the Orioles may well be wondering the same thing. The Baltimore Sun has maintained a running dialogue with his agent, though, and has reported Lopez demanding and rescinding a trade request within the last two weeks. The reality is that he has little or no recourse. Lopez has to play out the string, whether he likes it or not.
The 35-year-old is signed through the 2006 season and would like a lucrative contract extension, but the Orioles want to see if he can switch positions gracefully before they look to next year. Lopez was hurt for two months last season and he's at an age where many players slow down -- and if not this year, it will likely happen in his next contract.
The veteran still has value in the batter's box, and if he can move to a less stressful position, the chances are better that he'll retain that value later into his career. If he can't make the switch, it may not be a prudent investment to re-sign him. That's why the O's went out and signed Ramon Hernandez, who is younger and has a far better defensive reputation behind the plate.
The signing may have come a year early for public relations purposes, but it makes perfect sense from a baseball perspective. The Orioles are protected in case Hernandez gets hurt, and they can maximize their investment in Lopez by keeping him healthy and hitting. This move could be best for both parties, but it could also blow up and end badly.
Every decision carries an element of risk, but this is a case where the Orioles assumed one danger to eliminate another. What's the worst that can happen for Baltimore? Lopez washes out in his contract year and walks away to another team. That risk was already there before Hernandez signed, but now the O's are covered if it comes to pass.
Who do you consider to be the Orioles best prospect in the Minors and when do you think he will be able to play for the Orioles?-- Mark Z., Washington, D.C.
Most scouting services and analysts have tabbed Nick Markakis as Baltimore's top prospect. The outfielder has thrived in his brief professional career, and he moved all the way to Double-A Bowie in his second full professional season. The 22-year-old is gifted with both power and patience at the plate, but he was also a highly touted pitcher during his prep career.
Markakis has only played 33 games at Double-A, so it's a little premature to be calling for his promotion to the big leagues. The Orioles recognized that fact this winter and made moves to strengthen the existing outfield core, trading for Corey Patterson and signing Kevin Millar and Jeff Conine. Those moves allow Markakis more development time -- if he needs it.
Before those moves, Markakis seemed primed for an early promotion. Now, Baltimore has a little wiggle room. Neither Millar nor Conine is penciled in as a full-time starter in left field, with the Orioles preferring to mix and match until they can find a permanent starter. In other words, the opportunity is there for Markakis, whenever he's ready to take it.
When will that be? The most likely scenario has Markakis proving himself for a half season at Triple-A Ottawa, then getting the call. It could come earlier, if he's hitting well or if someone's hurt, and it could come later if he struggles against upper-level pitching. Markakis has taken the fast track so far, but he's due to meet some adversity sooner or later.
With the acquistion of Patterson and the presence of Markakis and Val Majewski on the 40-man roster, where does Luis Matos now fit into the team's plans? Have any teams seriously inquired about him?-- Bryan H.
Matos seems set for a reserve role this year, but he could wind up playing a significant amount in left field. The erstwhile center fielder could give the Orioles a strong defense, but he hasn't hit enough to merit an everyday job since his star turn in 2003. He's still young enough to break out, but with almost 1,500 at-bats on his career ledger, it's not likely.
He hasn't generated much interest on the trade front, and even if he did, he's not likely to bring back much more than a reliever. Baltimore is better served to keep him as outfield insurance, in case Patterson stumbles and Markakis and Majewski take more time than expected. Matos may not like the assignment, but like Lopez, he doesn't have much choice.
Do you see the Orioles in the playoffs this year? I know time will tell, but do you see them as a contender at all this season in the American League East?-- Alex B., Baltimore
Allow this reporter a mea culpa. Earlier in the winter, when asked this question, I opined that the Orioles would be hard-pressed to win more than 80 games. Since that hasty comment, Baltimore has added Kris Benson, Patterson and Millar. I still don't see the Orioles as a legitimate contender, but the offseason moves have given them a much better chance to compete.
The AL East is one of the toughest divisions in baseball, with the Yankees and Red Sox standing in as perennial contenders to advance to the postseason. In my humble opinion, the Red Sox have slipped a bit, and the Yankees' pitching isn't nearly as rock solid as it has been in recent seasons. I'd expect Toronto to make a move toward the top, but New York's bats to win it.
Baltimore is doing some interesting things, and the potential is there to break the team's eight-year streak of losing records. However, it will likely take more than that to stay in the race for the entire season. As Alex noted, time will tell -- reporters are generally better at analyzing things as they happen than they are at predicting the future.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Orioles tickets now on sale

02/07/2006
BALTIMORE -- Although winter is in full swing, tickets to Orioles' regular season and Spring Training games are now sale at www.orioles.com.
The Orioles train in Fort Lauderdale Stadium, and their first game of the exhibition season is against the Florida Marlins on March 2. That will likely be the fans' first chance to see Ramon Hernandez behind the plate for Baltimore, an offseason acquisition that should push Javy Lopez to designated hitter.
All fans at that game will receive a free magnet with the team's 2006 Spring Training schedule printed on it. The Orioles, gearing up for another season in the American League East, will be looking for a fast start once again. The O's roared out of Spring Training and held first place for two months last year before fading down the stretch.
This year, Baltimore plays the Florida Marlins four times and the St. Louis Cardinals three times during the home portion of its exhibition schedule. The Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets visit twice, and the rest of the home games will be one-time visits by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Washington Nationals and the Minnesota Twins.
Spring Training tickets are available at the ticket office at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. They'll also be available at the following phone numbers: (954) 523-3309, (305) 358-5885 or (561) 966-3309.
Baltimore will open its regular season on April 3 at 3:05 p.m. ET when it hosts the Devil Rays at Camden Yards. Besides purchasing tickets online, they are also available at the club's box office, at official team stores and via phone at (888) 848-BIRD.


Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Around the Horn: Outfielders

02/08/2006
BALTIMORE -- There are questions about every spot in the Orioles' outfield, with uncertainty radiating from left field to right in descending fashion. Baltimore still doesn't have a dedicated left fielder, is unsure what to expect out of Corey Patterson in center field and is cautiously optimistic about a recent contract extension for right fielder Jay Gibbons.
Despite the question marks, the Orioles have moved forward from last season, when left field was manned by three players (B.J. Surhoff, Larry Bigbie and Eric Byrnes) and center field by Luis Matos. Matos is still around and is expected to play a part-time role, but the troika from left field has dissolved. In addition, Gibbons takes over in right field full-time from Sammy Sosa.
The result is a leaner, younger and less expensive outfield core. Patterson may as well be the face of that restructuring, an addition that could yield long-term dividends. The 26-year-old was a low-risk move in that he was acquired from the Cubs for two low-level prospects, but it's a gamble just the same when you consider his performance record.
Patterson is coming off a truly difficult 2005 season, a year that saw him hit .215 with the Cubs. The former first-round pick had to deal with a demotion to the Minor Leagues and a downward spiraling control of the strike zone, but the Orioles chose to see his strengths instead. Patterson is a fleet-footed defender and has home run power, but he'll have to improve his patience.
In five-plus seasons in the big leagues, Patterson has more strikeouts (552) than hits (549). Some of that is due to his early promotion -- the left-handed hitter was in the Major Leagues shortly after his 21st birthday. Another part is his free-swinging mindset, which has seen him draw one walk for every five strikeouts during his brief career.
The youngster acknowledges that he needs to cut down the whiffs, but he also believes in his hitting approach.
"Last year, I had a bump in the road and couldn't overcome it," he said shortly after he was acquired. "You have to be consistent. Whatever you do in this game, you have to live by it and die by it."
Patterson lived by his strengths in 2004, batting .266 with career-high totals in home runs (24), RBIs (72), stolen bases (32) and runs scored (91). The Orioles think he can still be that player, and, more to the point, they think he can be more productive than Matos has been over the life of his career.
"We're just glad we were able to add [Patterson]. Anytime you can add a Major League player using Minor League talent, it's something you have to do," said Jim Duquette, the team's vice president of baseball operations, on the day of the trade. "And that's the other attractive part. He's 26 years old. He's been given a chance to play in the Major Leagues at an early age, and that's because of his talent."
Matos is just a year older than Patterson, and he had the same opportunity to play early in his career. He had his career year in 2003 and has spent two injury-plagued seasons trying to match it. While Matos is a capable defender and brings more patience to the plate than Patterson, he doesn't have anywhere near as much power or top-end potential.
The right-handed hitter will probably see time in left field in 2006, and he'll serve as insurance if Patterson can't get his swing back together. When he doesn't start, Matos will be the team's chief defensive replacement in the outfield. That could come in handy, because the team is considering playing Kevin Millar and Jeff Conine in left field on a semi-regular basis.
Both Millar and Conine are expected to add some punch to Baltimore's lineup, but they're also expected to split time between first base, left field and designated hitter. Conine is a stronger defender, but he'll also turn 40 during the season and may need to rest his legs occasionally. Prospects Nick Markakis and Val Majewski may also enter the left field derby at some point.
Over in right field, Gibbons represents the team's sturdiest outfield option. The left-hander registered career highs in home runs (26) and slugging percentage (.516) last season, and the Orioles rewarded him with a four-year contract extension. Gibbons has yet to record an on-base percentage over .330, though, and his career mark of .317 is a much more realistic baseline.
What does that mean? It means that Gibbons provides the power expected from right field, but he doesn't show the plate discipline needed to bat in the middle of the lineup. Still, by locking him up for the foreseeable future, the O's showed their homegrown players that they value their growth and want to move forward with the foundation they have in place.
"Baltimore gave me a shot in 2000, when they picked me up," said Gibbons after signing the extension. "They gave me a legitimate shot to make this team and played me right away. I consider myself loyal, and that meant a lot to me. I could've thought about playing in California -- I'm from the West Coast -- but I love Baltimore. I love the East Coast, and the AL East is the place to be."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Brower looks for a home with O's

02/10/2006
BALTIMORE -- Sometimes, pitching coaches get to pinch-hit. Jim Brower, a right-handed reliever who recently signed with the Orioles, credits Leo Mazzone with getting his name into discussions.
"Leo went to bat for me," said Brower, who pitched for Mazzone in Atlanta last year. "I know he said good things about me or I wouldn't be over here. Leo was the one that talked to Jim Duquette, and that's where the interest really came from."
Duquette, Baltimore's vice president of baseball operations, kept in close contact with Brower and sealed the deal in the last week of January. The reliever said that he was thrilled with Baltimore's level of interest, but knows he has a tough assignment once Spring Training begins.
"They told me there's no guarantee," said Brower, who signed a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training. "That doesn't bother me at all. I want to make them make the easiest decision of the spring by hanging on to me."
Brower signed a letter agreement for a contract worth $1 million if he makes the big-league roster. And if he doesn't make it by the end of Spring Training, the veteran is allowed to request his release.
By his own standards, Brower had a rough season in 2005, and was let go by two teams. First, after an ineffective two months with San Francisco, he was released. Then, after signing with Atlanta and pitching well through the playoffs, he was non-tendered.
The 33-year-old said that he was surprised by both moves, but that he could also see the baseball business sense behind them. He had pitched his two best seasons in San Francisco, but those two shaky months wiped away those memories.
"I had pitched good enough to get a two-year contract, and then I had the best year of my life," said Brower of his time in San Francisco. "But then I started slow, and I knew we were losing and they could just shake things up. The bullpen was a way for them to show the fans and the media they were being proactive."
Brower signed with Atlanta just two days after the Giants let him go, and he got his game together in a hurry. The Braves went 10-1 in the first 11 games he pitched, and his ERA with Atlanta (4.20) was significantly better than his mark with San Francisco (6.53).
The success continued through the playoffs, when he worked 5 1/3 innings without allowing a hit. Still, when the non-tender date came, he found himself without a contract.
"I was pretty excited about staying with them, but it was my last year of arbitration," he said. "They thought I'd be too expensive, so they cut ties. It was a shock, but I was pretty numbed by the amount of interest after that."
Brower has pitched for five-plus seasons in the big leagues, notching a 33-31 record with a 4.35 ERA. He's pitched more than 80 innings three times -- once as a part-time starter -- with the vast majority of his time in the National League.
Still, he doesn't expect a tough time going back to the American League, even if he hasn't pitched there since the 2000 season.
"It's almost like a rookie year. They haven't seen me either," he said. "I've talked to guys like Kerry Ligtenberg and Joe Nathan, who both had success in the AL after their transition. They said, 'As a reliever, it's not that big a difference.' You never see a pitcher in the eighth inning anyway. You're used to facing tough hitters in tough situations."
For most of his career, Brower has kept to the same offseason routine. He'd take a month off after the season, then start throwing again. Two months before Spring Training, he'd start facing hitters and throwing all his pitches.
He changed that routine last winter, reacting to his 89-game workload. In retrospect, he said that may have resulted in his early-season struggles, which is why he went right back to what's worked for him in the past. Brower has been working out at his alma mater, the University of Minnesota, and he pitched in an intrasquad game there on Super Bowl Sunday.
Now he's getting ready to head down to Fort Lauderdale and work hard to validate Mazzone's faith in him. The right-hander said that the right pitching coach can make a difference -- even if it's only a subconscious one.
"It's one of those competitive things. He's seen the best," he said. "He's had [Tom] Glavine, [Greg] Maddux, [John] Smoltz. It's just a matter of pushing yourself harder to impress him. And he's honest with you. He'll tell you when you're doing well, and he'll tell you when you're not."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Will Mazzone help Chen?

02/13/2006
Why is Bruce Chen so undervalued? He led the O's in ERA last season at 3.83, and he posted a solid 13-10 record, yet most projected rotations have him pegged as the No. 5 starter. He has a great curve, and, with Leo Mazzone on board, he should only get better.-- Harrison D., Baltimore
Chen may have shown enough to be the ace of the Panama pitching staff, but he's had an extraordinarily volatile track record in the big leagues. This isn't picking on Chen, who clearly had a career year in 2005, it's just realistic to note that he's bounced around, pitching for eight teams since the 2000 season.
What's that mean? With the rare nature of left-handed pitching, several teams were willing to give him a chance, and several teams came to the same hasty conclusion. So, yes, it's completely reasonable to be skeptical about his chances of repeating his success. That's not to say he can't do it -- it's just that 2005 stands out in a major way next to the rest of his record.
Let's take a look at some of the details. The southpaw's previous career high was seven victories, and he hadn't done that since 2001. Chen also set career highs in starts (32), innings pitched (197 2/3) and strikeouts (133). However, only one American League pitcher, knuckleball specialist Tim Wakefield, gave up more home runs than Chen (33).
Chen certainly earned a lucrative payday and an extended chance in the rotation, but he still bears the burden of proof. Part of his spotty track record may be due to his early promotion to the big leagues, and his career year may have been due in part to maturation. Chen will turn 29 in 2006, and a lot of people will be watching carefully to see if he's really turned a corner.
How do you feel about some of the Orioles' top players playing in the the World Baseball Classic? While I will enjoy cheering for them to play well, I feel that missing time in Spring Training will hurt them. An injury, especially to a player like Miguel Tejada, could devastate the team's chances this year.-- Brent T., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Individually, I don't see any problems with it. Collectively speaking, the Orioles may have trouble finding anybody legitimate to pitch during the early exhibition schedule. Baltimore has one of the most international pitching staffs in baseball, and four of their five starters -- Daniel Cabrera, Rodrigo Lopez, Erik Bedard and Chen -- are expected to pitch in the WBC.
Add in Baltimore's two most decorated position players, Tejada and Melvin Mora, and the team's biggest offseason acquistion, Ramon Hernandez, and you start to see some complications. Javy Lopez remains undecided about his status, and the Orioles would like to see him stay in camp and work on his transition to first base.
Playing in the World Baseball Classic isn't likely to hinder any of the players' progress, and injuries can happen in Grapefruit League games just as easily as they can happen in tournament play. Baltimore does have one pressing concern, though, and that's how the team will come together while most of its best players are off playing for someone else.
This tournament is unprecedented, so there's no way to tell how it will affect any of the people involved. The Orioles will get a lot of chances to look at their younger players early in camp, and they may be in the unenviable position of rooting against their stars, hoping they'll lose quickly and get back to wearing a Baltimore uniform.
Do you think Adam Loewen has the ability to be a No. 1 starter in the Major Leagues? How far away is he from breaking into the big leagues?-- Ian S., Freeport, Bahamas
It's a little early to tell. Loewen held out for nearly an entire year after being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, so he's still figuring out how to use his stuff. The 21-year-old has yet to pitch in Double-A, and he's had trouble limiting walks against low-level bats. By contrast, at his age, Chen was already in the big leagues and experiencing modest success.
Loewen is a whole different kind of prospect, though, and his stuff is unquestionably Major League caliber. He brings his fastball in the mid 90s, but he doesn't always know where it's going. The left-hander worked 142 innings for Class A Frederick last season, striking out 146 batters with 86 walks.
That walk rate needs to come down for him to thrive at higher levels, and nobody knows how quickly he'll be able to make that happen. Conservative estimates place Loewen at least two seasons from the big leagues, but the contract he signed after the draft may accelerate the process. With Mazzone on board in Baltimore, that may not be such a bad thing.
Is Todd Williams under consideration for the vacant closer position? He performed well as a closer in the Minors, but his only save opportunity came last season.-- Dave D., Leicester, UK
Williams hasn't received consideration for the closer role, but he's likely cemented a role in Baltimore's bullpen. That's an accomplishment in itself for the late bloomer. The right-hander turned 35 on Feb. 13, and 2004 was the first year he pitched more than 20 big-league innings. Last year was his first season as a full-time Major League reliever.
It's true that he spent a lot of time racking up Minor League saves, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Most Major League closers were starters before they were converted to relief work, during which their stuff can work to devastating effect. Williams never had that kind of velocity and has only started one professional game, at the Rookie League level in a rehab assignment.
Baltimore will likely sort between several options for mid-to-late relief work, and Williams will be in the mix with big-league veterans like Ricky Bottalico and Jim Brower. The eighth and ninth innings are likely reserved for LaTroy Hawkins and Chris Ray, respectively, but most of the relief roles will be worked out in Spring Training and refined over the course of the season.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Around the Horn: DH/Bench

02/15/2006
BALTIMORE -- The bench is the least settled area of Baltimore's team, with only two or three spots having been determined. Designated hitter is another uncertainty, with Javy Lopez tabbed as the most likely and least willing candidate to log regular at-bats.
Lopez, a catcher for the vast majority of his career, has been supplanted behind the plate by Ramon Hernandez. The veteran will try his hand at first base during Spring Training, but if he's unable to make the transition, he'll spend most of his playing time as the team's extra hitter. With experienced glovemen Jeff Conine and Kevin Millar on board, Lopez is a favorite for the latter role.
The erstwhile backstop has logged 500 at-bats only once in his distinguished career, due in part to the stressful workload of an everyday catcher. The Orioles hope to take more advantage of his bat by pushing him out from behind the plate, generating less stress on his legs. Lopez missed two months last season, but he was productive when he was in the lineup.
Plus, there's his age to consider. The 35-year-old is at a dangerous age in baseball, a time when many players begin to fall off their established levels of performance. Hernandez is five years younger and presumably fresher, but he's also spent some time on the disabled list in recent seasons. Between the two, the Orioles should always have a good bat behind the plate.
A third catcher, Geronimo Gil, should be on hand for emergency duty. Gil's primary job will be to stay in the dugout in case the starting catcher gets hurt, which allows the Orioles to start their other catcher at another position. Baltimore could also decide to forego the third catcher to add another bat, but that situation will develop over the course of Spring Training.
If Lopez proves to be a good glove at first base, Conine and Millar will take turns serving as the DH. The Orioles are also counting on that pair of veterans to spend some time in left field, which means the DH role will be used to keep their legs fresh. Conine, who will turn 40 during the season, could particularly use that occasional breather.
Playing time figured into Conine's and Millar's decisions to join Baltimore. Conine, in fact, has an option for 2007 that will vest if he gets 450 plate appearances. Millar, meanwhile, has a contract heavily weighted by incentives. His base salary is $2.1 million, but he can double that in incentives if he plays 150 games and reaches 600 plate appearances.
Baltimore's bench has a few other question marks, with reserve infielder Chris Gomez being one of the few sure things. The former starting shortstop played every infield position last year, and logged more time at first base (42) than at his natural position (10). With the crowd at first, that's unlikely to happen again in 2006.
Gomez will spend most of his time as an infield substitute against left-handed pitching, a specialty of sorts for him over the past few years. Also, if Brian Roberts isn't able to start the season, Gomez would slot in as the most likely short-term starter at second base. Another candidate, Desi Relaford, was recently signed to a Minor League contract.
Relaford, a utilityman for most of his career, struggled with the bat in Colorado last season and was released. He finished the season with Triple-A Syracuse, Toronto's affiliate in the International League. Relaford will have a shot at breaking camp with the Orioles, but it may depend on how healthy Roberts is in the early going.
The team's outfield reserves are likely down to David Newhan and whoever loses the derby in center field. Luis Matos and Corey Patterson are battling for that latter spot, and Patterson has the edge on power potential alone. The former Cub is also making $2.8 million, nearly double Baltimore's investment ($1.6 million) in Matos.
Newhan has spent two seasons with the Orioles -- one extremely successful, one extremely difficult. The left-handed hitter burst onto the scene in 2004 and hit .311 with eight home runs, chipping in at a few different defensive positions. Last year, his batting stroke left him, and he hit .202 and was sent to the Minor Leagues on a few different occasions.
The Orioles will give Newhan another chance to secure a reserve job, but nothing's guaranteed. The team's improved depth means that either Matos or Patterson will be available as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner, and Conine, Lopez or Millar could be available as a pinch-hitter on any given day.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Tejada talks up WBC in call

02/15/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Baltimore's pitchers and catchers began reporting to Spring Training on Wednesday, but Miguel Tejada was talking baseball from an entirely different locale.
Tejada, the Orioles shortstop, took part in a conference call to publicize the Dominican Republic's entry in the World Baseball Classic.
"Everybody in the world knows the Dominican Republic has some good players," he said. "Everyone in the world is thinking about our team."
Tejada went on to say that it doesn't matter how the teams look on paper; it only matters how they play between the lines. Still, it's hard to look at his homeland's roster without being impressed. Tejada shared the conference call with Bartolo Colon, the American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner, but several other prominent names are involved.
Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz will also participate, surrounding Tejada in a star-studded batting order. The former MVP said he's looking forward to the tournament, and he's also looking forward to joining his Baltimore teammates next week.
"I played winter ball, and I played in the Caribbean Series," he said. "I've been working hard every day. My body's in great shape, and I'm looking forward to going to Spring Training by Monday or Tuesday."
Tejada, who hasn't missed a Major League game since the 2000 season, said he isn't worried about the risk of injury in the World Baseball Classic. Part of that sentiment is due to his activity this winter, but he also said his teammates know how to play without endangering themselves.
"They're not worried about me," said Tejada, speaking about the Orioles. "Everybody's got to be careful and play the way they play all the time."
Manny Acta, the Mets' third-base coach and manager of the Dominican team, said he was thrilled to be a part of the WBC.
"We're one of the luckiest countries," said Acta. "We're one of the few where we're not having players deny their participation in the World Baseball Classic."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Arbitrator sides with Orioles on Lopez

02/15/2006
RHP RODRIGO LOPEZ has been awarded the Orioles' contract offer of $3.75 million in salary arbitration, it was announced today. Lopez, 15-12 with a 4.90 ERA in 35 starts last season, had sought a $4.5 million contract for the 2006 season.
The Orioles also announced that RHP CHRIS RAY and OF NICK MARKAKIS have agreed to terms on contracts for the 2006 season. Terms were not announced. Ray went 1-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 41 games as a rookie with the Orioles last season after beginning the season at AA Bowie. Markakis was the Brooks Robinson Award winner as the Orioles' minor league player of the year in 2005. He combined to bat .310 with 15 homers and 92 RBI in 124 games between Class A Frederick and AA Bowie.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Top 10 Orioles fantasy players

02/16/2006
If you're a Baltimore fan, and want a fantasy team chock full of Orioles this spring, here are 10 players who you should be keeping an eye on at your draft. Winding up with all of these guys is very unlikely, but for those of you who will be miserable all summer if you don't have at least a handful of O's, make sure to target the 10 names below:
Name Position Dollar value
1. Miguel Tejada SS $32 A true reflection of Tejada's value is that he remained the No. 1 fantasy shortstop in 2005 even after a mediocre season, by his standards. His 26 home runs and 98 RBIs were his lowest since 1999, but both led all shortstops. Throw in a .304 average, 89 runs and five steals, and Tejada managed to maintain the top slot. There's no reason to think that Tejada won't improve upon his 2005 numbers and retain the top spot among shortstops again in 2006. He's a legit first-round pick in any league.
2. Brian Roberts 2B $24 Roberts had a career year in 2005, hitting more home runs (18) than he had combined over the previous four seasons (12), while posting career bests in RBIs (73) and batting average (.314) in 143 games. His season was cut short by a dislocated left elbow late in the year, but Roberts should be ready to go by the middle of Spring Training, at the latest. Will Roberts come back to earth in 2006? Time will tell. But even if he finishes with numbers similar to 2004 (.273 BA, four homers, 53 RBIs, 29 steals), he's a solid fantasy option at second base.
3. Melvin Mora 3B $19 Did you really think that Mora would hit .340 again? If so, you probably had a couple of other misjudgments that helped contribute to that second-division fantasy finish. Mora did duplicate his 27 home runs from '04, though, and he's pretty consistently averaged a long ball every 22 at-bats or so since the start of the '03 season. Mora could top .300 again, and the Orioles will provide some RBI opportunities. Better still, there's always the outside chance that he might get a few games in the outfield.
4. Javy Lopez C $14 Lopez continued to produce big numbers in 2005, but his problem, as always, was staying on the field. Injuries limited the slugger to 103 games, and his slugging percentage took a huge hit for the second straight season, dropping 45 points. Lopez is in a much more desirable situation in 2006, as the acquisition of Ramon Hernandez means that he will spend a lot of time as a designated hitter and maybe even play some first base. If the change keeps him fresh and he can avoid injury, Lopez can easily slug 25 homers and knock in 80 runs.
5. Ramon Hernandez C $14 Hernandez was on his way to a career year in 2005, but he was sidetracked by injuries for the second straight season. His .290 average was the best of his career, and he knocked in 58 runs in only 99 games. Now, Hernandez moves from spacious PETCO Park to a bandbox in Baltimore, so his power numbers could continue to improve if he stays healthy. With Lopez also on the roster, Hernandez shouldn't be overworked, and he can DH to keep his bat in the lineup, while resting his knees. In a strong O's lineup, Hernandez could smack 20 homers and drive in more than 80 runs.
6. Jay Gibbons OF $13 Gibbons continued to improve in 2005. The left-handed hitter generated a career-high OPS of .833 and a slugging percentage of .516. With good power and solid plate coverage, he reduced his strikeout total to just 56 in 488 at-bats. Also, Gibbons showed signs of a future breakout by hitting .298 with a .342 on-base percentage in the second half of last season. Gibbons qualifies at both outfield and first base, and he will likely be shuffled between the two positions again this year. A breakout in the range of a .300 average, 30-35 dingers and 100 RBIs are a possibility for 2006.
7. Erik Bedard SP $11 As Bedard went, the Orioles went last season. In his first nine starts, Bedard went 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA and Baltimore was in first place. Then, Bedard strained a knee ligament and was not the same pitcher when he returned, posting an ERA of 5.44 and a WHIP of 1.64 in 81 innings after the All-Star break, as he struggled with finding his release point again. That said, Bedard still struck out eight batters per nine innings and should be good to go for 2006. Baltimore refused to trade him despite numerous requests, and the club is looking for him to be its ace. If you are a believer in the Leo Mazzone factor, then the new pitching coach can only help Bedard reach his potential this season.
8. Bruce Chen SP $11 Be it the old baseball adage of lefty starters blooming later, or maybe that he finally landed in the right situation, Chen finally had the breakout season that had been expected of him, but long after many had given up on him. Chen's seventh Major League stop was the charm, and he was pretty consistent throughout the year, even finishing strong the last two months. It seems like Chen has been around forever, but he's still just 28. There is no reason that he can't have a similar season to last year. Chen allowed 33 homers last year, so he needs to watch the gopher ball, but as long as that doesn't get worse, he should be fine.
9. LaTroy Hawkins RP $11 The Orioles are holding auditions for the closing job, and Hawkins has some experience, but let's be honest here: The veteran right-hander has been, shall we say, "spotty" when called upon to close in the past. Furthermore, Hawkins has appeared in only 66 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. Yes, there's an outside chance that Hawkins could rebound with Mazzone by his side and earn some saves for your fantasy team. The opportunity of returning to a role as a full-time closer makes Hawkins worth considering, but he's probably just keeping the spot warm until Chris Ray is ready. Look for clues in Spring Training.
10. Chris Ray RP $11 With a mid-90s fastball and a Minor League closing pedigree, Ray would seem to be a logical choice to take over closing duties for B.J. Ryan in Baltimore. That probably won't happen yet, though; Ray has just a half-season's worth of Major League experience, and the Orioles seem a little concerned about throwing him into a high-pressure spot too soon. The future is very bright for the 24-year-old, though, and he will be closing games before long. It could even happen this season, if he progresses faster than expected or Hawkins struggles, so be sure to keep Ray on your radar on draft day.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: No catching controversy

02/16/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- There is no catching controversy. Baltimore's former backstop, Javy Lopez, helped make sure of that Thursday morning when he greeted his successor, Ramon Hernandez, without animosity.
Lopez admitted he was upset when the Orioles signed Hernandez, but he made sure to clarify that it had nothing to do with the other player. The three-time All-Star was just wary of switching positions, and he said he's glad to have Hernandez aboard if it makes the team stronger.
"I'm pretty cool with the situation. I totally understand where the Orioles are coming from," said Lopez. "They understand where I'm coming from also. We're going to try to work things out. They wanted to see me play a little bit in Spring Training."
Hernandez, a former All-Star in his own right, has an outstanding reputation behind the plate. He's also six years younger than Lopez and more likely to hold up to the rigors of the game's most physically demanding position. The Orioles plan on using Lopez as a part-time player at first base and designated hitter, a concept designed to take advantage of his hitting skills.
Hernandez said he's looking forward to picking his teammate's brain, and both players said they understand each other's roles.
"We don't want to fight for a spot. We both know whoever's playing, we've got to do our best," said Hernandez. "We don't look at it like I'm trying to get your spot. All we're looking for, whoever's playing has to do his best. Whatever I have to do to help this team win, I'm going to do it."
"He's my teammate. It's always good to have a good relationship with your teammates, because you're going to be with them for six months," said Lopez. "It's not his fault. He had nothing to do with it. He did what he had to do, and if I was in his position, I would do the same thing. I have nothing against him."
Both Lopez and Hernandez are planning to participate in the World Baseball Classic, which gives them even less time to adjust to their new roles. Lopez has to learn to play first base -- where he's played two career innings in the big leagues -- and Hernandez has to learn a new pitching staff.
"If I've got to meet the whole team in two days, I will do it. I will try to meet everybody [and] get to know everybody before I go to the Baseball Classic," said Hernandez. "It takes a long time, but I'm going to try to do it as fast as I can. You need to catch any pitcher three or four times before you get an idea of what he likes to do. It's going to take time, but hopefully when the season starts, I get to know everybody."
Extra arms: Leo Mazzone, Baltimore's new pitching coach, pointed out an inconvenience for the team on Thursday. He mentioned that the team's Minor League complex is in Sarasota, Fla., more than 200 miles away from the big-league camp. That limits the amount of arms the Orioles can have in camp, a handicap he didn't face with the Braves.
"In Orlando, you had your Minor League people across the street, and they always provided three backup pitchers every day, once the games started. That was very easy to sell to the pitchers that were going to make your Major League club or a bunch that have a shot -- that they didn't have to stand out there all day and back up," said Mazzone. "It is a disadvantage. ... But the bottom line is we're going to have all these pitchers in camp, and everyone gets to pitch."
Mazzone also addressed the World Baseball Classic, which may take several of his pitchers for a couple weeks. Four of Baltimore's starting pitchers are expected to participate, but Mazzone said the Orioles would make do with the hurlers that remain in camp. He also said he likes the idea of the WBC, even if it complicates his training plan.
"You'd like to set up your rotation on March 2 and ride it all the way through," Mazzone said. "I'm sure there will be some skips here and there and make it more difficult. But that's also going to give the opportunity for a young starting prospect to jump in, and you never know, they may make the club that way.
"No wonder we have 31 pitchers in camp. It's OK, we'll work it out. Somebody's got to lose and get knocked out early, then they'll be right back. You've got to adjust your plans with the situation you're in."
Inked: Brian Roberts, Baltimore's second baseman, agreed on a one-year contract with a base value of $3.075 million on Thursday. That's a compromise between the two sides' arbitration figures -- Roberts had requested $3.6 million, while the Orioles had offered $2.4 million.
Roberts made $390,000 last season, and he earned the raise by putting up a career season. The second baseman started in the All-Star Game and obliterated his career highs in several categories, including batting average (.314), home runs (18), RBIs (73), on-base percentage (.387) and slugging (.515).
The switch-hitter's season was ended by a severe elbow injury, but he had surgery and has spent the last few months rehabbing. Roberts can earn another $375,000 in incentives based on playing time and performance in 2006.
Trading places: Two of the league's most traveled players got to meet up close and personal on Thursday. Bruce Chen and Jim Brower -- who were traded for each other in 2002 -- are teammates for the first time.
"We don't joke about it, but it's kind of ironic that now we're on the same team," said Chen, who has played for eight different big-league teams since the start of the 2000 season. "It's just weird. I think this is the first guy that I've been traded for that I'm playing with. It's kind of different."
Brower is with his sixth organization in the last seven years and his third in the last 12 months. The right-hander has had a more stable track record in the big leagues, though, which has inspired some admiration from Chen.
"I've seen him, and I always want to see how the people I got traded for are doing. I kept up with him a little bit," Chen said. "I was happy he was doing well in San Francisco. I don't know what happened to him last year, but hopefully, he's going to be able to help us. He got traded for me, so obviously I think he's a very good pitcher."
Quotable: "Everyone was helpful in giving me an idea of the arms that are in the farm system, the arms that are here. The bottom line is this: Until I see them with my own eyes, I'll try not to make any decisions based on what somebody else has said. I'll try to do it on what my eyes see, and familiarize everybody with what I see." -- Mazzone, talking about assessing his new pitching staff

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Orioles eager to get started

02/15/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Orioles' pitchers and catchers started checking into Spring Training camp Wednesday at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, marking the start of the 11th year the club has trained at the facility. The team's first workout is scheduled for Thursday morning.
"I didn't sleep at all last night," said Sam Perlozzo, who's entering his first season as a full-time manager. "I got up at four in the morning. I rolled around at 5 o'clock. [At] 5:30, I said, 'Holy cow.' At quarter to six, I said, 'Just give it up.'
"I'm going to enjoy it. I really am. It's something I've been wanting to do. ... Hopefully, it's something we can do for a long time."
Baltimore's main offseason acquisition -- pitching coach Leo Mazzone -- will be busy during the early workouts. The veteran will be charged with improving his new staff, and he'll have help in that area from the team's new catcher. Ex-Padre Ramon Hernandez was brought in this winter to help guide the Orioles' young rotation, and Javy Lopez is still on hand to support him.
"I'm excited for the guys," said Perlozzo, speaking of the impact Mazzone can make. "I hope they go ahead and grasp the things he has to offer to them and puts them into play. It's obvious -- his track record shows they work. I'm more anxious to see the reaction of our players.
"I already know what Leo's about. I've been with him for enough time. I know what he's about, and I've listened to him talk for 15 years. I like the looks on other guys' faces when he talks -- that's what I like to see."
The O's also added a new arm at the front of the staff, former top pick Kris Benson, and will have a first-year closer in Chris Ray. Perlozzo admitted that they're unsure how Ray will react to his new role, but he also said the team has decided it's the best course of action.
"If he runs into a couple bumps in the road, we've got LaTroy [Hawkins] and Todd Williams to give him a little cushion here and there if we need to," Perlozzo said. "But we'd like to see Chris Ray take the job and be the man. There's always concern with anything you do. I'm not going to go back and say it isn't a concern. But it is what it is now, and you have to go with it.
"You can't just sit on the fence all the time when there's no fence to be found. He's our guy, and that's just the way it's going to be."
Ray and top prospect Nick Markakis both agreed to terms Wednesday, and the Orioles announced that Rodrigo Lopez has been awarded the club's contract offer of $3.75 million in salary arbitration. Lopez, 15-12 with a 4.90 ERA in 35 starts last season, had sought a $4.5 million contract for the 2006 season.
On the whole, the cast of characters is largely the same. Lopez, Daniel Cabrera, Erik Bedard and Bruce Chen comprise the rest of the rotation, and each is expected to leave the club at some point to participate in the World Baseball Classic.
"We'll be here for over two weeks, getting them ready," said Perlozzo. "I'm sure some of the guys that are going to be playing have probably been playing winter ball already. And there's rules and regulations in place to take care of everyone. Everyone has to do it. We're not going to do anything but go along with it and make the best of it.
"We're going to assume that all our guys are probably going to go. ... Maybe we'll catch a break, and maybe all four of our starters won't have to go."
The Orioles learned that one prospective pitcher, Brooks Kieschnick, won't be reporting to camp. Kieschnick decided to retire instead, thinning out the team's list of non-roster invitees. Another name from that list, Tyler Yates, will head straight to Minor League camp.
Still, there will be several non-roster arms with a chance of making the team. Veterans John Halama, Jim Brower and Ricky Botallico will all get a long look in Spring Training, as will prospects Hayden Penn and Adam Loewen.
"There are some interesting people out there," Perlozzo said. "There are some jobs that can be won on this staff. The best thing that could happen is we find about five extra guys that should make the team. Then you can do something different. If we need a bat, we can go get a bat.
"I'd like to see the decisions this year be tough ones because we have too many good ones."
Baltimore's position players aren't required to report until Feb. 20, and the first full-squad workout will take place the next day. After that, the Orioles will have a week and a half to get ready for the Grapefruit League schedule, which starts on March 2 with a home game against the Florida Marlins.
Baltimore will play 14 games at Fort Lauderdale Stadium and 14 games at assorted road parks. Once the Florida segment of exhibition season is done, the Orioles will return home for two final exhibition games.
The first one will take place at RFK Stadium against the Washington Nationals on March 31, and the next day, the Nationals will return the favor by traveling to Camden Yards.
"It's all over with, as far as I'm concerned," said Perlozzo, about the team's turbulent 2005 season. "This is a new spring, a new year. Dwelling on the past is a negative. We'd like to deal in the positive."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Mazzone begins work with hurlers

02/16/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The job is the same, even if the digs are different.
Leo Mazzone spent his first working day as Baltimore's pitching coach on Thursday, and he didn't seem to need much adjustment time. Mazzone welcomed the accolades and the attention that went with his transition to the American League, but his new team's color scheme is a different story.
"The color, you have to get used to. I'll be glad when it's white-on-white or gray-on-gray," said Mazzone, clad in Orioles orange. "The orange is a little different, but you have a goal to make this uniform proud just like the one [you] used to wear."
Mazzone's reputation from his Atlanta tenure certainly preceded him, and the assorted Orioles spent most of the day talking about his presence.
Time and time again, Baltimore's pitchers were asked about their new coach, and most of them seemed thrilled to talk about him.
"If you're good at your job and you have a good track record, [people] definitely want to figure out what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong," said Kris Benson, one of Baltimore's front-line starters. "I guess it's just human nature to figure out why one pitching coach has more success than another."
"We didn't know how good we had it. It was good to work with him," said Bruce Chen, recalling his early days as an Atlanta pitching prospect. "I wanted to see what he was teaching all those guys -- [Steve] Avery, [Tom] Glavine, [Greg] Maddux, [John] Smoltz. I was young, so I was just shocked to be in the big leagues."
And then there was Mazzone, who met a barrage of similar questions both before and after the workout session. He made sure to credit his past success to the pitchers he worked with, but he also said he's not fazed by the pressure of working with a new staff and a new organization.
"I'd rather be that way than [be] ignored, to be perfectly honest with you. It just comes with the territory," Mazzone said. "I'm real proud of what we accomplished in Atlanta the last 14 years. We can bring some of that here and get the Oriole Way going again.
"No, I don't feel any pressure. I feel excitement, and I'm very happy to be with Sammy [Perlozzo] and to be in my home state."
Perlozzo, the team's manager, is the main reason Mazzone moved to Baltimore. The pair played youth baseball with and against each other and have remained friends over the ensuing decades. Perlozzo didn't spend too much time with Mazzone on Thursday, but he said he noticed how his players reacted to him.
"I know that he comes across in a way that's different than most people. I was just having fun listening to him communicate with them," Perlozzo said. "I always hear him tell it to me, but it was fun to hear him tell it to them -- and to watch their expressions [and] how they took it in.
"They paid attention. I was there a few times when he made a suggestion, and I saw a little reaction. ... It's a long spring. They've got a lot to get from him."
So what does Mazzone believe in, baseball-wise? What philosophy separates him from the legion of similar pitching coaches? As Perlozzo noted, it may not be what he says, but how he says it.
Mazzone is known for being direct and confrontational with his players, but he's respectful of the process that makes them successful.
"Coaching is a constant. I've worked with veterans, young guys, Cy Young Award winners, 20-game winners and Hall of Famers," said Mazzone. "[Successful pitchers] are always trying to improve. They are always trying to shore up something or elevate their game, because this is a game of constant adjustments. You may be a little more detailed with a Greg Maddux, but your approach is the same.
"You adjust to the individual and their type of personality, and we had a lot of success with the John Burketts that came over and did well. ... There is a whole bunch of them, but [I teach] the simplicity of the game and executing a few things really well, as opposed to looking at 1,000 charts and trying to hit a section of that chart. We are not going to do that."
Mazzone worked with six Cy Young Award winners and nine 20-game winners in his Atlanta tenure, but he has a less proven staff to work with in Baltimore. Only two of his five starters have reached the 200-inning mark -- and they've combined to do it a grand total of three times.
Still, Mazzone is not interested in what they've done in the past. He's interested in what they'll do on his watch, and he's confident he can figure out ways to inspire them.
"I'll try to get guys to raise the level of pitching. And pitching is a craft," he said. "It's an art, and it's not how hard you can throw, or grunting and groaning. Pitching requires touch. It requires change of speeds and not trying to macho your way through the opposition -- or bully your way through.
"If you can locate pitches and you can command a fastball and change speeds, it doesn't matter what league you are in. But if you are out there trying to out-trick somebody or pitch in a prevent defense, then the end result is -- you all know what happens when a football team goes to a prevent defense."


Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: Lopez learning the ropes

02/17/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Javy Lopez had a full course load on Friday, a grueling day that took him from fielding practice as a first baseman to batting practice and catching drills. The three-time All-Star admitted that he was exhausted when it was all over, but he also said it was a fulfilling and productive day at the office.
"It's double the trouble," he said. "At the same time, it's a must-do for me, to work on both positions. I'm not guaranteed to play next year on this team. Anything can happen. I might get traded, or something could happen to Ramon [Hernandez] and I'd have to catch. Anything can happen."
He repeated that thought for emphasis, but also because it's doubly true. Lopez is still in the early stages of his transition to first base, a spot populated on Baltimore's roster by veterans Jeff Conine and Kevin Millar.
Even the basics are foreign to Lopez, who has played just two innings at first base over the course of his big-league career.
"We're trying not to go too fast with him, because we've still got plenty of time. We're trying to give him a big meal, but only give him little portions of it," said Dave Cash, Baltimore's first-base coach and infield instructor. "Today, we added a little more movement. Yesterday, I gave him just the basic fundamentals -- the wide stance, the glove out in front, keeping the glove in front of you, never let the ball get underneath you.
"We worked on getting his footwork together yesterday, and hopefully he'll get those things in his memory banks and they'll become automatic. Today, we incorporated a little backhand, and tomorrow we'll pick some out of the dirt."
Cash said he was confident Lopez would be able to make a clean transition, largely because of his athleticism and footwork. He also said it will take a lot of time on the field and off it, where Lopez will have to study up on baseball situations.
"The most difficult part, without a doubt, is going to be where he'll be on cutoffs and relays. He was a catcher, but now he's at first base -- and he's got cutoff responsibilities on anything to the right side of second base," said Cash. "I tried to tell him that you have to think about what you're going to do before you do it. Run all the situations through your mind. When those situations take place, you don't have to think about it anymore.
"It's going to take a while. It will probably take well into the season before he gets it all."
"I haven't done that yet. I haven't practiced it yet," said Lopez. "I have no idea, no clue what I'm supposed to do. It's something I'll have to work on with guys that know about it. Everything else, so far, has been fine."
Sam Perlozzo, the team's manager, said he's not concerned about that aspect of the game. He said that will take care of itself and that he just wants to see Lopez settle in with the basics.
"I'm more concerned with the little intricacies of first base. You've got balls in the dirt, you've got bunt plays," he said. "Taking ground balls and catching one in a game is a little different story. Things speed up a little bit when the games start. But that's understandable. It's all new.
"The good thing is he's athletic and he looks like a first baseman when he's catching it. That's a good start."
Early arrival: David Newhan joined the pitchers and catchers on Friday, showing up at Fort Lauderdale Stadium four days before the required reporting date for position players. Newhan said his early arrival will help him ease back into the baseball grind, as opposed to showing up one day and jumping right into action the next.
"It gives you a chance to get situated, especially coming across the country. It lets you get into your apartment, get to the grocery store," he said. "A lot of times, you're shipping your car across and there's a lot of arrangements to be made. This lets you get all settled at home so you can focus on the field stuff."
Newhan also said it can be difficult to line up workout partners in the winter, which means it makes even more sense to show up early. The reserve outfielder is trying to erase 2005 from his memory, a season that saw his batting average fall 100 points from the season before. Newhan batted .311 in 2004, but he struggled to a .202 mark last season.
"It snowballed on me. I didn't get off to a great start and didn't get on the field a lot. It seemed like a battle for me," he said. "When you start performing bad, you try to change things and you're not as confident as you should be. You try and tell yourself to be confident, but saying it and doing it are two different things.
"I have some tape, and I was looking at it, but I'll tell you, it was so dang ugly that it's tough to look at. ... I'm excited to get back and try to stay within myself."
Mound work: Baltimore's pitchers have been throwing to hitters in the last two days -- and sometimes throwing to fellow pitchers in the batter's box. Why is that notable? Most teams have their pitchers throw bullpen sessions without opposition in the early days of Spring Training, progressing to batting practice only after they get adjusted to the mound.
John Halama, an eight-year veteran, said this training camp represents the first time he's faced hitters so early in the exhibition season.
"I can understand the logic behind it," he said. "We're here and we're ready to get hitters out, as opposed to taking two or three bullpens and then all of a sudden facing the position players. It's going to be interesting. I'll probably wind up benefiting from it, getting sharper two bullpens in advance."
Quotable: "It's a little bit quieter. ... People warned me about the stadium. They said it's not that nice, it's a little run-down, it's a little old. But it is what it is. We got plenty of places to do our thing. When I was running across the field, Leo [Mazzone] said the only place I have to worry about is the game mound." -- Baltimore starter Kris Benson, responding to whether the conditions at Fort Lauderdale Stadium reminded him of Shea Stadium, his former home park

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Perseverance paying off for Chen

02/17/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- There's no way around it. Any conversation about Bruce Chen's career generally comes back to his well-traveled path through the big leagues, a journey that has seen him pitch for eight different teams in the last six seasons.
That was the dominant thread before last season, when Chen ended his transient days with a strong performance as Baltimore's fifth starter. In fact, he's a good bet to spend his third straight season with the Orioles, which is no small achievement. That's the first truly stable period for Chen since the 2000 season, when he was still breaking in with Atlanta, his first organization.
The southpaw makes no excuses about the turbulent portion of his career, but he's clearly thrilled that it's over.
"I can't say I didn't get an opportunity. I got an opportunity. I just didn't have a lot of room that allowed me to fail," said Chen, who will turn 29 in June. "If I had a bad month, because I didn't throw hard, they'd put me in the bullpen or send me down. I had plenty of opportunities, I just didn't have a lot of margin for error.
"The other thing is I just wasn't ready yet. I could pitch in the big leagues, but I didn't have good command. I didn't have a changeup. I wasn't quite there -- I wasn't able to help a team win."
Still, as a highly touted prospect off the Atlanta assembly line, he got plenty of chances. Chen made his big-league debut just after his 21st birthday, appearing as a September callup for a Braves team that eventually lost in the 1998 National League Championship Series to the Padres.
That team's rotation featured pitching icons Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, and the back end was filled by Denny Neagle and Kevin Millwood. All but Neagle returned the next season, but Chen still wasn't ready to break in as a starter. Leo Mazzone was that team's pitching coach, and now he serves in a similar capacity for Baltimore.
"I've noticed from watching him that he's much more mature, much more confident," said Mazzone. "When I had him, he was trying to break into one of the greatest rotations in the history of the game. It wasn't an easy spot for him, but he's real smooth and has good control. He had a [heck] of a year last year."
Chen goes a step further than Mazzone when discussing that portion of his career. It wasn't that he was intimidated by his competition, it was just a little bit too much too soon.
"When I was over there, I was young, and I didn't have the command I have now. I didn't have the changeup I have now," he said. "I didn't have the experience I have now. I'm a much better pitcher. I used to throw harder when I was with the Braves. That's mainly the difference."
The odyssey began in innocent fashion, when Chen was the centerpiece of a trade to Philadelphia in 2000. He was dealt again a year later, this time moving to the New York Mets. And that's when things started getting a little crazy.
After a half-season with the Mets, Chen was dealt to Montreal in April 2002. He spent two months there before Montreal traded him to Cincinnati. The Reds released him early in 2003, and he bounced between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox. Finally, after signing with the Blue Jays in November, he was traded to Baltimore in May 2004.
That dizzying tour taught him persistence, if it didn't teach him anything about baseball.
"Let me tell you something," said Mazzone. "When you're a left-hander that has good control and can change speeds, somebody will always find a place for you. Plus, he has great makeup and attitude."
Chen pitched well in a limited role for the Orioles in 2004, and then he finally broke through in 2005. The left-hander set a career high in wins (13), starts (32), innings (197 1/3) and strikeouts (133). He gained a lucrative payday for that season, but more importantly, he gained a guaranteed place in his team's plans.
Chen credits his success and his newfound confidence in his stuff to former Baltimore pitching coach Ray Miller, who taught Chen how to take a far simpler approach.
"He talked to me a lot, and he said, 'All I want you to do is show me that you can help this team win and you'll be on this team,'" he said. "I thought, 'If that's the only thing I'll have to do, I can do it.' I prepared myself. I showed them I could relieve.
"I was available to pitch against left-handers and I was available to start. I could do any of those things and eat a lot of innings to help this team win."
And what does his team expect from him this season? The Orioles know 2005 may not be his career year, but they also know he may not be able to sustain his success from year to year. Sam Perlozzo, Baltimore's manager, just wants Chen to be himself.
"He doesn't have to go out there and be the best in the world, but we certainly want him to be good enough to hold down whatever spot he is in the rotation. I'd be disappointed if he didn't," said Perlozzo. "If he came out of the rotation in the five-hole and won 10 ballgames, I'd be tickled to death.
"What we're looking for is Rodrigo [Lopez] and [Kris] Benson to pitch the way they're capable of pitching, [Daniel] Cabrera and [Erik] Bedard to get a little bit better, and Chen to hold his own. If we do that, that's a pretty good staff. I think we'll be successful if that happens."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: Cabrera tests new battery

02/18/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Height-wise, Daniel Cabrera looms over everyone on Baltimore's roster, but he had an important conversation with someone who equals him in stature on Saturday.
After his throwing session on the game-mound at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, the 6-foot-7 Cabrera engaged in an extended discussion with Ramon Hernandez, the Orioles' new catcher. The batterymates were trying to get a feel for each other, beginning a process that Hernandez will repeat with most of the pitchers on the Baltimore staff.
"I've got to do that with all of them -- starters, relievers, closer," said Hernandez. "I try to know the most I can to help them be successful. The more successful they are, the more ballgames we'll win."
That statement certainly applies to Cabrera, a bundle of talent who has yet to put it all together. The Dominican native has been noted for his dominant but erratic stuff, a combination that Hernandez hopes to tame and iron out. Cabrera said that he welcomed the counsel of his elder teammate, and he hoped to continue the discourse throughout the spring.
"We were talking about what he likes and what I like. He was telling me about my offspeed pitches, my changeup and my breaking ball," said Cabrera. "He likes to talk, and that's good. Today, already, I learned something."
Cabrera, who will turn 26 in late May, was healthy enough to start 29 games last year. Many of those games ended early, though, and the right-hander finished with 161 1/3 innings. Cabrera said that he hoped to pitch deeper into games and the season this year, and that the 200-inning mark was a worthwhile goal.
The youngster will leave Baltimore's camp to participate in the World Baseball Classic, and he said that his prior activity in the Caribbean World Series has helped him come to camp in good shape. He'll have to improve his command of the strike zone to take the next step, and he said that he'll accept help from anyone in the clubhouse.
"Everybody here has something special. That's why they're in the Major Leagues," he said. "I listen a lot to all my teammates. If they say, 'Do this,' I try to do that."
Hernandez, meanwhile, said that he looks forward to having more chats with Cabrera and the rest of the staff. He said that it's important to know more than just the basic gameplan -- he doesn't just want to know the respective strengths of his teammates, he wants to know what they like to do.
"We've got to get together more. I know we've got a lot of time in Spring Training, so hopefully, we'll get together more and get on the same page," he said. "I've got to try to get to know them, so when I'm catching, I know where to go and know what to call."
Sam Perlozzo, Baltimore's manager, said that his catcher's reputation is well known around the league. If he can get through to young pitchers like Cabrera and Bedard, it will only get better.
"I think he's going to be a great defensive catcher. He's like the total package for us," he said. "You've got a guy that catches well, throws well, calls a great game [and] works good with the pitchers and the pitching coach. And he swings the bat. He's going to be a real plus."
Catch of the day: Perlozzo said that the Orioles are leaning toward carrying three catchers this year, a move that will allow them to start Javy Lopez at another position without worrying about an injury behind the plate.
Geronimo Gil would likely be the third catcher. He'd basically serve as an insurance policy at the end of the bench and wouldn't start very often.
"If it works out that way, I'd say it will probably be a little bit difficult to get that third catcher playing time," said Perlozzo. "Ideally, if you want to give Ramon a day off, you put Javy back behind the plate and keep the bat in there. ... I'm kind of hoping that's the way we can do it."
Strangely enough, all three of Baltimore's catchers are expected to participate in the World Baseball Classic. Hernandez is slated to play for Venezuela, Lopez will play with Puerto Rico and Gil for Mexico.
Bumps and bruises: Right-handed reliever Todd Williams is one of the first injured Orioles this spring, and he may not be able to pitch on Sunday. Perlozzo said that the O's don't think it's anything serious, though.
"Williams came in with a little bit of soreness in his shoulder, but we're hoping it's just that -- a little soreness from throwing," he said. "We'll check with the trainers again [on Sunday]. I didn't get a full report on it. He wasn't scheduled to throw today, so it wasn't a setback or anything. We just hope that he's OK tomorrow."
More new faces: Corey Patterson, Nick Markakis and Jeff Fiorentino showed up to camp on Saturday, two days ahead of the team's mandatory report date for position players. That trio was one day behind David Newhan.
"They're getting anxious to get here. That's kind of good to see," said Perlozzo. "They're ready to get started, and that's always good. They've still got to play the games to make the team."
Quotable: "I know [pitching coach] Leo [Mazzone]'s philosophy, and that's that he puts the onus on the pitchers. But it's a tremendous help to have a really good catcher that follows along with everything. He's somebody I'm anxious to see a lot." -- Perlozzo, on how Hernandez can help steady Baltimore's young staff

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Notes: Gibbons reveling in security

02/18/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Jay Gibbons went from one brand of fun in the sun to another on Sunday, when he showed up at Baltimore's Spring Training camp one day ahead of the mandatory reporting date for position players.
"I came in from my honeymoon yesterday, from the Caribbean, and I figured it would be nice to come in here to get the beach out of my mind," said Gibbons, the Orioles' right fielder. "It feels good to be out here and doing something."
The left-handed hitter had a leisurely day at the park, but he did suit up in uniform and take a few rounds of batting practice with Jeff Conine, his onetime mentor and current teammate. Gibbons recently signed a four-year contract, and he said that the deal has brought him some added security.
The former Rule 5 Draft pick had gone year to year on his previous contracts, and he would've been eligible for free agency after the 2006 season. Now, he knows where he'll be for the foreseeable future.
"It's a completely different feeling, coming in here and knowing you're going to be here a while. It really does take the pressure off," he said. "It feels weird right now. I'm extremely happy, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun this year just going out and playing ball."
New addition: The Orioles traded for Andy Tracy on Saturday, acquiring him from Cleveland for a player to be named later. The 32-year-old corner infielder had arrived early to camp for the Indians, and he drove from Winter Haven to Fort Lauderdale to report early for the Orioles.
"I haven't talked to anybody. I don't even think half the people know I'm over here," said Tracy, who didn't have a locker yet. "When you're this age in the game and where I've been the last couple of years, it's good. ... It's nice to be over here and where I'm wanted -- I think."
Tracy has played in 136 games at the big-league level. Most of his experience came in the 2000 season, when he batted .260 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs for the Montreal Expos. Last year, he spent most of the season with Tohoko Rakuten, an expansion team in Japan's Pacific League.
The left-handed hitter struggled in that foreign environment, batting .209 with six home runs, 15 RBIs and 22 runs scored. But that was nothing compared to his team's adversity. Tohoko Rakuten finished with a .281 winning percentage, trailing the league leaders by 51 1/2 games and the next-closest team by 25 games.
"It was very difficult with the double-pausing stuff and a lot of split-fingers. The [strike] zones are a little bigger for the Americans, too," he said. "It's a little different. I didn't play like I wanted to, bottom line. I'm not going to make any excuses, but there were some other circumstances involved with the numbers that were put up over there."
Blue chip: Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said that he watched Adam Loewen throw batting practice on Sunday, and he said that he was impressed by the top prospect's progress. Loewen, a first-round pick in 2002, has yet to progress past the Carolina League, a high Class A league.
"The last time I saw Adam was a couple years ago, and he threw the ball. I don't think his location was where we'd like him to be," said Perlozzo of the 21-year-old. "He's shown the power arm that we were told about when he was drafted, and that's really good for him. He's going to work on his command, [and] he's got a good breaking ball that he threw today a couple times.
"He's big. He looks like he's getting bigger and bigger every year."
Cashed out: Dave Cash, Baltimore's first-base coach and infield instructor, has been lucky enough to watch his son and namesake play ball over the last few days. Dave Cash III, an infielder for the University of Florida, is in town for a three-game series against the University of Miami.
The younger ball-playing Cash went 0-for-3 with a run scored in his team's 4-1 victory over Miami on Saturday, but more importantly, he got to go out for a rare dinner with his dad. Cash, a junior, was a 21st-round draft pick of the Orioles in 2003, and he'll be eligible for the First-Year Player Draft again in June.
First aid: Aaron Rakers had an MRI on his right shoulder recently, and the Orioles aren't sure when he'll pitch again. Todd Williams took another day off on Sunday, and he'll likely remain on the shelf for the next few days.
"I don't think Rakers' reports have been read yet. He said he feels good, though," said Perlozzo. "He said he's ready to go. Todd still has some soreness. He's going to be a couple days yet."
Quotable: "It was a great experience. It's great to travel over there, see different baseball and see the passion that those people have for a game that was invented over here. It was interesting, [but] I'm just happy to be back in the United States." -- Tracy, on the social aspects of his trip to Japan

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Conine finds teammate in Father Time

02/19/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- With four months to go until his 40th birthday, Jeff Conine has developed a don't-ask, don't-tell policy regarding his age. He doesn't want reporters to ask about it, and he won't tell you how it's changed his approach to baseball.
"It took like three minutes for an age question," said Conine, who showed up to Baltimore's training camp Sunday, one day ahead of the mandatory reporting date for position players. "I feel good, as good now as I have in the last 10 years. It's just a number to me. A lot of people make a lot out of it, but there's no issue there."
There's no issue, just an age-related curiosity. With several roster decisions pending, there are believed to be less than 20 players Conine's age with a realistic chance of making an Opening Day roster.
Conine can be as sarcastic as interview subjects get, and he answered many of the age-related questions with a flat deadpan. In a more reflective moment, he said a younger version of himself wouldn't be surprised to hear how long he has lasted.
"I always work hard over the winter. It's always been an intense program that I try to do, and this offseason was no exception," Conine said of his longevity. "It's a product of your work ethic and your attitude. I'm working as hard now as I ever have, and still believe I can contribute at the Major League level."
The recent numbers seem to bear him out. Conine has hit .280 or better in each of the last three seasons, and he did that without having a full-time position. The veteran has flitted between the outfield and first base in recent years, and the Orioles hope to take advantage of his versatility in 2006.
Conine's position in 2006 will likely depend on some external factors beyond his control. Former catcher Javy Lopez is trying to move to first base this spring, and offseason acquisition Kevin Millar will also spend some time there. That trio will also see some time at designated hitter, an arrangement that should allow all of them to remain fresh throughout the season.
"Left is fine, first is fine. Right's fine. Wherever they decide to put me, I'll bring out that glove that day," said Conine. "I'm going to shoot my goals high, and then work down from there, depending on what they want to do. I'm prepared and fully expecting to play every day."
If Conine does play every day, he'll likely trigger a $2 million vesting option for the 2007 season. Conine needs just 450 plate appearances to make that happen, and he's gotten to that mark four times in the last five seasons.
When asked about the time-sharing arrangement, O's manager Sam Perlozzo said it's still too early to speculate. He was also asked about the unique nature of productive players at Conine's age, and he said that it mostly has to do with advances in technology and nutrition.
"There's so much more emphasis these days on conditioning and weight-training and things like that. Guys have taken to it quite a bit, but he's a special guy," Perlozzo said. "He's in tremendous shape, and I don't think he's ever let himself not be in tremendous shape. Those kind of guys, as you know, they don't come around very often.
"I don't mess with 'Niner on those kinds of things. He can stop me with one finger."
Mike Flanagan, the team's vice president of baseball operations, has a pretty good perspective on the whole phenomenon. Before he became an executive, the left-hander pitched for parts of 18 seasons in the big leagues and retired two months before his 41st birthday.
That just didn't happen as much in Flanagan's day, and the exceptions were stark examples of aging gracefully. Flanagan also cited Rick Dempsey, Baltimore's current bullpen coach, but he said that he couldn't think of many others. The ones who made it that far, he said, did it with a combination of discipline and determination.
"No. 1, they were blessed with great genes, but I think it's also the work ethic that keeps them hungry enough to keep them playing," he said. "What the game is, you always want that light bulb to go on [with] how to do this correctly. I think that really adds to your longevity."
That's another part of Conine's well-rounded resume. The right-handed hitter has always been cited as a positive role model, and in his former tour with the Orioles, he helped mentor young players like Jay Gibbons and Brian Roberts. Now, Gibbons and Roberts are mainstays, and they both lobbied hard for Conine's return.
Still, that wasn't the reason that Baltimore had interest. The Orioles want him to help out in the clubhouse, but they also want him to keep helping between the lines.
"I talked to Sam some this offseason," said Conine. "One thing he wanted to improve was a little chemistry in the clubhouse, more playing together as a team. He emphasized that it's one of the reasons they brought me here, to try to help that out. I like taking on that role.
"I'm not a rah-rah kind of leader, but I hope to lead by example. And for a guy my age to be able to show the young guys something, I take a good amount of pride in that."
Conine put special emphasis on my age in that sentence, further twisting the age-related knife. Another one of his comments, though, showed that he's already thinking beyond his playing days. When Conine was asked about the transition of his former team, the Florida Marlins, he waxed philosophical.
"It saddens me, for one, that the team was broken up like it was. And two, that there may not even be baseball here in a couple years," he said. "I've got two young sons, and I'm sure I'd love to take [them] to a game in a few years, and if there's no baseball to take them to, that would be a shame."
Of course, that's a few years down the road. For now, Conine's ready to play some baseball.

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

O's have great plans for Penn

02/20/2006
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Hayden Penn can take some cues from Bruce Chen.
Penn, a 21-year-old pitching prospect, can learn a lot from last season's audition in the big leagues, and Chen can share a lot of similar experiences. Chen was slightly older than Penn when he made his big-league debut, but Chen said he sees a lot of similarities with his younger teammate.
"You can't be too early to the big leagues," said Chen, a veteran at the ripe old age of 28. "It's going to be a good experience for him. Now he knows what he needs to do to be successful, and he'll also know what the life's like up here. The bad part is, I know that after they sent him down, he struggled a little bit. When you're young, it's hard to see yourself.
"When you're 21, you think, 'Oh, I can be in the big leagues,' but if you don't do very well, you start doubting yourself. It's just because you're 21 and you're not quite there yet."
Penn, a polished right-hander, breezed through the lower levels of the organization without much resistance. He was pitching well at Double-A Bowie in late May, when Baltimore had a temporary rotation spot open due to an injury to Erik Bedard. The Orioles summoned Penn, who pitched relatively well in his first few starts but struggled after that.
He was still 20 at that point, and he wasn't even old enough to legally drink alcohol until the season ended. Now he's 21 and likely ticketed for Triple-A Ottawa, but the Orioles think of him as a contingency plan if injuries arise and as a top-notch starting option down the road. Penn's fine with all that, and he knows what he has to do to improve.
"They haven't told me much," he said. "I know some jobs are taken, but I'd like to do my best. "Last year in the big leagues, I showed flashes, but I need to be more consistent day in and day out. That's all I think I need to do to get here.
"I feel like I can get hitters out with what I have, as long as I don't try to get outside of my abilities."
Sam Perlozzo, Baltimore's manager, said he liked what he saw out of Penn last season. He liked his attitude and his competitive desire, and he said it wasn't necessarily a mistake to promote him at such an early age. In fact, Perlozzo said he'd like to see Penn challenge for a rotation slot in Spring Training, however unlikely that may be.
"You know, you never have enough starting pitching, period," Perlozzo said. "If it were to be that he ends up in Triple-A and pitched so well to almost make the team, it's a tremendous asset to the team. ... And what I saw out of Hayden last year is that he wasn't intimidated. I thought he was a little overanxious up here, but he certainly didn't embarrass himself when he was here."
Chen can relate. The southpaw was in the big leagues eight weeks after his 21st birthday, but it took him longer to put his skills together. In fact, Chen just had his first truly successful season, and it took him six seasons and seven different teams to get to that point. Now, a few months from his 29th birthday, it seems like he's been in the league a decade or more.
"It's hard. When you're 21 and you get sent down at 22, 23 and 24, the next time [you come up], people think you've been around forever," he said. "The guy that's 24 at his first time and has a good season at 25, it's like, 'Oh my God, at 25 he had a great year.' If you're 25 and it's your third or fourth time before you have a solid year, they say, 'Oh, finally.' It's different expectations.
"I think the organization is going to be patient, and they know he's going to be good. He's different than me, and hopefully he won't go through everything I went through."
Penn said he feels much more comfortable in Spring Training this year and expects a similar sensation the next time he makes it to a big-league mound. If nothing else, his audition erased most of the butterflies he'd expect otherwise.
"I know some of the guys a little better, so I can be myself a little more," he said. "It definitely makes it more comfortable. At first, it was [overwhelming]. But once you get into competition, it's just like anything else -- you're just trying to compete and you don't feel so in awe all the time.
"I figure, the last three or four starts, even though I didn't have much success, I felt a lot more comfortable out there."
Penn is 10-8 with a 3.99 ERA at Double-A Bowie, but four of those starts came when he was 19 years old. It wouldn't be a shock to see him start there, but he'll likely go to Triple-A Ottawa to get his first taste of that level. After that, who knows?
The right-hander has a bright future, and Perlozzo said that could start as early as his arm allows him.
"Everybody's different," Perlozzo said. "Mentally, I think if he wasn't trying to do so well, he would've had a little bit better command. We'll see what he does this spring. It's a long spring. He's going to get a chance."

Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/

Mailbag: Why isn't Roberts in Classic?

02/20/2006
Am I the only one who thinks Brian Roberts deserved an invitation to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic? I realize his injury played a factor in the decision, but the guy was the American League's starting second baseman at the All-Star Game.-- Liam D., Towson, Md.
Roberts is going to be physically limited for the first few weeks of Spring Training, so it wouldn't make much sense to include him on any tournament team. He may not even be able to play in Baltimore's early exhibition games, and once he's able to, playing on back-to-back days may be an issue.
Roberts will be best served by taking his time in the recovery process, and a full-speed jump into highly competitive action would be ill-advised from several angles. The Orioles expect to start him with low-impact fielding drills and move him along toward game action slowly. The main goal, of course, is for him to be ready for Opening Day and healthy thereafter.
Besides, it's not like the O's are shirking their responsibility to contribute to the tournament's cause. Baltimore expects to send four starting pitchers, three catchers, two infielders and an outfielder to the WBC. Roberts can stay back and work with the team's trainers, who can keep a close eye on him to make sure he's not moving too fast.
"I was looking forward to possibly having an opportunity to play in [the WBC]," said Roberts on his first day at Spring Training. "I think it's a great event -- I really do. When you look at the rosters, I think people are pretty excited about it. But, obviously, this is first and foremost for me."
Where will Corey Patterson fit into the Orioles' lineup this year? I know he hit leadoff quite a bit with the Cubs, but he really didn't seem to fit the mold very well.-- Everett C., Hampton, Va.
Patterson will likely bat toward the bottom of the lineup, which will take advantage of his speed and power and minimize the damage of his free-swinging nature. More than anything else, the desire to bat him toward the top of the lineup is wishful thinking. Patterson has never gotten on base at a league-average rate, thanks in part to his lack of plate discipline.
For his career, Patterson has a .293 on-base percentage, which is among the lowest accrued by everyday players in the league. That's not to say he'll never improve -- Patterson will be 26 for most of next season, and he's had a wealth of experience in his brief young career. If he's ever going to break out, it will likely be in the next few seasons.
The physical skills are certainly there. Patterson can hit for power despite a smallish frame, and he's already shown the ability to hit for a decent average. What he needs, more than anything else, is to control the strike zone and be more selective at the plate. Patterson has struck out almost five times for every walk he's drawn, which wouldn't be as damaging if he hit at a more consistent rate.
In the past five seasons, Patterson's batting average has ranged from .215 to .298, but his walk rate has stayed consistently low. The center fielder walked 45 times in his best offensive season, but he's never walked more than 25 times in any other campaign. An improved batting eye would help him calm the large swings, and if he can't improve in that area, he may never live up to his potential. Until then, he's best used at the bottom of the order or as a bat off the bench.
Don't you think the Orioles go a bit overboard about having veteran leadership on the team? I would much rather see a young player get an opportunity than to keep signing players who are in the twilight of their careers.-- Bill E., Laurel, Del.
You have to wait for the young players to be ready before you give them a chance. Otherwise, you risk scuttling their potential, kind of like the Cubs did with Patterson. The former first-round pick was in the big leagues just after his 21st birthday, and he never really got a chance to hone his skills against players his age.
How does that apply to the Orioles' current situation? Baltimore's two older offseason acquisitions -- Jeff Conine and Kevin Millar -- allow the team to make sure its top prospects are ready before forcing them to the Major L