The O’s fell to 1-2 in the Grapefruit League; with a 5-3 loss to the Pirates last night in Sarasota.

Game 3 March 5th:

Adam Jones homered, Tejada doubled, and Atkins had 2 hits – including a double.
While that was good to see, my takeaway from the game though has nothing to do with the offense.

If you are one of those people that doubt that better days are on the immediate horizon for the Orioles, check out the box-score from yesterday; and the arms the O’s used.

8 different pitchers saw time for the O’s yesterday, and there was a level of quality throughout.

Chris Tillman started, went 2 perfect innings, and struck-out 3.

Gonzalez, and Johnson got their first work of the spring, and picturing their power-arms at the back of the bullpen is something to look forward to.

Arrieta also got on the mound, and if you are like me; you can not wait until he forces his way into the Baltimore rotation later this year.

Patton, and Spoone are logging innings, and still attempting to work back to the pitchers they were before their respective injuries.

Patton’s velocity was off last-year, but that was understandable after missing the 2008 season with the labrum. To me, the thing to remember about Patton is that his game was never built on velocity. I think he was proving that he could still be a factor, by his domination of Bowie last-Spring. People soured on him when he went to Norfolk, and struggled. I did not really understand that. 2009 for Patton was always going to be about taking the ball every 5th day, and logging some innings. That was accomplished. Just because he tired out (understandably) and was hit around a bit; that does not mean he can not get back to where he was.

After another off-season of rehab, I expect Patton to be pretty much all the way back this year. This was a guy that reached the Majors at age 21 with Houston, and was a Top 100 MLB prospect for 3 consecutive years (2006-08). The fact that you can store him away at Norfolk as an after-thought is a good thing. The fact that his only likely path to Baltimore in 2010 is as a spot-starter, or as a lefty long-man (Perhaps if Hendrickson was injured later in the year?) is a great thing. If I am right, and he looks good the first-half of 2010; he might have some good value as part of a trade-package.

Before Spoone was injured, some people – notably Tony Pente of Orioles Hangout – believed he had the best pure ability of anyone in the system. After putting up just 53 combined innings during the past-two years; 2010 for Spoone is about building back his arm-strength. Like Patton last-year, you have to expect that Spoone will tire at some point during this 2010 season. There are no expectations for him, you just want to see him healthy enough to regularly take the mound. If he does that with some success at AA Bowie; the 24-year old can reestablish himself as a prospect.

Sandwiched between Patton and Spoone last-night was Luis Lebron. Lebron will start 2010 as the Closer for Norfolk, and everyone is extremely enthusiastic about his arm.

When I interviewed O’s Player Development Director Dave Stockstill last August, Stockstill’s commented, “Luis Lebron has come along very well since missing most of last season. He throws mid 90’s with a very good slider and change.”

While it should be noted that Lebron turns 25 next Saturday, and has only 27.1 innings of work at the AA level; he has a chance to come quick. I’m salivating at the thought of the O’s featuring a bullpen with Gonzalez, Johnson, Mickolio, Hernandez, and Lebron at some-point during this 2010 season.

Lastly, Alfredo Simon finished the game for Baltimore last-night. Last-year I railed against how horrible it was for Simon to start the year in the Oriole’s rotation, and I was right. Simon has no business in the Starting Rotation of any ML team; and it was a horrible indictment of where the O’s staff was to start last-year. That all said, he does have a quality arm, and I am glad to see him back healthy. He can provide good depth to the AAA staff, and if he ever sniffs Baltimore in the 2010 season, it will be in the O’s bullpen – a role he is far better suited for.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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