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Kazlo is pumped about the Fall League This is the first time in a long time that I am excited about the players the Orioles are sending to the Arizona Fall League. I can recall the days of watching former #1 pick Keith Reed circle under fly balls at Phoenix Muni during the 2001 season. Poor Keith. He showed up that year being touted as one of the best “tools” players in the Orioles system. He spent the fall swinging at fast balls at his eyes and being out-powered at the plate by Brian Roberts. I can still recall watching both players take batting practice and noting to myself that Roberts had more pop in his bat than Reed. Reed was exposed to the Rule 5 draft that year, and as the Oriole Nation held its collective breath that a player with his tools might be stolen from them, everyone else in the majors confirmed what had become apparent to fans that AFL season --- Keith Reed had no business in the majors. Even Lamont Matthews had a better season. That year, the Orioles sent three #1 picks to the desert to refine their skills. Mike Paradis, Brian Roberts and Reed. Others who went that year were Steve Bechler, Eric Bedard, Tim Raines, Jr. and Jason Lakman. The Orioles ended up with two keepers out of that bunch. Reed and Raines ended up batting .192 and .167, respectively. I will never forget the sight of Raines driving a ball far into right center field at Maryvale, and then seeing him stand in the batters box and admire the darned thing. Tom Foley was coaching third that day and was yelling “three, three, three” at him. "Little Rock" barely made it into second. Bedard finished with an ERA of 3.67 and struck out 27 batters in 27 innings after making the jump from High A ball. Paradis was released by the Orioles last season, Lakman was also released the next season and Bechler unfortunately passed away in Spring Training last year. Carl Crawford was on this team; I made a note to myself to keep an eye on him and Roberts to see who would become the better player. Roberts started slowly, but ended up stealing nine bases and hitting .244. In years gone by, the Orioles also sent John Parrish, Jayson Werth, Willie Harris and Papy Ndungigi, whose bizarre behavior resulted in a stay in an institution. Darnell McDonald came, as did Eugene Kingsale (an Aruban Knight, a la Sidney Ponson), Calvin Pickering, Mike Fontenot (yet another #1 pick), Eric DuBose, Tim Corcoran, Rodney Ormond and Aaron Rakers. Kris Wilken, Gary Cates, Pete Shier, Paradis again, Corcoran again. Well, you get my drift! Being an Orioles fan attending AFL games was one more reminder that talent lay with the other teams! However, like the long suffering Cubs fans who flock to HoHokam every spring, Orioles fans think this AFL season may be different. Baltimore is sending some #1 picks yet again. And these just might pan out. Adam Loewen, the Birds #1 pick in the 2002 draft, is starting to improve his game. After pitching an entire season for the first time in years, Loewen is being sent to the desert to get reps. When he was drafted, it took a major league contract to get him to sign --- literally minutes before the Orioles lost his rights. As a result, Loewen has a 2007 date in Camden Yards, and, after pitching at high A this year, will have to accelerate his development to make that date. Nick Markakis is currently tearing up the Eastern League after pummeling the Carolina League in the first part of the season. Markakis may be the Orioles answer to Jeremy Hermida; the fans are calling for him to get a September call up to the big club. Right now, Markakis is scalding hot! He was taken as the Orioles #1 pick in the 2003 draft. Markakis was a good enough pitcher that many thought he would be on the mound. However, after a pre draft workout at Camden Yards, Markakis’ power so intrigued the Orioles that they picked him as an outfielder. Markakis’ Greek heritage probably had something to do with the pick as well, since he played for the Peter Angelos-sponsored Greek National Team, as did a lot of other Orioles farm hands. The other #1 going is Tripper Johnson, a hard working third baseman who is currently playing for AA Bowie. Johnson was taken in the first round of the 2000 draft. He will be on the taxi team in the AFL, eligible to play two games a week. Other Orioles going are Cory Morris, a right handed pitcher who is having a breakout season at Bowie after having his shoulder repaired and Val Majewski! The Big Valbowski! Last season, Majewski punished AA pitching to the tune of a .307 average with 15 home runs. This earned the left handed hitter a September call up to the big club. Based upon his season, Majewski was considered to be a contender for an outfield spot in Baltimore this season. However, he suffered a torn labrum and spent this season rehabbing at Sarasota. The AFL will be all about repetitions for Majewski as he works to get back on track. I can hardly wait to get there! --- John
Kazlo |
