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Orioles minor league camp After a tortuous 15 hour drive yesterday, I managed to get enough rest last night and make it to the Orioles minor league complex today. In a sad reflection of what the organization has become, the team’s minor leaguers must train in Sarasota, 200 miles from the major league camp in Fort Lauderdale. However, the Angelos family has managed to take a belated step toward correcting this problem by reaching an agreement with the City of Fort Lauderdale to renovate the aging stadium and expand the facility so that both camps can be co-located in the future. The Sarasota complex is reminiscent of the Cubs minor league facility at Fitch Park: four fields with a tower in the middle. In addition to the layout of the camp, the Orioles boast a few former Cubs as well. Today I watched Brandon Sing take bunting practice and aggravate coach Butch Davis by flicking batted balls in his direction using his bat. After a few minutes, Davis cautioned Sing that “that’s enough!” Luis Montanez is back in the minor league camp after spending a few weeks at Fort Lauderdale. I was told by another fan today that Sing can really drive the ball. He has smacked several long shots during the minor league games here. Attending the minor league camp is a most fan friendly experience. Besides myself, there were five others in attendance. Two were parents of one of the players, and a third was a professional photographer who was there taking pictures of all of the Oriole minor leaguers for her publication. In a light spirited moment, James Hoey, a fireballing relief pitcher who appeared in several games for Baltimore at the end of last season, grabbed a bat and struck a hitting pose when it was his turn to stand for his picture. After several minutes of good natured kidding by his teammates, he was found out and made to return with a ball in his hand for his real picture. Interestingly enough, it seems that the Orioles have spent some draft picks lately choosing some larger players. In years past, the Oriole farmhands have definitely seemed to be the runts of the litter when playing other teams in area. One fan I was standing with agreed with me that Baltimore seemed to have something against big players in the past. This season, the Birds can boast Anthony Martinez, a former University of Virginia football player, as well as the barrel chested Chris Vinyard. Former Bowling Green University slugger Nolan Reimold is also in camp and does not stand out in the crowd this year. I was somewhat disappointed to learn that Jeff Fiorentino has not reported to the minor league camp yet since being sent down by the Orioles yesterday. However, according to a coach I was talking with, he has 72 hours to report. I am guessing the distance between the camps has something to do with his tardiness. The intimacy of the complex is very evident by the location of the water cooler. It is located between fields 1 and 2, and like in any workplace, if one waits there long enough, all of the employees will show up at some point in the day. I saw last years #1 pick, Pedro Beato there, and like several other Oriole pitchers, he towers over the six foot mark. I was able to stand in line with players waiting their turn to go through a bunting drill today and was able to talk with catcher Morgan Clendinin, who is a graduate of Potomac State College in Keyser, W.VA, which is located five miles away from Westernport, Maryland, home of Orioles pitching coach, Leo Mazzone and myself! I asked Morgan where he went to get into trouble in Keyser; he told me he stayed out of trouble and asked where I had gone…..all of those places are closed, demolished or burned down! The Orioles are a team which is constantly suffering a public relations black eye for their public gaffes, but the minor league complex is really a joy to attend. I don’t know if they planned it this way, but I hope they keep it up. --- John
Kazlo |
