Olson one to watch for O's fans
April 16, 2007

When Dustin Pedroia plays, I make it a point to go to the game if I am anywhere in the area. Ditto when Adam Loewen pitches.

After watching Norfolk Friday night, I am adding a third player to my “Must See” list…….Norfolk lefty Garrett Olson. Olson was Baltimore’s sandwich first round pick in the 2005 draft. The pick, given to the Birds as compensation for failing to sign 2004 first rounder Wade Townsend, was used to snatch Olson from his California roots and deposit him in the Orioles system.

Orioles fans fretted during Olson’s first professional season, as the organization used him first at Aberdeen, then at the end of the season at High A Frederick as the team was in a pennant race. All told, at the end of the year, Olson had pitched 190 innings!

Last season was a continuation of the march through the minors for Olson, as he started the season where he left off, at High A Frederick, and advanced to AA Bowie. Rumored to be a potential addition to the Baltimore staff this off season, he was instead returned to the minor league camp during spring training where I had a chance to watch him pitch again and spoke with him about his Orioles career.

He was most complimentary towards the Orioles organization, telling me that they had treated him very well. He had been sent down to the minor league camp to “get innings in, there were none to be had at the major league camp.” In discussing his repertoire of pitches, he told me that “all three were working well”; he just needed to get some more game experience. Olson also told me that he enjoys pitching on the East coast as there is a lot of history here and that he enjoys the opportunity to live here for six months out of the year!

Olson throws a fastball which hits the upper 80s to low 90s. He is adept at moving it around in the strike zone and keeps the ball low. In addition, he throws a wicked curveball that has been described as a plus pitch. He also features a solid changeup that he uses effectively.

In Friday night's game against the Louisville Bats, Olson went six innings, giving up two hits (one was a first inning home run Aaron Herr hit off a high fastball), walking one and fanning seven Bats. He also hit the Bats lead off hitter, Norris Hopper, who was on base when Herr connected. Joey Votto also got drilled when he led off the 4th inning, only to be thrown out trying to steal second by Eli Whiteside. Currently, Whiteside has thrown out three of five base stealers in this young season. I sat behind the Louisville dugout and watched the faces of the Louisville hitters on their way back to the bench after their at bats. Frustration abounded.

All told, Olson threw 78 pitches, 52 of them strikes! The big hit of the game for Norfolk came in their half of the 8th inning when J.R. House pulled a 3-2 fastball just inside the bag at third base which went just outside the reach of a diving Earl Snyder. House's hit scored Luis Montanez and Brandon Fahey for the Tides 3rd and 4th runs of the evening. Cory Doyne came into the game and closed it with a powerful performance.

--- John Kazlo
(Kazlo is a diehard Orioles fan and Richmond Braves supporter from Virginia)