unreal. this kid is going to be the greatest orioles player ever!

Pete

Thanks for the update on the O's in the AFL. I was looking at the stats for Surprise and didn't see Keefer or Matusz and started to worry about a SLAP tear or oblique strain.

What do you hear about the O's in the HWL. Bascom is probably the O's pitcher of most interest there. It looks like he bounced back nicely from his most recent bad start by going 4 scoreless innings with 4 H, 1W & 6 Ks. His previous start he allowed 7ER in 1.1 IP with 4H and 3W.

I'm intrigued by the O's position players in the HWL. Everything I've read about Tyler Henson mentions his strikeout rate. He had 121Ks in 502 ABs at Delmarva last year and worse numbers the year before in Aberdeen. But in HWL he's batting 324 with 13W and 8Ks in 37ABs. His K's are still high but he has 13W vs 8Ks. His combined numbers from the last two years have his K:W ratio at about 4:1 (Yikes!)

Just curious if the Orioles send a player like this to the HWL specifically to work on his pitch selection. I know it's only a few games but this is a guy that had only 48 walks in 775 ABs in his last two seasons. The pitching isn't that bad in Hawaii is it?

Wally Crancer is the other O on Oahu. Dean Jones, Jrs blog indicates he's an outfielder who's playing part time as a catcher. While he's struggling at the plate in Oahu was he sent there primarily to work on his catching skills?

I'd love to hear about other O's players in Hawaii and Arizona and if the players are being sent there to enhance specific parts of their games.

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Pete's reply: Since the Orioles brass just got back from the organizational meetings, I haven't talked to anybody in player development this week. I'll try to get a rundown this week, but you can be sure that everyone sent to the AFL and HWL went there with some kind of plan. I doubt, however, you can draw much from the K/W at this point.

The Orioles have a nice looking future. The next few years should provide some talent and translate into some winning seasons. It seems like the longest 11 years . Every august brings new disgust and spring brings new hope. For the first time in a long time I belive we have a superstar in the making. Somthing to really look forword to.

I hope Ramon has his bags packed. No way this guy is not the starting catcher next year, which begs one question...why is he playing in the AFL with the season he had and risking injury?

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Pete's reply: To get a little more experience in case he needs to play right away next year.

will be our catcher in 2009

I mean really...Are you surprised?

www.bringmark.com

I can't contain my excitement at getting to watch him in spring training. I got to see a little of him last year and left impressed, but i never thought he would be so good this early in his career. It will be interesting to see how much better he is in March.

Can we just give the guy the starting catchers job for next year already? Bring up the young arms together with Weiters and let them grow together.

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Pete's reply: Talked to Jeff Z on the radio Thursday night and he thinks that's what's going to happen, though the O's may sign a veteran pitcher or two.

I can only keep mu fingers crossed that Weiters is the real deal and can tay healthy. The Os need to sign a proven veteran pitcher to a long term deal and another vet to a three year deal to allow for the transition to these young arms we have coming up from the farm. Add a SS, re-sign Roberts, and dare I say it...Add Texiera and the Os will compete.

Pete:
Don't rush Weiters. Let him develop in the minors for another year with the young arms. By the way, don't sign Tex, he will cost too much. The O's need to invest all available case in their minor league teams and scouting. If you don't think so, take a look at the minor league teams' won-lost record. All the teams are under 500 save Bowie. Take a look also at the O's first round draft picks for the last 15 years. TS Eliot wrote a poem about the O's draft choices; it's called "The Wasteland."

Pete:
Don't rush Weiters. Let him develop in the minors for another year with the young arms. By the way, don't sign Tex, he will cost too much. The O's need to invest all available case in their minor league teams and scouting. If you don't think so, take a look at the minor league teams' won-lost record. All the teams are under 500 save Bowie. Take a look also at the O's first round draft picks for the last 15 years. TS Eliot wrote a poem about the O's draft choices; it's called "The Wasteland."