Orioles Spring Training Report #5

It was both great and odd being back at Twin Lakes. Great because of all the memories and familiarity of having played three years of Fantasy Camp ball here. Odd because its the first time I've ever been here when I'm not playing and not able to just walk into the clubhouse.

To answer one of Kerry's questions right out of the gate, there were exactly 3 fans milling about all looking like they didn't quite know what to do with themselves. By contrast, there are usually scores of folks here during fantasy camp -- obviously looking to see real talent play. :-)

I've gotta get onto the road here, but wanted to give you a few insights now and I'll add more later.

Most importantly, Mo Drabowski was here and working with pitchers. He's a little slower, but still the same old Mo. We chatted a bit and he said he's doing "ok." What a great guy. He's been battling cancer for many years now, but he's a fighter and hasn't let it rob him of his sense of humor.

Talked with Scott McGregor for a good while -- mostly about his faith and his new "mission field" with these young players now that he has mostly retired from pastoring after 14 years full time. He said he wanted to have a positive influence on these kids much like one of his old coaches had on him when he was a kid pitcher. I believe he said his name was Boyer. We also talked about Richard Sahl who was throwing while we talked. He said Stahl just needs to get past all the early comparisons to Randy Johnson and just "realize he's never going to throw like that again." (after several injuries) But he also said, "he's still got plenty to be an effective MLB pitcher." The good news is that Stahl is healthy and has been (mostly) for a couple of years now.

Talked with Andy Etchebarren a bit, he's got his arm in a sling said he had rotator cuff surgery and will get out of the sling in 2 weeks.

The talk of the camp was Brandon Erbe's "mysterious dissapearing fastball" as Steinbach called it. Erbe threw hard against live hitters but was telling them what pitch was coming. In 15 minutes only two balls made it out of the cage. Both hit by P. Figueroa.

I overheard a conversation between a couple of the catchers and Etchebarren -- they were talking about Blake Owen throwing "the heaviest fastball they have ever caught."

I saw lots of top prospects take BP -- the most impressive of which were Snyder and Musslewhite. Saw a couple of guys I didn't recognize who were also impressive -- a big, cut catcher named Michalski who hit the crap out of the ball.

Saw Pope, Reimold, and many others ... But you'll have to wait for the second edition for me to have time to elaborate on them.

Gotta get on the road so I can get north of Atlanta before I stop for the night. Don't want to be driving through there on a Monday morning.

Stay tuned.