Adam Loewen, Reliever.
by Stacey on Jun 5, 2008 4:15 PM EDT
in News
23 comments
Per Yahoo Sports , upon his return from the DL Adam Loewen will pitch in the bullpen for the rest of the season. Reason cited? Because of his injury history, it'll be easier to monitor him from the bullpen. Whatever the reason, I say bravo.
Adam has never consistently shown that he belongs in the big leagues, and yet here he is his thanks to the ridiculous major league contract he signed. By placing him in the bullpen, the O's have given Adam a great opportunity to prove himself. Because, let's face it, he never has. He's been over-hyped and under-proven for years now. Best case scenario, he gets his act together for the rest of the season and starts in 2009 with confidence and with a few successful innings under his belt. Mid-case scenario, he proves effective in a relief role. Worst case...well, we know the worst case.
An added benefit of Loewen going to the 'pen is that this marks the inevitable release of one Steve "The Trashman" Trachsel. I see no way around it. And that, my friends, can only be considered good news.
So that leaves us with a rotation of Guthrie, Cabrera, Olson, Burres, and Liz, with a contingency plan of Albers swapping places with any of the last three should the need arise. I've heard rumblings that Jim Johnson might get moved to the rotation, but given his great success as a reliever I hope that doesn't happen.
Given the overall talent of our team, the pitching so far this year has been a real bright spot. Hopefully Adam will excel in his new role and give us even more hope for the future.
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Burres
needs to kick it up a notch. I feel he may be the next casualty.
"We might as well just win this game." -Adam Jones
by exitfare on Jun 5, 2008 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Adam Loewen’s not a guy I want coming in from the bullpen with runners on base.
"He’s in trouble. Whatever he throws me, I’m going to hit it."
-- Alex Cintron
by BrianS on Jun 5, 2008 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No kidding.
As much as I want to dislike this guy his stupid contract, it’s the Orioles fault for signing it. I’ve seen no reason to think he’s going to become a good pitcher for us.
And say what you will about Trax – he didn’t cost us as much as Loewen and hasn’t caused us as many losses as Loewen.
Every time I think of Loewen now, I think of the rest of the 2002 draft board.
He has a shitload of “proving” to do. I for one don’t think he has it in him. I hope he proves me wrong a la Cabrera.
by Y Not on Jun 5, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess that's it for one of Easter Amber's predictions.
"Chickens are hard to catch." Jennifer Scott (Luuuuuuuke's Mom)
by dayzd toe on Jun 5, 2008 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Still a believer
Not every prospect is gangsbuster immediately. Loewen has a strong minor league against deptie being younger than the competition. He had a strong performance even if it was lucky. He’s been injured this year. Not surprisingly, he’s pitched poorly. IF he can stay healthy, there’s no way the O’s should give up on him. Long relief is a good spot for him for now. It would be better to have him rehab at AAA but, unfortunately, that’s not possible.
Wolf, wolf, wolf.
by birdman on Jun 5, 2008 5:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So uh, who's spot is he gonna take
Hopefully Walker’s.
by PhilR8 on Jun 5, 2008 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think I'm the only person left on here who still likes Walker
Every time he’s out there, I feel like he’s gonna snap out of it and pitch like he’s pitched his entire career
by Y Not on Jun 5, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I always
think he is going to pop open and beer and pour it down his throat before he throws his first pitch
a la the wrestler Stone Cold.
I've got two nickels and a paradigm. - RWH
by BPinOK on Jun 5, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum
by SC on Jun 5, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
off-topic, it looks like the Rays and RS had a WWF style brawl today
Wolf, wolf, wolf.
by birdman on Jun 5, 2008 7:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If
only Shields had better nunchuck skills. Crisp deserved to have a clean shot connect. Did you guys see Iwamura come in and sucker punch him in the side after Navarro took him down? That was great.
I've got two nickels and a paradigm. - RWH
by BPinOK on Jun 5, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aki was spiked by Coco in yesterday's game (not 100% sure)
So I imagine that motivated his desire to take a shot even if Navarro was pinning Coco down. Gomes was also going to town on Coco as well. And that was one sorry ass punch by Shields. It looked a reverse upper cut or something.
Wolf, wolf, wolf.
by birdman on Jun 6, 2008 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say give a little more time...
I can wait a little longer for Loewen to prove himself. Pitchers always remind me of throughbreds. You can never tell if their hurt, spooked, or just ready for the glue factory point. Seeing how Cabrera finally turned the corner, I’ve gotten a bit more patience.
"Beatings will continue until morale improves"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Jun 5, 2008 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ive admitted to being a Loewen supporter
but he better get his shit together FAST. we’ve got some arms in the system (not to mention already in the show) and if he doesnt show someone something soon, i fear its adios loewenbrau. you look at the future and ya gotta figure guts will be around a while, as will olson, and possibly liz and dcabs (if he isnt traded). then you’re looking at MOST 3 spots for the guys in the farm (now including matsuz), loewen, and possibly jim johnson.
Im sure they dont wanna quit on such a high pick already, and buy all means i dont want them to, but when you have talent in front of you AND behind you, its time to deliver. just look whats happened to hayden penn so far.
"Don't worry, the fans don't start booing until July." - Earl Weaver
by daveh873 on Jun 5, 2008 8:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Other starters in the system
Not to mention Patton, Bascom, Arrieta, Hernandez, Spoone,Erbe, and Beato.
by Dr Orpheus on Jun 6, 2008 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve often wondered if Loewen’s contract did him more harm than good. The guy rushed himself up to the majors. Would he have been more polished if he spent time in the minors? I keep thinking the answer is “yes”.
by drj on Jun 5, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I definitely think it did more harm than good
I think if it wasn’t for that contract he definitely would have spent more time in the minors, moving up levels as he progressed, instead of knowing he only had X years in the minors (burning an option each time) and once those were up, he HAD to be in the majors. Hopefully the O’s learned their lesson because it didn’t seem to help anyone.
Of course, his injuries don’t help.
"We’re not concerned about what other teams think. I know teams come in here thinking we’re playing the Orioles. And then 9 innings later, they got the loss, they know what we’re about." ~Adam Jones
by Stacey on Jun 6, 2008 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never got
Why, coming off an arm injury they’d throw him out there early in the season when it was cold in the starting rotation instead of just starting the guy off really slowly.
I understand, of course, they they probably had no confidence in anyone else in the rotation.
Loewen and Penn might be the two best young talents that are going to get passed by, by an Olson or Liz, Johnson, etc.
by dtuck81 on Jun 6, 2008 1:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was at that game where that picture was taken
It was also the same game where Mark Teixeira played his first major league game in Baltimore.
He held out for almost a year and the Orioles had to pay him a lot of money, and I’d be disappointed if he winds up being a long man in our bullpen.
I know he still hopes to start again, and I hope he does too.
by IHeartMASN on Jun 7, 2008 3:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
never, NEVER again should we give a draft pick so much influence over our roster decision
Overpay for someone? Fine. But having to keep this kid in our god damn roster while he finds himself has been bullshit.
You’d be upset if he’s a longman – at this point I’d be impressed if he can sustain himself as any sort of an average major league pitcher.
This should be called the Loewen Law of Baltimore.
by Y Not on Jun 9, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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