Nanner
03-05-2003, 11:01 PM
Another player with family in Venezuela. Jorge's a prize. I'm so glad the O's have him.
Good article. :thumbsup:
03/04/2003 2:06 pm ET
Julio staying focused on family
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Since he has taken over the Orioles' closer position, Jorge Julio's focus has never been questioned.
And there was no better example of Julio's focus than this offseason.
While the Orioles were going 4-32 to end the 2002 season, Julio was stuck in the bullpen with no save opportunities. He did not break Gregg Olson's Orioles rookie save record of 27 because he had no chances in the season's final six weeks.
That inactivity did not affect his disposition. When Julio walked on the mound in non-save situations to get work, he fired the ball with just as much intensity as if the game was on the line.
The 24-year-old Julio does not get rattled. And in a role where emotion is not always a positive, Julio does not allow the disappointment of a blown save to affect his attitude.
So while he was able to get some rust off with a dominant Winter League, Julio must now use his focus to concentrate on baseball - despite concern about his family in Caracas, Venezuela.
"I call every day and check up on them," he said. "I am worried about my kids, especially since they are starting school."
Julio's Winter League was abruptly interrupted by civil unrest in his native Caracas. Several of the city's citizens and local leaders sought the ouster of president Hugo Chavez and called for a strike of local businesses to cripple the economy. The strike lasted 63 days before leader Carlos Fernandez was arrested and charged with treason and instigating violence. His arrest has caused more upheaval in Caracas. Last week, scheduled negotiations between strike leaders and representatives of Chavez were postponed by a protest march.
Despite those concerns, Julio reported to camp on time and said that his family is safe. His demeanor has not changed. He remains the same stone-faced guy who took over the Orioles' closer role in April. The characteristic that impressed Orioles' coaches was his ability to deal with adversity.
When Julio blew consecutive saves in May on walk-off homers, coaches expected a rattled and devastated youngster. In a meeting in Cleveland with manager Mike Hargrove after the second blown save, Julio was unfazed and undaunted by his responsibility.
"What separates Jorge from most other young closers is his attitude," pitching coach Mark Wiley said. "He is not a hot head and he keeps his cool in situations where you need to. He doesn't try to blow away hitters in situations they are looking fastball. He is smart and that's why I have no problems with a guy so young being a closer."
Julio has conquered bigger responsibilities. He is just 24 but has two children. His daughter, Kewyn, is 6 and Jorge Jr. is 3. They don't know that daddy is potentially one of the top closers in the Major Leagues. Kewyn knows daddy goes far away from Caracas for a long time to play a game, while Jorge Jr. sees dad on TV and thinks he's the President.
"When the season is going on, I do worry about them," he said. "I am sad when I leave them for the season. But they know I have a job to do here."
There's no question about Julio's job entering Spring Training. The only negative that followed Julio into camp was the team's inability to get him a shot at breaking Olson's record. Despite that, he finished third to Toronto's Eric Hinske and teammate Rodrigo Lopez for the American League Rookie of the Year award.
"The kid ended up with 25 saves, and if he gets the normal amount of saves he probably had a very real chance of winning Rookie of the Year," Hargrove said. "(But) he got his work and he showed up to camp in good shape, it's all to the good so far."
After his quiet last six weeks of the 2002 season, Julio said he worked on mastering his changeup. Another factor that separates Julio from other young closers is mastery of a second pitch, the slider. Generally, young closers are good at mowing down hitters with a blazing fastball but struggle when it comes to offspeed pitches.
Julio thrived last season - 1.99 ERA and just five homers allowed in 67 games - because he was able to retire hitters with his slider. Now add a nasty changeup and ... "I think I can get better," he said. "I felt very comfortable with the changeup. Everything went well in the Winter Leagues until it ended." He pauses and expresses his concern for his homeland. But he said he knows there is work to do in the United States. Julio just signed a one-year contract on Monday with a raise from his Major League minimum salary last season.
"I help my family out and try to do my best for them," he said. "That's why I am here. My family knows why I am here."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com and can be reached at gary.washburn@mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Good article. :thumbsup:
03/04/2003 2:06 pm ET
Julio staying focused on family
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Since he has taken over the Orioles' closer position, Jorge Julio's focus has never been questioned.
And there was no better example of Julio's focus than this offseason.
While the Orioles were going 4-32 to end the 2002 season, Julio was stuck in the bullpen with no save opportunities. He did not break Gregg Olson's Orioles rookie save record of 27 because he had no chances in the season's final six weeks.
That inactivity did not affect his disposition. When Julio walked on the mound in non-save situations to get work, he fired the ball with just as much intensity as if the game was on the line.
The 24-year-old Julio does not get rattled. And in a role where emotion is not always a positive, Julio does not allow the disappointment of a blown save to affect his attitude.
So while he was able to get some rust off with a dominant Winter League, Julio must now use his focus to concentrate on baseball - despite concern about his family in Caracas, Venezuela.
"I call every day and check up on them," he said. "I am worried about my kids, especially since they are starting school."
Julio's Winter League was abruptly interrupted by civil unrest in his native Caracas. Several of the city's citizens and local leaders sought the ouster of president Hugo Chavez and called for a strike of local businesses to cripple the economy. The strike lasted 63 days before leader Carlos Fernandez was arrested and charged with treason and instigating violence. His arrest has caused more upheaval in Caracas. Last week, scheduled negotiations between strike leaders and representatives of Chavez were postponed by a protest march.
Despite those concerns, Julio reported to camp on time and said that his family is safe. His demeanor has not changed. He remains the same stone-faced guy who took over the Orioles' closer role in April. The characteristic that impressed Orioles' coaches was his ability to deal with adversity.
When Julio blew consecutive saves in May on walk-off homers, coaches expected a rattled and devastated youngster. In a meeting in Cleveland with manager Mike Hargrove after the second blown save, Julio was unfazed and undaunted by his responsibility.
"What separates Jorge from most other young closers is his attitude," pitching coach Mark Wiley said. "He is not a hot head and he keeps his cool in situations where you need to. He doesn't try to blow away hitters in situations they are looking fastball. He is smart and that's why I have no problems with a guy so young being a closer."
Julio has conquered bigger responsibilities. He is just 24 but has two children. His daughter, Kewyn, is 6 and Jorge Jr. is 3. They don't know that daddy is potentially one of the top closers in the Major Leagues. Kewyn knows daddy goes far away from Caracas for a long time to play a game, while Jorge Jr. sees dad on TV and thinks he's the President.
"When the season is going on, I do worry about them," he said. "I am sad when I leave them for the season. But they know I have a job to do here."
There's no question about Julio's job entering Spring Training. The only negative that followed Julio into camp was the team's inability to get him a shot at breaking Olson's record. Despite that, he finished third to Toronto's Eric Hinske and teammate Rodrigo Lopez for the American League Rookie of the Year award.
"The kid ended up with 25 saves, and if he gets the normal amount of saves he probably had a very real chance of winning Rookie of the Year," Hargrove said. "(But) he got his work and he showed up to camp in good shape, it's all to the good so far."
After his quiet last six weeks of the 2002 season, Julio said he worked on mastering his changeup. Another factor that separates Julio from other young closers is mastery of a second pitch, the slider. Generally, young closers are good at mowing down hitters with a blazing fastball but struggle when it comes to offspeed pitches.
Julio thrived last season - 1.99 ERA and just five homers allowed in 67 games - because he was able to retire hitters with his slider. Now add a nasty changeup and ... "I think I can get better," he said. "I felt very comfortable with the changeup. Everything went well in the Winter Leagues until it ended." He pauses and expresses his concern for his homeland. But he said he knows there is work to do in the United States. Julio just signed a one-year contract on Monday with a raise from his Major League minimum salary last season.
"I help my family out and try to do my best for them," he said. "That's why I am here. My family knows why I am here."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com and can be reached at gary.washburn@mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.