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03-28-2004, 05:45 PM
Maz is piecing together the starting rotation. He's now slotted Eric DuBose as the No. 2 guy. And Eric Bedard is complicating things for Maz. Guy pitched lights out last night against the Marlins.
DuBose is No. 2 starter for O's
Ponson remains top pitcher in rotation
By David Ginsburg
The Associated Press
Originally published March 28, 2004, 2:57 PM EST
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Little by little, the Baltimore Orioles' starting rotation is beginning to fall into place.
Eric DuBose will open the season as the No. 2 man behind Sidney Ponson, manager Lee Mazzilli said Sunday. The decision can be attributed to DuBose's improvement over the past year and the fact that he throws with his left arm.
Mazzilli wants to wedge a left-hander between opening day starter Sidney Ponson (a right-hander) and whichever right-hander ends up being third in the rotation -probably Kurt Ainsworth or Rodrigo Lopez.
"Yes, you get a left-hander in between. But you know what? This kid is a quality pitcher, he knows how to pitch and he mixes his pitches up well," Mazzilli said.
DuBose, 27, began the 2003 season with Triple-A Ottawa. He ended up making two trips to Baltimore, going 3-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 17 games, including 10 starts.
This spring he's 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA, but he's got 20 strikeouts compared to six walks and has limited the opposition to a .236 batting average.
Mazzilli likes the idea of matching DuBose against the patient Red Sox.
"When you play a team like Boston, you have to have a pitcher who's around the plate," the manager said. "You can't afford to walk guys against teams like that."
BEDARD IMPRESSES
The surprise of the Orioles' camp this spring has been left-hander Erik Bedard, who has a shot at making the team despite pitching in only six minor league games last year.
Bedard is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA, and his nine-strikeout performance against the world champion Florida Marlins on Saturday night kept the left-hander in the competition for the No. 5 slot in the rotation.
"He is complicating this decision a lot. Not a little, a lot," Mazzilli said.
Bedard had ligament replacement surgery in his left elbow in September 2002 and did not begin pitching again until last August. Mazzilli said he will factor that into his decision of whether to keep Bedard or send him to the minors for seasoning.
ERICKSON REUNION
Former Oriole Scott Erickson is hoping to extend his career by latching on with the New York Mets.
Erickson, who is vying for the fifth spot in the rotation, missed all last season with the Orioles after undergoing surgery on a torn labrum and frayed rotator cuff.
Erickson spent nine seasons with Baltimore, but missed two of the last three years with injuries. He sat out the 2002 season after undergoing ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow in September 2001.
After his five-year contract expired last fall, the Orioles made no effort to get him back.
"I hadn't heard much from them, so I pretty much knew I wasn't going back there. They showed no interest really," Erickson said Sunday.
The right-hander left Baltimore feeling as if he failed to fulfill the lofty expectations that came with his lengthy contract.
"I was disappointed that I wasn't able to live up to my end of the deal as far as what I signed to do over there, letting down the fans, (owner Peter) Angelos and my teammates," he said. "It was a five-year deal, and unfortunately it didn't work out so well as far as my health. The last thing I thought would be a concern was the biggest problem of all."
His arm strength is slowly returning -he threw 92 mph on Saturday -but the odds are against Erickson in his bid to make the team. If he fails, then he'll just try somewhere else.
"I'm pretty much right on track as far as which direction I'm going," he said. "There's no doubt I feel I'll be healthy enough to pitch in the big leagues for a full season."
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press
DuBose is No. 2 starter for O's
Ponson remains top pitcher in rotation
By David Ginsburg
The Associated Press
Originally published March 28, 2004, 2:57 PM EST
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Little by little, the Baltimore Orioles' starting rotation is beginning to fall into place.
Eric DuBose will open the season as the No. 2 man behind Sidney Ponson, manager Lee Mazzilli said Sunday. The decision can be attributed to DuBose's improvement over the past year and the fact that he throws with his left arm.
Mazzilli wants to wedge a left-hander between opening day starter Sidney Ponson (a right-hander) and whichever right-hander ends up being third in the rotation -probably Kurt Ainsworth or Rodrigo Lopez.
"Yes, you get a left-hander in between. But you know what? This kid is a quality pitcher, he knows how to pitch and he mixes his pitches up well," Mazzilli said.
DuBose, 27, began the 2003 season with Triple-A Ottawa. He ended up making two trips to Baltimore, going 3-6 with a 3.79 ERA in 17 games, including 10 starts.
This spring he's 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA, but he's got 20 strikeouts compared to six walks and has limited the opposition to a .236 batting average.
Mazzilli likes the idea of matching DuBose against the patient Red Sox.
"When you play a team like Boston, you have to have a pitcher who's around the plate," the manager said. "You can't afford to walk guys against teams like that."
BEDARD IMPRESSES
The surprise of the Orioles' camp this spring has been left-hander Erik Bedard, who has a shot at making the team despite pitching in only six minor league games last year.
Bedard is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA, and his nine-strikeout performance against the world champion Florida Marlins on Saturday night kept the left-hander in the competition for the No. 5 slot in the rotation.
"He is complicating this decision a lot. Not a little, a lot," Mazzilli said.
Bedard had ligament replacement surgery in his left elbow in September 2002 and did not begin pitching again until last August. Mazzilli said he will factor that into his decision of whether to keep Bedard or send him to the minors for seasoning.
ERICKSON REUNION
Former Oriole Scott Erickson is hoping to extend his career by latching on with the New York Mets.
Erickson, who is vying for the fifth spot in the rotation, missed all last season with the Orioles after undergoing surgery on a torn labrum and frayed rotator cuff.
Erickson spent nine seasons with Baltimore, but missed two of the last three years with injuries. He sat out the 2002 season after undergoing ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow in September 2001.
After his five-year contract expired last fall, the Orioles made no effort to get him back.
"I hadn't heard much from them, so I pretty much knew I wasn't going back there. They showed no interest really," Erickson said Sunday.
The right-hander left Baltimore feeling as if he failed to fulfill the lofty expectations that came with his lengthy contract.
"I was disappointed that I wasn't able to live up to my end of the deal as far as what I signed to do over there, letting down the fans, (owner Peter) Angelos and my teammates," he said. "It was a five-year deal, and unfortunately it didn't work out so well as far as my health. The last thing I thought would be a concern was the biggest problem of all."
His arm strength is slowly returning -he threw 92 mph on Saturday -but the odds are against Erickson in his bid to make the team. If he fails, then he'll just try somewhere else.
"I'm pretty much right on track as far as which direction I'm going," he said. "There's no doubt I feel I'll be healthy enough to pitch in the big leagues for a full season."
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press