When Adam Loewen heard that the Orioles were interested in the services of Russ Ortiz, he figured that his first foray into the Major Leagues was coming to an end.
“I knew that I?d be the odd-man out,” Loewen said. “I was the youngest guy on the staff, and I haven?t proven myself yet.”
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The signing of Ortiz meant that there was no room on the Orioles for the lefty, who was sent down to Triple-A Ottawa last week after what can be best described as an erratic month in the majors.
While with the O?s, the highest-ranking prospect in the organization was 0-2 with an 7.12 ERA. He showed occasional flashes of dominance, but Loewen was far too inconsistent for the Orioles to have not pursued a veteran pitcher like Ortiz.
In a meeting with the Orioles last week, Loewen, 22, was assured that the move had more to do with the possibility of adding a proven veteran than it did with his performance as a starter.
Loewen was especially appreciative of O?s manager Sam Perlozzo, who told him not to be discouraged by the demotion to Ottawa.
“He was very optimistic that I?d be back up (with Baltimore),” Loewen said. “He told me to work on a few things, get some more innings under my belt, and that if things go as planned he would be seeing me soon.”
In his first start for Ottawa, Loewen gave up just two singles Thursday in seven shutout innings against Pawtucket, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
“My fastball was really working well,” Loewen said. “I?ve been working a lot on my command, trying to keep my fastball on the outside corner, and not have it cut back too far over the plate. When I?m doing that, I?m on my game.”
Loewen said that he was happy with the outing against the Pawsox, but was less so with the nine-hour, all-night bus ride back to Ottawa after the game. “It was very long,” said the towering pitcher, whose 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame would make even the shortest bus ride seem back-achingly lengthy.
“Hopefully there?ll be more flights and less bus rides from here on in,” he added.
With the benefit of a guaranteed contract for 2007, Loewen knows that his time riding buses in the minors will be short. “Either I break camp next year with the team,” said Loewen, “or I?m put on waivers.”
With the great expectations surrounding Loewen, it?s unlikely that the O?s will let him hit the waiver wire next spring. If in the meantime Loewen continues to impress at Triple-A, Ortiz may soon find himself being the odd-man out.
Dave Kaufman is a free-lance writer based in Montreal.
