Oriole Lefties Revisited

Through a strange but not unwelcome string of events I'm sitting in a motel lobby in Hardin, Montana at five in the morning drinking apple juice. I didn't think I'd be posting this week, but when in Hardin...

In June I wrote a post about the dearth of lefties in the Oriole's system. You don't have to read it. It is six paragraphs saying that after Wilfredo Perez there are no major league caliber lefty relievers in the system. Sadly, the 145 pound Perez seems like he might be too fragile for the game after elbow problems limited him to 24 appearances last year.

I guess the Orioles agreed with me because they made a series of moves that all seemed like throwaways, but taken together represent a significant increase in organizational depth and talent at the position.

The most obvious move is the signing of Will Ohman, an experienced lefty specialist coming over from the National League. Less obvious is the signing of Will Startup, an injury prone 25 year-old from the Braves organization. Another player who seems to fit in the high minors somewhere is Mike Hinckley, a 27 year-old who struggled in 14 games with the Nats last year. Thee O's also picked up Chris Lamb, a 19 year-old Australian who will start in the low minors to work on his technique.

No one of those signings is a game changer, but I like them together. Ohman fills a hole at the major league level for a year or two. Startup, along with Perez, is a high upside player who can contribute a great deal if healthy. Hinckley is depth, a replacement for last years' September call ups Chris Waters and Sean Henn. Lamb is an arm in the low minors, the equivalent of a twentieth round draft pick.

These guys slot in at different levels and are useful in different ways. I think the O's made a good effort at fixing the problem. It should be regarded as a successful winter effort at shoring up a weak point.

Time to quit writing. Billings calls.