Loewen to try new position

No longer willing to go through another surgery and extended rehabilitation process on his left elbow, Orioles pitcher Adam Loewen will attempt to reinvent himself as a position player.

[Jeff V]

psst its sever not severe, you made the same mistake on your blog entry.

[Eric]

Adam, much respect for your descision for I am sure it was devastating. With that said, maybe this could be excellent for us and only time will tell!

[Danny]

Since 1999 to 2007 we have drafted 11 pitchers in the 1st round with only Olson to show for it. Instead of taking a bat in the 1st round we take pitcher after pitcher who break down and then realize we need to score runs and go out and employee the Kevin Millar's of the world. No wonder we have suffered so long.

[Drew]

The next Ankiel...

[Orioles Fan From New York]

I would rather have him stick with pitching, even if we have to wait a whole year more. We need him more on the mound, we need the pitching. EVERY TEAM needs pitching, some more than others. Also, last year Loewen was very good, so I know he has the stuff, it's just a matter of being patient with himself.

[eric]

Danny: It's hard to pass up the best pitcher in the draft that year (Loewen,Matusz,Townsend). That's why you have to make up for it by stealing Jake Arrieta and David Hernandez later in the draft and Tillman in the trade. Now reaching for Chris Smith at #7 when everyone in baseball thought he was a low 1st rounder? That's different. Loewen had the talent to be a star so does Matusz but these things happen (see Hammonds, Jeffrey and Smith,Mark). I'm sure you ripped the O's there for not taking a pitcher?

[Bedard]

More of the same from a once great organization , Peter the Great must be proud..........I think he believes the fans of Baltimore love him for ten loosing seasons ( soon to be eleven ), The Emperor has no clothes..........

[Dunk]

Good luck to you Adam.....by the way, I know this is off topic, but I noticed Pudge isn't starting for Detroit tonight....what a .... <meow>!!!!!

[Danny]

eric wrote:

Danny: It's hard to pass up the best pitcher in the draft that year (Loewen,Matusz,Townsend). That's why you have to make up for it by stealing Jake Arrieta and David Hernandez later in the draft and Tillman in the trade. Now reaching for Chris Smith at #7 when everyone in baseball thought he was a low 1st rounder? That's different. Loewen had the talent to be a star so does Matusz but these things happen (see Hammonds, Jeffrey and Smith,Mark). I'm sure you ripped the O's there for not taking a pitcher?

No I always want the best college bat on the board when I take a player at #4. Go to the library and check out Baseball Between the Numbers and read chapter 7: What Happened to Todd Van Poppel; it explains that taking a HS pitcher VS. college pitcher or college hitter works out far less. To top it off taking a HS pitcher out of Canada??? Its like taking Rowell from a New Jersey H.S. over Tim Lincecum. BTW don't confuse me with the Orioles Haters.

[Ferg]

Danny makes very good points, and I agree totally. This organization has been horrible at drafting pitchers early -- it drives me crazy when I see them draft high school pitchers especially.

I was against the Loewen signing to begin with, based on his demands and the fact he had faced very little real competition coming out of Canada.

The odds are stacked against him being able to come back as a position player. And don't throw Ankiel in my face -- he's an exception, not the rule. I'm rooting for Adam to make a strong comeback, but I'm not holding my breath.

Yet another Oriole failed first round pick. And you can't blame this one on Angelos -- he didn't want to sign him to begin with, and had to be talked into it by his front office.

What is this world coming to? Here I am defending Peter Angelos. YIKES!!!

[Mike - Cumberland]

Why is that this team seems snake-bitten with drafting pitchers.

Beau Halle
Richard Stahl
Ben McDonald

Just to name a few

[eric]

Danny- as I pointed out, you act like drafting a hitter is a sure thing. It's just as risky, as Rowell,Snyder,Hammonds and Mark Smith have shown. I can't criticize the O's for taking a big time talent at Pitcher. Matusy by the way, is already the O's #2 prospect behind Wieters according to BA, ESPN,Hardball Times and every other publication. Could he flame out? Sure, but that's the risk you have to take.

[Walt]

It's a shame but this is the life of an organization when they take a pitcher. NO pitcher is ever a guaranteed success story waiting to happen. I hope Loewen can make it as a positional player because I like the way he approaches the game. He is a fighter. Arm problems happen and this is an unfortunate turn of events but I think in the long term the O's will be fine IF what pitching they do have in the minors develops as expected. In the short term it sucks for the O's as they definitely are pitching thin in the rotation

[Josh]

Orioles Fan From New York wrote:

I would rather have him stick with pitching, even if we have to wait a whole year more. We need him more on the mound, we need the pitching. EVERY TEAM needs pitching, some more than others. Also, last year Loewen was very good, so I know he has the stuff, it's just a matter of being patient with himself.

Hey man I understand that you still believe Loewen should be pitching. But injuries have been a big pain in the ass for him, and he doesn't wanna risk another injury that could cost his career. Plus he could be good in the infield so you might as well let him get a shot at it.

[Orioles Fan From New York]

Josh wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey man I understand that you still believe Loewen should be pitching. But injuries have been a big pain in the ass for him, and he doesn't wanna risk another injury that could cost his career. Plus he could be good in the infield so you might as well let him get a shot at it.

Maybe you're right. I didn't know that it was career-threatening, I thought that it was just going to take a very long time to recover, like Chris Ray.

[Kevin - OC MD]

Good luck to Loewen! Any one out there wondering why the O's have so much trouble developing highly drafted pitchers and keeping them free from career injuries? Need a good investigative story here, wonder if the Sun has it in them?

[Too Much Too Soon]

Another blown up arm and there goes a key piece of the puzzle. The Orioles could not have worse luck if they tried to loose a hundred games. The way it's going there's gonna' be 3 openings (4?) next year fro starting pitching.

The curse continues...

[Orioles Fan From New York]

FINAL SCORE IN 10 INNINGS:

Orioles 11. Tigers 10.

T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K.......... TEAMWORK!!!

[Lucky Horseshoe]

what makes you all think this is just the Os? See Brian Taylor, Kerry Wood, the Mets who had their rotation come apart when they thought they were set for years (Pulsipher, Jason Isringhousen, Paul Wilson). We should never draft a pitcher high because there are no guarantees? What kind of wisdom is that? How many batters come with a guarantee? There are no guarantees about crossing the street either so should we all become hermits and not leave our homes? You all talk about 10 years of drafting as if Joe Jordan has been in charge that long. He has drafted nothing but position players and has one apparent star and two slightly disappointing infielders who are 50/50 IMO to be long time productive major league starters. And I hope you all will agree it is too early to make even a preliminary judgement on Matusz, his first pitcher picked that high.

[John_from _Bmore]

well i thought this would end up happening and truthfully the past few months you have been hearing how great of a hitter Adam was, and hey you look at it this way if he can be like ankiel you could plug him into left field and then look at the outfield, Markakis, Jones, Loewen all 25 n younger start of next year. Dont say he def cant do it cuz if he focuses like he did on his rehabs and wen he was hurt he can do it. This man aint no pushover he works his Butt off and he cant help the same injury it just happens. GOOD LUCK ADAM IM ROOTING FOR you i have always been a fan and i really hope to see you suceed after what you have been through! hope to see you in the lineup soon!!!!!!1