Adam Loewen: Orioles defector

youngLion · Post #1 » by **youngLion** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:43 pm

Still, here’s what Loewen has accomplished in his first 55 games this year: .324 average, .387 on-base percentage, .590 slugging. He’s hit 22 doubles, two triples and 10 homers while driving in 42 runs and scoring 26. The right fielder also has four stolen bases.

...

In case you had forgotten, a little background: The 6-foot-6, left-handed Loewen was 8-8 with a 5.38 ERA in 35 games with the Orioles from 2006 to 2008. But he was felled by stress fractures in his left elbow. He could have tried surgery again in 2008, but there were no guarantees he’d ever be healthy. So he decided to try his hand as a hitter.

The Orioles took him off their 40-man roster in the 2008 offseason, expecting to re-sign him for the hitting experiment. But he received a call from one of his heroes as a kid, Cito Gaston, who suggested Loewen sign with the Blue Jays.

Loewen did on October 24, 2008, leaving the Orioles a little bitter, since they had spent so much time and resources (including a $4.02 million contract when they signed him) on Loewen during his pitching career.

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Well now Loewen appears to be on the precipice of the majors. In fact, he might already be up, but the Blue Jays don’t have a pressing need in the outfield. They could, however, promote him to platoon at DH if they ever soured on Edwin Encarnacion.

wbbfan · Post #2 » by **wbbfan** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:53 am

Ive been hoping they give him a look at Dh, the back end of the line up is terrible. Id love to see it worked so EE is out right cut in any fashion. He and juan rivera have been turrible this year. I know rivera has had a recent hot streak but I think its just that. The sun shinning on even the ugliest dogs @$$ once and a while.

Leolovinliberal · Post #3 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:59 am

I'm gonna show my ignorance here, but I didn't realize that he was a lefty; which begs the question, why the heck isn't he playing 1st full time?

wbbfan · Post #4 » by **wbbfan** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:44 pm

Sonrise wrote:I'm gonna show my ignorance here, but I didn't realize that he was a lefty; which begs the question, why the heck isn't he playing 1st full time?

I recall him having a pretty strong arm, probably playing OF for use of it. Id say he could prolly be real strong at 1b, 3b, or OF.

Leolovinliberal · Post #5 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:42 pm

6'6 230lb lefty power hitter, and he's not playing 1st? Sometimes gms can suffer from paralysis by analysis, i.e over thinking. I think that's AA's only major flaw, is that he over thinks too much.

Post #6 » by **Schad** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:48 pm

Sonrise wrote:6'6 230lb lefty power hitter, and he's not playing 1st? Sometimes gms can suffer from paralysis by analysis, i.e over thinking. I think that's AA's only major flaw, is that he over thinks too much.

Loewen's value would drop considerably if moved to first base. It makes far more sense to have him in the outfield...no use playing a guy with solid range and a great arm at a position where he can't use it.

Randle McMurphy · Post #7 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:50 pm

Bring 'em up.

tecumseh18 · Post #8 » by **tecumseh18** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:54 pm

Maybe he can still pitch a bit, too. What this team apparently needs is a couple of combination reliever/position players.

BigLeagueChew · Post #9 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:57 pm

wbbfan wrote:
Sonrise wrote:I'm gonna show my ignorance here, but I didn't realize that he was a lefty; which begs the question, why the heck isn't he playing 1st full time?

I recall him having a pretty strong arm, probably playing OF for use of it. Id say he could prolly be real strong at 1b, 3b, or OF.

'
Lefty's do not play 3rd,2nd, ss, or catcher.

wbbfan · Post #10 » by **wbbfan** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:06 am

BigLeagueChew wrote:
wbbfan wrote:
Sonrise wrote:I'm gonna show my ignorance here, but I didn't realize that he was a lefty; which begs the question, why the heck isn't he playing 1st full time?

I recall him having a pretty strong arm, probably playing OF for use of it. Id say he could prolly be real strong at 1b, 3b, or OF.

'
Lefty's do not play 3rd,2nd, ss, or catcher.

its not common, but 51 players in MLB history have been LH throwing 3rd basemen. I think a guy playing with no glove and only one hand or catching with his glove, taking it off and throwing the ball with the same hand would be beter at 3rd then EE. (dont laugh too hard, ive seen the latter.)

Post #11 » by **Schad** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:17 am

Most of those players were third basemen for only a game or two, though; there hasn't been a regular left-handed third baseman in a century. It's not a realistic option, especially when we're talking about converting a guy to play the position at the major league level.

LBJSeizedMyID · Post #12 » by **LBJSeizedMyID** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:37 pm

Think they'll give Cooper another shot before Loewen. Think Loewen is showing some nice growth, but his strikeout rates just show me as a low average power guy. Then again, if he can mash like Adam Dunn then I shouldn't complain.

Leolovinliberal · Post #13 » by **Leolovinliberal** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:32 pm

Schadenfreude wrote:Most of those players were first basemen for only a game or two, though; there hasn't been a regular left-handed third baseman in a century. It's not a realistic option, especially when we're talking about converting a guy to play the position at the major league level.

You mean third basemen, right?

I remember Mattingly doing it in a game. he was fine. I'm a lefty and started a game at 3rd in high school, but mostly played cf and 1st.

Post #14 » by **Schad** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 8:24 pm

Sonrise wrote:
Schadenfreude wrote:Most of those players were first basemen for only a game or two, though; there hasn't been a regular left-handed third baseman in a century. It's not a realistic option, especially when we're talking about converting a guy to play the position at the major league level.

You mean third basemen, right?

Yeah.

I remember Mattingly doing it in a game. he was fine. I'm a lefty and started a game at 3rd in high school, but mostly played cf and 1st.

I'm also left-handed, and third was the only position that I had real difficulty adjusting to. Biggest problem with the across-the-diamond throw is that the natural tail with a left-handed thrower will take balls to the home-plate side...and into the path of the runner. That's especially problematic if you have a left-handed first baseman as well, because it puts it on their back-hand.