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9:32:00 AM EST
Hearing Interpol
I Hope This Canadian Kid Can Really Pitch (for B'more)
Three reasons for me to be pleased by Canada's 8-6 upset of Team USA yesterday:
1. Last I checked, Jeter and A-Rod still play for the U.S.
2. It sets up a must-win for Team USA on Friday vs. the South Africans, who Buster Olney described on SBL as belonging in a "beer league."
3. O's prospect Adam Loewen was the starting pitcher for Canada.
Loewen is a 6'5", 21-year-old southpaw who Baltimore drafted 4th overall in '02. Since then he's struggled a bit in A-level towns like Aberdeen, Delmarva and Frederick, posting a 14-17 record, 4.07 ERA and 1.50 WHIP while striking out a batter per inning. The middling numbers were primarily the result of injuries and control problems, but he came on in the Arizona Fall League following last season with a 1.67 ERA over 6 starts.
The run of realizing his potential continued yesterday, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings against a MLB All-Star lineup. He worked his way out of self-imposed jams, which, as U.S. manager Buck Martinez noted, "Showed a lot of composure for a guy that hasn't pitched above A-ball."
Here's to hoping it was no WBC fluke and he's ready to step into the rotation with Rodrigo Lopez, Erik Bedard, Daniel Cabrera and Bruce Chen at some point this year. That's actually not a bad group of starters for a team with decent offense and no expectations.
Related: For the best WBC coverage on the internets, check out Baseball Musings' ongoing updates.
Update: I somehow, some way forget Anna Benson's husband is with the O's this year. Should be fun.
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3/9/06 11:04 AM
Let me go on the record here to state that we should scrap Team USA Basketball and send the Harlem Globetrotters to the next Olympics. They already have the outfit down, and maybe people will start liking us again.