Trio of Young O's Endures Hard Knocks

Pitchers Olson, Liz, Hoey Feel Benefits Of Experience in '07

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 23 -- When a passel of pitchers landed on the disabled list last season, the Baltimore Orioles dipped into their farm system for help. And whether they were ready or not, three of the club's most promising young arms -- Garrett Olson, Radhames Liz and Jim Hoey -- were in the major leagues.

None of them had logged more than three full seasons in the minors, and in a more merciful world they would have stayed there for more seasoning. But in recent years at Camden Yards, mercy has been scarce. So, armed with little more than angst and ego, they took turns watching the best hitters they'd ever faced treat their pitches like pi¿atas.

A forearm injury shut down Olson in early September. Hoey endured a stretch in which he allowed 14 runs in five appearances. And of the three, Liz was the only one to finish his major league stint with an ERA under seven, though barely (6.93).

"I look back at moments where it was like, 'Could it get worse?' " said Olson, the talented left-hander who averaged fewer than five innings in his seven starts after making his major league debut in July.

But with a new season looming, Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said this week that the trio has shown it didn't get knocked around in vain.

"As to be expected, those guys came up to the big leagues and it can be an overwhelming experience for all of them," Trembley said. "Then you go home in the offseason and I think you're that much better because of it when you come back in spring training."

Trembley said he's seen signs of the improvements he expected.

Olson, 24, spent his offseason improving his mental outlook. Too often, Olson said, he entered games eager to provide a spark to a team already mired in a losing season. Instead, the Orioles' supplemental pick between the first and second rounds of the 2005 first-year player draft went 1-3 with a 7.79 ERA.

"I just feel like last year I just came up and was expecting too much of myself, putting on pressure that wasn't there," said Olson, who is in the race for the last spot in the Orioles rotation. "I think they expected me to come up and do my thing and I feel like I was my own worst enemy. This time is a time to keep it simple and go out there and perform."

Liz, 24, made his major league debut in late August after earning a promotion from Class AA Bowie. Major flaws in his mechanics resulted in command issues that led to 23 walks in 24 2/3 innings. Though he fared better out of the bullpen, Liz went 0-2 with an 11.48 ERA in his four starts.

But after working on his mechanics in the Dominican Winter League, Trembley said Liz has looked good in spring training.

"Yeah, it is good because now I feel more comfortable," said Liz, who signed in 2003 as a 19-year-old out of the Dominican Republic. "When I came up the first time I put a lot of pressure on myself. But now I feel more comfortable. I feel like more of a part of this."

Meanwhile, Hoey, a 25-year-old right-handed reliever, spent his offseason refining a newly discovered pitch. After moderate success in a stint with the Orioles in 2006, he finished last season with a 7.30 ERA in 23 relief appearances. But he finished strong -- allowing just three runs in his last 11 outings -- when he started throwing a split-finger fastball suggested by former pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

"You learn from things last year," said Hoey, who spent the offseason honing his splitter. "It feels like a fresh start."