Late Innings

In case anyone cares, Baltimore and Toronto swapped swing men today. Actually it wasn’t like that. Baltimore signed former-Oriole John Parrish to a minor league deal. He wants to start, from what we’re told. And a few hours later, Toronto picked up Brian Burres, DFA’d by the Orioles earlier this week after they acquired Rich Hill.

I guess it’s an even swap, though I like Parrish more out of the bullpen than I did Burres. Burres is an interesting arm; he broke out of the gate in 2008, then faltered the rest of the way. The same thing happened for him in 2007, and 2006… My guess for Toronto fans, you’ll love him at the start of the season, then the league will adjust, and it won’t be pretty.

And more on this note, BTBS is reporting that Russell Martin has great words to say about former Oriole pitcher, now Blue Jay slugger Adam Loewen. Actually in the perma-link:

‘You’re a better hitter than I am,’” Martin said. “So I’m really not worried about it at all. It’s going to take him a little time to adjust and to get used to the velocity and stuff like that, but the guy is just a natural hitter. It’s not hard for him to hit.”

Here’s a strange guess: I see Loewen in Toronto’s outfield in the fall of 2009. Loewen is an interesting player, but I guess if Martin’s advice is true, anything can happen.