A good Ohman
By Roch Kubatko
The role of situational left-hander might fit Will Ohman, but he'd rather not be typecast.
Ohman has held lefties to a .204 average during his career, compared to a .260 average for right-handers. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract, after expressing interest in him last winter without striking a deal, because they wanted him to compete for a spot in the bullpen as...
Well, you know the rest.
One left-hander, Mike Gonzalez, will be the closer. Another one, Mark...The role of situational left-hander might fit Will Ohman, but he'd rather not be typecast.
Ohman has held lefties to a .204 average during his career, compared to a .260 average for right-handers. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract, after expressing interest in him last winter without striking a deal, because they wanted him to compete for a spot in the bullpen as...
Well, you know the rest.
One left-hander, Mike Gonzalez, will be the closer. Another one, Mark Hendrickson, could be a swingman. The Orioles would like to keep a third southpaw who would be used...
Well, you know the rest.
"It's not like right-handers are hitting .400 against me," Ohman said.
Ohman hasn't allowed a run in his first two appearances this spring against the Rays and Red Sox. He's given up two hits and struck out three.
"The first outing is getting your bearings back after a long layoff, not facing hitters. Just trying to establish the fastball, things like that," he said. "(Sunday), I came in the game with the lead, and you still have that desire to win, so I pitched a little more aggressively than I did in the first game.
"It's meant to be a progression. I don't want to peak in February."
Because manager Dave Trembley isn't concerned about matchups at the moment, Ohman has been facing plenty of right-handed hitters. And that's not usual despite his projected role as...
Well, you know the rest.
"Over my career, I've faced more right-handers than left-handers," Ohman said. "And with a pretty fair amount of success."
Lefty specialist? Ohman will take it, but he believes that he's capable of doing more for the Orioles.
"I was labeled that early," he said, "and it's a tough label to shake."
Well, you know the rest.
One left-hander, Mike Gonzalez, will be the closer. Another one, Mark Hendrickson, could be a swingman. The Orioles would like to keep a third southpaw who would be used...
Well, you know the rest.
"It's not like right-handers are hitting .400 against me," Ohman said.
Ohman hasn't allowed a run in his first two appearances this spring against the Rays and Red Sox. He's given up two hits and struck out three.
"The first outing is getting your bearings back after a long layoff, not facing hitters. Just trying to establish the fastball, things like that," he said. "(Sunday), I came in the game with the lead, and you still have that desire to win, so I pitched a little more aggressively than I did in the first game.
"It's meant to be a progression. I don't want to peak in February."
Because manager Dave Trembley isn't concerned about matchups at the moment, Ohman has been facing plenty of right-handed hitters. And that's not usual despite his projected role as...
Well, you know the rest.
"Over my career, I've faced more right-handers than left-handers," Ohman said. "And with a pretty fair amount of success."
Lefty specialist? Ohman will take it, but he believes that he's capable of doing more for the Orioles.
"I was labeled that early," he said, "and it's a tough label to shake."
