Arm Strength

I've noticed over the years that more base runners go halfway on deep fly balls rather than tag. Are the percentages better when you go halfway or when you tag? Tec McCutchen, Frederick DEAR TEC / / I'm assuming you are talking about big league baseball by your comment about watching it over the years. This base-running decision is not a matter of straight percentages. There are very few opportunities to successfully tag up from first base and make it to second. Second base is centered in the middle of the diamond and almost all big league outfielders can throw the ball accurately to second from any of the outfield positions.

ESPN's Ron Jaworski spent a big chunk of the offseason watching every minute of game tape for each NFL starting quarterback, and has spent the past month ranking them and then breaking them down for “SportsCenter.” On Monday, Jaworski revealed his ninth-ranked quarterback entering the 2012 season: Baltimore's Joe Flacco. And while praising the fifth-year Ravens QB, he said that Flacco has the strongest arm in the league . "That's Flacco's No. 1 attribute," said Jaworski, who made 143 career NFL starts.

ESPN's Ron Jaworski spent a big chunk of the offseason watching every minute of game tape for each NFL starting quarterback, and has spent the past month ranking them and then breaking them down for “SportsCenter.” On Monday, Jaworski revealed his ninth-ranked quarterback entering the 2012 season: Baltimore's Joe Flacco. And while praising the fifth-year Ravens QB, he said that Flacco has the strongest arm in the league . "That's Flacco's No. 1 attribute," said Jaworski, who made 143 career NFL starts.

After his final outing of the spring, Orioles left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada said he felt physically ready to join the big league club for Opening Day in Baltimore. But the Orioles brass believes Wada, who signed a two-year, $8.14 million contract in December, will benefit from remaining in Sarasota to build up his arm strength and his pitch count. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that Wada will begin the season on the disabled list. He will make a minumum of two starts -- his first in an extended spring training game slated for Monday -- in hopes of reaching a pitch count of 90. His second start could be a minor league rehab assignment.

Halfway through the Ravens' offseason camps, coach Brian Billick said rookie Kyle Boller has proved fully capable of competing for the starting quarterback job. Though Chris Redman is considered the favorite to start the season, Boller has lived up to early expectations, keeping the quarterback position officially open when training camp begins in 56 days. The first-round draft pick out of California continues to build to that point today, when the Ravens start another weeklong passing camp.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Orioles minor-leaguers played with a heightened intensity yesterday -- probably because, for the first time this spring, they were playing someone other than themselves.The Orioles faced Eckerd College of St. Petersburg. Eckerd was short on pitching, so manager Phil Regan provided pitchers and catchers for the Tritons. Eckerd's position players, however, were college players.The Orioles had to scramble to win, 2-1. Second baseman Bobby DeJardin's line-drive single in the bottom of the eighth drove in the decisive run."

Kent Mercker is going to the bullpen.Mercker was signed as a free agent in the off-season to solidify the Orioles' starting rotation but his dwindling velocity, a mere 80 mph in his three-inning, four-home run, six-run performance Tuesday, and inability to get hitters out prompted manager Davey Johnson to move him to relief.Rick Krivda, who started last night's rained-out second game, will replace Mercker in the rotation."Right now, obviously, I have no business being up here starting," said Mercker, who is 3-6 with a 7.43 ERA. "Going to the bullpen is probably the best thing for me and the team.

Defense -- The first thing you have to talk about is his catching and his arm strength. He has a 70 arm (out of 80), and that's very above average. He's got great hands and agility, especially for a 6-foot-5 guy. He moves well from side to side behind the plate. Offense -- It's a plus that he's a switch-hitter. He has better power from the left side, but he has power from both sides. He's a consistent line-drive guy with above-average power. If there is a weakness, I guess it's his [lack of]

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Ben McDonald pitched well in his most recent start and his arm strength appears to be improving, but he said he still is experiencing persistent soreness in his right elbow.The elbow problem forced him to start the season on the disabled list. Now, the plan is to see if he can pitch through it. He's scheduled to start tonight against the California Angels at Memorial Stadium."It's pretty uncomfortable until I get it loose," McDonald said. "They tell me that sometimes you just have to work through these things, but you have to think about it. Any time you're talking about a running back's knee or a pitcher's arm, you've got to be concerned."

Poole's stint in minors is likely to be extendedArm strength still lacking, Oates saysLeft-hander Jim Poole likely won't return to the Orioles from the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings this week when his rehabilitation assignment expires.That will leave the team's bullpen situation the same -- one left-hander, Mike Flanagan, available."He doesn't have to come back here when the time's up," manager Johnny Oates said last night. "He can be assigned to a [minor-league] club."Reports indicate Poole's arm strength has not fully returned.

TORONTO -- Adam Loewen is fine with the plan for now. He understands why the Orioles want him to take it slow. He can see the Orioles' logic of using him out of the bullpen once his rehabilitation stint is over later this month. But as far as Loewen is concerned, the switch doesn't jeopardize his future status in the Orioles' rotation. "I do see myself as a starter, and I'm not going to rule out the possibility of coming back as a starter this year," Loewen said in a phone interview yesterday.

DEAR CAL -- How do I deal with coaches trying to steer my kid away from sports other than his own? My son is a high school sophomore who plays JV football and baseball. He loves baseball and has more talent in that sport. But he likes football and is showing promise. The varsity football coach is trying to persuade him to drop baseball. The coach has camps he considers mandatory that fall right during travel baseball season. Keith Vaughan, Ashtabula, Ohio DEAR KEITH -- At Ripken Baseball, we belive kids should play a variety of sports if they desire.

It's hard trying to get that picture of quarterback Steve McNair out of your head, the one of him playing so poorly in the Ravens' 15-6 playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts last season. McNair completed 18 of 29 passes - but most of those were short - for a total of 173 yards. Two of his passes were intercepted, one deep in Colts territory in the first half that killed a drive and turned the momentum of the game. McNair was baffled Jan. 13. Neither he nor the Ravens' coaching staff had an answer for the Colts' two-deep coverage.

The freshman started at first base against powerhouse Miami. Four innings into the game, heat exhaustion sapped Georgia Tech's catcher, so the kid moved behind the plate. In the top of the ninth, he hit a two-run homer to put the Yellow Jackets ahead. And finally, holding that one-run advantage, he stripped his gear, moved to the mound and earned the save. Faced with this preposterous display of all-around excellence, Matt Wieters' teammates handed him a nickname: God. He could probably walk on water, too, they figured.

Defense -- The first thing you have to talk about is his catching and his arm strength. He has a 70 arm (out of 80), and that's very above average. He's got great hands and agility, especially for a 6-foot-5 guy. He moves well from side to side behind the plate. Offense -- It's a plus that he's a switch-hitter. He has better power from the left side, but he has power from both sides. He's a consistent line-drive guy with above-average power. If there is a weakness, I guess it's his [lack of]

DEAR CAL -- My son is a pretty good pitcher and throws fairly hard for a 9-year-old. Do you recommend any type of weight training for a young pitcher? Bill Delp, Baldwin DEAR BILL -- I get questions all the time about what type of strength training young baseball players should pursue and at what age young athletes should begin strength training. Since I'm not a fitness professional, I generally don't like to go into a lot of detail about these issues. So for more information please consult a certified strength and conditioning coach (CSCS)

DEAR CAL -- How do I deal with coaches trying to steer my kid away from sports other than his own? My son is a high school sophomore who plays JV football and baseball. He loves baseball and has more talent in that sport. But he likes football and is showing promise. The varsity football coach is trying to persuade him to drop baseball. The coach has camps he considers mandatory that fall right during travel baseball season. Keith Vaughan, Ashtabula, Ohio DEAR KEITH -- At Ripken Baseball, we belive kids should play a variety of sports if they desire.

When the Detroit Tigers released David Borkowski last year, setting the scene for his stirring comeback with the Orioles, it wasn't your typical baseball transaction. Growing up in Michigan, Borkowski knew about everything there was to know about the Detroit franchise. He can still remember skipping grade school to watch his beloved Tigers play in the 1984 and 1987 playoffs. For a long time, he was living his dream. The Tigers drafted him out of Sterling Heights (Mich.) High and brought him to the majors in time to pitch the second-to-last game at Tiger Stadium in 1999.

I recently broke my collarbone. The doctor reset the bone and put in a pin to hold it together. He has advised me that I will probably be ready to play baseball in April. I am concerned about my training program. I had been hitting the gym, weights and cardio, but now I have to stop. I can keep up some cardio and soon will be able to do sit-ups. But I don't know what to do about my upper body. Do you have any suggestions for my rehab workout? Danny Delozier, Leonardtown DEAR DANNY / / Any time a doctor has to insert a pin to aid in the healing of a broken bone it is considered a serious injury.

I've noticed over the years that more base runners go halfway on deep fly balls rather than tag. Are the percentages better when you go halfway or when you tag? Tec McCutchen, Frederick DEAR TEC / / I'm assuming you are talking about big league baseball by your comment about watching it over the years. This base-running decision is not a matter of straight percentages. There are very few opportunities to successfully tag up from first base and make it to second. Second base is centered in the middle of the diamond and almost all big league outfielders can throw the ball accurately to second from any of the outfield positions.