Fastball

CONTROL CHALLENGED Before the game, Orioles manager Dave Trembley verbalized five things he wanted to see out of Radhames Liz. He wanted him to repeat his delivery, command his fastball, show that he could throw his slider or changeup for strikes, field his position and hold runners on. There were no opportunities for Liz to field his position, but Liz certainly didn't accomplish the other four. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and allowed six earned runs. ANOTHER COMEBACK The Orioles trailed 8-5 heading into the seventh inning.

Strengths -- He throws his fastball at 95, 96 [mph]. His splitter is his put-away pitch. That's what he goes to. He's very aggressive. He comes right at you. Weaknesses -- He is a guy, you can sit on his fastball, but you've got to get past his splitter. He can be a deep-count pitcher. He doesn't always get ahead, and he can get that fastball up in the zone with no movement. Overall -- Everything for him is predicated on his command. If he throws strikes and pitches ahead, he is tough.

Pitches -- He's got some power stuff. His fastball is at 96 to 99 [mph]. He's a Chris Ray type with a real power slider and a good curve. Weaknesses -- The one thing I wonder about is that on 1-2 and 0-2 counts, he likes to come with his fastball. And I don't know why, because he has that good slider. Evidently, he has more confidence in that fastball. Future -- He is going to be a good one. He'll be up soon (he's currently at Triple-A). He could do whatever they want. He could start, and he has closer's stuff right now. Mariano [Rivera]

Since he began playing professional baseball, Radhames Liz has been used exclusively as a starter in the minor leagues. But until he developed more than his fastball, he seemed certain to become a reliever as he approached the majors. The bullpen no longer seems to be his destination. With an improved changeup and breaking ball, Liz has become a dominant pitcher at Double-A Bowie. He is 9-4 with a 3.25 ERA and won his previous four starts before getting no decision yesterday. During his five-game unbeaten streak, Liz has allowed five earned runs in 30 2/3 innings, walking 15 and striking out 37. "The big thing, first of all, is he's been able to throw his breaking ball for strikes," said David Stockstill, director of minor league operations.

Jeremy Guthrie's story is of a former first-round draft pick and top prospect who struggled to meet hefty - and perhaps unfair - expectations that were placed on him. Ultimately, he was forced to go elsewhere to get an opportunity, and when he did, his powerful right arm reminded everyone what the hype was all about. It is certainly a feel-good story, especially for Orioles fans who have waited patiently for the organization to develop top-flight young pitchers, only to watch one drop in its lap on a $20,000 waiver claim.

SEATTLE -- When he was studying videotape of his struggles recently, Orioles closer Chris Ray's attention was grabbed, not by something he was doing, but rather by a tendency of the hitters he was facing. "I was just looking at it and guys were taking huge cuts on the first pitch," he said. "They were just waiting and expecting the fastball." That led Ray to conclude he needed to do a much better job of mixing up his pitches, especially early in counts. The 25-year-old credits his ability to do that for his recent string of effective outings.

Orioles pitching coach Leo Mazzone was raving about Jeremy Guthrie yesterday, and his comments were unsolicited. He just felt like talking about Guthrie, who deserves all the praise that's coming his way. Guthrie is throwing all his pitches for strikes, but Mazzone said the key is how the right-hander is commanding his fastball. He's putting it wherever he wants, and that sets up the rest of his pitches. Sure doesn't hurt that the fastball is coming in at 97 mph. Guthrie has to be the most prepared pitcher on the staff - unless it's Steve Trachsel.

Before pitcher Rommie Lewis could regain the velocity on his fastball, he needed to rediscover his love of the game. It took a full year for Lewis to realize he missed baseball enough to rededicate himself to it. Once chosen as the Orioles' fifth-best prospect by Baseball America, he got off to a sizzling start at Double-A Bowie this season before beginning to struggle. But at least he was on the mound again, and on the mend. Lewis, a 6-foot-6 left-handed reliever chosen in the fourth round of the 2001 draft out of Newport (Wash.

SEATTLE -- Several of his performances have been overshadowed by bullpen blowups and controversial managerial decisions. But before Chris Ray blew a save Sunday afternoon by surrendering a walk-off home run to Vladimir Guerrero, Jeremy Guthrie had already made a strong impression on another opposing team. In eight innings against the Los Angeles Angels, Guthrie, the rookie right-hander whom the Orioles picked up off waivers from the Cleveland Indians this offseason, allowed just one earned run on three hits and no walks, while striking out four.