Left-hander Tony Butler, part of the package that's been accepted for Erik Bedard, won't be a stranger to Camden Yards if he reaches the majors. The Orioles invited him there for a pre-draft workout before the Mariners took him in the third round in 2006.
I mentioned to a scout how center fielder Adam Jones is being compared in some circles to Mike Cameron, which brings mixed feelings from me.
"He needs to be compared to Andruw Jones," the scout replied.
Now that's better.
The scout also marveled at the arms that the Orioles could stockpile at Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie this year. Check out this list:
Butler
Chris Tillman
Brandon Erbe
Chorye Spoone
Pedro Beato
Bradley Bergesen
Jason Berken
David Hernandez
Tim Bascom
Jacob Arrieta
Jake Renshaw
"I'd probably take them over any other group in baseball," the scout said. "That's unbelievable."
Bergesen, 22, doesn't get much notice, but he was 7-3 with a 2.19 ERA, 17 walks and 73 strikeouts in 15 starts at Single-A Delmarva before being promoted to Frederick. His combined 3.52 ERA ranked sixth in the organization. The Orioles selected him in the fourth round of the 2004 draft out of Foothill (Cal.) High School.
Berken, a sixth-round pick in 2006 out of Clemson, posted a 2.80 ERA in nine games (eight) starts at short-season Aberdeen after the draft, and was 9-9 with a 4.53 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 151 innings at Frederick last season. His strikeout total ranked third in the Carolina League.