FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -Steve Trachsel has 141 career wins, exactly 80 more than the combined total of the other four pitchers in the Baltimore Orioles’ projected starting rotation. When Trachsel threw his first pitch in the major leagues, Adam Loewen was 9 years old.
Loewen, now 23, can learn plenty from a guy like Trachsel, who’s only too happy to share the wisdom he’s gained from 14 big league seasons.
“He’s been helping me out with my routine. I didn’t really have one for when I was warming up in the bullpen,” Loewen said. “Trachs has been really helpful.”
The Orioles signed Trachsel to a minor league contract in February, but there was little doubt at the time that he would end up as part of the starting rotation. He went 6-8 with a 4.48 ERA in 25 starts with Baltimore last season before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs.
His return to Baltimore is beneficial to both parties. The Orioles get a guy who can eat up innings and provide stability and instruction to a young, inexperienced staff. Trachsel, in turn, receives another chance to pitch in the majors.
“The biggest part of it was I going to be in the big leagues. I wasn’t going to go to another team and be an insurance policy,” Trachsel said. “That’s what happened when I got traded last year. I went to Chicago and basically didn’t do anything. It’s not fun. Even though we were in the playoffs, it wasn’t like I wanted it to be because I wasn’t going to be used.”
His workload in Baltimore might prove too tough to handle. Not only does the 37-year-old have to prepare for the season, but he’s also been asked to tutor those around him. His leadership role wasn’t penned into his contract, but it certainly was discussed before he signed.
“They mentioned it. They didn’t say specifically,” Trachsel said. “Obviously, it comes down to my comfort level.”
He is still learning how to be, in effect, a player-coach. He wants to be a team player, but his No. 1 priority is to make sure he contributes with his right arm. Helping make his teammates better won’t do any good if Trachsel can’t be an effective starting pitcher.
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Against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, Trachsel became the first Oriole this spring to pitch four innings. But allowed seven hits and four runs, three earned, in a 7-4 loss.
“It was all right, not great. I felt good, felt strong, but my location wasn’t real good,” he said. “Ball was up in the zone quite a bit today.”
His ERA is 5.00, but manager Dave Trembley sees an improved pitcher from the one that arrived in camp a year ago.
“I think his stuff is better and I think his command is better. I don’t think you’ll ever get a guy with better work habits than Trachsel,” Trembley said. “He sees this opportunity as twofold: One to pitch, and two, to help the club. He’s embraced both of those. He’s been great about it.”
Trachsel’s role as a tutor is one that has been filled in major league clubhouses by hundreds of veterans over the years. When he broke into the majors in 1993 with the Cubs, Trachsel played the role of the inquisitive rookie with much to learn.
“It goes both ways. It was the same way when I got to the big leagues,” he said. “I was 22 and had Mike Morgan, who had been pitching for 30 years already, and Randy Myers. You pass a lot of that on.”
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