Improved bullpen depth has led to increased serenity for Leo Mazzone, who spent his first season as the Orioles' pitching coach working with one of the league's most erratic pitching staffs. Mazzone seems thrilled by his team's foray into the free-agent market and can't wait to start the year with Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets a new staff and a newfound sense of confidence. In fact, Mazzone intends to get to know his new pitchers before Spring Training starts. The veteran pitching coach said he still plans on holding Camp Leo at Fort Lauderdale Stadium in the first week of February. Mazzone, contacted Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets at last week's Winter Meetings, said he's looking forward to Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets starting over again.
"I can't wait, because I have a feel for the lay of the land now. And with the additions we've made and the potential of our starting rotation, I'm very excited about Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets it," he said. "It's a lot different for me this year, knowing how things work in Baltimore. I'll be more adjusted, and it should be much more comfortable for me. I'll be the first to admit that last year in Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets Spring Training, I felt a little awkward. I didn't want to be this guy coming in and changing everything." This year, the team's brain trust helped Mazzone swing the wrecking ball. Most of last year's relievers are gone, leaving closer Chris Ray as the only familiar name. Baltimore spent $40 million on four relievers -- former closers Danys Baez and Scott Williamson, Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets left-handed specialist Jamie Walker and right-handed specialist Chad Bradford.
None of those additions was huge by itself, but collectively, they signal a sea change in the Baltimore bullpen. Mazzone often referred to last year's relief corps as a year-long "tryout camp," but now he knows what to expect from just about anyone he calls Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets out of the bullpen. Knowledge, in this case, breeds confidence. "I think that the key is getting our starters deeper to where you match up better," he said. "When we won our games last year, I think somebody said our ERA was 3.02. When we lost, it was 7.20. That's quite a gap, and you'd think in the American League Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets that when you're winning it's 3.80 or 3.90, and when you're losing it's 5.80 or 5.90. "In other words, we either dominated or we got blown out." Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Tickets