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The Official Site of the Delmarva Shorebirds' Fan Club

One-on-One with Darrell "Doc" Rodgers, Director, Minor League Operations
February 2004

DR. SHOREBIRD: What are the plans for John Maine this year?

DOC RODGERS: John Maine is an outstanding prospect. He is probably our top prospect in the organization. Tremendous make up, tremendous talent. He's on his way. He will go to the Big league camp where I am sure he will impress our staff there. He will start the season in Bowie and the sky is the limit from there. There really is no timetable for John. It's only a matter of time and opportunity before we see him in Baltimore.

DR. SHOREBIRD: How are Chris Smith and Beau Hale coming along?

DOC RODGERS: They are working out in Sarasota but are not yet at the stage where we want to put radar guns on them. So far we are very optimistic about having them participate for us this season having them get a lot more done than they have for the past couple of years.

There's certainly a chance that either or both could stop off at Delmarva. Chris Smith hasn't played above the Bluefield level. Certainly he has a ways to go and probably will see some time spent at every level of the organization. He may skip once he gets going a little bit, but we'd be excited at having Chris Smith at Delmarva at some point in the year.

Beau Hale has pitched as high as AA, but coming back, he hasn't pitched in a year, so he will have to work himself back up again. He may make a couple of rehab starts in Delmarva.

DR. SHOREBIRD: What do you think of the "Tandem Pitching" approach now being instilled in your former organization?

DOC RODGERS: I would rather talk about our approach. We want to develop major leagues pitchers that can be counted on for at least six or seven good innings. The question is when do you want to start developing this skill. Our philosophy is to protect them early and push them later. Our front office can't be everywhere, so we rely on A ball pitching coaches using the structure we put in place to handle our multi-million dollar pitchers. It doesn't require any thinking. It's mechanical. Whoops! Seventy-five pitches - next guy. Every night we can sleep a little better knowing that our pitchers aren't throwing 107 pitches in five innings or 118 in six or whatever in A ball.

DR. SHOREBIRD: What about the " take a strike" rule?

DOC RODGERS: It teaches the players to be patient and helps the other players to get a chance to watch what the pitcher has. It helps develop disciplined hitters that have a better approach to hitting. A patient hitter makes a better hitter. It also makes the pitcher work a little bit more. Pitchers get tired. If we can get the starter out, we have a better chance for success.

DR. SHOREBIRD: We first chatted last year about two weeks after you assumed this post. You talked about things like "We're going to instill discipline. We're going to bring back the "Oriole Way." How do you see the year as working out?

DOC RODGERS: It was a successful year. Many players improved. But, unfortunately for you guys, when they improve enough, we take them away from you. John Maine had a huge year. Because he was striking everybody out, we took him from you. Val Majewski hit doubles or triples every other night and played everything that came his way in right or center field, so we took him from you. Scott Rice came here and had a breakout season striking out in the South Atlantic League so we took him from you as well. That's player development and we did well last year.

DR. SHOREBIRD: How's Danny Cabrera coming along?

DOC RODGERS: I saw Danny pitch in the Dominican Republic League this off-season and he has matured and is coming along nicely now and he may put himself on the fast track this year.


DR. SHOREBIRD: Where do you project John Stephens starting.

DOC RODGERS: Ottawa. John knows how to pitch and what to do. He doesn't need the pitching coach to explain pitching to him. He understands the game and he understands professionalism.


DR. SHOREBIRD: And how about the minor leaguers obtained in trades by the Orioles last year; Donald Levinski, Ryan Hannaman and Denny Bautista?

DOC RODGERS: Levinski will probably start in Frederick. He had a rough season in high-A ball last year and had some injury issues. Bautista will probably be in the rotation at Bowie, but I'm not sure yet about Hannaman. Ryan has nasty stuff and probably one of the best sliders in the organization. He may start in Frederick, but possibly Bowie.


DR. SHOREBIRD: It's interesting that you picked up Walter Young. He was always impressive here when he came to town. What do you project for Walter?

DOC RODGERS: Walter is a big man with big power, scary power. He's working out in Sarasota now. He reported in at 302, but he's capable of hitting 602. But, he might be even better at 275 and hitting 575.


DR. SHOREBIRD: What are your projections for Delmarva players this year.

DOC RODGERS: First of all we're going to have a very competitive spring training. I do have my projections at this time posted on my wall. But, this is very subject to change based on spring training. I always like to be surprised by having someone have a hot spring and mess up my projections.

Delmarva will be getting two No. 1 draft picks, Adam Loewen, who is on the 40-man roster, and Nick Markakis. It is rare to have two No. 1 picks on the same team. Look for Brian Finch, last year's No. 2 draft pick to be in the starting rotation. I'm projecting that Chris Ray, last year's No. 3 draft pick and the pitcher who may have the best fastball (96 and 97 mph) of any pitcher in our organization will be here.

DR. SHOREBIRD: How about Jim Tiller and Zach Dixon?

DOC RODGERS: They would be long shots. Both have come a long way. Jim Tiller did well for you last year when he was brought up primarily during the spell when there were so many games in a short period of time. He did well and stuck last year.

DR. SHOREBIRD: What are your objectives for Nick Markakis this year.

DOC RODGERS: What I want him to do at this stage is to stress simple hitting, not hitting with power. He is young, his frame will fill out more and the power will come. I want him to learn to be a good hitter first, then develop power later. If he can learn to hit 280 or 290 in the minor leagues, then we he fills out and gets stronger, the power will come. You have to learn to make contact first. Be a hitter first, then you can become a hitter with power.

DR. SHOREBIRD: Will Lorenzo Scott move up to Delmarva this year?

DOC RODGERS: On that board in my office, I have a big strong projection for a big strong Lorenzo Scott being in the Delmarva outfield this year. He's a former Ball State linebacker. He is a hustler. During a game last year, the opposing team's manager came over to me to ask about this Lorenzo Scott guy. He said I've never seen a baseball player hustle so much on the field and off the field. He hasn't had that much baseball experience, but he can make contact with the ball. He plays the game like its meant to be played and is a winner.