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This spring training is especially busy for Crowley who is in his 22nd year as a Major League hitting coach and his 10th consecutive season in his 2nd stint as the Orioles hitting coach. There are 26 position players on the O's spring roster including an influx of younger players trying to make an impression.

"It takes awhile to see the strong points and weak points of a hitter," Crowley said in between hitting sessions. "But I never lose sight that the organization has these players in big league camp for a reason."

Crowley understands how badly the younger players want to stand out. Some hope to win a major league roster spot while others are trying to increase their value as prospects. But that sometimes leads to players trying to do too much and Crowley at times has to guide players to calm down. "I've had to ask some young hitters over the years if their batting helmet always falls off with every swing they take."

Prospects develop on different time tables. And several of the younger hitters have stood out in camp. Crowley is especially impressed with last year's top draft pick Matt Wieters. The catching prospect is enjoying valuable time in the big league camp in his first professional spring training. "Wieters has looked fantastic," Crowley said. "He's fit right in and it's amazing when you consider he didn't play ball all last summer. He's not overmatched. And that tells me he is something special."

Scott Moore is another hitter benefiting from the suggestions offered by Crowley. When Moore was acquired last season from the Cubs he began the daily hitting drills Crowley goes through with each hitter. "When I started working with Crow," Moore said, he focused on my bottom hand to help me stay through the ball on my swing. Before I had always concentrated on my top hand," Moore added, but Crow's drills made sense. He's taught me to let the pitch get deeper into the strike zone so I can make better contact and hit the ball hard."

Moore has learned his lessons well and has been one of the Orioles hottest hitters in early spring training games. "Crow is positive and supportive. You go to the plate with a good mind set."

Former Oriole BJ Surhoff is in camp as a special instructor. Surhoff had an all-star season and collected a career high 207 hits in 1999 while working with Crowley. BJ says Crowley's approach is the key. "He's not into major adjustments," Surhoff said. "He doesn't try to over coach and that is very important. He stresses the principals to be a good hitter."

Being a consistent and successful big league hitter isn't easy. Crowley says a hitter has less time to pick up a pitch, and swing than snapping your fingers. And hitters can get frustrated and actually begin to try too hard.

Surhoff says Crowley has a knack of getting a hitter to take a step back and learn how to get it done in a shorter period of time. "He understands," BJ added. "He's been through so many things in his career as a player, and as a coach."

With the Orioles rebuilding this will be a busy season for the coaching staff. They will work as hard on the physical parts of the game as they will on the mental parts. And as Surhoff has experienced, that is where Crowley excels. "He understands," Surhoff said. "He's someone you can sit and pick his brain."

Surhoff added that Crowley strength is his experience. "He has experience with veterans as well as younger hitters. He finds a way to get it done."