Off to good start, Meek works to gain trust of his new teammates and manager

During the 2010 season, right-hander Evan Meek pitched to an ERA of 2.14 out of the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen and made the National League All-Star team. He ranked among National League relief leaders in innings, opponent batting average and ERA.

But Meek suffered a torn labrum early during the 2011 season. He continued to pitch, but it took him a long while to get back to the effectiveness he had during that All-Star season.

He spent all of last season at Triple-A for the Texas Rangers and signed with the Orioles as a minor league free agent in February after throwing for pitching coach Dave Wallace the day FanFest was held.

Meek's strong spring has carried into this season and, in five games, he's pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings on just two hits.

Meek has been used in key spots by manager Buck Showalter and we saw that on opening day when he came in to pitch the eighth with a one-run lead. Twice now he's been called on in the eighth with the Orioles leading by one run.

"Again, it's early," Meek said in discussing bullpen roles. "It's nice to go in those situations where the game is close and everyone in that bullpen can do that. To get those opportunities, it's great. It's what I've done in the past and done well in the past. I'm used to doing that but we don't have all our roles down yet. Still a little bit early for that.

"I want to keep getting outs. Want to earn the trust of my teammates and manager. That is what it's all about. Being new, there is a lot that needs to be earned."

So far, so good for the 30-year-old originally drafted by Minnesota in round 11 of the 2002 draft.

When Meek is pitching well what are the keys for him?

"Getting ahead is the big thing," he said. "I could do a better job of getting ahead of hitters and putting them away when I have two strikes on them. I've been doing a good job so far of calming down, relaxing out there and focusing on the pitches I need to make. But that part can always be better and improved."

The cut fastball is a big part of Meek's game, he said, and he uses the pitch for both left- and right-handed hitters. He seems to enjoy the chess match with hitters, trying to read bats and figure out how to attack the guy in the box.

"You get a guy where maybe he is on your fastball or seeing you well, you have to be able to throw in a wrinkle or for me I'll throw a split, but it has to be an effective pitch," he said. "You get better at that by just pitching. You take in the good and throw out the bad."