Donnie Hart on Parker Bridwell: "He's a bulldog" (O's down 4-2)

When a pitcher or position player receives his first major league call up, the natural inclination is to scan the clubhouse for anyone who served as a former teammate in the farm system.

The media's perfect baseball world includes a catcher giving his own scouting report on the new pitcher, having set the target for him at some juncture. Earlier today, I gladly settled for left-hander Donnie Hart offering his impressions of Parker Bridwell, who is in the Orioles' bullpen as we wait through a rain delay.

By "impressions," I mean Hart's opinion of Bridwell as a pitcher, not duplicating his voice and mannerisms. This isn't the spring training talent show.

Hart and Bridwell were paired at Double-A Bowie. Bridwell was a starter before transitioning into a relief role.

"He's a bulldog," Hart said.

Now I really wish Hart would do an impression, but I digress ...

"He gets the ball and he goes," Hart continued. "He can throw everything for a strike when he's on, and when he's on, good luck. He's got a power slider, he's got an unhittable changeup and he throws hard. He can run it up to 96-97, but he's a bulldog. He gets the ball and he goes. I don't think he ever shies away from throwing any pitch in any count."

Bridwell's stuff always has intrigued the organization, with manager Buck Showalter often pointing out the right-hander's latest stats and intangibles. But he also can frustrate with his tendency to follow up an impressive start or two with a dud.

He's 30-43 with a 4.75 ERA in 138 career minor league games. Nothing there to get scouts talking until they watch him pitch. They love the arm. The ceiling is high and the Orioles continue to resist trade overtures, which have been ongoing for years.

"I think any pitcher kind of struggles with that," Hart said. "I think the really good ones can hold those off for a long period of time and manage them and avoid them. But I've seen him at his best and I've seen him at his worst, and even at his worst he's still pretty good.

"I think every now and then he'll leave his fastball up and guys will hurt you. But I think for the most part those numbers are kind of deceiving. I've watched him pitch all year and it's been good. He started earlier in the year and I've seen him out of the bullpen and he's really good out of the bullpen."

There are people in the organization who believe Bridwell will be more effective as a reliever and may have the stuff and makeup to close. He's been compared to Zach Britton in some circles, except he throws with his right hand.

"I think it's his spot, to be honest with you. I think he's a bullpen guy," Hart said.

"He's an incredible athlete. He was going to go to college to play quarterback at a Big 12 school, Texas Tech, right down the road from where he's from. I think he's an incredible athlete, so I don't think that's hindered him any at all."

Bridwell's season was interrupted by a broken rib, which hastened his move to the bullpen.

"When he came back from rehabbing and was in the bullpen, you watched him throw and you're like, 'That guys' pretty good,'" Hart said. "You look at him and say, 'That's big league stuff right there.' You always hope for the best for everybody and I was pulling for him and pulling for him. It's just one of those situations where it's his time to come up and prove he's capable of getting big league hitters out. And I think he can do it."

If only he could do something about the weather. But at least Bridwell and Hart will have something else to talk about in the bullpen.

A major league bullpen. No place they'd rather be at the moment, come rain or come shine.

Update: So we had a four hour, five minute rain delay, they played one inning and we have another delay. Yovani Gallardo retired the side in order on seven pitches. Dallas Keuchel allowed a two-out infield hit to Manny Machado.

Update II: A.J. Reed's two-out single in the fourth scored Carlos Correa and gave Houston a 1-0 lead.

Update III: Jonathan Schoop tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with his 19th home run, but the Astros scored three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Manny Machado's error and Chris Davis' inability to catch Correa's liner in right-center field, which allowed two runs to score, were critical mistakes. Jose Altuve had an RBI single.

Update IV: The Orioles got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on Nolan Reimold's two-out double and Adam Jones' RBI single. Jones was ruled safe advancing to second on the throw home, but the call was reversed upon review.