How goes the saying? “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?” Maybe that’s oversimplifying the news coming out of the Baltimore Orioles organization where former star-in-waiting LHP Adam Loewen has decided to terminate his injury-plagued pitching career for some lumber and batting gloves as an outfielder.

This story sounds like the sequel to the highly successful Rick Ankiel pitching retirement with one major omission. Loewen’s struggles have solely been physical, apparently without the control issues, in deciding to leave the pitching mound for the outfield grass.

Loewen’s star, or at least his potential, fell much farther. He was the O’s top draft pick in 2002 (No. 4 overall) compared to Ankiel who was a second-round selection for the Cards in 1997.

The story on the BaltimoreOrioles.com site cites Ankiel’s example. “Both Loewen and (Orioles president Andy) MacPhail repeatedly referenced Rick Ankiel, who endured a similar odyssey before finding success as an outfielder with the Cardinals,” writer MLB.com reporter Spencer Fordin. He also fielded a Loewen/Ankiel question in his Mailbag report from Monday.

Also check out Monday’s Ask BA on BaseballAmerica.com with Jim Callis, who takes a look back at scouting information on Loewen in ‘02. Finally, look at “O’s Loewen finished as a pitcher” by Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun on baltimoresun.com.

DOOLING MOVES UP THE ATLANTIC

Former Mizzou player Keyon Dooling will suit up with the New Jersey Nets next season after a contentious couple weeks over his contract status with the Orlando Magic. Read “N.J. Nets’ sign-and-trade deal for Dooling is official” by the Associated Press on nj.com and also “Magic trade Dooling to New Jersey“ by Kyle Hightower of the Orlando Sentinel on OrlandoSentinel.com.

FARMHAND TUESDAY

Hopefully as the rehabilitation assignments keep coming, Farmhand Tuesday will be positive status reports for returning Cardinals. Let’s start that tradition out right and check out the Cardinals Corner blog reports from Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader Cardinals reporter Kary Booher. Read also his “Carpenter delivers four innings in rehab start” and “All eyes on Carpenter here at Hammons” entries and post your comments.