MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: EVEN VETERANS CAN MAKE MISTAKES LORRAINE'S HIGH THROW LEADS TO LOSS.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

For all the innings, both in the major leagues and the minors, Andrew Lorraine has thrown in his pro baseball existence, lessons are always to be learned.

Take a recent start by the Hart High graduate, now playing for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. The 29-year-old left-hander threw well against Scranton-Wilkes/Barre.

But one seemingly routine throw to first base ruined an otherwise strong performance and resulted in a loss. With two outs in the third inning, Lorraine fielded Jason Knupfer's comebacker to the mound. Inning over, right?

``I've never thrown a ball like that in my life,'' Lorraine, a veteran of 54 major-league games with six different teams, told the Indianapolis Star. The throw was high and Indianapolis first baseman Izzy Alcantar was drawn off the base for an error. P.J. Forbes doubled in both runners and two unearned runs later, Scranton beat Lorraine and the Indians 3-2.

``I've made an error on a pickoff throw before but nothing like that,'' Lorraine said. ``They took advantage of every mistake I made.''

It was that kind of season early for Lorraine, 29. Despite making several quality starts, his record dipped to 3-7 with the frustrating loss. But he's come back over the last month to improve to 6-8, including allowing one run on just five hits in seven innings on the Fourth of July to beat Louisville.

``He took us seven solid innings and he had some good run support,'' Indianapolis manager Ed Romero said. ``That made it a lot easier for him, for everyone. He has a good ERA (3.28), he's just lost some tough games.''

--Suddenly Seddon: Chris Seddon of the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs has pitched far better than his sub .500 record indicates. Seddon (Canyon High) entered the game against the Macon Braves last Thursday holding opposing hitters to an impressive .196 batting average.

But that total jumped 29 points to .225 after Seddon lost 11-6. Despite pitching well in both a starting and relief role, his record is just 3-4 with a 3.82 ERA. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' fifth-round pick in 2001 in his first full season after throwing just 12 innings at rookie ball last summer.

But Baseball America saw enough promise in the left-hander to rank him 17th among Tampa Bay's minor-league prospects. The Devil Rays project him to be a hard thrower with a fastball topping out at 93 mph. Seddon has resembled a potential power pitcher with 54 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings.

--More Devil Rays: Baseball America also ranked Devil Rays farmhand Jamie Shields (Hart) in Tampa Bay's prospect list. Shields, though, is out for the season after undergoing arm surgery.

--Plenty of jobs: The Single-A Clearwater Phillies' handyman continues to be Rob Avila, who played at The Master's College and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies as a catcher.

Only Avila has been so much more to his teams, looking the part as a valuable utility man. He's spelled Clearwater's regulars at first base (17 games played), the outfield (17) and catcher (eight). Avila is batting .223 with five homers and 19 RBI in 48 games.

--Matadors musings: Pitcher Andy Davidson (Hart), drafted out of Cal State Northridge by the St. Louis Cardinals last month, is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in four appearances for Single-A New Jersey of the New York-Penn League.

Another player who went the Hart and CSUN route, Single-A Visalia shortstop J.T. Stotts, is hitting .286 with a home run and 39 RBI.

--Rock-solid Rock Cat: Double-A New Britain Rock Cats outfielder Brian Baron (Hart/UCLA) is hitting .309 with a home run and 20 RBI in 66 games.