How some ex-Orioles are doing
Here’s an updated look at how several members of the 2009 Orioles are doing with their new organizations. Below numbers are through Tuesday’s games.
Hitters
Aubrey Huff (S.F. Giants): .275 avg., 4 HRs, 18 RBIs, 20 runs, 14 BBs
Chad Moeller (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Yankees’ Triple-A): .207 avg. (6-for-29), 0 HR, 3 RBIs
Melvin Mora (Colorado Rockies): .268 avg. (15-for-56), 0 HRs, 8 RBIs, 4 runs
Oscar Salazar (San Diego Padres): .200 avg. (8-for-40), 0 HRs, 1 RBI, 6 runs, 5 BB
Gregg Zaun (Milwaukee Brewers): .273 avg. (27-for-99), 2 HRs, 13 RBIs, 10 BBs
Pitchers
Danys Baez (Philadelphia Phillies): 1-1, 5.29 ERA (17 IP), 18 hits, 7 BBs, 7 Ks
Brian Bass (Indianapolis, Pirates’ Triple-A): 0-1, 3.77 ERA (14 1/3 IP), 15 hits, 3 BBs, 8 Ks
Sean Henn (Las Vegas, Blue Jays’ Triple-A): 1-0, 3.00 ERA (21 IP), 21 hits, 17 BBs, 17 Ks
Rich Hill (Memphis, Cardinals’ Triple-A): 2-2, 4.55 ERA (31 2/3 IP), 26 hits, 19 BBs, 31 Ks
Radhames Liz (Portland, Padres’ Triple-A): 3-1, 3.19 ERA (31 IP), 28 hits, 11 BBs, 35 Ks
*John Parrish (Kansas City Royals): 1-1, 3.00 (6 IP), 4 hits, 5 BBs, 4 Ks
Hayden Penn (Indianapolis, Pirates’ Triple-A): 0-0, 3.27 ERA (11 IP), 12 hits, 3 BBs, 11 Ks
Chris Ray (Texas Rangers): 1-0, 2.55 ERA (17 2/3 IP), 10 hits, 9 BBs, 11 Ks
George Sherrill (L.A. Dodgers): 0-1, 6.92 ERA (13 IP), 15 hits, 12 BBs, 10 Ks
Chris Waters (Nashville, Brewers’ Triple-A): 4-1, 2.55 ERA (42 1/3 IP), 36 hits, 13 BB, 31 Ks
*Disabled list
As I’ve said before, I can’t possibly document every single former Oriole, so I focus on those who were in the organization at some point, including spring training in Parrish’s case, last season. But I will update two pre-2009 Birds each time I do this.
Jay Gibbons, OF (Albuquerque, Dodgers’ Triple-A) .383 avg. (41-for-107), 6 HR, 28 RBIs
Adam Loewen, OF (New Hampshire, Jays’ Double-A): .266 (29-for-109) 5 HR, 17 RBIs, 7 SB
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Wow, Gibbons is doing really well. Maybe he'll get called up with Ethier out for a bit. I always liked Gibbons, even when the obvious steroid use came out. Best of luck to him.
Posted by: mike | May 19, 2010 4:09 PM
Wow, nice to see Loewen doing well as a hitter. It's a shame what happened to him and that the O's didn't try him out the way the Jays are.
Gibbons back o the juice?
Posted by: Jeff in Ohio | May 19, 2010 4:15 PM
Wow they pretty much...suck!
Example s of why McPhail/Trembley made good choices.
Posted by: JackL | May 19, 2010 5:18 PM
Jay Gibbons is raking!
Posted by: Anonymous | May 19, 2010 7:36 PM
Thanks Jeff, interesting stuff.
Posted by: dc369 | May 19, 2010 7:50 PM
I've seen Jay Gibbons play several times this season at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. He looks very comfortable at the plate and the 5,500 ft. elevation in Albuquerque never hurts the hitters' numbers. The Dodgers seem to prefer calling up their younger OF prospects rather than vets like Gibbons so we'll see how long he stays at AAA.
Posted by: O's Fan in Santa Fe | May 19, 2010 8:43 PM
Jeff in Ohio,
They did. The Orioles and Loewwn talked about it and decided that he should move to the outfield. They had to cut him because he signed a major league contract and it would have been impossible to keep him in the minors to re-learn the position, but it had all been agreed to that he would re-sign and go learn to be an outfielder. Then as soon as he was released he cut bait and ran off to Toronto. Basically he pulled a Carlos Boozer on the Orioles.
Posted by: Big Daddy (Not Lipscomb) | May 20, 2010 7:04 AM
Jeff in Ohio,
The O's were very patient with Loewen and were willing to try him out as a hitter. He rewarded them by signing with Toronto. The O's put him through waivers to sign him to a minor league contract so that he could start his "new" career. The plan was to sign him and let him work on his hitting in the minors to see if he could work his way back to the majors once it became clear his arm would not hold up to pitching. Loewen rewarded the organization that invested so much in him by signing a minor league deal with the Blue Jays instead. This is one case where we can't blame the Orioles' front office.
Posted by: j | May 20, 2010 7:35 AM
*Its hard to believe that Gibbons can hit for that high of an average with no "help". I need to see a blood sample.
*After what Loewen did to the Orioles, I don't find myself wishing him well, but to any player who can get out of this organization's mess, has to be considered wise.
Posted by: dspedden | May 20, 2010 7:51 AM
Inre to "Wow, nice to see Loewen doing well as a hitter. It's a shame what happened to him and that the O's didn't try him out the way the Jays are."
The Orioles did. They actually had one-on-one sessions with him for the second half of his last season here. If my memory serves me correct, he was released as a formality so he could be resigned by the Os to reinvent himself as a hitter/OF in the minor leagues. The Orioles were not going to give him MLB-Starter money while he started over. I remember Adam basically saying he wanted to play closer to home... and signed with the Blue Jays. Given the amount of money he was given by Baltiore and the fact that the Orioles' brass was willing to work with him, I kinda think Loewen screwed the Os over. (although he certainly is in a better place given how the season is going).
Jeff, is my recollection of the overall scenario correct?
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Jeff Z's reply: Yes, it is. Loewen was one of my favorite guys on the team. Just a really good kid, who was brought, worked hard, etc. But I really think he let the Orioles down. The Orioles did a lot for him - kept him on the Major League roster for longer even when he was injured, had Crowley spend 1-on-1 sessions with him during the season, kept getting him meal money. And then Loewen left at first opportunity even though the Orioles were apparently told that he would resign with them. I know that one stung MacPhail because he thought they had done everything possible for the kid.
Posted by: Eric | May 20, 2010 8:06 AM
Jeff in Ohio - O's wanted to try out Loewen, but he chose to go to the Jays system.
Posted by: mertle | May 20, 2010 8:27 AM
You have never listed Jayson Werth of the Phillies. He is one we let get away.
...............................................................................................Jeff Z's reply: He wasn't in the organization at any point of '09, and he hasn't been one of the two guys I've listed the last two times that were pre-'09. There are a lot of former Orioles in the league Bruce. You can't list them all.
Posted by: Crusher66 | May 20, 2010 9:53 AM
Can you give us OPS for these guys? Thanks.
Posted by: section 34 | May 20, 2010 10:51 AM
Re Gibbons -- hitters' numbers at AAA Alberquerque are always inflated.
And as for Loewen, hitting .266 in AA ball won't even get you to AAA ball, let alone the majors. He may be a nice kid, but he really did stick it to MacPhail and I can't wish him any luck.
Posted by: gtinmaryland | May 20, 2010 4:13 PM
Huff's 2010 stats aren't great, but they are far-and-away better than the pitiful numbers put up by the O's 2010 1B men.
Posted by: Al East | May 21, 2010 1:56 PM