Thanks for the update. What's up with Josh Bell tonight? Just a breather, or are we seeing Andy & Buck thinking about throwing in the towel on the boy?

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Jeff Z's reply: No, Buck has said that he wants to give Andino a more extended look. It doesn't speak all that well of what Bell has done, but they're not given up on him yet.

except for his 2 hr game against lee, and those from his supposedly weaker right side, bell has shown that he needs an extended look at AAA. striking out 35% of the time, and regressing with each passing game, is no way to endear yourself to the manager who will be here for the next few years.
He clearly is not the answer now,and to be honest, he may never be. That kid should have been left at AAA to prove that he was actually ready to come up and stay up.

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Jeff Z's reply: I disagree Jim. The Orioles saw exactly what they needed to see from Bell in that he still has a lot of work to do. This will allow them to go into the offseason knowing that it would probably be a stretch to have him be the team's Opening Day third baseman, so they can go out and make decisions accordingly. I'd much prefer them to do what they have done rather than to pencil him in as their Opening Day 3B without an extended look and then realize 20 games into the 2011 season that he's simply not ready for such an assignment.

Jim,
We are like a dozen games over 500 with Bell at 3rd base in the major leagues. I really don't see how you can criticize bringing him up? I mean now it's quite obvious that 3rd base is a real need this offseason. If you left him at AAA and he raked, you'd be tempted to let him try out for it next spring.

I wouldn't give up on Bell. He's young but I think he'll be a 30 Hr guy in the bigs once he settles in. I do believe he is more suited to first than third. I think he's a little too slow for third, but I still like the kid.

Fan expectations are way to high on these young guy sometimes. Keep in mind this is his first exposure to big league pitching.

As far as the strike outs, that's the kind of hitter he is and most of your HR hitters have that problem because of the long swing which creates their bat speed.

Smitty, don't tell me you think that Josh Bell has had very much if anything at all to do with the Os being 12 games to the good. Cut it out. He simply has not been that good. The thing that surprised me is that he played a pretty decent third base. And that for a guy with a good eye, he swings and misses so much.

I understand the rationale for bringing him up for an extended look. He gets some major league looks and coaching, and hopefully next year at AAA he works on those things. I have not given up on Bell- I would think that in better circumstances, when this team works its way towards improved player development, guys like Bell come up a little more polished (as much as you can be in making that jump) and prepared to stay. Anything wrong with that?

If the long swing is the only way to generate power, why are they coaching a shorter swing for guys like Jones and Wieters and everyone else? (Wieters has a long swing and all of 12 Hrs.) Because its just not true that the only way to generate bat speed is with a long swing. ARod have a long swing? And you don't have to strike out 35% of the time to hit 30 homers. You can if you want, but you don't have to.

Jeff, here's an interesting question: Ask Terry Crowley why certain power guys strike out so much? Is it a long swing? Pitch recognition? Approach? Situation? While you're at it, ask him how a hitter generates a powerful swing without a Tiger Woods like backswing.

You're kidding about Bell, right?

He could have hit 30 this year if he would have gotten about 1,500 at bats.

If strikeouts were hits they'd be dustin' off the shelf for his Hall of Fame bust.

I predict he won't be on the Orioles roster long enough to get 30 career homers.

But I was taught to look at the positive side of people, so in the spirit of that approach I'll predict Bell will not hit into many double plays unless it is of the strike out throw 'em out variety (sorry mom).

Saw Bell play a couple of times in the AZ Fall League last year and he wasn't impressive; however, let's not give up on this kid yet. I think defensively he has been better than I expected. Who knows as he just might be a sleeper like Pie

Jim,
I guess I wasn't clear enough. I am in no way saying we are playing this well because of Bell at 3rd. I was more or less saying it is in spite of him being at 3rd. Jeff kind of gave my take in his response above. We really had nothing to lose by playing him there for awhile. Now we can go out and get someone established over there (not Wiggy again, please).....
although.....maybe resign Atkins can switch to 3rd? He's due for a bounce back year.