So, Jeff, Machado's injury sounds worse than it really is?

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Jeff Z's reply: No, I didn't mean to give off that idea if in fact I did. If I recall correctly, they said he'll be out about seven to 10 days. He got hurt last Thursday. I'd expect them to be cautious with the kid and it wouldn't shock me if he's out closer to 2 weeks, but I've heard nothing to suggest that the injury is more serious than originally expected.

Jeff, any news about Ryan Adams and where he might fit in down the line? Looks like he's worked hard to shore up his defense and the dude sure can hit. Any chance he might be brought up to light a fire under Roberts?

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Jeff Z's reply: Buck was impressed with Adams this spring. At this point, I'd be surprised if we didn't see him at some point this season, at the very least as a September callup. But I don't necessarily see it as a light a fire under Roberts type thing. I see it more as a let's see what Adams has type of thing.

Well, looks to me like Roberts would benefit from a hot bottom ;-)

Tyler Townsend may be the best pure hitter in the system if he can avoid injuries. Like to see him move to Bowie soon.I'd rather see a team loaded with decent prospects than these old worn out vets.Everybody should be on the table in the offseason to make this team younger and faster. You're not going to win many games waiting around on 3 run homers. You have to be able to manufacture runs.

We would have been a lot better of with a Pie Reimold platoon in LF than signing Vlad,who's clearly done.

Roberts doesn't need a fire lit he works as hard as anyone on the club, he is still playing super defense just trying to do too much with the bat.. While the offense is poor right now the number 4&5 starters bother me a lot more. We can't afford to be out of 2 of every 5 games..Matusz should help some soon but we need the 5th guy, now..

While the Orioles continue to flounder, have you noticed that Frederick's in first, Delmarva's in first, Bowie's 1/2 game out of first? I'd love to hear something about Kipp Schutz, who seems to be able to hit, and Tim Berry, a 50th round pick who has more strikeouts than innings pitched, Snyder seems to be hitting, and Ohlman... I see Klein has moved up to Bowie... I've long found that, when the Orioles let me down, there's hope to be found on the farm. Maybe a piece about the top performing minor leaguers is in order...

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Well, Don one piece on a guy you mentioned is coming. I promise. It had to be held due to the UM coaching news. But you'll see it soon.

DonM, I was actually at the Bowie game last night. A little depressing, as I think there were only six hits managed in the game by both teams and the one run that was scored (by Richmond) was unearned by my scoring. However, a few notes from the path, as I try to catch three to five games each at Bowie and Frederick every year....

Catching prospect Caleb Joseph has greatly improved his hitting approach in his second year at Bowie. Last year he could not lay off the down-and-away slider from righties and appears to have corrected that this season. He also made two sparkling plays in the field (one a diving stab of a popped-up bunt), threw one guy out, and should have thrown another one out but for a drop by Florimon at the bag. I like this kid a lot and think he profiles well as an eventual backup for Wieters.

Brandon Waring is the exact same hitter that he's been for the last few years. Essentially a AA Mark Reynolds. He doesn't so much chase pitches that are out of the zone as much as just flat miss the ones that are in the zone.

Xavier Avery has a long way to go, though at 21 he's one of the youngest players in the Eastern League. He probably shouldn't be batting leadoff for them right now. His swing is pretty long though he is absolutely LIGHTNING fast. He's faster home-to-first right now than anyone on the big club. Very toolsy, sort of reminds me of Pie and how overmatched he was when he first got here.

Mitch Atkins started the game for Bowie and displayed good command. 88-92 fastball, straight as a string but with good location. Has a flat slider and a decent curve, and kept both down in the zone. He's a long man at best....sort of a poor man's Jason Berken.

Dan Klein looks like he could be something pretty special in a couple of years. Fastball at 91-94, but his best pitch is a big sweeping curve that dives in to lefties. Really liked the look of him and his confidence. A lot of guys were very late on his fastball.

Bottom line, though -- if you're looking for sticks, they're in Frederick and Delmarva. Not in Bowie.

Thanks Mark for the update. I live a long way from Maryland but indulged myself, one year, in visits to each affliate, including Bluefield. Didn't McPhail say you develop the arms and buy the bats? Problem is, the system is not exactly teeming with great arms either. Mummey sounded promising (until he ran into a wall). Machado sounds even better. And some of the hitters I was counting on (Givens for example, Ohlman until the last week, Hoes) have not exactly blossomed... Thanks again for the info.