Bowie closes in
Bowie defeated Trenton, 4-1, last night behind another strong pitching performance -- this time from Zach Clark, who worked 7 1/3 innings and gave up five hits. More importantly, the Baysox reduced their magic number to one and can clinch their first-ever division title with a victory tonight or a loss by the Akron Aeros, who are in second place in the Southern Division of the Eastern League.
The Orioles have assigned Matt Wieters, Blake Davis, Nolan Reimold and Frederick's Brandon Snyder to the Arizona Fall League. The O's also will assign three pitchers to the AFL, but have not announced the names yet. Top draft choice Brian Matusz is expected to be among them.
Norfolk's Mike Costanzo had three hits last night, including the 10th-inning hit that gave the Tides a 5-4 victory over the Durham Bulls. Costanzo short-hopped the left field fence with the bases loaded to score Tike Redman. The three hits raised his average to .261. Kam Mickolio got the win while he waits to return to the major league club on Sept. 2.
The Keys were rained out.
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Comments
It will be interesting to see which two pitchers go to the AFL with Matusz. I'm quesssing Tillman will be one and either Erbe or Hernadez the other. Could be wrong, several others should get legitimate consideration. Tough to take only three with the depth in our system.
Posted by: Ray | August 28, 2008 7:14 AM
Pete,
With the 40 man roster being an issue, doesn't that limit what the O's will do in Sept.? A lot of the call-ups, like Bergeson, Hernandez or most of the Norfolk roster, would need "room" to be added, room that would be tough to find. It'd be easier to do it in the off season when contracts expire, it would seem.
And, with this in mind, what are the rules for protecting your minor league prospects? Who needs to be protected vs. who is automatically protected? I think anyone in the last 2 drafts are not required to be protected but I am not positive of that.
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Pete's reply: I b elieve you're right about the two-year exemption for the Rule V draft. The O's get to protect, I think,40 after that, and must protect anyone with a no-trade or 10-5 status. Don't believe they are in much danger there, though, since they have some rostered people no one would draft, since you have to keep the player on the 25-man for the next season.
Posted by: daydreamer | August 28, 2008 7:35 AM
I really doubt that Matusz will be in the Arizona Fall league.
Rules state that only one player from below Double-A can be present in the Arizona Fall league.
(Hint; Brandon Snyder is in Single-A)
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Pete's reply: You are correct about the rules. I don't know, however, that the Orioles can't designate Matusz as a Double-A player after the season. I'll have to check that out.
Posted by: Matt | August 28, 2008 7:40 AM
"Costanzo short-hopped the left field fence with the bases loaded to score Tike Redman."
Once again, Costanzo demonstrates the power of doing the opposite.
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Pete's reply: I've tried the "Opposite George" thing and have had great success.
Posted by: Barry | August 28, 2008 9:06 AM
Are the Orioles associated with one of the teams in the AFL? How can we find out which team or teams the O's prospects will be playing for?
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Pete's reply: They are affiliated with the team in Surprise, AZ. Called the "Rafters."
Posted by: Paul B | August 28, 2008 9:45 AM