I’m here writing this on Saturday night but my thoughts are turning to spring…I figured this would be a nice post-election break from the political routine! So this actually appears on Wednesday.
Blogging through fellow MBA member Oriole Post, I ran across this article last week by Jeff Zrebiec in the Baltimore Sun regarding the poor progress of Oriole hitting prospects. As it turns out, it appears the Shorebirds will be the beneficiaries of most of the more promising players, including one returnee. If it all pans out we may have one of the best hitting infields in the SAL. Around the horn:
At third base, we may get 2006 first round pick Bill Rowell. He split time between both of the Orioles’ short-season squads in Bluefield and Aberdeen, hitting a combined .328 with 3 homers and 32 RBI (and a sick .917 OPS), outstanding for a raw 17 year old (at the time) player. While he’s barely 18, the 6′-5″ Rowell will tower over most of his teammates. And it’s not unheard of for the Shorebirds to have an 18 year old in their midst since pitcher Brandon Erbe spent the season here last year at that tender age. Also in Bill’s favor for starting at Delmarva is the fact he was a 2006 Baseball America Rookie All-Star.
Shortstop would be manned by Pedro Florimon, who also spent time at both Bluefield and Aberdeen last year. Pedro struggled a bit at Aberdeen with a .248 mark in 26 games but still put together a nice season, combining for a .293 average with a homer and 13 RBI. The switchhitting Dominican did reasonably well in getting on base with an OBP of .403 between the two teams. Not really fleet enough to be a leadoff or #2 hitter, Florimon still could be a dangerous #9 hitter who wouldn’t slow up the top of the order when he got on base.
Moving to the keystone sack, second base might well be held down by Ryan Adams. Last year’s 2nd round draft pick by the O’s was a shortstop last season but may move left a few paces to take over the 2B position in Delmarva. Adams spent much of the 2006 season in Bluefield but got a cup of coffee in Aberdeen during the final week of the campaign. Combined he hit .263 in 40 games while plagued with hamstring problems. He did manage 3 home runs and 12 RBI, plus a solid .782 OPS.
A Shorebird returnee in a new position will take over the 1B position. In 2005 Brandon Snyder was the Orioles’ first pick in the draft and the youngster was primed for a big 2006 in Delmarva behind the plate. But he never got untracked, was sent to Aberdeen, and had his season end under the knife with surgery on his left (nonthrowing) shoulder. So Brandon will remove the tools of ignorance and start out Delmarva stint #2 by donning a slightly different glove and finding out about catching, not just blocking, balls in the dirt. 2006 was a lost season offensively for Snyder, batting just .194 for the ‘Birds with 3 homers and 20 RBI in 38 games. (For hitting so poorly, the RBI total was very good.) Adding in the numbers for Aberdeen, Snyder had only a .213/4/31/.590 season (average/HR/RBI/OPS) – especially concerning was striking out 98 times in 268 total at-bats. Hopefully with the experience of last year, a fresh position, and a healed shoulder, Snyder can show more of the reason he was drafted highly and return to his 2005 form.
The biggest problem with the 2006 Shorebirds was their ineptitude at the plate, especially in the second half. With an infield boasting the last two Oriole #1 draft choices plus a #2 (Florimon was signed as a free agent as Dominicans aren’t subject to baseball’s amateur draft), here’s hoping that this year’s edition will be able to put more runs on the board and better support the very good pitching we’ve had here the last few seasons.
