Orioles Minor League Monday: Tides manager, Gary Allenson, elaborates on progress in Norfolk
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A Conversation With Gary Allenson
The Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk has not had a good year. The simple explanation is that many of their top players are now playing in Baltimore. With a pieced-together rotation and an offense lacking much power, the Tides are 36-55 and in last place in the Southern Division of the International League.
At the start of the season Garrett Olson, Radhames Liz and Jim Johnson were in Norfolk's rotation, and now they all are major contributers with the O's. Plus, the big club has taken other Tides pitchers like Lance Cormier, and just this past Saturday they called Tides closer Greg Aquino to Baltimore.
I recently had a conversation with Tides manager and former big league catcher Gary Allenson. He had plenty of praise for Scott Moore, feels the fans should not give up on Hayden Penn and updated me on several other topics and players.
On losing his top pitchers to Baltimore:
"We've really been thinned out with our pitching. Our starting pitching has been our Achilles heel. We started the year with Penn, Olson, Liz, Johnson and Lester in our rotation. We've got some young guys at Double-A not quite here yet, so we've got to suck it up a bit. I've been managing 15 years, so I've been through this before. We've had several guys not having years like they did here last year. Like Tike Redman, who hit .300 last year."
On trying to keep the team's attitude up with a losing record:
"That's what I'm here for. It's a never-ending battle at Triple-A, you have some young guys, some four A guys and who knows whatever else."
On Scott Moore:
"He can flat out play third base, he reads the ball of the bat well and has quick feet. He's made some unbelievable plays for us there. He's hitting about .240 and with a minor adjustment or two can get that to .270 or .280. Plus you don't see a lot of guys these days with great intensity. He has it. He'll go from first to third; he'll break up a double play.
On whether Moore can play shortstop:
"We tried him there early in the season, he's not a shortstop.
On catcher Omir Santos, who made the International League All Star team:
"He works real hard. He was splitting time earlier with Heintz. He had a 21-game hitting streak. His arm is around average, but he has a quick release. We're working with him on calling a game.
On LHP Alberto Castillo, who has a 2.05 ERA:
"An interesting story--he used to be a position player, an outfielder/first baseman, I think. Now he's a pitcher and has been a real good situational lefty for us. He can drop down sidearm vs. the lefty hitters."
On RHP Hayden Penn:
"He's just getting back from shoulder tendinits. First he threw 30 pitches in a start followed by 65, then last time 75 pitches. I hope he turned the corner Thursday his last time out; he threw some real good fastballs that had the hitters late. His curve needs to get better. He reminds me of Bruce Hurst. He's a ways away from the Majors, but if he puts 4 or 5 good starts together, he could be knocking on the door. He's still got a good arm, and sure, he can still make the Majors."
On IF Mike Costanzo:
"I'd like to see him cut down on the strikeouts. But he was hitting .210 and he's gotten to .260. This park can get to power guys the way the wind blows in. He's got 9 homers and could have 15 in another park."
On Costanzo getting recent starts at catcher:
"That's a project in motion right now, we need to see if he can do it. He'll probably catch once a week or so."
On IF Oscar Salazar:
"He's been one of our top players and our leader. He relates very well with the US-born players and the international guys."
Minor League Notes
Four members of the Bowie Baysox will play for the South squad in the Eastern League All Star game. They are RHP's Chris Tillman and Brad Bergesen, IF Jeff Nettles and OF Luis Montanez.
At Frederick, Billy Rowell, the O's 2006 first-round pick, broke out of a slump Friday, going 3-5 with a double and homer and two RBI. He had two more hits Sunday, but is hitting just .229. Chris Vinyard hit Frederick's first Grand Slam of the season in Friday's 10-4 win over Winston-Salem.
At Delmarva, Anthony Martinez saw his 11-game batting streak end on Friday, while Tyler Henson's 10-game streak was snapped on Saturday.
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