Baysox haul in the hardware
The Double-A Bowie Baysox hauled in three postseason awards today - and none of them should come as a shock. This club is Meryl Streep to everyone else's Elizabeth Berkley.
Lou Montanez was named the Eastern League's Most Valuable Player despite being promoted to the majors on Aug. 5. He still leads the league in batting (.335), home runs (26) and RBIs (97), along with extra-base hits (63), runs scored (90) and slugging percentage (.601).
He's the second Bowie player to win the award, joining Calvin Pickering, who led the league in home runs, RBIs and calories consumed.
It's going to be strange for Montanez to win the Triple Crown, which hasn't been done in the Eastern League since 1976, and not be named the Orioles' minor league Player of the Year. You have to figure that Matt Wieters is going to take home that prize.
Brad Bergesen was named Pitcher of the Year, joining John Stephens in 2001 as the only Baysox hurlers to win the honor. Bergesen is 15-5 with a 3.11 ERA in 21 games at Bowie, the most victories in franchise history. Baseball America ranked him as the organization's 26th-best prospect going into the season, and he started out at Single-A Frederick, where he was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four games.
Brad Komminsk won his second Manager of the Year award, the first coming with the Akron Aeros in 2002. Komminsk guided the Baysox to their first playoff berth since 1997.
That is great to hear. Congrats to all of them.
I think Payton is being played/displayed every day so another will pick him up before Sunday.
Following up on Brian's comment:
Brian said:
Norfolk should be looking forward to next year huh? Add the ones deserving of promotion to the ones that will or should remain at Norfolk to that team, get rid of the AAAA guys blocking anyone coming up, & that team is well set.
I guess that will be a big story line in the off-season. Given that this team is shooting to be competitive in 2010 and the BaySox have been so successful how will this play out over the next year or so? Who gets promoted, and how many? Who gets pushed aside and who on GGE does Dave Trembly use in his rotation next year after Guthrie? Crab all you about DCab, he ate innings. That may not be the case going forward. While we're waiting (impatiently) for young talent to develop who is going to fill those slots? This year was very painful to watch with Loewen going down, Trax flaming out and Olson, Liz & Burres just not up to the task. Can McPhail find 3 Steve Tracschal-like guys to fill the gap in '09?
Pretty interesting for a club that can't find .500 with map.
Roch,
If Matusz is assigned to AFL any idea what team he would play for? I'm not familiar with it although I guess certain MLB teams are associated with certain AFL teams. Just curious since I live out here and wouldn't mind trying to catch him pitching.
Rich
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Surprise, AZ. The Rafters. - Roch
Norfolk should be looking forward to next year huh? Add the ones deserving of promotion to the ones that will or should remain at Norfolk to that team, get rid of the AAAA guys blocking anyone coming up, & that team is well set.
I hope Montanez holds on to his leads in the 3 CATS, he deserves to win. Obviously he would have if he had remained there, even one more week. I don't care what league, what level, to win a Triple Crown is awesome & worth remembering & savoring.
Congrats to Lou!
This is all the more reason that Sweet Lou should be playing everyday. Playing Jay Payton is not going to make the O's a better team...not now or in the future. Trembley needs to grow a set and play him everyday. Being "fair" to Payton isn't what makes an organization better. I understand Montanez's fielding is suspect. I however don't think it is going to cost us the wild card spot.
Well, I would never say that I hope two players turn out to be the next Calvin Pickering or John Stephens, but I guess congrats on the awards either way.
We need Teixeira...Sign the petition!
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If Montanez posted that type of season and is playing well in the Major Leagues, I see no reason why Matt Wieters cannot do the same beginning early next year. Ramon is gone and Wieters starts his Orioles career out of spring training. No. 32 will be an anchor on this team for many years. Can't wait to see him at Camden Yards every day.