Bell of the ball
Double-A Bowie third baseman Josh Bell has homered in both ends of today's doubleheader and has driven in five runs.
I'm not there, but I'm told he launched both of them. They've been described as "bombs," which count as much as "cheapies" but are more fun.
Bell probably won't be in the Orioles' Opening Day lineup next April, but he's a bigtime prospect at a position that was screaming for one. And everyone I talk to says his defense is much improved and he has a cannon for an arm. Accurate, too.
Brandon Waring might be better suited for first base. Maybe he'll be like Brandon Snyder and keep bouncing between the two positions.
It's nice to see an increase in corner infield prospects. And it's nice to write this entry from my BlackBerry while watching Alabama-Vick Tech.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko |
Finally. We have a legit real time prospect at 3B. Finally. I have one important question for Roch.
Roch,
Do players know if a game will be a nationally covered game or not? Do they pay attention to that kind of thing? Does it factor into their performance that day?
The Rangers need a 3B option with Young being out during this stretch drive, and having Mora perform so well this series might urge a low-level prospect to be exchanged for Mora in the last month. Is this likely? Possible? Not at all?
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If you mean did they know the game was on FOX, I assume many, if not most, of them did. Mora would have to waive his no-trade, and it's too late to include him on post-season roster. Don't know if the Rangers would do it. It's just speculation. - Roch
Roch, Please keep bringing the good news! Just plain tired of loosing. The O's should seriously consider bringing him up even if it's only for just one week.
Roch: I sat in 86 next to the pen. Mickoloi looked TERRIBLE warming up. He threw 20 warm up pitches and not one hit the strike zone. Most were up and away. No wonder they went to Baez instead.
A little boy next to me asked why Kam didn't throw strikes. I laughed and told him that's how this stellar bullpen under ANDREW pitches. LOL
It's Virginia Tech!
And it's nice you finished it off with VA TECH! BEAMER BALL!!!!!!!
LET'S GO!
Nice job Bell too.....
Really Roch? No mention of Erbe's CG, 1-hitter? Then again, that's not too special considering his 8 innings of no-hit ball before.
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Go back a few entries. I mentioned it. - Roch
I must say I was impressed with both the new video board and Matusz. Brian looked awesome out there. My buddy and I both thought that he should have started the 8th.
We were by the bullpen and there was a woman in orange, probably late 30s but dressed like a 21 year old. Let's just say she was more interested in the "post game show". She was flirting hard with JJ, Castillo and Baez. After the game Castillo gave her a few baseballs with something written on them. An autograph? Or a meetup place?
Walking to our car we went by the player's lot and she was out there waiting for "someone".
Players' cars: Pie drives some Ford 4x4, the next size down from an explorer. It was pretty beatup and he wasn't wearing a seatbelt. LOL.
Hendrickson drives a Lexus sports car. He got mobbed for autographs at a stop sign. No idea why anyone would 1. Want his autograph and 2. Risk their lives to get it.
Mora drives a Mercedes sports car.
Tillman drives a dodge Ram ( with Rims of course)
All the other cars we saw drive by had tinted windows.
I presume the helicopter overhead was for MACFAIL and Ole Pete. MASN money at work. LOL.
Hey rock any chance MASN will re air todays game? because the thing that sucks with fox living in southern york PA, though thought the o's was the team here too, but no they show the red sox and white sox instead. I would still wrather watch the o's win or lose. And with the digital satlite tv couldnt get baltimore stations anyway, so another words if the o's arnt on masn I can't watch them lol. I was hoping not only see Matusz possibly for the last time, but wanted to see the throw back uniforms. I sure hope Dave gives Matuzs another start.
shame you didn't show up B_O. How about a mulligan? I'll be at Sliders early before the game, anyone in town wanna join me?
Huge win, nice to stick in there Matusz. Very nice, please Guts let's take 2 of 3.
Once again, anyone who is in town, I'll be around Sliders around noon. Sad that we couldn't get a ROS meet up going. Stinky definitely didn't have a sign in section 84, I was right down the left field line for the majority of the day.
Big win once again, Matusz deals.
not sure if Vick Tech is supposed to be a dig, but if so Vick was pretty much unbelievably awesome in college and put the hokies on the map. Love MV ...
When Mora hurt his shoulder, I thought we might see Bell earlier than expected.
What are the chances they move every football team in the ACC to "the division formerly known as Division I AA?"
I say give young Bell a chance to win the job in Spring Training and have Aubrey and Snyder battle it out for 1B, unless of course we get a #4 hitter. Heck, I'd take Thome as a DH for a year.
Too bad I missed the Alabama-Va Tech game, sounded like a good one. I did like the play on words with Vick Tech, hopefully though, you didn't go with the "underdogs."
Anyways, Josh Bell ... damn, this kid excites the hell out of me with his size, power and arm strength. Wonder if the Dodgers will regret that one someday?
Question for you Roch -- Waring's ability to play third base? I've seen he's been bumped back and forth this year between first and third. You said he's possibly better suited for first base, so is it because of arm strength, ability to cover the speed of the hot corner or a combination of both, or is there some other factor.
Waring is an intriguing prospect because of his power output as well as the fact that he cut down his strikeouts (although still high) while upping his walks and doubles this season.
It'll be interesting to see how it plays out between Snyder and Waring as long as there isn't another unforeseen action, either a trade or free agent pick-up down the road.
Still, like you said, the corner infield prospects are looking good, which is another reason not to be completely in the doldrums over the current situation of today's team.
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I've never seen him play. Heard from one person that he's better at first. And the Orioles kept him in Frederick for most of the season, in part, so he could learn to play first. - Roch
as a VT alum, that is a low blow, roch!
if only... Vick had stayed for his junior year... VT would have won the national championship + who knows how different his life might have turned out. but as brother Lo said one night, on air, 'if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas'.
I've rarely, if ever, disagreed with something you've written, Roch, but "Vick Tech" is a low blow. Virginia Tech made it quite clear that they did not tolerate Marcus' behavior off the field (and they've been suffering at the QB position ever since as a result) and if they had know about Michael's issues, I don't think the response would be any different.
It's in poor taste to characterize one of the classier football programs in the country (especially a local one) with terminology like that. Particularly when Michael Vick's problems did not come to light until well after he was no longer a part of the Virginia Tech program. Virginia Tech does not deserve to have their reputation tarnished by the actions of one or two former players.
Just my opinion.
Schoolman Roch said:
"It's nice to see an increase in corner infield prospects. And it's nice to write this entry from my BlackBerry while watching Alabama-Vick Tech.
An important detail is missing from your last paragraph. I'm certain you meant to write: "...And it's nice to write this entry from _______________________ (name of watering hole. or residence not your own) on my BlackBerry ...."
Inquiring students have a vicarious need to know.
I would love to see Bell as soon as possible. He seems to be a long term solution and a big bat to boot!
Did Mora put on a good enough show for the Rangers to make a play before they leave town? A handshake and a bag of balls might do it. Although he showed off his defense and had three hits... Maybe we get an A prospect in return.
Roch - do you use your Blackberry in church too?
Roch,
Speaking of third base...did you hear anything about Texas interested in Mora? He may have gotten their attention yesterday.
Jan
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Just speculation that they could be interested, but that's it. - Roch
Hey Roch, you just have to stop writing positive comments about players MacPhail has traded for. You're going to upset all the whiners.
Since the BaySox won both games in the seven-inning doubleheader (with Bowie not batting in either seventh frame), that meant Bell finished the day 4-for-6 with three runs scored, six RBI, a two-run bomb and a three-run homer. In just 12 innings of hitting.
Only one strikeout and no runners left on-base (or at least none left in scoring position). Boths taters came early in the game, off the opponent's starting pitcher, both of whom have winning records and ERAs under 4.00. Oh, and Bowie is battling slim hopes for a playoff spot, so there's a little extra pressure there too.
Solid.
He might be ready later next year. Think Trembley could use a big, middle-of-the-order, "I-get-hits-with-runners-on-base," type bat? Hmmm . . .
It doesn't matter who or what is coming up in the organization if the culture at the parent club does not change. The culture which is now in place accepts losing as the norm and excuses as the basis.
I sincerly hope but do not expect Andrew to make a change at the manager level. The era of DT has ran its course here in Baltimore. He is the "players" friend and not the manager. He screams the song of fundamental sound ball playing, yet team is playing in the upper half of the league in offensive and defensive mishaps.
What this depicts is the players are not buying into or listening to their manager. This is the key element to the removal of a manager.
This team is in NEED of a major change in philosphy and culture. Until the FO sees this NEED, it will not matter who they bring up. THey will learn the from the best....the losers at the ML level
Hey Roch,
All those years of editing has turned me into a freak. Last week, I got a local city election pamphlet and the guy looked pretty sharp, except for the big spelling mistake on his flyer. E-mailed him and he was pretty happy I kept him from sending out 6,000 more of those same pamphlets.
So right after you contribute a comment here at School of Roch, you get the following notice:
"Note: While we welcome your input, please keep in mind that we will not publish comments that are off-topic, obscene or hateful. Comments that violate intellectual property rights or inlcude plagiarized material will also be removed from the website. MASN retains the right to approve or delete comments at our editor's discretion.
To review our privacy policy . . ."
I know you've got better things to do than edit the web site, but I didn't want you looking chumpy, brother (I almost wrote "schmucky" there but didn't want to offend anyone).
BTW, see that score on the Arundel-Old Mill shootout? I would talk some smack about my Wildcats taking your boys down, but don't really care that much about my alma mater . . .
What a great game yesterday. I loved those uni's!
Shame Stinky didn't make an appearance. Guess it proves he's all talk heheh capitan' obvious...
Geared up for another game today, will be at the usual spot (Sliders) pregaming. Just look for the long hair in a AJ shirt or jersey. (Not sure which one the woman wants to wear yet.)
Good seeing you again Roch, too bad we couldn't get a SOR outing put together, we'll have to be more on top of things next year.
billb,
At last, someone pickier than I am. Too often, the misuse, or the underuse, of correct grammar and sloppy spelling renders many posts difficult to read.
You used "RBI;" the correct way to pluralize an "initialism" is to add an "s," (as you did with ERAs). "Runs" is the noun, but in writing and in speaking, "RBIs" is correct.
Did I say that you are pickier?
That Brummie is one creepy dude.
Bell just committed his 7'th error today, actually, bringing his season total to 24 (17 with the Dodgers, 7 here). He had 23 errors in 115 chances going into this game, so now I'm guessing it's more like 24-118, which isn't good.
I'm not actually seeing the games, granted, but based on the information it doesn't appear that his fielding is coming around too well to me.
That's an error every 4.9 balls hit his way, which I don't have to tell anybody isn't good.
With no DH in the national league, it's no wonder the Dodgers were willing to part with him. He had basically no value to them other than as trade bait.
NickB,
You were off one column when you researched Bell's fielding stats; actually, he has had 288 chances. The numbers, "untranslated" by someone who has actually seen young Josh in the field, aren't encouraging. I think it is appropriate to reserve our judgement.
2009 22 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA LAD-BAL 3B G:116 CH:288 PO:71 A:193 E:24 DP:17 FLD%:.917 RANGE FACTOR/G:2.28
NickB,
You were off one column when you researched Bell's fielding stats; actually, he has had 288 chances. The numbers, "untranslated" by someone who has actually seen young Josh in the field, aren't encouraging. I think it is appropriate to reserve our judgement.
2009 22 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA LAD-BAL 3B G:116 CH:288 PO:71 A:193 E:24 DP:17 FLD%:.917 RANGE FACTOR/G:2.28