Keys manager talks about Billy Rowell
Since he hit .328 in 2006 between Bluefield and Aberdeen, the career of Billy Rowell has been on a downward spiral.
While he is still very young, and the O's management remains solidly behind him, Rowell has put together back-to-back mediocre years at Frederick.
Rowell w-Fred, 2008: .248-7-50....315 OBP.....368 slug......104 K's
Rowell w-Fred, 2009 .225-9-39....284 OBP......336 slug.......122 K's
Today in the final part of a three-part series reviewing the Frederick Keys' 2009 season, manager Richie Hebner talks at length about Rowell's struggles in two seasons with the Keys.
"I've had Billy for two years, I don't know he's just a tough guy to talk about. I know everyone in Baltimore wants to talk about him. They look and see his batting average is not good," Hebner said.
"He didn't really pick up the outfield that good. Struggled hitting, not a good baserunner. I don't know, I like Billy. He hit some balls that opened guys eyes you say 'wow, where did this come from.' He's got some tremendous, tremendous power, but it just doesn't come that often.
"Billy will probably be forced to go to Double-A next year and we'll see what happens. My opinion, I just can't see him going back to Frederick three years in a row. I'm not sure what Baltimore has in mind."
Rowell played third base his first three years in the organization and played in right field in 2009. There is some talk he could move to first base next season.
O's officials have not confirmed that Rowell will start the 2010 season with Bowie, but they seem leaning in that direction. It's very unlikely Rowell would move back to Delmarva.
Hebner said Rowell, taken with the 9th pick in round one of the 2006 draft, could become a more active hitter when in the batter's box.
"He could become more aggressive. He needs to just see the ball and hit the ball. I don't know if he over thinks at the plate or listens to too many people.
"I told him 'Billy, start having some fun.' He'd come in the clubhouse and look like his best friend had died that day. I'd try to joke around with him.
"I got real close to him the last two years, I root for him more than anyone in this organization. It just hasn't come yet.
"I don't know, I hope Billy just wakes up one day and it all clicks."
O's officials are quick to remind everyone of Rowell's youth. He played all of last season for Frederick at the age of 20, turning 21 September 10th.
By contrast, Carolina League MVP Brandon Waring of Frederick was 23 this year and the Keys Robbie Widlansky won the batting title at the age of 24.
Does Hebner have any concerns about Rowell's attitude or work ethic?
"He could work a little harder. I don't think he learned a lot of baseball in high school. When you hit .600, you bat third and that's it. I'm not sure how much he learned.
"But you don't see too many 21 year old kids with a body like that. When he hits the ball, it goes a long way. I'm not going to throw the towel in on Billy."
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
two words - Jayson Werth
Pretty sure Werth's idea of outfield defense in the minors wasn't standing there until the ball stopped rolling then picking it up.
Werth didn't make the all-star team on his defense. Werth was a prospect with great size and power who we gave up on too soon. Late bloomer.
Well he is still young but it would be nice if he picked it up soon. Not sure why they wouldn't want him to start at Frederick again. Like they pointed out, he was young for the league. I guess management thinks he needs a fresh start at Bowie.
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I think that's what it is, more than anything Joel. He needs a fresh start and a new team. He has not earned it but he appears Double-A bound. Maybe the challenge of facing those pitchers will get him going. - Steve
There is bad defense then there is complete apathy. From what I have heard from folks that watched a lot of Keys baseball this season is that Billy did not even make a pretense out of trying to play the outfield.
For whatever reason Billy appears to have no desire to improve as a baseball player.
There is no reason to give up on him as he doesn't take up a slot on the 40 man roster at this point, once he requires one I expect the O's to not protect him.
I don't think they should give up on him because there's no reason too yet, but the worth comparison is pretty silly. For every guy that is a late bloomer, there's a hundred guys who just aren't good enough. Plus I don't think you can fault the organization on Werth, he bounced around a lot before he put it together. You can't wait forever on every player.
It's also worth noting that Werth was never as bad in any season in the minors as Rowell has been the last two.
I don't want to give up on Billy Rowell yet, but an image is starting to form in my head.
5 or 6 years from now, I see him tearing it up at AA in another organization, with the fans clamoring for him to be called up to the big league club. Basically, I see Lou Montanez all over again.
With there being questions about his work ethic, maybe they should just forget about him playing the field all together. When he shows up for Spring Training, take his glove and burn it. Then send him to Bowie and have him be the teams primary DH. Have him focus entirely on his hitting.
Ken Francis,
Did MacPhail also say "grow arms - buy bats" when he was with the Twins? I don't know, so I'm asking.
I don't think so. The signing you're talking of, Jack Morris, took place in 1991. The contract was for 1-year @ 3.7 million {or at least turned out to be, there may have been a player option.}
He has also talked of the difficulty of getting a top tier pitcher to sign in the AL East, unless it's with NY or Boston.
Baldy
Steve-
Who went 10 in that draft?
lol.
What was the scouting reports on Lincecum and Rowell at the time?
I'd be curious to see what made the O's go with a HS SS over a SP.
Something tells me, if Macphail was here back then....
We might have the Best Rotation in Baseball right now.
Could you imagine Lincecum, Guthrie, Matusz, Bergeson, Tillman/Arietta/Erbe/Berken/Hernandez?
They would win 3 outta every 5 games assured.
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That's been pointed out a lot. I'm sure most of those that drafted in the top ten wished they had taken Lincecum. There are many examples of that in the draft. Heck, Cal Ripken was a second-round draft pick. - Steve
Steve:
Many of the HS players taken in the draft who have met with success came from big-time programs in Florida or California. Rowell came from a HS in New Jersey. Scouts may be unable to tell if a HS hitter will eventually be able to hit major league pitching. There is guesswork involved in whether the player will be able to improve year by year. But, how did the scouts fail to see that Rowell can't field? That fact should have been obvious. Also, I fault the scouts for failing to find out that Rowell apparently has attitude problems. The Orioles can't afford to wast top-ten draft picks.
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I don't have an answer for the question about fielding. But like Snyder (hi school pick from Va) Rowell was drafted for his bat, specifically his power.
At 21, you can't give up on him, but there is no evidence to suggest he's going to get better. Not to make excuses, but scouts don't hit on the same percentage of baseball first rnd picks that they do in football. - Steve
Steve, If billy rowell has so much potential then why dosent he work harder and become better...... besides we already have so much talent so once he goes to double A trade him some team will really want his talent but this isnt what this team needs if he dosen`t want to work hard .... but what do you think we can get for him ? If we trade him ....
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He surely has almost no trade value right now. The O's should send him to Bowie and give him another chance. It's not like there's any logjam he'd be blocking in the minors. - Steve
Jeff V. said:
Pretty sure Werth's idea of outfield defense in the minors wasn't standing there until the ball stopped rolling then picking it up.
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Well, since he was a catcher at the time I'm not really sure you can make that statement.