For now, Townsend likely to stay put at Frederick

With Joe Mahoney back on the disabled list at Double-A Bowie and expected to be out the next three or four weeks, some fans have wondered if the Orioles would move first baseman Tyler Townsend from Single-A Frederick to Bowie, at least while Mahoney is out. It appears that will not happen. Despite Townsend putting up some real solid numbers so far this year, the feeling seems to be he is not quite ready for a promotion yet, so he is likely, for now, to stay at Frederick. In 25 games with Frederick, the lefty-hitting Townsend is batting .344 with 11 doubles, five homers, 21 RBIs and an OPS of 1.005. He is batting .367 with runners in scoring position. A third-round pick in 2009 out of Florida International, Townsend has been on a tear recently for the Keys. Over his last seven games, he is 13-for-29 for a .448 average with four doubles, three homers and 10 RBI. The Orioles are certainly not going to tell a reporter like me or publicize to other teams what they feel Townsend needs to improve on to to get to the next level. No team would really do that. Sometimes reporters and fans just see the stat sheet but club officials must look much deeper than that. One thing you do notice on that stat sheet, though, is a lack of walks. Townsend has walked just once all year compared to 23 strikeouts in 96 at bats. For now, the Baysox have several players like Brandon Waring, Robbie Widlansky, Caleb Joseph and even Greg Miclat that could get some starts over at first. They hope Billy Rowell will be off the DL in a few days and he could play there as well. Maybe Townsend will get his shot at Double-A pitchers later this year. But for now, it appears, that shot will have to wait.