Minor league notes on Latimore, Norfolk and Bowie, with a look at Alvarez

Double-A Bowie outfielder Quincy Latimore was named to the Eastern League end of season All-Star team today. In 111 games, Latimore has hit .269 with 29 doubles, six triples, 16 homers, 52 RBIs and an OPS of .823.

The 26-year-old Latimore ranks first in the league with 51 extra-base hits and second in doubles. Last year, the Baysox put four on this team with first baseman Christian Walker, third baseman Niuman Romero, outfielder Dariel Alvarez and reliever Oliver Drake.

While Latimore is certainly deserving, I wonder how more Baysox players didn't make it this year. Players like Trey Mancini, Terry Doyle, Ozzie Martinez, Mychal Givens and Andrew Triggs have all played very well and led the Baysox to first place. In Mancini's case, maybe the voters didn't feel 73 games in the league was enough to make the squad. His numbers are certainly impressive enough.

On the field tonight, the Baysox (74-56) look to move closer to the second division championship in their 23-year history when they play at Reading. It is a matchup of Eastern League division leaders.

Bowie is in first by 5 1/2 games and now has a magic number of five to clinch a playoff berth and seven to win the division. Right-hander Joe Gunkel (7-3, 2.45) takes the mound for the Baysox tonight. The Baysox's only division title came in 2008 and Bowie has made the playoffs four times as a second-place finisher.

With just 12 games left in their regular season, the Triple-A Norfolk Tides have lost eight of their last nine games and have seen their first-place lead cut from 6 1/2 to two games over Gwinnett. The Tides (73-59) play at Gwinnett tonight and have seven games remaining with the Braves.

Norfolk's magic number to clinch the division title is 11. Right-hander Elih Villanueva (3-3, 4.36 ERA) will pitch for the Tides tonight.

With Alvarez expected to officially join the Orioles this weekend in Texas, here are a few notes and stats on the 26-year-old outfielder. In 130 games with Norfolk this season, he is batting .275 with 24 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and 72 RBIs. He has both a low walk (16) and low strikeout (63) total.

Alvarez went 0-for-4 on Wednesday in his last game with Norfolk, which snapped a 13-game hitting streak. During the streak, Alvarez hit .360 (18-for-50) with a home run, four RBIs and nine runs scored. The 13-game stretch is the longest by a Tide this year and the second-longest current streak in the International League (Gwinnett's Cedric Hunter, 21 games).

With Texas scheduled to start three left-handers this weekend, Alvarez could get into the Orioles starting lineup. Against southpaws this year, he is batting .295/.333/.459 with six homers and 18 RBIs in 146 at-bats.

Alvarez had a sizzling month of June when he batted .340 with a .594 slugging percentage and OPS of .955 in 26 games.

During a recent interview, Norfolk manager Ron Johnson said the following about Alvarez:

"He's a tools guy. He's got all the tools you want to see with the exception of being an average runner or a little below. He's not going to steal bases. But he can hit, hit for power and he's got an eight arm (on the 2-8 scouting scale). He's played center for us and right.

"It's a real solid season for him. He's shown power with 16 home runs. He will get up there and get his opportunity. The whole focus with him has been working with his plate discipline and getting good pitches to hit. He can get excited and expand the zone a little bit. That is something he will have to tighten up in the big leagues."

I asked Johnson if it is a red-flag that Alvarez has an OBP of just .305 with 16 walks.

"No, I don't think so. He is a very aggressive guy with outstanding hand-eye coordination," Johnson said. "When he swings at some pitches out of the zone, he hits them. Which sometimes can be a curse. If he'd miss, it might be better for him. That sounds kind of stupid. But once he zones in, he'll get there. It will be interesting to watch him in the big leagues. I don't have a concern about it and think he will be productive for us."