Monday, May 2, 2011

Baby Birds Roundup - 5/2/2011

Delmarva Shorebirds

Last week, I highlighted Manny Machado's fast start and mentioned that the only thing missing from him at the plate was some power. Consider the power provided.

Machado hit 5 homers last week on his way to an amazing .337/.451/.639 line for the year. He has walked more than he has struck out. He may not be in Delmarva much longer. And he made the Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet.

3B/SS Jonathan Schoop has continued to impress with a .319/.379/.511 line for the year, number which would be eye-popping if not for Machado's demolition of Sally League pitching. Schoop and Machado are 19 and 18 respectively. We could be looking at the right side of the Oriole infield for the next 15 years.

One of my personal favorites, C Justin Dalles had a .896 OPS through 11 games and hit 2 homers and a double last week. With the catching in Frederick pretty slim, Dalles could soon be promoted to allow the younger C Michael Ohlman more at bats in Delmarva.

RHP Jacob Pettit has a 2.59 ERA over 5 starts with decent peripherals. Out of the bullpen, lefty Jason Gurka has struck out 20 over 13.1 innings while issuing just one walk.

Frederick Keys

Ryan O'Shea has a 3.53 ERA in the minors. His 1.99 ERA this season is the result of some great control (1.6 BB/9). If he keeps that up, he's an interesting pitcher to keep an eye on.

1B Tyler Townsend has been healthy and productive. His .316/.349/.570 line includes 13 extra base hits. He has drawn only one walk but those should come. Townsend is the best bet to seize the mantle of first baseman of the future for the O's.

CF Trent Mummey earned a promotion to Frederick a week ago and has continued his good work with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts and an .812 OPS. He also has 15 stolen bases on the season and has only been caught twice.

RHP Dan Klein was promoted to Bowie after 15.2 innings of 1.15 ERA ball. This was a wee bit surprising since the plan was to stretch him out to start some games and I had assumed he would do that in Frederick.

Bowie Baysox

C Caleb Joseph continues to reassert himself as a legitimate prospect. He has more walks than strikeouts, 3 homers, 5 extra base hits overall and a .917 OPS.

1B Joe Mahoney has only played in 8 games but is picking up where he left off in 2010. You're not a prospect until...you are. If Mahoney can continue to OPS somewhere in the neighborhood of .938, he certainly will be one.

There is not much to highlight on the Baysox pitching staff but I will point out Ryohei Tanaka has 11 strikeouts in 11.2 innings of relief and a 3.09 ERA. Closer Brandon Cooney has a 1.13 ERA thorugh 6 games with 9 strikeouts in 8 innings with a 1.13 WHIP.

Norfolk Tides

There is not much to like in the Norfolk lineup right now except for 1B Brandon Snyder's hot start. Snyder has a .300/.364/.544 line, 5 homers, 7 doubles and a .908 OPS.

LHP Troy Patton has 10 strikeouts against just 2 walks in 11 innings pitched. He could help the Baltimore bullpen soon...if he can stay healthy.

5 comments:

Bret said...

No one seems to be making this connection yet but me but Bobby Bundy is off to an unbelievable start in Frederick and his brother is every possibly going to be taken by the O's with the 4th pick unless teams above them pass on the best player.

Brothers in the same rotation in their prime would be quite the story and the way Bobby Bundy is going he might hit Baltimore by the end of next year.

DempseysArmy said...

I mentioned Bobby Bundy last week and, yes, he is still having quite an impressive season.

As far as his brother, I suppose it's possible but everyone I have read up to this point is saying the Orioles want to go with a college arm this time around. I don't think the younger Bundy will fall to the 2nd round.

Jeff said...

Check about 2/3 the way down.

Also, if Hultzen is taken, the O's may be 'forced' to take Bundy who many scouts say is as developed physically as many college pitchers.

Bret said...

In Keith Law's top 50 yesterday he had Dylan Bundy ranked as the 4th best prospect behind Cole, Rendon and Bubba Starling. Starling is a huge risk because he could play football so I'm doubting the O's go that route. I've also heard the O's prefer a college arm but Law states Bundy is a "high school pitcher who's just like a college pitcher in stuff, feel for pitching and physical maturity." If Cole or Rendon gets passed over they have to take them but it not and Bundy will sign for close to slot and get to play with his brother it seems like that would be a natural fit unless there was a much better player available which other than Cole and Rendon there isn't.

DempseysArmy said...

Brett/Jeff,

Hey, from everything I've heard about Bundy, I'm cool with that pick. I just haven't heard a lot of scenarios where that would happen. Cole and Rendon seem unlikely to be passed on and I can't see a scenario where Hultzen is selected over Starling...but stranger things have happened.