BALTIMORE—Not only does Orioles manager Brandon Hyde concern himself with his team, but he also closely follows the organization’s minor league clubs, particularly the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and Double-A Bowie Baysox.
“First thing I do in the morning is take a look at the game reports and follow what our guys did,” Hyde said. “The Norfolk team is really swinging the bat. That’s outstanding. That’s awesome.”
Hyde is still getting to know the Orioles’ minor leaguers, but he had the manager and coaching staff of both the Tides and Baysox come to the early part of spring training. Norfolk’s staff was there until nearly the end.
The Tides entered Sunday with a 14-16 record and a .274 batting average.
Catcher Chance Sisco, whose demotion near the end of spring training, came as a surprise to many fans, has been on a tear. In his last seven games, Sisco is batting .536 (15-for-28) with five home runs and 18 RBIs, bringing his season average to .293.
The catcher’s defensive skills are still questionable. He’s thrown out just two of 17 runners (12 percent) attempting to steal.
Ryan Mountcastle, in his first season at first base, is on a tear similar to Sisco’s, hitting .529 in his last seven games (18-for-34). His season average is .345 with five home runs and 22 RBIs.
Another notable name hitting well for the Tides is outfielder Anthony Santander, who was the Orioles 26th man and homered in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Santander is hitting .279 with two home runs and 16 RBIs.
Centerfielder Cedric Mullins, who hit just .094 for the Orioles before being optioned to Norfolk on April 22, seems to have found his stroke, hitting .304 with two homers and six RBIs.
DJ Stewart, who was an early cut from the Orioles during spring training, slumped early in the season, but in the last seven games, he’s 8-for-21 (.381) and his average is .250 with three homers and 12 RBIs.
“We’re pitching really well throughout the organization, too, which is a great sign, and we’re striking a lot of guys out,” Hyde said.
The Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds feature right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who was named the organization’s top pitcher in April. Rodriguez, who was the Orioles’ top draft choice last June, is 3-0 with an 0.89 ERA in four starts. He’s struck out 33 and walked seven in 20 1/3 innings.
Delmarva had a 22-4 record entering Sunday, and a team ERA of 2.81.
Blaine Knight, last year’s third-round pick, is 3-0 with an 0.68 ERA in five starts. Knight has struck out 33 and walked just four in 26 2/3 innings.
“I think that, organizationally, it’s great to see our guys have results, prospects put up numbers, and our prospects play well,” Hyde said. “That’s something I look forward to looking at in the mornings.”
Orioles rained out: The Orioles’ game with the Tampa Bay Rays was postponed by rain. It was the Orioles’ third rainout of the season, second at home and second this week. Tuesday’s game in Chicago was rained out and made up as a Wednesday doubleheader.
Sunday’s game will be made up as part of a day/night doubleheader on July 13 at 1:05 p.m.
John Means, who was scheduled to start Sunday’s game, will pitch Monday’s game against Boston. David Hess and Andrew Cashner are scheduled to start Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cobb remains in Baltimore: Pitcher Alex Cobb’s back is still bothering him, and he hasn’t gone to Sarasota to rehab, yet. Cobb went on the 10-day injured list for the third time this season on April 27.
“He’s still getting his back checked out, a little bit of his hip,” Hyde said. “Still giving it some rest. Playing catch to keep his arm in shape right now. We will know more next week.”
Gene Stephens dies: Longtime major league outfielder Gene Stephens, who played 116 games for the Orioles in 1960 and 1961, died on April 27 in Granbury, Texas at 87.
In June 1961, Stephens was traded to the Kansas City Athletics for Marv Throneberry, a first baseman who was a key part of the New York Mets’ 120-loss season in 1962.
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Cobb’s back isn’t bothering him like he made out if he’s throwing, at all, still think his back problem is obvious, no spine.....
Lighten up Francis.
Will do, Alex....
Am I the only one who would look to move Mountcastle if his stock rises? First baseman are valued as almost worthless in todays game. However, if he hits the cover off of the ball and develops that infamous hype that prospects can garner, I would seriously think of moving him for another infielder. The orioles have Mancini and Davis and need long term help at any other infield position.
I don’t know if other organizations will buy that hype. They’re still going to look at him as a first base prospect. I’ve longed thought Mountcastle had too much hype because he was a originally a middle infielder who could hit. For a middle infielder he’d be a hell of a prospect but at first base he’s really not as exciting as the hype he generates in my opinion. We should still have First/DH open for Mancini and Mountcastle next year. (Davis shouldn’t really factor in)But I think he has far too much hype at this point as well.
Well, your comment makes me think of something ARod said last night on the Cubs/Cards telecast. That first basemen are considered the linchpin of an infield's defense even more than the shortstop. What he says makes sense. If your 1B can't catch or play the short hop, what good is he? If Mountcastle can do those basic things, and as a former middle infielder, he should be able to move around the bag, he could be invaluable. He reminds me of a right handed Mark Grace. And Grace was extremely valuable.
Mention is made in your opening paragraph about Hyde paying particular attention to both the Norfolk and Bowie teams but you carefully avoided mentioning them in your piece. The only way to describe this mess of a team is abysmal! They’ve won but seven games out of thirty and have been shut out seven times with two of them being no hitters. In their last three camels they’ve managed but eight hits and one run. For too many years we’ve been force fed how much potential Hunter Harvey possesses followed by a list of injury excuses. But, with him saying he’s feeling good, he’s 0-2 with a 6.20ERA. Of the regular starting players there are five hitting .200 or lower with five more hitting under .230. This is unreal! I live only miles away from the Bowie Stadium and usually go to about a dozen games a year but with this motley crew, there isn’t much to see. Zac Lowther and Alex Wells show some promise as starters and Tyler Erwin has some potential as a reliever
Ekim, I have written little about Norfolk this year—other than having an interview with David Hall last week, and wanted to. I wrote two articles about Bowie last month, and while Dean Jones writes his minor league roundup, we obviously need more coverage.
Because Bowie has been disappointing, and doesn’t appear to have many prospects, we may look elsewhere for minor league stories for the moment.
They're still an Orioles farm club that might see some players coming up from the two A levels. For them to be considered not worthy of coverage is the same reason many fans give for not coming to OPACY, They're not gonna win, so why bother... That, kind sir, makes no sense to me. They are still worthy of coverage as the Orioles are also still worthy of coverage. We're not going to stash them in the attic for no one to see until they're good, are we?
Lookouts, Diaz is injured. Hunter Harvey hasn't been pitching well. There is only one me, and four minor league clubs to write about. I have to choose where to go with my limited time that I'm not covering the Orioles directly. I will write about them, but I already went to Bowie and wrote two articles while I haven't been able to go to Norfolk, Frederick or Delmarva. Of course, I'm going to write about them. I just need to write about the others first.
Fair enough.
It’s time we move Knight to the next level. His numbers are fantastic but he’s a college pitcher in the SALLY league. Probably should try his hand at high A ball.
Could the possibility of Adley Rutchsman be affecting Sisco?
No.
Next question. If Sisco keeps hitting like he's capable, could that influence Elias into taking Witt? The Orioles need help in the middle infield, too.
Lookouts, the MLB draft is so different from the NFL and NBA draft. They're going to take who they think is the best player. Even a terrific prospect may not make it to the majors for three years. They need help in so many places that they'll take whoever they think will be help them the most. Who they have on the roster now is irrelevant.
Move Sisco to 3rd, he was a SS...