The Fremulon Insurance Prospect of the Week
Chris Tillman is one of our brightest hopes, yes? The young man has by all accounts dominated the International League despite just now being legally old enough to have a beer. However, he is entering (or has entered) the most important part of the season. In June, his numbers do not look quite so sparkly: 0-5, 3.89 ERA, and his strikeout numbers are down to 8.05 K/9 from 10.42 pre-June. The league is adjusting to him. He is still pitching very well, but things are dipping on him, and it will be very telling to see how he bounces back.

Norfolk Tides : 41-34 (2nd IL South)

• This is my theory about Michael Aubrey. I think that the Orioles see the value of their minor league teams competing for championships (the failure to do so led to the ending of their relationship with the Rochester Red Wings, which would later give me much chagrin), and picked up Aubrey to boost up the Tides chances in the “International” League. So, he’s not a prospect, he’s not really insurance, and we probably won’t talk about him again around here.

• Brandon Snyder hasn’t really picked it up since his promotion (neither has Jake Arrieta or Troy Patton, unfortunately), but that is to be expected with a 22 year old facing the best competition of his life. More troubling for me is the trend that has followed him around as a first baseman where his teams make a ton of throwing errors. The Tides have missed Snyder’s glove five times (all this week) since his promotion, showcasing why many think of him as a DH. I don’t expect Snyder to be a gold glover out there, but it’s hard to ignore that many passed balls.

Bowie Baysox : 41-34 (3rd EL South)

• Disturbingly, the best pitching performance of the week came from none other than Radhames Liz against the B-Mets: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Does it mean anything? Probably not, no.

Frederick Keys : 2-2 (1st CL North)

• Second baseman Ryan Adams has returned again from his groin injury. He was off to a good start with the bat (.873 OPS), and the Orioles like this kid a lot, but missing half the year has to stunt his development. At any rate, it’s good to see he’s finally healthy and playing ball again (something we can’t say for Tony Butler or Chorye Spoone).

• Perhaps the best example of why I love writing this column is discovering jewels like Rick Zagone, who has been promoted to Frederick. Zagone made his debut against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (KC) and did not disappoint with six innings of three hit shutout ball, allowing just one walk and striking out five.

Delmarva Shorebirds : 2-2 (3rd SAL North)

• Break Up the Baysox favorite Ronnie Welty played in the Sally League All Star Game this week, leading off the bottom of the ninth with a single against switch-pitcher Pat Venditte (NYY) in a 7-7 game. The next batter struck out, and then DH Calvin Anderson (Pit) lined a base hit into center that sent Welty to third and then to home when Venditte threw the ball away to win the game. Not a bad way to cap your excellent first half, Mr. Welty.

• The Shorebirds continue to rack up the errors. This week, in just five games, the Birds made six errors (by Avery, Kolodny, Allar, Cardona, Conley, and Bernardo). Thank goodness for Ronnie Welty and his two outfield assists, or things could have really gotten sloppy. On the year, Delmarva has 77 errors (Welty has none) in 73 games. The worst offenders are the guys you’ve probably heard of: Greg Miclat (16), Jerome Hoes (14), and Tyler Kolodny (15).

Aberdeen Ironbirds : 4-5 (2nd NYPL McNamara)

• Kenny Moreland (who was undrafted in ’08) was sent down from Frederick to Aberdeen when the Ironbirds’ season started, after he had a stellar year with Bluefield last year (65 Ks to just 6 BBs). He probably wasn’t at all ready for the Carolina League, but so far Moreland has seemed more than a match for the New York-Penn League, with his 0.75 ERA and 0.66 WHIP.
• If the Orioles do not sign highly valued Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano next week, Garabez Rosa will remain their top prospect from the D.R. Like Moreland, he was sent down to Aberdeen after being thrown in over his head at a higher level (Delmarva), but seems to be excelling early on in his first stop at Aberdeen (9 for 35, three doubles,a  triple, a homer) but naturally needs to work on many things (no walks, 15 strikeouts, two errors).

Bluefield Orioles : 3-3 (3rd APL East)

• There is not a whole to talk about at Bluefield yet after just six games, since none of the Orioles’ top draft picks are playing here until Matt Hobgood starts pitching sometime this week or next. However, I don’t feel any shame in pointing out that the one guy everyone in Baltimore is rooting for is off to a fast start: Mike Flacco is 7 for 23 with a triple, four walks, and five strikeouts, good for a tidy .799 OPS.