General Sports Water Cooler

Townsend has a HR in each of his last 4 games. That's pretty impressive. Certainly has some power, but he also strikes out a lot.

Edit: Sorry three games. There was a double post in there earlier in the thread.

Good thing Bundy is starting at Delmarva. Way to challenge the youngster.

@shorebirds
Shorebirds 4 starters so far: 17 IP, 6 ER, 20 K's, 4 BB. Solid start. #30 prospect Eduardo Rodriguez tonight.

LOL, because I definitely think his career is ruined now. There are some true clowns on here. Some of you guys have mastered the art of exaggeration. How dare anyone criticize the O's for any of their moves. These O's threads sometimes drift dangerously close to the crap on OH we so often make fun of.

Bottom line is the kid should have at least started at Frederick so he ends the year at Bowie and gets significant time there.

Dylan Bundy, RHP, Orioles (Low-A Delmarva)
Some considered Bundy the best talent in the 2011 draft, and in his pro debut on Friday night, last year's fourth overall pick showed why. First inning: K, K, K. Second inning: 3-1, F9, K. Third inning: K, 6-3, K. Nine batters, six strikeouts, and just one ball out of the infield while touching 98 with a fastball that sat at 94-96, and occasionally showcasing his plus secondary offerings. Get excited Baltimore. He's looking to be every bit as good as the hype.

As I recall, some folks were also concerned with Townsend's K/BB ratio (almost 6 to 1 at Frederick last year). So far this season, he's still striking out about once a game, but he's also drawn a couple of walks. Hopefully that keeps up. If he can get the ratio to 2:1, that's more than fine even if he's striking out once a game (Matt Kemp struck out about once a game last year but had about a 2:1 ratio).

You're right, 64:11 K:BB ratio last year at Frederick in 271 plate appearances. It was a little strange as he's shown a decent amount of patience at the rest of his minor league stops, including 10 BB's in 78 PA at Frederick in 2010.

Called out for what? He dominated Delmarva in his first outing, and expect more of that to come. You don't want to overwhelm prospects, but you do want to challenge them. He is not being challenged. You also don't want guys playing on three and four different teams in a season. Start him at Frederick, move him to Bowie. Not that hard. I'm not advocating rushing him to the big leagues, but rather challenging the kid a little bit rather than wasting his innings.

There's that whole "getting used to playing professional baseball" thing he needs to do as well.

Nothing wrong with him getting used to a longer season, travel, pitching to professional hitters, wooden bats, etc at a lower level.

Get used to the environment first, then start climbing the ranks.

4/9

Norfolk - 1-0 L

Berken - 4 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 6:2 GB:FO
Willis - 2 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 H, 0 BB, 0 K, 5:1 GB:FO
Avery - 0-2, BB, K, SB
Adams - 0-4, K
Mahoney - 0-3, BB, K
Miller - 1-4, K
Bell - 0-4
Antonelli - 1-2, 2 BB

Bowie - 5-4 L

Hoes - 1-3, R, RBI, 2 BB
Machado - 2-5, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 K
Townsend - 2-4, BB, K
Schoop - 0-4, K
Waring - 0-2, R, 2 BB

Delmarva - 7-4 W

Rodriguez - 4.2 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 7:3 GB:FO
Davis - 1-5, RBI, 2 K
Ruettiger - 1-4, 2B, R, BB, K, CS
Esposito - 1-5, R, K, SB
Lino - 1-4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
Delmonico - 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, K
Givens - 1-4, 2 R, RBI, K

For people on the eastern shore, or for those who will visit:

The Delmarva Shorebirds, class "A" affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, are excited to announce the weekday specials for the 2012 season. Each night of the week has a unique reoccurring special that will take place at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

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Every Monday home game will once again be "2 Buck Monday" in honor of Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter. General admission tickets, Dietz & Watson hot dogs and small Pepsi drinks are all $2 every Monday night. No coupons are necessary to take advantage of this special.

New in 2012, every Tuesday night is McDonald's Two for Tuesdays. Bring a McDonald's receipt which shows the purchase of an extra value meal, happy meal or full-sized salad to the Shorebirds Box Office and get a buy one, get one free general admission ticket deal for the game. For every McDonald's receipt turned into the box office, the Shorebirds will donate $1 to the Ronald McDonald House. This promotion excludes Tuesday, July 3, 2012.

Join us on Wednesday night for Silver Sluggers Night presented by Riverside and Milford Street Pharmacy. All fans have the chance to play Baseball Bingo and win great Shorebirds prizes. The Silver Sluggers program is the official 55-years of age and older ticket club of the team.

The Shorebirds will host Thirsty Thursday every home Thursday game during the season. Fans can purchase 12 oz. Miller Lite and Coors Light draft beers for just $1.50. Plus, 12 oz. Pepsi products are also just $1.50 on Thursday night.

Every Friday night is "Big Beer Friday" at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. The special is 32 oz. Miller Lite and Coors Light draft beer for just $6.

The Shorebirds will blast off a postgame fireworks show every home Saturday. In total, the team has scheduled 13 fireworks shows spread throughout the season.

End the week with "Strike Out Hunger Sundays" to benefit the Eastern Shore Branch of the Maryland Food Bank, the Delaware Food Bank and Virginia's Food Bank of the Eastern Shore. Bring two canned food items to the box office and receive a general admission ticket for just $2. All of the collected food items will be distributed to the three local food banks. Also, kids can run the bases after each Sunday game.

Machado is such a stud. It seems like there is a legitimate chance we see him in Baltimore sometime next season, probably mid to late June.

Norfolk is an extreme pitcher's park, is it not? For the hitters, it makes some sense that there has been *some* regression in their stats from AA to AAA.