Bowie Baysox Blog

 The Baysox announced Chorye Spoone was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk today. Spoone was the Baysox opening day starter. He only pitched three innings in the opener and gave up three earned runs and five walks. In 2010, Spoone was 7-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 132.0 innings for the Baysox.

Bowie has not made a corresponding move, so only 23 of the team’s 24 rosters spots are full. Zach Clark will take Spoone’s place in the rotation tomorrow, April 13. There is no word on whether Clark with take Spoone’s spot permanently. Ryohei Tanaka is another candidate to replace Spoone in the rotation going forward.

There’s a lot to talk about here, but the thing that jumps out at me is that only Xavier Avery is younger than Billy Rowell.

Pitchers

15 Timothy Bascom

11 Zach Clark

45 Brandon Cooney

55 Jose Diaz

27 Eddie Gamboa

31 Steve Johnson

13 Wynn Pelzer

47 Raul Rivero

18 Chorye Spoone

41 Ryohei Tanaka

38 Pedro Viola

34 Richard Zagone

Catchers

17 Caleb Joseph

19 Steven Lerud

Infielders

22 Pedro Florimon Jr. – SS

32 Joe Mahoney – 1B

2 Greg Miclat – SS

12 Carlos R Rojas – SS

8 Billy Rowell – 3B

14 Brandon Waring - 3B

Outfielders

3 Xavier Avery – CF

25 Jeff Fiorentino – RF

24 Ronnie Welty – RF

20 Robbie Widlansky – OF

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=418&stn=true&sid=t418

The official Baysox opening day lineup will be available on Wednesday, but I am going to make a few guesses about the roster and highlight some interesting stories heading into the season.

Can Manager Gary Kendall, a Baltimore native and the Aberdeen manager from 2008 to 2010, take the Baysox back to the playoffs and bring the first Eastern League championship to Bowie? Will Kendall’s experience coaching likely Baysox Caleb Joseph, Greg Miclat, Robbie Widlansky, and Richard Zagone in Aberdeen help them have strong seasons?

Billy Rowell (Photo: BaysoxBlog)

Is Billy Rowell ready for the Eastern League? Will he get enough playing time to settle in and show why he was the first high school hitter selected in the 2006 draft?

Can Xavier Avery figure out left-handers and breaking pitches and translate his fantastic tools into a breakout season?

Can Joe Mahoney build on his .412 average in 17 at bats in Major League spring training and his strong stint in Bowie last year to become Derek Lee’s eventual replacement?

Is Chorye Spoone healthy enough to show the promise that made him the Orioles number eight prospect in 2008 (Baseball America) and make the jump from Bowie to Baltimore?

How will Greg Miclat respond to his possible move to second base? Was Miclat’s strong showing in Arizona Fall League an indication that he has figure out Double-A pitching?

Does Caleb Joseph still have the pop in his bat he showed in Frederick in 2009?

L.J. Hoes (Photo: BaysoxBlog)

When will L.J. Hoes join the Baysox? Will he recapture the balance at the plate and command of the strike zone he showed during the first half of 2010 and make his case to follow Brian Roberts at second base?

What questions are you waiting for the Baysox to answer in 2011?