Tickets are $10 each and the raffle goes until Friday, January 29. The Baysox will announce a winner on Friday, February 5.

The hours may be long and the demands many, but Bowie Baysox communications manager Tom Sedlacek has a front row seat for revival of the Baltimore Orioles organization. Recently, Tom gave Baseball Daily Digest an idea of what it takes to sit in the hot seat in a Double-A press box, recalled the day Chris Tillman faced off against David Ortiz, and confirmed that in addition to everything else Matt Wieters is a nice guy and a good interview.

Walk me through your schedule one the day of a Baysox home game. What is your routine? What are some of the surprises that come up? What’s your favorite part of the day?

It’s hard to define a “typical” day.  Our PR/Baseball information team is a two-man operation. The workday starts when the office opens at 9:00 a.m. My assistant will spend the day preparing game notes, stats packs, rosters and any other information the folks in the press box may need. I work on a number of different things, from scanning for the Baysox in the news, setting up interviews, sitting in on interviews, writing stories for our free game day program, writing stories for the Web site, conducting interviews and trying to get different newspapers and news outlets to pick up more Baysox news. Surprises can include players being moved and reporters showing up unexpectedly. My favorite part of the day comes after the game on fireworks nights. I bring box scores to both clubhouses, and as I’m walking across the outfield with the lights on, with the scoreboard on and smoke from the fireworks still hanging in the air, it never fails to strike me that I have a pretty cool job.

What were your top three favorite moments during the Baysox 2008 season?

Nolan Reimold’s big day in the playoffs. Matt LaPorta hit a pair of homeruns to lead Akron to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five playoff series, and Reimold stormed back with three home runs and eight RBI in game two. One of the blasts cleared the scoreboard in left field. 

Brad Bergesen setting the franchise record for wins in a season.  It’s a tough call between Bergesen setting the record, or the Baysox clinching their first playoff appearance in over a decade, but I’ll give Bergesen the nod.  He didn’t play with us the first month of the season, and then he came up from Frederick and refused to lose.  He beat a great Trenton team here at Prince George’s Stadium for his 15th victory of the season. 

My favorite moment of 2008 was Steve Torrealba and Ryan Finan’s heroics August 6.  Lou Montanez had already made his debut for the Orioles, and wouldn’t be back.  We were down 8-2 to the Binghamton Mets. Finan and Torrealba both went deep twice in the game, including a walk-off two run home run by Torrealba. Finan had drawn a walk with a full count to get on base in front of him. The two combined to score five of the team’s nine runs, and they also drove in eight of those nine runs. It sent a message: even without the best player in the league, the Baysox were still a dangerous team.

A roster full of prospects probably meant that the 2008 Baysox got a lot of media attention. What was the funniest or most surprising moment during your interaction with the press last season?

Chris Tillman was talking with Jim Hunter and Rick Dempsey at MASN (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network) before an interview for the pre-game show. They laid out a scenario: Tillman’s pitching in Fenway Park, it’s late in the game, there are two outs and runners on, and David Ortiz is coming up to bat. What do you do? 

Tillman replied, “Get him out.” 

I know in print it might come off as arrogant, but it wasn’t. He didn’t say he was going to strike Ortiz out. His job is to get batters out, and he and his catcher will do it at any level.

Which player gave the best interviews during the 2008 season?

I would have to say there were three players who deserve credit for their interviews: Ryan Finan, Jonathan Tucker and Matt Wieters. Finan was a great interview because he is incredibly smart. He gives great analysis. Tucker was arguably the most charismatic person on the team. He is funny and engaging and everybody loved talking to him. An explosive player with a great personality. And last but not least, there was Wieters. It seemed like everyone wanted to talk to him, and he never turned an interview down. He answered every question, every time. His knowledge of the game is outstanding, and he always conducted himself as a professional.

What are you looking forward to in 2009? Are there any likely Baysox who you are particularly excited about working with or watching?

The biggest thing I look forward to in 2009 is seeing how the pitching staff will shake out. The O’s have so many talented arms it will be exciting to see who will wind up in Bowie. Chris Waters was 5-0 in April with us, and has a shot at making the big league roster. Bergesen, Jason Berken, David Hernandez, and Tillman were all fantastic last year, and deserve a shot to be in Norfolk. There are a couple of exciting guys in Frederick. Chorye Spoone, will be back some time this year. There are so many great arms, we should have another outstanding staff here in Bowie.

Do you have any exciting marketing ideas dreamed up?

Our promotional schedule hasn’t been finalized yet, but we do have some interesting things lined up. We are having a “Penny Pincher” program for Tuesdays that include t-shirts giveaways and food specials. We may party like it’s 1929, we’ll attempt a new world record and there might be a day to bark in the park. We hope to have an official announcement made in the next couple of weeks!

Where will fans be able to find Baysox games on the radio and Internet? Is there chance you might expand your broadcasting relationships?

We’re always looking to expand our broadcasting relationships, and we are still evaluating a couple of possibilities for the 2009 season. We will have a link to a feed for all of our games on www.baysox.com, and we hope to announce a radio deal at some point in the next couple of weeks.

The Baltimore Business Journal is reporting that the Baysox are shopping the naming rights of Prince George’s Stadium. Is there anything new to report on the candidates? Would the naming rights include any other public relations or marketing opportunities for the selected company?

We are indeed offering the naming rights to the field at Prince George’s Stadium. There has been some interest, but that’s about all I can tell you.  The package includes a company logo in the fungo circles, it is the only advertising we allow on the actual field of play. There are a lot of options, we will work very hard to be sure our partner is getting the most out of their investment.

I know part of your responsibility include updating the news on baysox.com. How much traffic does baysox.com get and what are its most popular features?

Over the last few months of the season last year, we were drawing more than 11,000,000 hits in a month. The most popular section is the news section, and people spend a lot of time looking at player bios. There is a ton of stuff to check out, though. We post our games note on the Web site every day, we have a number of photo galleries, we have all the transactions from the season and links to the other O’s affiliates.

Aside from baysox.com, what are some of your favorite sources for Baysox news and opinion?

Orioles Hangout is great, they have a large and active fanbase. I often check out their message boards. They also have a beat writer (Mike Miller) cover all of our games, so I’ll check out his recaps every now and then. I also check out Roch Kubatko’s and Peter Schmuck’s blogs, they often have inside information on what the O’s are thinking.

This is an Eastern League preview I wrote for Baseball Daily Digest a couple weeks ago.

Northern  Division

Akron Aeros (Cleveland Indians)
Carlos Santana
The eventual decline of Victor Martinez need not worry Indians fans much, since Santana came over from the Dodgers in last year’s Casey Blake trade. Santana was the California League (High A) MVP where he put up a .994 OPS in 2008.

Nick Weglarz
Weglarz is a 6’3”, 245-pound left fielder with significant power and a great batting eye. He doesn’t move particularly well, so he could join the crowded line of future first basemen in the Cleveland organization.

Beau Mills
The son of Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills has great power, but could stand to fine tune his hitting approach especially now that he’s moved from third to first base for good.

Binghamton Mets (New York Mets)
Mike Antonini
The Mets may have found a diamond in the rough when they picked this crafty left-hander out of Georgia College & State in the 18th round of the 2007 amateur draft. His plus change-up and excellent command may separate the men from the boys in Double A.

Dillon Gee
Gee was also a find in the 21st round of the 2007 amateur draft. His excellent fastball command and ability to change speeds helped him notch a 1.33 ERA in four starts over 27 innings at Binghamton in 2008.

Tobi Stoner
Stoner was also a good mid-round pick (16th) for the Mets, just in the 2006 draft. His solid, if not spectacular, fastball and slider should help him improve on a 4.33 ERA in 79 innings at Binghamton in 2008.

Connecticut Defenders (San Francisco Giants)
Madison Bumgarner
In 2009, Bumgarner will succeed Matt Wieters as the premier Eastern League prospect. The 6’4” left-hander dominated the Sally League (Low A) with a 7.8 K/BB in 2008. His secondary pitches need work, but he has the talent to make the jump to Double A.

Buster Posey
Posey is a disciplined hitter with great bat speed who was the 2008 Golden Spikes winner as the top amateur player. His quick release (1.85 seconds from home to second base – 2.0 is average) and receiving skills should help him stick at catcher.

Tim Alderson
Alderson led the hitter-friendly California league with a 2.79 ERA through 145 innings in 2008. What Bumgarner lacks in polish, Alderson makes up and then some. That should be trouble for Eastern League hitters.

Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals)
Bill Rhinehart
It’s hard not to pull for Rhinehart, a scrappy player who jumped from Hagerstown (Low A) to Harrisburg (Double A). Until Michael Burgess is promoted, his plus power and pretty good eye will help him anchor the Senator’s line-up. He’ll need a platoon-mate against left-handers before long.

Luis Atilano
Atilano has been in the pro ball since 2003, but 2009 should be his first appearance at Double A. He’s a fastball/change-up/curve guy who has to needs to work on this command to remain a starter.

Cory VanAllen
VanAllen has been slowed by injuries, but this lefty showed real promise when he worked a slider into his fastball/change-up mix. VanAllen hopes to show that a 5.13 ERA in 10 starts at Harrisburg last year was a fluke.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays)
David Cooper
Cooper is a fantastic pure hitter with a short stroke and great bat speed who could join Travis Snider in the middle of the Blue Jays line-up for a long time. This 2008 first-rounder is awkward at first, so he’s lucky to be in an American League organization.

Brad Mills
Mills is a lefty with a great curveball and an average fastball. He owned the Eastern League through 32 innings in six starts last year, posting a 1.10 ERA and 1.12 WHIP.

Brad Emaus
Emaus is a versatile fielder and hitter who finish last year with a 1.119 OPS in 99 August at bats in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. He split his time between second base, third base and designated hitter, but seems likely to stay at second.

Reading Phillies (Philadelphia Phillies)
Michael Taylor
Taylor has great bat speed, but a Stanford swing that limits his power. The 6’6”, 250-pounder has a cannon for an arm, but doesn’t cover enough ground in left field and may be on his way to first base.

Drew Naylor
Naylor will likely take Carlos Carrasco’s place as the R-Phils ace. The 6’4” right-handed Aussie baffles hitters with a 12-to-6 curve, but struggles a bit against left-handers. He will represent his home country in the World Baseball Classic.

Edgar Garcia
Garcia has a blazing fastball, but has plenty of work to do developing pitches to compliment it. Right-handers tagged him for 1.40 HR/9 in 2008.

Southern Division

Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Jose Tabata
Tabata came to the Pirates organizations in last year’s Xavier Nady trade. He left discipline issues and a .617 OPS (in 294 ABs) behind in Trenton and put up a .964 OPS (89 ABs, .412 BABIP) in Altoona. Tabata will be 20 years old until August 12.

Brad Lincoln
Lincoln was the fourth overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft. He sat out all of 2007 after Tommy John surgery. He showed great control in 2008, especially in 62 innings at Low A Hickory (0.89 BB/9). Lincoln’s change up may be the key to his success at higher levels.

Jamie Romak
Romak hit 33 homeruns in 584 ABs at High A Lynchburg in parts of 2007 and 2008. Whether that power translates to higher levels or he continues struggling to make consistent contact will determine the impact he can have.

Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles)
Chris Tillman
Tillman made the Erik Bedard trade look like a huge mistake by the Marines in 2008 by often dominating the Eastern League. However, the EL’s youngest pitcher struggled with his command at times (4.21 BB/9) and only made it to the seventh inning in one start. Tillman will work on his efficiency in Bowie, but may be the first promotion to Norfolk.

Jake Arrieta
In 2008, won a bronze medal in the Olympics, pitched in the Futures Game, and put up a 9.56 K/9 in 113 innings at High A Frederick. Of course, he also walked 4.06 per nine innings and yielded a 1.52 WHIP in 41.3 innings against lefties.

Bradon Erbe
Erbe is an easy-going life-long Orioles fan who rebounded in 2008 to put himself back among the minor’s top pitching prospects. Erbe led the Carolina League with 151 Ks, but was a little homer prone (1.25 HR/9). He could get even better as he grows into his 6’4” frame and masters his change up.

Erie Seawolves (Detroit Tigers)
Rick Porcello
Porcello is an efficient groundball pitcher who made strides with the location of his secondary pitches at Lakeland in 2008. The right-hander’s 5.18 K/9 seems low for someone with a 97 mph fastball, but Minor League Baseball Analyst tell us he was working on a sinker.

Ryan Perry
Perry was drafted out of Arizona in the first round of the 2008 amateur draft as a reliever. He throws the ball plenty fast, but could work on his pitchability. Perry’s 14.3 professional innings are not a big enough sample from which to draw conclusions, so Tigers and EL fans will have to wait and see how he develops. He’s impressing important folks this spring in Detriot’s big league camp.

Cale Iorg
Iorg was drafted in the sixth round in 2007 after spending two years away from baseball. He needs work on making contact (struck out 109 times in 376 ABs at Lakeland in 2008). Iorg has a particularly hard time with sliders low and away.

New Britain Rock Cats (Minnesota Twins)
Wilson Ramos
Ramos is an athletic catcher who caught 43 percent of attempted base stealers in 2008. He makes solid contact, but saw his strikeout rate inch up to 22.8 percent last year. Ramos is already on the Twins 40-man roster.

Danny Valencia
Valencia is a power-hitting third baseman who may not be in New Britain for long. He has been the picture of offensive consistency at four levels, but saw his strikeout rate spike at 26.3 percent in 266 ABs in the Eastern League.

Jeff Manship
Manship can throw his plus curveball for strikes consistently. The 14th-round pick out of Notre Dame saw his walks spike in 77 innings at New Britain in 2008. He projects as a back-rotation starter.

Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox)
Lars Anderson
Anderson probably won’t be in Portland for long, but there appears to be no reason to rush him. In 2008, Anderson quieted any speculation that his .921 OPS in 306 ABs in the hitter-friendly California League was inflated by putting up a .967 OPS in 127 ABs in the Eastern League. The sample size is very small, but the lefty had a little trouble against left-handed pitchers (.701 ABs) for the first time during his stint in Portland.

Josh Reddick
Reddick is an aggressive hitter and versatile outfielder how was cruising through the Red Sox affiliates until he reached Portland last year. After putting up a .745 OPS in 113 ABs during his first trip through the Eastern League, Reddick will work on his plate discipline and hope for better luck in 2009.

Junichi Tazawa
Tazawa jumped from Japanese amateur baseball to the States when he signed a three-year $3.3 million major league contract with a $1.8 million signing bonus in December. (Other major league teams offered him more than the Red Sox.) The right-hander has an advanced fastball/slider/curve/change-up repertoire and good command.

Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees)
Zach McAllister
McAllister put up a 1.83 ERA in 88.6 innings in the Florida State League with very few walks and lots of groundouts. The right-handers command came a particularly far way from 2007 (3.41 BB/9) to 2008 (1.23 BB/9).

Mike Dunn
Dunn has become a more aggressive pitcher since his move to the bullpen. The left-handers 11.51 K/9 in 65.7 innings against lefty hitters indicates he could be a valuable arm even if he doesn’t make great strides with his command.

Francisco Cervelli
Cervelli may be the Yankees’ strongest defensive catching prospect. He broke his wrist in a collision during Spring Training, but had a cup of coffee with the big club by the end of the year. Cervelli will return to Trenton to work on his hitting.

“My personality is very up-tempo and that reflects the way I pitch, but I saw that was working against me,” Berken said during a recent chat with Baseball Daily Digest’s Paul Bugala. “One thing that Griff (Bowie Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin) has really been working on me with is pitching aggressively, but still under control. When I get a little quick, I start rushing to the plate, the ball stays away, and I give up hits.”

Berken was encouraged to work quickly and to keep his defense on its toes at Clemson, where he played in college until Baltimore drafted him in 2006. So, adjusting his personality and years of practice has required a comprehensive approach.

“I’ve been doing little things like instead of jogging out to the mound, I’m walking out there and walking off,” he said. “Just doing whatever I can to slow the game down.”

Jason Berken bears down on a Reading Phillies batter at Price George’s Stadium in Bowie, Maryland. (Photo: Paul Bugala)

Through 116 innings with Double-A Bowie, Berken has attacked the strike zone with a two-seam fastball, change-up, curve, and slider. His 3.67 K/BB ratio, third best in the Eastern League, shows Berken’s new approach is helping him conserve his pitches and keep runners off the bases.

“If you asked a lot of hitters they’d say, the hardest ball to hit is one than moves. I learned the hard way earlier last year when I was throwing a lot of four-seam fastballs. You can throw it as hard as you want, but if you miss that spot you’re going to pay for it,” Berken said. “But that sinker has a little more room for error. If you do miss your spot and you miss the barrel of the bat, hopefully you’ll get a ground ball. With my sinker and my change-up having the same kind of action, it makes my change-up that much better too.”

Berken has a 1.53 ERA his last five starts, covering 29.1 innings. For the year, his 3.49 ERA is a more than a full point lower than last year’s and all of his peripherals also have improved. He and fellow Orioles prospects Chris Tillman, David Hernandez and Brad Bergesen are part of a pitching staff that leads the Eastern League in strikeouts and shutouts.

“From the end of last year to this year, I feel like I’ve learned how to pitch, read hitters and consider things I hadn’t thought about in the past,” Berken said.

As Bowie pursues its first Eastern League title during the season’s final weeks, Berken is making the most of the lessons he has learned in his short professional career. But no insight has been more valuable than the awareness that you have to slow down to get ahead.

(This article is also available at Baseball Daily Digest/Big League Futures.)