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#109 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Mon Aug 11, 2003 9:19 pm
Subject: ERIE / BOWIE tsumner122
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Lots of Seawolves/Baysox stuff . . .

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003108110360

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003108100372

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003108100373

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003108100371

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003108100369

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2003108110336

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#108 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:50 pm
Subject: O's PROMOTE ON MERIT tsumner122
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Orioles Try to Promote Based on Merit, Not on Optimism

By Steve Argeris

Matt Riley and Tim Raines Jr. were examples 1 and 1a of the difficulties in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system in recent years: both highly touted, both rushed through the farm system, both possessing attitude problems and both seemingly destined to be busts at age 23.

So it was no surprise that even though both were having spectacular seasons at Class AA Bowie -- where Raines had spent parts of two previous seasons, and Riley parts of three -- there was no call-up until both were promoted to Class AAA Ottawa in late June. They had to earn it, on the field and off.

"We tried to come in and establish more of a merit system," said Darrell "Doc" Rodgers, the Orioles' farm system director. "The merit system is essentially based on the theory given by [minor league pitching coordinator] Dave Schmidt early-on in spring training. His very appropriate description was that when we felt like players were playing above the league they were in, we'd promote them. You've got a scenario where you can measure a player's progress. The best place to measure, as we started the season, is are they doing the things they need to do to develop, and what are their results?"

Riley's and Raines's on-field results were impressive -- Raines had hit .308 and Riley was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA at the time of their promotion -- but to Rodgers and Baysox Manager Dave Trembley, it was just as important that they didn't squander the opportunity through off-field issues.

"I had a lot of closed-door conversations with those two," Trembley said.

The results have been similar at Ottawa. Raines is hitting .303 through 38 games, while Riley is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA through eight starts.

Sometimes, staying put protects a player's development the most. While Rodgers acknowledges there have been an unusually high number of roster moves on all levels of the system, "if you notice, if you look carefully, certain guys aren't moving. That's not a coincidence."

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#107 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:32 pm
Subject: READING PHILLIES tsumner122
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Attendance won't be a club record, but could lead EL
Reading will not set another club attendance record this season, but the Phillies are still in the hunt to be this season's top Eastern League draw.

By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Rainouts and poor weather in April and May will prevent the Reading Phillies from setting the club's seventh straight season attendance record.

But the Phillies are in contention to lead the Eastern League in attendance for the second straight year.

The Phillies drew 9,009 fans Saturday night for the fifth annual Harley Davidson Night to boost this year's total to 397,396.

Barring a rainout of which there have been four at FirstEnergy Stadium this season the Phillies will surpass the 400,000 mark in attendance today for the sixth straight year. But last year's club record of 486,570 is out of reach.

With eight home games left, the Phillies are in a tight three-team race with Akron and Trenton for the league attendance title. Akron, with 10 home games left, is 15,070 behind. Trenton, also with 10 home games left, is 28,733 behind Reading.

The Phillies lead the league in average attendance with 6,623 per game compared to 6,480 for Akron and 6,144 for Trenton. The Eastern League media guide recognizes the team that draws the most fans as the attendance champion for the season.

That means the postponements and early cold weather that held crowds down in April including a season-low 2,389 on April 17 could cost the Phillies.

The Phillies haven't won back-to-back EL attendance titles since winning three straight from 1991-93.

Play it again: Mostly because his hands were tied due to injuries, Reading manager Greg Legg turned in the same lineup (other than starting pitcher) for back-to-back games for the first time in his two years as Phillies manager.

With outfielders Jay Sitzman and Josue Perez out with injuries, catcher Edgar Cruz was the only healthy body on the Phillies' bench. Cruz is likely to catch this afternoon's game, the finale of a three-game series with the Akron Aeros.

It was the first time since 1998 that Reading used the same nine players in the same positions and the same spots in the batting order in consecutive games.

Out of position: Reading's rash of injuries have forced utility infielder Uriel Casillas to make the first two outfield starts of his seven-year professional career. Casillas started in right field Friday and Saturday.

Prior to Friday, Casillas' only other outfield appearance was May 17 of last year when he moved from second base to left field in the middle of the game.

In the house: Former Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees oufielder Ken Griffey was at FirstEnergy Stadium Saturday night.

Griffey and his wife sat behind home plate with other scouts and VIPs. Griffey is a scout for the Cincinnati Reds.

Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@....

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#106 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Wed Aug 6, 2003 9:18 pm
Subject: B-SOX WON tsumner122
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Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

B-Mets' game suspended in eighth inning

From staff reports

Ring blows save

prior to downpour

BOWIE, Md. -- The Binghamton Mets squandered a two-run, eighth-inning lead over the Bowie Baysox, then the teams were forced to wait a day to determine the outcome when lightning accompanied by a downpour prompted suspension of play Tuesday night.

A two-run double by Bowie's Ruben Rivera made it 5-5 one batter before the storm struck, and marked the first save opportunity blown by Mets southpaw Royce Ring-- who entered the game with a 1-0 record, six saves and a 2.31 earned run average in nine appearances.

A 45-minute delay preceded overnight suspension of play.

The contest is scheduled to be resumed at 11:05 this morning -- with two out in the eighth and a runner on second base -- to be followed by a seven-inning game in which the Mets will send Matt Peterson (1-1, 4.09) to the mound to oppose fellow right-hander Dave Crouthers (2-1, 2.60) of the Baysox.

The Mets and Bowie each started play Tuesday night 5 1/2 games out of a playoff spot, and the Mets with an 18-39 record in games played away from NYSEG Stadium.

The Mets staked starting pitcher Phil Seibel to a 3-0 lead, which the Baysox erased with three in the home half of the second inning. Binghamton picked up two more runs in the fifth.

Eastern League Northern Division leader New Haven was idle Tuesday, and will bring a 4 1/2-game lead over second-place Portland into its game tonight at Trenton. Southern Division-leading Akron improved the league's best record to 73-44 with a 4-2 win Tuesday over Erie.

Following today's completion of the three-game series at Bowie -- the teams' final regular-season meeting -- the Mets will move on to Portland for a four-game set against the Sea Dogs before returning to begin a nine-game homestand Monday against the Trenton Thunder.

____________________________________________________________

B-METS LOSE SECOND STRAIGHT IN BOWIE

Date: 8/5/2003

After Tuesday night's game between the Binghamton Mets and the Bowie Baysox

was suspended due to lightning in the bottom of the eighth inning with two

outs and the score 5-5, Bowie won the continuation of the suspended game on

Wednesday morning. Juan Diaz singled to score Josh Hoffpauir with the

game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Matt Peterson gets the ball for the Mets looking for his second AA win in

today's regularly scheduled game.

Joe Hecht calls all the action on TalkRadio 1360 WYOS and on bmets.com.

(from bmets.com)

Jeff Wilson was the game winning pitcher, losing pitcher was Tom Lavigne.

For the complete box score, go to http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/scoreboard?league=east

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#105 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Wed Aug 6, 2003 9:12 pm
Subject: LOPSIDED GAMES tsumner122
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Baysox: Bowie turns around, pounds Binghamton

BOWIE - Just one night after the worst loss in club history - a 20-4 drubbing at the hands of New Britain that included numerous record-setting performances by their opponent - the Bowie Baysox rebounded with their most lopsided victory of the season last night.

Keith Reed led the 15-hit attack, going 2-for-5 with a double, a three-run homer and five RBIs to lead Bowie to a 15-2 pasting of the Binghamton Mets.

Reed delivered a two-run, based-loaded double as part of a four-run fourth. Later, he blasted a three-run homer, his ninth of the season, as part of a six-run seventh as the Baysox improved to 57-58.

Ed Rogers added a double and three RBIs and was one of seven Baysox to notch two hits on the night.

Meanwhile, Juan Diaz blasted a two-run homer in the seventh, his team-high 10th on the year.

Baysox starter Mike Paradis (5-7) was solid, tossing seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits. He walked one and fanned four en route to the victory.

For Bowie, John Parrish and Eddy Rodriguez worked scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

Neal Musser (4-8) suffer! ed the loss for Binghamton (55-61).

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#104 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Tue Jul 29, 2003 9:42 pm
Subject: Aeros' uneven play continues tsumner122
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Sports

Posted on Tue, Jul. 29, 2003

Aeros' uneven play continues
Bowie races to early lead, holds off late rally. Akron 5-6 in past 11
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal staff writer

No doubt there were a few sighs of relief Monday around Canal Park before the Aeros kicked off their longest home stand of the season against Bowie.

Despite a tough weekend in Erie where the Aeros dropped two of three games and the pitching staff gave up 37 hits and 22 runs, a peek at the Eastern League standings revealed the hurlers remained in second place with a respectable 3.14 ERA.

And luckily, there was some wiggle room with Akron's South Division lead at six games over trailing Altoona.

But with the season beginning to wind down, the prevailing opinion was that it was time to get back on track after posting a mediocre 5-5 mark during the past 10 games.

A 7-5 Bowie victory Monday night squashed that idea. Not even an eighth-inning rally highlighted by Joe Inglett's three-run triple could dig them out of an early hole.

Earlier, Derrick Van Dusen tried to help steady the team in search of his ninth victory. But the left-hander didn't have his best stuff and lasted just five innings in taking the loss.

``We've been working with him on using his slider more, especially in attacking left-handed hitters,'' said Aeros pitching coach Steve Lyons, who was ejected after arguing with home plate umpire Brent Rice in the ninth inning. ``But it's still coming along. It's the finishing piece for him.''

Despite struggling with the slider and walking perilously close to disaster in loading the bases twice, Van Dusen did one heck of a Houdini job in getting out of trouble with limited damage.

Kurt Arioso put the Baysox on the board in the second with a two-run home run to right field, but Van Dusen managed to tip-toe out of an ensuing bases-loaded jam to prevent any further trouble.

In the fifth, he faced another sticky bases loaded situation with just one out. But again, Van Dusen escaped after allowing only an Arioso RBI single that gave Bowie a 3-0 advantage.

Kazuhito Tadano briefly quieted the Baysox in the sixth, and Ryan Church sparked the offense in the bottom of the inning with a two-run double that gave Akron life.

But Bowie came right back against Tadano, promptly regrouping the runs on a two-run double by Kris Wilken before Inglett's clutch hit pulled the Aeros within a run.

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#103 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sat Jul 26, 2003 11:34 am
Subject: PORTLAND/BOWIE tsumner122
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Friday, July 25, 2003

Good start leads to Dogs' fine finish
By DAVID DRIVER, Special to Portland Press Herald
Copyright 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

BOWIE, Md. -- This has not been the best of seasons for Portland pitcher Junior Herndon, who was signed by the Boston Red Sox in December. Herndon, a right-handed starter who pitched in the majors for the San Diego Padres in 2001, missed nearly three weeks of the season with a groin injury before he came off the disabled list earlier this month.

But Herndon buckled down and made it through five innings Thursday as the Sea Dogs beat Bowie 3-1 before 5,178 fans and won the series three games to one.

It was just the third time since 1996 that Portland won a series against Bowie, which left the tying runs on base in the ninth as Scott Aldred struck out Josh Hoffpauir to end the game and get his first save.

"Winning every series is the key. It is always good to win a series on the road," said Sea Dogs third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who had three hits, including a home run. "It is big for our team."

Herndon (6-4), who entered with an ERA of 5.23 after he was tagged for six runs in two innings in his last start Saturday, left the bases loaded after allowing one run in the bottom of the fifth. As he came off the mound he was greeted halfway to the third-base line by Portland Manager Ron Johnson, who shook Herndon's hand.

"He has been through a lot. He is out there to battle," said Portland catcher Kelly Shoppach of Herndon.

Apparently, the Boston front office has noticed.

"Generally, he has done a good job," said Ben Cherington, the director of player development for the Red Sox. "Overall he has been pretty consistent."

Herndon allowed four hits and one run with two walks and four strikeouts.

"Junior is a very professional individual. He brings experience to this ballclub. I just like his experience," said Portland pitching coach Bob Kipper.

"Right now, it is about consistency," said Herndon. "I need to have six or eight good starts in a row."

Bowie scored in the fifth when Herndon threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded and Mike Fontenot at the plate. Fontenot later walked, but Herndon retired Kris Wilken on a liner to right to end the threat.

The Portland offense was led by Youkilis, who hit a two-run homer in the first off Bowie starter Fernando Rijo (3-9) and added a single in the third and a double in the fifth before flying out deep to left in the seventh.

"He has been great from the get-go," said Cherington of Youkilis, who has now reached base in 58 straight games. Youkilis has reached base at least twice in 16 of the last 17 games.

Trace Coquillette, recently sent down from Triple-A Pawtucket, hit a solo homer in the sixth to give Portland a 3-1 lead.

NOTES: Cherington talked about Monday's trade of Sea Dogs closer Anastacio Martinez, who had 14 saves, to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"We have some flexibility in the bullpen. There is a possibility there may be some additions, but I can't say who. It depends on the circumstances," he said.

"We may not have a definite closer today, but that may emerge over time. We will see how it goes."

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#102 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Wed Jul 23, 2003 9:18 pm
Subject: Home Again tsumner122
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Baysox' Agamennone Proves He Can Come Home Again

By Dan Steinberg

When Brandon Agamennone was released by the Montreal Expos in late April, he considered moving about 4,000 miles from his childhood home to play professional baseball in Bologna, Italy. Three months later, the right-hander instead finds himself playing home games in Prince George's Stadium, a five-mile drive down Route 3 from the Crofton house in which he was raised.

The 1994 All-Met from Arundel High started the year with Class AAA Edmonton and was blindsided when the Expos told him they were "going in another direction." He instructed his agent to pursue a deal with the Baltimore Orioles while simultaneously making plans to acquire dual citizenship and compete in Italy.

But in less than three weeks, he had signed with Baltimore. After a short stint in extended spring training and two appearances with Class A Frederick, the 1998 University of Maryland graduate was promoted to Bowie on June 9. He moved in with his parents, who had relocated to Calvert County, and began playing home games in a park he had visited every few weeks during his college career.

His teammates playfully call him the "hometown hero," and the 27-year-old spot starter and long reliever has discovered scores of long-lost friends.

"People are coming out of the woodwork; I've seen people I hadn't seen since elementary school," said Agamennone, who requests between 25 and 50 tickets for most home games. Getting cut "was tough at first, but it worked out awesome to be able to come back home and play for the Orioles' organization."

Agamennone has a 1-1 record and a 2.15 ERA in 16 appearances, and while he still thinks about his future "every day," the present isn't too shabby.

"It must be nice to live at home," Bowie Manager Dave Trembley said wistfully. "The opportunity for him to be at home and pitch in front of his family and friends -- those opportunities don't come along very often in this business."

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#101 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Wed Jul 16, 2003 8:53 pm
Subject: Bowie blanks Thunder tsumner122
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Baysox: Bowie blanks Thunder
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Bowie Baysox got a strong performance from starter Mike Drumright and collected 12 hits to defeat the Trenton Thunder 5-0 last night.

Bowie improved to 45-49 as Drumright (1-1) held Trenton (45-45) to four hits over seven innings.

The Bowie offense scored four runs in the third inning off Trenton starter Edison Reynoso (8-7). Juan Diaz hit a double, Ivanon Coffie walked, then Kris Wilken singled to center, scoring Diaz.

Coffie advanced to third on the play. Then Fletcher Bates reached first when Brian Myrow let a routine grounder roll through his legs, sending Coffie home. Mike Seestedt advanced the runners on a groundout, and Wilken scored on a wild pitch, giving Bowie a 3-0 lead.

Ed Rogers followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Bates for the inning's final run. The Baysox scored their other run in the fourth when Mike Fontenot scored on Myrow's second error of the game.

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#100 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Tue Jul 15, 2003 9:21 pm
Subject: BOWIE/TRENTON tsumner122
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Baysox: Bowie's Wilson quiets Thunder

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jeff Wilson pitched six shutout innings and Josh Hoffpauir hit his
first home run of the season, leading the Bowie Baysox to a 3-0 win
over the Trenton Thunder in an Eastern League game yesterday.

Wilson (3-4) allowed two hits and one walk, while striking out five
in his first start for the Baysox since 2002.

Trenton starter Matt Smith (2-2) pitched five innings for his
shortest start this year, allowing three runs on eight hits and two
walks, while striking out five.

Bowie (44-49) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Kris Wilken
had an RBI groundout to score Juan Diaz and Ruben Rivera drove in
Ivanon Coffie on a bloop single to right-center.

Hoffpauir capped the scoring for Bowie with his fifth-inning homer.
Coffie had three hits and Diaz and Hoffpauir each had two hits for
the Baysox.

Trenton (45-48) had more than one man on base just once in the game
and did not advance a runner past second. Jason Maule, Dioner Navarro
and Teuris Olivares had the only hits for the Thunder.

Eddy Rodriguez pitched 1 scoreless innings for his sixth save.

Bowie improved to 4-3 against Trenton this season.

Eastern League

North Division

W L Pct. GB Portland (Red Sox) 48 42 .533 New Haven (Blue Jays) 50
44 .532 New Britain (Twins) 44 46 .489 4 Trenton (Yankees) 45
48 .484 4 Norwich (Giants) 41 51 .446 8 Binghamton (Mets) 42 53 .442
8 South Division

W L Pct. GB Akron (Indians) 61 36 .629 Altoona (Pirates) 54 38 .587
4 Reading (Phillies) 45 49 .479 14 Bowie (Orioles) 44 49 .473 15 Erie
(Tigers) 44 50 .468 15 Harrisburg (Expos) 42 54 .438 18

Yesterday's Games

Bowie 3, Trenton 0

Binghamton 10, New Haven 0, 1st game

Binghamton 6, New Haven 4, 2nd game

Norwich 7, Portland 5

Reading 8, Harrisburg 2

New Britain 5, Erie 2

Akron 8, Altoona 4

Tonight's Games

Trenton at Bowie, 7:05

Akron at Altoona

Binghamton at New Haven

Erie at New Britain

Portland at Norwich

Reading at Harrisburg

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2003/07_14-13/SPO

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#99 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Mon Jul 14, 2003 9:01 am
Subject: JUAN DIAZ tsumner122
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Baysox Slugger Diaz Can Hold His Own With the Big Boys

By Steve Argeris, The Washington Post

The Bowie Baysox' roster lists Juan Diaz as 269 pounds, and even he admits to 295. But the real number may be considerably higher.

"I'd like to play at 285, maybe 275," Diaz said. "They [the Baysox coaches] tell me to lose another 10 pounds. But I never was a base runner. I can do everything the guys who weigh 220 or 230 or 180 do in the field, so I don't know why everybody is stuck on my weight."

Whatever Diaz's heft, the 6-foot-2 first baseman-designated hitter is blasting "some of the longest home runs I have ever seen," said Baysox Manager Dave Trembley, who has seen well more than 2,000 games in his 17-season career.

Diaz went 7 for 20 with three home runs in a five-game stretch this week. He has six home runs and 23 RBI in just 23 games with the team.

"He hit a line drive over the 400-foot mark one time, and he hit one in Akron that must have gone 470 feet," Trembley said. "The guy . . . generates some serious bat speed."

Diaz, 29, joined the Baysox last month after sitting out the spring in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic capital where he has lived since defecting from Cuba as a 22-year-old in 1996 and signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But the Dodgers, by playing a hand in organizing his defection and then signing him before other teams could scout him for a below-value $65,000 bonus, violated Major League Baseball rules. Declared a free agent in 2000, Diaz signed with Boston for a $400,000 bonus, but was cut after last season, only playing four games in the majors.

The Orioles tabbed Diaz in May after a winter and spring spent "doing nothing" in Santo Domingo with his wife and children.

"I want to play baseball another three or four years," Diaz said. "So I'm just working hard, trying to get into shape."

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#98 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:18 pm
Subject: AEROS/BAYSOX tsumner122
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Sports

Posted on Thu, Jul. 10, 2003

Aeros take advantage of fatigued Baysox
Inglett's single applies finishing touch on sweep
By Mike Dyer
Beacon Journal staff writer

The Aeros didn't miss a beat Wednesday and took advantage of Bowie's fourth doubleheader in seven days to sweep the Baysox 3-1 and 5-4.

With one out in the fourth inning of the second game, Joe Inglett hit a two-run RBI single to score Luke Scott and Brian Luderer and put the Aeros ahead 5-2.

Inglett has a hit in 14 of the last 15 games.

"Joe got a big hit for us,'' Aeros Manager Brad Komminsk said. "He's a bat-control guy that can drive the ball at times. And it was a huge hit for us.''

The Aeros have won three consecutive games and conclude the series tonight against Bowie before heading off to Altoona and then the All-Star break.

Aeros starter Derrick Van Dusen left the first game with a swollen hand in the third after he was hit by a batted ball. He was X-rayed Wednesday night.

Jake Robbins (5-2) relieved Van Dusen, but threw the ball away trying to pick off a runner before he threw a pitch. Robbins' first pitch was a passed ball and moved the runner to third. Bowie then added a one-out run on a fielder's choice.That error allowed the Baysox to score their only run. Jose Vargas got his second save of the season.

Robbins gave up three runs and two hits but still picked up the win. Komminsk was pleased with the team's performance and said the Tuesday's rainout was ``no big deal. The guys played good, we definitely maximized what we had there.''

In the first inning, the Aeros went up 3-0 after Scott drove a 1-2 pitch over the left fielder's head to score Nate Grindell and Eric Crozier, who had driven in Hector Luna with a sacrifice fly. Luna reached on a one-out walk, then stole second.

In the second game the Aeros came back in the bottom of the first to tie the score at 1-1 thanks to Grady Sizemore, who drove home Hector Luna from second with an RBI double.

Eric Crozier led off the fourth inning with a walk then scored on a sacrifice fly by Brian Luderer to put the Aeros up 2-1.

Bowie starter and Eastern League All-Star Brian Forystek was pulled with one out in the sixth after allowing a leadoff double by Nate Grindell. Two batters later, Luderer hit an RBI single to left off reliever Rodney Ormond to make it 3-1.

Aeros starter Francisco Cruceta (7-6) had six strikeouts and allowed five hits in seven innings. He leads the Eastern League with four complete games.

"He's been very consistent the past three or four year starts, he gave up a run in the first, he's been haunted by a little bit the first or second inning, but he got through and that and was very consistent with the strike zone,'' Aeros pitching coach Steve Lyons said.

Lyons said he was impressed with Cruceta's fastball, change-up and breaking ball.

"Earlier in the year he was consistent with fastball command issues, getting hurt early in the ballgame,'' Lyons said. "But he's been pretty good the past few starts.''

Messages for Mike Dyer can be left at 330-996-3025 or a mdyer@...

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#97 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Tue Jul 8, 2003 1:51 am
Subject: BAYSOX / PHILLIES tsumner122
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Bowie leaves R-Phils little to smile about
Reading's Taylor Buchholz pitches well enough to win, but the Baysox keep Reading from getting the clutch hit and get the victory.

By Mike Drago
Reading Eagle
Taylor Buchholz's glum expression told the story.

He sat in the middle of the Reading Phillies locker room late Saturday night, staring off into the distance, seemingly a million miles away.

The 21-year-old right-hander had thrown the ball well again, and, except for one brief four-batter stretch of the third inning, performed well enough to earn a win.

But there he was, sitting with a nondescript .500 record after absorbing the �L' in Reading's 4-2 Eastern League loss to the visiting Bowie Baysox at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The guy's headed to the Eastern League All-Star Game next week because he's had a very good season. You just can't tell by glancing at his deceiving 6-6 record.

�I'm not worried about wins and losses right now,� said Buchholz. �I'm trying not to let it (my record) bother me. It can turn around easily. I could be 10-6 just as easily.�

With a couple of timely hits, Buchholz and the Phillies could've been smiling Saturday. They had 10 hits and put 15 runners on base.

But they left the bases loaded twice in the fourth when Jeff Inglin flied out, and in the ninth when Garry Maddox II flied out. They also struck out a dozen times, something the manager didn't like seeing.

�It looked to me that we had a lot of guys trying to hit a home run,� said Phils manager Greg Legg. �The way balls are flying out of here, it's tempting. It's tempting here (in this stadium) with the porches as short as they are.�

It's not like the Baysox kept Reading bats hostage. Aaron McNeal and Jim Deschaine each took starter Dave Borkowski deep in the second inning for a 2-0 lead.

McNeal's homer was his 11th of the season and second in two nights.

Deschaine's was his fourth of the season and third in two nights.

The Phillies have seven homers in the three-game series to date, and 17 in their last 13 games. They're second in the league with 72 homers in 85 games.

The Baysox had just one homer Saturday, but it turned out to be a big one. Former Reading outfielder Fletcher Bates led off the third with a shot to right, and the Baysox followed with three straight hits to take a 3-2 lead.

�I threw him three two-seamers in a row,� Buchholz said of Bates, �and the third one was right down the middle. He hit that one pretty far.

�I got a little out of whack that inning. Maybe I was rushing to the plate. Maybe I was a little flustered. I gave a lot of hits, a lot of hits.�

Buchholz allowed nine hits over six innings, but he got nothing but high marks from his manager for the effort.

�I thought he pitched well enough to win,� Legg said. �He did his job. Obviously, if we score six or seven runs, he wins.

�That's twice in a row we haven't scored for him. We scored two runs his last time out; we scored two runs tonight. He almost has to be perfect if that's all he gets is two runs.�

Reading has scored two runs or less in seven of Buchholz's last eight games.

Phillers: Right-hander Taft Cable will be called up from Single-A Clearwater to start tonight's second game Reading. He'll take the roster spot of inactive Brian Hitchcox. Cable likely will return to Clearwater after the game. He made a pair of starts for Reading in early June. . . . Right fielder Juan Camillo left the game in the sixth inning after being shaken up when he slid into first base. . . . Center fielder Garry Maddox II made a terrific running catch just in front of the wall to save a run in the eighth.

Contact Mike Drago at 610-371-5067 or mdrago@....

http://www.readingeagle.com/re/sports/1138194.asp

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#96 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Tue Jul 8, 2003 1:55 am
Subject: Roster Turnover tsumner122
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For Manager, Midseason Roster Turnover Is Business as Usual

By Steve Argeris
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, July 3, 2003; Page PG19

The incredible roster turnover by midseason is a fact of life in the minor leagues, but that does not make each summer any easier to take for Bowie Baysox Manager Dave Trembley.

In his 17th season as a minor league manager, Trembley has seen about four dozen players come through his clubhouse at some point this season. As of the weekend, just three position players and one-fifth of the original starting rotation remained.

"How I try to deal with it is to explain to everyone who comes through the door what the program is," Trembley said. "I try to treat everyone with respect and fairness and put an emphasis on fundamentals and preparation."

On the active roster, only Mike Fontenot, Keith Reed and Josh Hoffpauir have played in at least 50 games with the Baysox.

Two of the promotions that most pleased Trembley were center fielder Tim Raines Jr. and starter Matt Riley.

Both players' professionalism had been called into question previously. Those concerns were put to rest quickly this season as they became leaders in the clubhouse and played well throughout the spring.

Raines had been the Baysox's catalyst out of the leadoff spot, stealing 28 bases, hitting .308 with 4 home runs and 26 RBI. Riley anchored the Bowie rotation, going 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 14 starts. He struck out 73 and walked just 23.

"I felt very, very proud of the success of Riley and Raines," Trembley said. "At times, watching both of them, there were occasions when I felt like they could be playing in the big leagues on a particular night."

In five games with Ottawa, Raines has hit .348, and Riley (1-0) has made two starts, giving up two runs in 12 innings.

Rijo Tosses Shutout

Fernando Rijo (3-6) gave Bowie its first nine-inning shutout when he blanked the Harrisburg Senators, 7-0, on the road Saturday. Rijo struck out seven and gave up one hit and one walk. He has had great success against Harrisburg, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 5-0 shutout of the Senators on June 16. . . .

Bowie was 38-39 as of Sunday. The Baysox are 12 games behind first-place Akron in the Eastern League's Southern Division, but it is their best record at this point in four years. The main reason is mostly stellar pitching, with a staff third among the Eastern League's 12 teams with a 3.75 ERA.

� 2003 The Washington Post Company

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#95 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Tue Jul 8, 2003 1:53 am
Subject: Fernando Rijo tsumner122
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Blame It on Rijo: Bowie Hurler's New Pitch Baffles Hitters

By Sean P. Flynn
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, July 3, 2003; Page D05

Before this season, Bowie pitcher Fernando Rijo added a split-finger pitch to his repertoire. As he has polished the pitch, which he uses as a change-up, Rijo's fortunes have improved; in his last three starts, the 25-year-old right-hander has allowed just six runs in 211/3 innings.

"I feel like I'm throwing more confidently right now," Rijo said. "I'm getting my first pitch for a strike, and I'm getting the first out. I feel like I'm more focused."

Rijo is 3-6 with Bowie this season, but in his last three starts, his earned run average has dropped by one run to 4.82. In his last start on June 28, Rijo threw a one-hit shutout, striking out seven and walking only one in a win over Harrisburg.

The native of the Dominican Republic spent six seasons in the Dodgers organization and one with the Tigers organization before being signed by the Orioles this season. Rijo was a non-roster invitee to the Orioles' major league spring training before being assigned to Bowie.

The addition of the split-finger, which complements a curveball and a fastball in the low nineties, allows Rijo to confound batters each time up to the plate. Rijo had been predominantly throwing his fastball early in the season, and batters were able to catch up to him.

"First time up, he was blowing the fastball by them," Trembley said. "The second time around he was able to get away with it. Third time around, hitters had been able to measure it. So his troubles were coming in the sixth inning."

With the Baysox, Rijo has impressed Manager Dave Trembley with his eagerness to pitch. Rijo wastes little time between pitches, and Trembley said it keeps Baysox fielders focused during the game.

"He's got a great body, and he keeps in great shape," Trembley said.

"I can see Fernando as a good middle [relief] guy in the big leagues. He likes to pitch a lot, and after your starter comes out he can get you those two or three innings real quick."

� 2003 The Washington Post Company

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#94 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Tue Jul 8, 2003 1:49 am
Subject: BAYSOX ALL-STARS tsumner122
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Baysox notes: Bowie has three all-stars
JOHN McNAMARA Staff Writer -- The Annapolis Capital

BOWIE - The top two prospects who started the season at Bowie - Tim Raines Jr. and Matt Riley - have moved along to Class AAA Ottawa. But the Baysox nevertheless will have three representatives in the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game, which is scheduled for July 16 at New Britain, Conn.

Bowie second baseman Mike Fontenot, third baseman Ivanon Coffie and left-handed starter Brian Forystek were named to the all-star team this week.

Fontenot has taken over from Raines as the team's top all-around offensive player. He had reached base in 42 straight games entering play last night. That matches David Dellucci's mark for the best-ever in franchise history.

After a one-for-25 start this season, Fontenot has come on strong in recent weeks, improving his average to .302 through Friday's games. He is second on the Baysox with 29 runs scored and leads the team in RBIs with 38.

Fontenot batted .380 with three homers and 21 RBIs during the month of June and was named the organization's player of the month.

Forystek, meanwhile, was moved out of the bullpen and into the starting rotation on the recommendation of Bowie pitching coach Dave Schuler and has responded b! y going 7-4 with a 2.71 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .223 average.

Bowie is the third stop this season for Coffie, a 26-year-old minor league veteran who made it all the way up to Baltimore with the Orioles in 2003.

In 35 games at Bowie, he has provided some much-needed power. Coffie is hitting .296 with five homers and 21 RBIs.

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#93 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Wed Jul 2, 2003 9:40 pm
Subject: IVANON COFFIE tsumner122
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Coffie Hopes the Baysox Will Get Him to the Majors -- Again

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By Steve Argeris
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, July 2, 2003; Page D07

Ivanon Coffie's only trip to the major leagues came while playing for Bowie, so when the Baltimore Orioles offered him another shot this spring with the Class AA Baysox, he was quick to agree.

"I'm just happy to be back here," said Coffie, who rejoined the team May 28 and has played nearly every day since at third base. "This is the team I made it to the big leagues with, so I think it's a good place for me to start again."

Coffie is hitting a team-high .316 through 30 games and 98 at-bats, with seven doubles, five home runs and 20 RBI. He also has 21 walks against 14 strikeouts, the team's best ratio. His slugging percentage (.541) and on-base percentage (.443) are also the team's best.

"I still think Coffie has a chance to make it back to the big leagues," Baysox Manager Dave Trembley said. "He's a line drive left-handed hitter, and the ball makes a little different sound coming off his bat than other guys."

Coffie played 23 games with the Orioles in 2000, hitting .217 in 60 at-bats, getting called up from Bowie. One of the first games he played third base in Baltimore was the first major league start of John Parrish's career.

"Yeah, Class of '96, baby," said Parrish, referring to the year both signed. Parrish is also back in Bowie, remaking himself into a closer after missing last season with an injury. "It's great to have him back here. He's a rock at third, and he's hitting great."

He spent all of 2001 in the minors before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later that offseason.

He failed to make the Cubs' roster, and instead struggled for Class AAA Iowa, hitting .239 with seven home runs before being released after the season. But the valleys of the past two years might be the reason for his success in June.

"One of the big things about guys who are up and then come back is that they get a wakeup call and appreciate the position they are in a lot more," Trembley said.

� 2003 The Washington Post Company

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#92 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Tue Jul 1, 2003 9:31 pm
Subject: Pitcher and Players of the week tsumner122
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http://www.easternleague.com/ppow.taf?week=147

Pitcher of the Week

Trenton Thunder outfielder Mitch Jones has been named the Eastern League's Chevrolet Player of the Week for the week ending June 29th. Jones, a native of Orem, Utah hit .560 (14-for-25) with six doubles, two home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, four walks, two stolen bases and had a slugging percentage of 1.040 in seven games last week. The 2001 Florida State League All-Star had five multi-hit games during the week, including a four-hit performance in Trenton's 10-4 over Binghamton on Friday. The 25-year old raised his batting average by 27 points during the week and is among the league leaders in RBI (52) and home runs (11). Mitch was selected by the New York Yankees in the seventh round of the June 2000 draft out of Arizona State University.

Mitch Jones's Batting Line for the week ending
June 29, 2003:

G	Avg.	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	SB	BB	SLG%
7	0.560	25	14	6	0	2	10	10	2	4	1.040

Year to Date:

G	Avg.	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	SB	BB	SLG%
77	0.259	255	66	14	0	11	52	49	4	36	0.443

Fernando Rijo, a right-handed pitcher for the Bowie Baysox, is the Eastern League's Chevrolet Pitcher of the Week for the week ending June 29th. The La Romano, Dominican Republic native was 1-0 with seven strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA last week. In his first and only start of the week, the 25-year old struck out seven batters and walked one while tossing a complete game one-hit shutout, to improve his record to 3-6 and lower his ERA to 4.82 on the season. The 5'11", 150 lb. hurler is 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts during the month of June and is 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA on the road this season. Rijo was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as a minor league free agent on November 16, 2002.

Fernando Rijo's Pitching Line for the week ending
June 29, 2003:

G	W	L	S	IP	H	R	ER	K	BB	ERA
1	1	0	0	9.00	1	0	0	7	1	0

Year to Date:

G	W	L	S	IP	H	R	ER	K	BB	ERA
13	3	6	0	71.00	64	40	38	50	29	4.82

Previous Pitcher and Players of the week award winners:

August 26-September 2

(August 27-September 3)

August 28- September 4

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#91 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Mon Jun 30, 2003 9:41 pm
Subject: BAYSOX tsumner122
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Baysox: Bowie blanks Senators, 7-0

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Fernando Rijo threw a one-hitter as the Bowie Baysox beat the Harrisburg Senators 7-0 Saturday night in the Eastern League.

The only hit off Rijo (3-6) came on Brandon Watson's bunt single in the third inning. Rijo struck out seven and walked one.

By the third Bowie already had a 6-0 lead off Harrisburg starter Blake Stein (0-4).

The Baysox took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Ivanon Coffie's two-run homer. B.J. Littleton's RBI groundout pushed Bowie's lead to 3-0 in the second.

Bowie scored three runs in the third on a throwing error by third baseman Albenis Machado, Fletcher Bates' sacrifice fly and Mike Seestedt's RBI single

****************************************************************************

Baysox notebook: Bowie lefty starting to enjoy new role
By JOHN McNAMARA Staff Writer

BOWIE - It took left-handed pitcher Brian Forystek two years to get out of Class A Frederick.

It took longer than that for the 24-year-old to break into someone's starting rotation after spending his entire career in the bullpen.

Now that he has, he doesn't want to go back - either to Frederick or the bullpen.

"I just got a great opportunity and I've taken advantage of it," Forystek said.

He's 6-4 with a 2.48 ERA so far and figures to play an even bigger role with the Baysox now that ace Matt Riley has been promoted to Ottawa.

Forystek earned a spot in the rotation with some strong performances out of the bullpen early in the season. He was so effective that Bowie pitching coach Dave Schuler recommended to the organization that Forystek be given a chance to start.

Forystek was shaky in his first start against May 2 (it was only the third of his career), allowing two earned runs in 2 innings. He's had only one bad start since then (si! x earned runs in five innings on May 23 against New Britain. Since then, he's made five starts, pitched 29 innings and allowed only eight earned runs for a 2.48 ERA.

"He's an intelligent young man," said Bowie manager Dave Trembley. "He's able to make adjustments. He's a reliever who has emerged as a good starter for us. He has very good command of his fastball and the idea was to get him more innings and let him develop more pitches as a starter."

When Forystek signed with the Orioles in 2000, he was asked if he wanted to be a starter or reliever. Concerned that most of the organization's pitchers had sights set on a starting job, he volunteered for the bullpen. It didn't take him long to realize his mistake.

It's often difficult for anyone but the closer to get noticed while pitching out the bullpen, and the long relief role also limits your chances to pitch, Forystek learned. In three years in t! he organization, he never pitched more than 70 innings in a season. He's already thrown 65 this season, which is barely half over.

"All those guys (in Frederick's bullpen the last two years) were waiting for somebody to go down (with an injury) so they could start," he said.

Forystek's total after three years were solid, but not exactly impressive: 7-7, 3.65 ERA. But he had struck out 182 batters in 155 innings. And he showed enough stuff in April to convince Schuler that he deserved a chance to start.

"It's all about getting that one opportunity," Forystek said.

And that opportunity nearly passed him by. After two straight years in Frederick, he knew that his performance in spring training this year would go a long way toward determining his future.

"I had to make the Bowie team out of spring training, or baseball might have been over for me," h! e said.

Forystek put a lot of pressure on himself coming into spring training last year, and didn't get good results. So even though there was a lot at stake this year, he tried to keep his emotions in check.

"I just came in a lot more relaxed," he said.

Now that he's on a roll, Forystek is still trying to keep on an even keel. He refuses to look at the league's statistical leaders, even though he knows he's among the Eastern League's best in ERA.

"I haven't been paying attention to any of that stuff," he said.

MOVING ON: Over the years, Tim Raines Jr. and Matt Riley have become fixtures in Bowie. Now they've moved on to Triple-A, where the Orioles hope they'll continue their climb to the majors.

Raines played 65 games in Bowie in 2001, batting .291 before moving up to Triple-A.

He returned to Bowie to start last year and turned in a so-so season (.261), which landed him back with the Baysox to start this season.

He got off to a hot start, faltered, then lifted his average back above. 300. At the time of his promotion, Raines was hitting .308 with a team-high 44 runs scored and a league-leading 28 steals.

Riley (5-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 2003) first came to Bowie in 1999 as the organization's top pitching prospect He went 10-6 with a 3.22 ERA for the Baysox that season, which saw him climb from Class A Frederick to the majors before it was all over.

Riley got sidetracked by injuries and some discipline problems over the next few years, spending parts of 2000 and 2002 in Bowie as well. He missed all of the 2001 season following elbow surgery, and struggled last season with his recovery, going 4-10 with a 6.34 ERA.

He trimmed that latter figure in half during the first half of 2003, reviving hopes that could one day be an effective major-league pitcher.

"They did pretty much everything we asked them to do in Bowie," said Darrell 'Doc' Rodgers, the Orioles' director of minor league operations. "Tim re-dedicated himself to being a major-league ballplayer. He showed us that once again, he's a prospect.

"Matt got healthy and got his stuff back."

WHAT'S NEXT: The Bowie Baysox are in Harrisburg this weekend, but return to Prince George's Stadium for a four-game series with the Akron Aeros beginning tomorrow. The games tomorrow night through Thursday are scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. and Thursday night's game will be followed by a fireworks display.

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#90 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sat Jun 28, 2003 4:37 am
Subject: BAYSOX / RAVENS tsumner122
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One Hit Enough To Beat Ravens

Associated Press

June 27 2003

The Baysox used their only hit to beat the New Haven Ravens 1-0 Thursday night in Bowie, Md.

In the third inning, Octavio Martinez led off with a walk and Glen Barker sacrificed him to second. B.J. Littleton doubled home Martinez.

Mike Parades (4-6) allowed five hits in six innings, and Rodney Ormond and Eddy Rodriguez finished the combined seven-hitter. The Ravens loaded the bases against Rodriguez with two out in the ninth, but he struck out Dominic Rich for his third save.

Navigators 7, Thunder 6 (10): Jamie Athas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to lift Norwich in Trenton, N.J. Thunder reliever David Shepard (6-2) walked two and hit Mike Cervenak to load the bases in the 10th. After Pat Hallmark hit into a force play, Shepard hit Athas ! to force in the winning run.

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#89 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sat Jun 28, 2003 4:34 am
Subject: MORE FONTENOT tsumner122
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Baysox: Fontenot's home run lifts Bowie

BOWIE - The Baysox rode the momentum of their hottest hitter to snap out of a cold spell last night at Prince George's Stadium.

Mike Fontenot delivered a three-run homer in the bottom of the first and extended his hitting streak to 16 games as the Baysox cruised to a 4-1 victory over the New Haven Ravens.

Fontenot went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and has now reached base in 35 straight games.

In the bottom of the first, B.J. Littleton and Josh Hoffpauir led off with back-to-back walks, both issued by New Haven's David Bush. Fontenot then delivered the three-run shot, his sixth of the season. Bowie (36-37) tacked on another run in the inning after Ivanon Coffie doubled and scored on a Fletcher Bates' double.

The four-run Bowie first proved to be more than enough for Baysox starter Dave Borkowski and two relievers. Borkowski (2-3) pitched five strong innings for the win, allowing seven hits and one run, while striking out three. John Parrish followed with three hitless innings for the Baysox and Aaron Rakers colle! cted his eighth save of the season to close things out.

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Published June 26, 2003, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright � 2003 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.

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#88 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sat Jun 28, 2003 4:32 am
Subject: MIKE FONTENOT tsumner122
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Hitting Is a Matter of Seeing the Ball for Bowie's Fontenot

By Steve Argeris

Mike Fontenot started the season sluggishly enough, going nearly two dozen at-bats without his first base hit. But the Bowie Baysox coaching staff had patience, figuring Fontenot would adjust to Class AA pitching sooner or later.

It ended up being sooner. Fontenot has raised his batting average more than 80 points in the past month and, heading into yesterday's home game with the New Haven Ravens, the second baseman was hitting .291 with a surprising amount of power. He has five home runs, second best for the Baysox.

"I'm feeling really good at the plate," Fontenot said last week.

Fontenot cites two major changes from April to June: pitch selection and contact lenses.

Early in the year, he had trouble seeing a clock across the clubhouse. Never having worn glasses before, he finally went to visit an optometrist three weeks into the season. The difference was immediate.

"Everything was a lot more clear," he said.

The second change was Fontenot's pickiness at the plate. His 5-foot-8 frame offers pitchers a small strike zone to work with and affords Fontenot the opportunity to be selective. His walks have increased -- 18 on the year -- and he has reached base in 33 consecutive games, including a current 14-game hitting streak.

Fontenot, listed as the Orioles' sixth-best prospect by Baseball America, had a similar breakout month around this time last season, his first full professional season. Playing at Class A Frederick, he reached base in 22 consecutive games between June 24 and July 18, hitting .377 with a 15-game hitting streak.

"He has settled in and played more according to the style that suits him," Baysox Manager Dave Trembley said. "He's stopped chasing balls out of his range."

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#87 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sat Jun 28, 2003 4:30 am
Subject: BAYSOX / RAVENS tsumner122
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http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/live/06_25-01/SPO

Baysox: Bases-loaded single in 9th drops Bowie in 3-2 loss

Alexis Rios hit the game-winning RBI infield single with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, leading the New Haven Ravens to a 3-2 victory over the Bowie Baysox last night.

New Haven (37-36) opened the scoring when Rios hit a two-run triple down the third base line in the fifth inning. Rios went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in.

Bowie (36-36) responded in the bottom of the fifth when Gary Cates doubled to center field and Ivanon Coffie tied the game with a two-run home run, his third of the season. Mike Fontenot had two hits for the Baysox, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. Fontenot has reached base in 34 straight games, including nine multi-hit games.

New Haven starter Dustin McGowan struck out six batters in five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. Gustavo Chacin pitched 2 shutout innings for the Ravens and Brandon DeJong (1-0) earned the win by getting the final two outs of the eighth inning.

Juan Pena pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save of the season. Mike Drumright made his first start for Bowie after being demoted by A! AA Ottawa, pitching 4 innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out three and walking none. Eddy Rodriguez (2-3) took the loss for Bowie.

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#86 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sat Jun 28, 2003 4:28 am
Subject: Foreign Players Try to Keep in Touch tsumner122
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Can You Hear Me Now? Foreign Players Try to Keep in Touch

By Steve Argeris

As the New Haven pitching staff played catch in the outfield before yesterday's game at Prince George's Stadium, Bowie Baysox third baseman Ivanon Coffie strolled up, ostensibly to warm up, but actually just to chat.

Dominican-born Juan Pena tried to keep up with Coffie and Diego Markwell's conversation, but an impromptu switch from Spanish to Papiamentu, the language of Coffie and Markwell's native Curacao, left him behind.

"Yeah, we're pretty much the translators for a lot of the guys," said the Ravens' Markwell, who, like Coffie, and most baseball players from the Dutch Antilles, is a walking Rosetta Stone. "We grow up speaking Papiamentu, school is taught in Dutch, and they start teaching you English and Spanish in the fourth grade. You don't really have a choice to drop them until you get to college."

For both, the Ravens-Baysox three-game series this week was a rare treat, a chance to play against each other for the first time since Little League.

"It was a big rivalry, the north side of the island against the south," said Markwell, who is three years younger than the 26-year-old Coffie. "I played for the south side, he played for the north. Then he got signed, which was a big deal."

Markwell estimates there are around a dozen Curacao-born players in the American ranks, including Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones, and he keeps a close tab on most of them. "We exchange cell phone calls all the time. It's great to get a chance to play against him, great to get a chance to speak your language and have someone else understand you."

The teams first played in early June, just after Coffie rejoined the Baltimore Orioles organization after a two-year absence.

"The last time I played against him, I must have been 15," Coffie said.

Coffie singled in his first at-bat against his old friend. After both called home that night, Markwell felt like the whole island knew by midnight.

"Aw, yeah, he got me, but I got him out too, later on," Markwell said. "So we're even."

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#85 From: Mike Sopp <mikesopp@...>
Date: Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:15 am
Subject: Re: RE: Spring Baseball in Erie (Should Erie become Short Season agai) mikesopp
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John - am glad to say that now the weather is a bit warmer the fans are coming out and the games are getting better...heck Erie is even beating Reading...well sometime :)

John Pfeiffer <pfeiffjb@...> wrote:

Message: 1 Date: Sun, 11 May 2003 22:36:55 -0000 From: "Mike Sopp" <mikesopp@...> Subject: Erie/Altoona controversy? I don't know if anyone listened to the Seawolves games the last couple of nights, but in the middle of two excellent games there was an annoucement of an article where a former Seawolves player mentioned that Erie should be a short season team along with a few other choice comments about the Seawolve franchise and Erie baseball as a whole. Todays game was accented by a rather spirited discussion (read bar room debate) between the writer of the article and the Seawolves announcer. There were a few things that came to mind while I listened to the goings on: 1) kudos to the Altoona writer for even coming on the broadcast to begin with - he showed a lot of intestinal fortitude and the willingess to stand behind what he was saying 2) I do not know why the Seawolves announcer was so put out at the idea of the weather during games in April as being brutal. As someone who left opening night midway thru the game, who chain drinks hotchocolate (thank god they arent charging $4 for it anymore) and sneaks peppers from the consession stand to stay warm, and someone who has stayed away from games because of the weather, April baseball in Erie is brutal. 3) But the one point I do not think the Altoona writer got, was why fault the Seawolves ownership for wanting to make money? They are in business not to just provide a community service, but actually to better their bottom line. And if doubling home dates would do that - then god bless them. 4) The other thing was - it was almost like the writer was blaming the Erie ownership for going to AA. Forgive my ignorance, but didn't minor league baseball have something to say in what teams got those franchises? I know Erie is not high on the attendance ranks of the Eastern League, and I have to admit to wondering when the Tigers contract is over if Erie would end up moving back to a short season team, but I think the Seawolves management is definately getting the short shrift here. This year especially many of the Eastern Leagues have had problems with spring baseball. The Trenton Thunder lost their first week of the season on the road to snow at Portland and Norwich. Spring baseball in Reading was brutal too and I am sure attendance was down this year compared to last. Over the 11 seasons I have been a season ticket holder at Reading, I have seen opening day move from nearer mid-April to very early April. That extra week or so I tricky in the great Northeast!! John B. Pfeiffer Wescosville, PA

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#84 From: "Tim Sumner" <tsumner@...>
Date: Sun Jun 22, 2003 9:55 am
Subject: ERIE SEAWOLVES tsumner122
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Article published Jun 20, 2003
Baugh's velocity back, but wins nowhere in sight
Baysox bash SeaWolves starter

By John Dudley
john.dudley@...

Kenny Baugh felt good and threw hard, harder than he has all season.

Still, the Erie SeaWolves right-hander gave up lots of hits and runs and struggled to command his fastball as the Bowie Baysox rallied for a 9-5 win Thursday before a paid crowd of 2,251 at Jerry Uht Park.

Baugh lost his fourth straight decision since returning to Class AA after shoulder surgery last year. He said he is beginning to understand how lengthy his recovery might be.

"It's a slow process," said Baugh, the Tigers' No. 1 pick on the 2001 amateur draft. "It's a lot harder than I suspected it would be."

Bowie came back from 2-0 and 4-3 deficits, using a five-run fifth inning that sent Baugh to the showers and put the Baysox (35-33) firmly in control.

The SeaWolves (33-39) had their two-game win streak stopped.

Keith Reed provided the first big blow for Bowie, a three-run homer in the second that erased the SeaWolves' 2-0 lead.

The lead went back and forth until the fifth, when the Baysox chipped away against Baugh with a solo homer, two RBI singles, a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring error to take a 9-4 lead.

Baugh said he felt stronger than usual Thursday after receiving an extra day of rest following Tuesday's rainout.

It showed on the radar gun. Baugh touched 90 miles per hour for the first time since joining the SeaWolves last month and routinely threw in the 88-mph range, not that far off of his pre-surgery velocity.

He threw in the low to mid-90s before suffering a slightly torn labrum that required surgery following the 2001 season and kept him out for 2002.

"His velocity and the fact that he feels good are two very positive signs," pitching coach Britt Burns said.

Baugh's main problem was location. His pitches were up! , and the Baysox swang aggressively at them, twice getting homers on first-pitch fastballs.

"Normally I would be able to get away with some of that if I was throwing harder," he said. "But even if I was throwing harder I still don't want to get it up in the zone. I'm just a kind of lost right now, but I'm trying to stay patient."

While Baugh scuffled, the SeaWolves enjoyed another productive night at the plate. They collected 13 hits, including two each from Nook Logan, Matt Walker, Tonayne Brown and Jack Hannahan.

Walker continued his month-long tear with a solo homer, his fourth, and an RBI double. He is batting .377 in June.

"If our offense can keep doing what it's been doing the last few days I think we're going to be fine," manager Kevin Bradshaw said. "I liked our lineup tonight. We had a nice right(-handed), left(-handed) combination going with some power and a little bit of speed. I'm excited about it."

JOHN DUDLEY can be reached at 870-16! 77 or by e-mail.

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#83 From: "John Pfeiffer" <pfeiffjb@...>
Date: Mon May 12, 2003 1:45 pm
Subject: RE: Spring Baseball in Erie (Should Erie become Short Season agai) pfeiffjb
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Message: 1
    Date: Sun, 11 May 2003 22:36:55 -0000
    From: "Mike Sopp" <mikesopp@...>
Subject: Erie/Altoona controversy?

I don't know if anyone listened to the Seawolves games the last
couple of nights, but in the middle of two excellent games there was
an annoucement of an article where a former Seawolves player
mentioned that Erie should be a short season team along with a few
other choice comments about the Seawolve franchise and Erie baseball
as a whole.

Todays game was accented by a rather spirited discussion (read bar
room debate) between the writer of the article and the Seawolves
announcer.

There were a few things that came to mind while I listened to the
goings on:

1)  kudos to the Altoona writer for even coming on the broadcast to
begin with - he showed a lot of intestinal fortitude and the
willingess to stand behind what he was saying

2)  I do not know why the Seawolves announcer was so put out at the
idea of the weather during games in April as being brutal.  As
someone who left opening night midway thru the game, who chain drinks
hotchocolate (thank god they arent charging $4 for it anymore) and
sneaks peppers from the consession stand to stay warm, and someone
who has stayed away from games because of the weather, April baseball
in Erie is brutal.

3)  But the one point I do not think the Altoona writer got, was why
fault the Seawolves ownership for wanting to make money?  They are in
business not to just provide a community service, but actually to
better their bottom line.  And if doubling home dates would do that -
then god bless them.

4)  The other thing was - it was almost like the writer was blaming
the Erie ownership for going to AA.  Forgive my ignorance, but didn't
minor league baseball have something to say in what teams got those
franchises?

I know Erie is not high on the attendance ranks of the Eastern
League, and I have to admit to wondering when the Tigers contract is
over if Erie would end up moving back to a short season team, but I
think the Seawolves management is definately getting the short shrift
here.

This year especially many of the Eastern Leagues have had problems with
spring baseball.  The Trenton Thunder lost their first week of the
season on the road to snow at Portland and Norwich.  Spring baseball in
Reading was brutal too and I am sure attendance was down this year
compared to last.

Over the 11 seasons I have been a season ticket holder at Reading, I
have seen opening day move from nearer mid-April to very early April.
That extra week or so I tricky in the great Northeast!!

John B. Pfeiffer
Wescosville, PA

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#82 From: "Mike Sopp" <mikesopp@...>
Date: Sun May 11, 2003 10:37 pm
Subject: Erie/Altoona controversy? mikesopp
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I don't know if anyone listened to the Seawolves games the last
couple of nights, but in the middle of two excellent games there was
an annoucement of an article where a former Seawolves player
mentioned that Erie should be a short season team along with a few
other choice comments about the Seawolve franchise and Erie baseball
as a whole.

Todays game was accented by a rather spirited discussion (read bar
room debate) between the writer of the article and the Seawolves
announcer.

There were a few things that came to mind while I listened to the
goings on:

1)  kudos to the Altoona writer for even coming on the broadcast to
begin with - he showed a lot of intestinal fortitude and the
willingess to stand behind what he was saying

2)  I do not know why the Seawolves announcer was so put out at the
idea of the weather during games in April as being brutal.  As
someone who left opening night midway thru the game, who chain drinks
hotchocolate (thank god they arent charging $4 for it anymore) and
sneaks peppers from the consession stand to stay warm, and someone
who has stayed away from games because of the weather, April baseball
in Erie is brutal.

3)  But the one point I do not think the Altoona writer got, was why
fault the Seawolves ownership for wanting to make money?  They are in
business not to just provide a community service, but actually to
better their bottom line.  And if doubling home dates would do that -
then god bless them.

4)  The other thing was - it was almost like the writer was blaming
the Erie ownership for going to AA.  Forgive my ignorance, but didn't
minor league baseball have something to say in what teams got those
franchises?

I know Erie is not high on the attendance ranks of the Eastern
League, and I have to admit to wondering when the Tigers contract is
over if Erie would end up moving back to a short season team, but I
think the Seawolves management is definately getting the short shrift
here.

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#81 From: "Mike Sopp" <mikesopp@...>
Date: Sun May 11, 2003 10:36 pm
Subject: Erie/Altoona controversy? mikesopp
Offline
Send Email

I don't know if anyone listened to the Seawolves games the last
couple of nights, but in the middle of two excellent games there was
an annoucement of an article where a former Seawolves player
mentioned that Erie should be a short season team along with a few
other choice comments about the Seawolve franchise and Erie baseball
as a whole.

Todays game was accented by a rather spirited discussion (read bar
room debate) between the writer of the article and the Seawolves
announcer.

There were a few things that came to mind while I listened to the
goings on:

1)  kudos to the Altoona writer for even coming on the broadcast to
begin with - he showed a lot of intestinal fortitude and the
willingess to stand behind what he was saying

2)  I do not know why the Seawolves announcer was so put out at the
idea of the weather during games in April as being brutal.  As
someone who left opening night midway thru the game, who chain drinks
hotchocolate (thank god they arent charging $4 for it anymore) and
sneaks peppers from the consession stand to stay warm, and someone
who has stayed away from games because of the weather, April baseball
in Erie is brutal.

3)  But the one point I do not think the Altoona writer got, was why
fault the Seawolves ownership for wanting to make money?  They are in
business not to just provide a community service, but actually to
better their bottom line.  And if doubling home dates would do that -
then god bless them.

4)  The other thing was - it was almost like the writer was blaming
the Erie ownership for going to AA.  Forgive my ignorance, but didn't
minor league baseball have something to say in what teams got those
franchises?

I know Erie is not high on the attendance ranks of the Eastern
League, and I have to admit to wondering when the Tigers contract is
over if Erie would end up moving back to a short season team, but I
think the Seawolves management is definately getting the short shrift
here.

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#80 From: SABRMnLgs@...
Date: Thu May 23, 2002 5:06 pm
Subject: Re: Digest Number 50 SABRMnLgs@...
Send Email

Rather than type all those letters and numbers in, why not just send a hyperlink?

Thanks.

Jerry Jackson (SABR Minor League Research Committee)

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