Billy Rowell has a .797 OPS -- in the Gulf Coast League

[Frobby]

Billy Rowell has now played 14 games in the GCL. That's awfully long for a rehab assignment, and he's not even hitting particularly well in that league. He hit better at Bluefield and Aberdeen as a 17-year old than he's hitting in the GCL at age 22.

Why do I get this sinking feeling that we'll finally release him, he'll latch on to some other organization, and then they'll fix him?

[Tony-OH]

Billy Rowell has now played 14 games in the GCL. That's awfully long for a rehab assignment, and he's not even hitting particularly well in that league. He hit better at Bluefield and Aberdeen as a 17-year old than he's hitting in the GCL at age 22.

Why do I get this sinking feeling that we'll finally release him, he'll latch on to some other organization, and then they'll fix him?

I think the chances of Billy Rowell being "fixed" is pretty remote, but it would not surprise me in the least bit if he's released before this off season. There's about 0.1 % chance he'll be back next year. Hell, if I'm the Orioles, I'm putting him on the mound to see if his good arm can pitch because it's pretty clear the only way he's seeing the major leagues is by paying for a ticket.

[TGO]

I think the chances of Billy Rowell being "fixed" is pretty remote, but it would not surprise me in the least bit if he's released before this off season. There's about 0.1 % chance he'll be back next year. Hell, if I'm the Orioles, I'm putting him on the mound to see if his good arm can pitch because it's pretty clear the only way he's seeing the major leagues is by paying for a ticket.

Do you know if there's any talk or interest at all in trying this? At this point he's done as a hitter and he's not much of a fielder, either.

[glenn__davis]

Does anyone recall a bigger flop from a top 10 pick that wasn't due to injury? He's one sort of good season at A-ball.

[Frobby]

They'd be crazy to bring him back for another year. It's incredible how bad a bust he was, and it really does seem to me like the team had a role in messing him up somehow. He was pretty decent at ages 17 and 18. Anyone who can put up a .761 OPS in the Sally League at age 18 has some talent. But he somehow went backwards after that.

[ccbird]

I imagine Billy is playing out the string. He knows he is gone from this org and probably done with baseball. BTW ...is he not a 6 yr minor league FA after this year anyway??

[TGO]

Does anyone recall a bigger flop from a top 10 pick that wasn't due to injury? He's one sort of good season at A-ball.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Bush_%28baseball%29

[ccbird]

They'd be crazy to bring him back for another year. It's incredible how bad a bust he was, and it really does seem to me like the team had a role in messing him up somehow. He was pretty decent at ages 17 and 18. Anyone who can put up a .761 OPS in the Sally League at age 18 has some talent. But he somehow went backwards after that.

I don't think the org played a role in messing him up at all. I guess you could make an argument that they didn't help him improve his flaws enough but the reports we heard about Rowell over the years he wasn't listening much of anything we were saying anyway. His work ethic was questioned, he had his own hitting coach, etc.

[Tony-OH]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Bush_%28baseball%29

And we have a winner!!

[Tony-OH]

I don't think the org played a role in messing him up at all. I guess you could make an argument that they didn't help him improve his flaws enough but the reports we heard about Rowell over the years he wasn't listening much of anything we were saying anyway. His work ethic was questioned, he had his own hitting coach, etc.

Yeah, I agree with this. I don't think the scouts that drafted him saw him growing out of his athleticism so much as his body matured. That and the fact that there were some swing problems right off the bat as you can tell in his strikeout numbers at Bluefield and Aberdeen. Although the Orioles do not have a very good track record of developing hitters, I don't think you can blame Rowell's lack of progress on anything other than a lack of ability.

[Gurgi]

They'd be crazy to bring him back for another year. It's incredible how bad a bust he was, and it really does seem to me like the team had a role in messing him up somehow. He was pretty decent at ages 17 and 18. Anyone who can put up a .761 OPS in the Sally League at age 18 has some talent. But he somehow went backwards after that.

Cant you stretch your mind to imagine how he could be better at that age and not now? Looks awesome in high school, looks okay for first two years and just seems to diminish before your eyes? What could that be?

[TGO]

Cant you stretch your mind to imagine how he could be better at that age and not now? Looks awesome in high school, looks okay for first two years and just seems to diminish before your eyes? What could that be?

You are positively obsessed with PED's.

I think Tony's theory about him getting more unathletic and gangly as he grew has some merit. And obviously the Orioles did not project that happening or at least not to such a degree that it would affect his hitting.

[alaniee]

I wonder if there are any other people out there who have parents as doctors, built batting cages, sent their kid to all kinds of camps and he did well enough in high school to get drafted.... and turn out to be a bust but got a nice signing bonus so he's got money unless he wasn't wise with his money.. I'm gonna try this with my future son, maybe the orioles will make the same mistake with my son and he'll get some money. Good idea.

[Gurgi]

You are positively obsessed with PED's.

I think Tony's theory about him getting more unathletic and gangly as he grew has some merit. And obviously the Orioles did not project that happening or at least not to such a degree that it would affect his hitting.

I admit that I tend to think PED's pretty fast these days. Frankly I dont see how you couldnt.

I wouldnt be surprised at anything anymore. I wouldnt be shocked if Nolan Ryan or Ripken took them. Honestly I wouldnt.

Giving anyone the benefit of the doubt in todays age is kinda PC to the max. Maybe in a court of law but not in public opinion. What do you think Jordan and MacPhail whisper to each other about how come this kid flopped so bad? You got to think they think PED's could be a big part.

[Gurgi]

You are positively obsessed with PED's.

I think Tony's theory about him getting more unathletic and gangly as he grew has some merit. And obviously the Orioles did not project that happening or at least not to such a degree that it would affect his hitting.

Did you miss the whole last 15 years of baseball? The 73 homeruns? The Roberts admissions? The Mitchell Report? The Manny retirement? Clemens?

The last 15 years are DEFINED by PED's.