Me and Billy Rowell .......

[OFFNY]

Huh? Ortiz had already had a taste of the majors at 21, Bautista was much better at the same age, and Werth spent most of his 21 year old season at Bowie.

When Bautista was 21, he was playing at Regular-A ball, one level below where Billy was last season (Advanced-A). At 22, Bautista batted .242 at Advanced-A Lynchburg. Two years later when he was 24, Bautista was back down at AA-Altoona for the entire season. At the majors, Bautista is a .career 244 hitter ......... and he just turned 30.

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[OFFNY]

Yeah, and he never struck out anywhere near as much as Rowell and his BB rate was much better than Rowell.

Rowell has absolutely no signs that point to him having a shot to be a good hitter at this point. Obviously that doesn't mean it won't happen... but there's absolutely nothing to indicate it will.

You stated that Bautista was "much better" than Rowell at the same age, and that is what I responded to, not Billy's strikeout ratio or signs whether he would make it or not. Bautista was not "much better" than Rowell at the same age by a long shot, as I pointed out. Bautista wasn't even paying at Billy's level at the same age. That statement has no validity whatsoever.

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[OFFNY]

He was pretty clearly better but whatever. Rowell has been awful every year.

No argument there, except for Billy's first two years at Aberdeen and Delmarva, when he was pretty good. He started well, then went into the tank at Advanced-A for 2 consecutive years when he was 19 and 20 years old. He had a modest improvement last year at 21.

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[melankfo]

Actually, Guidry was still 26 during most of his first big year (he wasn't 27 until Aug 28) A more impressive example, who was also 26 in his first big year, was hall-of-famer Warren Spahn. From his relatively late start, Spahn won 363 games in his career, while Guidry won less than half that, at 170.

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There have also been pitchers that have been late bloomers.

Ron Guidry was 27 years-old when he pitched his first full season in the majors in 1977.

[mikezpen]

They have to send him to Bowie this year. This is his make or break season. Snyder's too for that matter.

[OFFNY]

Billy's a Baysox. There are still 6 people in his fan club: Me, his mother, and 4 other crazy people.

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2011/04/rowell-moves-up-one-level.html

[ChrisAF79]

Billy's a Baysox. There are still 6 people in his fan club: Me, his mother, and 4 other crazy people.

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2011/04/rowell-moves-up-one-level.html

I'm just wondering how much playing time he's going to see. Mahoney and Waring presumably are the starters at the corners, and the outfield is pretty full as well (not to mention, Rowell is an adventure out there).

[Crazysilver03]

I'm just wondering how much playing time he's going to see. Mahoney and Waring presumably are the starters at the corners, and the outfield is pretty full as well (not to mention, Rowell is an adventure out there).

Rowell will be the primary DH.

[ChrisAF79]

Rowell will be the primary DH.

Good to know, thanks. I should have assumed as much.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I'd rather have Tim Lincecum.

[weams]

Bill Rowell hit shots over the batters eye in BP last eve. He also alternated infield practice reps with Waring at third.

[Owen21]

Bill Rowell hit shots over the batters eye in BP last eve. He also alternated infield practice reps with Waring at third.

I got tied up with appointments & could not make it. I'm almost glad that I didn't after reviewing the box. I'm only a fan of strikeouts when our pitching staff gets credit for them. It also appears that Spoone's command was once again out of whack.

Give thanks to JustD for the Xman video.

[OFFNY]

After a rough start, Billy broke through with 2 hits and an RBI in the AA-Baysox' 4-1 win over the Richmond Squirrels. Billy has 3 RBI on the season, and is batting .214 (3 for 14).