Disappointment is a word most Orioles fans are familiar with. They avoid it like the Bubonic Plague in the early months of the season, start to feel it creeping in around the All-Star break, and embrace it fully come August. I can think of no better word to summarize the past decade of the franchise's existence. But, disappointment is a funny thing. Sure, we're all conditioned as Orioles fans to expect disappointment to come calling the same time every year, but usually the one thing that gave us hope, and threatened to call us out of our slumberous sleep of anguish has been the minor leagues. The eternal symbol of hope, repentance, and starting again.
2008 saw it's share of disappointment, especially in the minor leagues, and this list is designed to identify the ten prospects most responsible for getting our hopes up and breaking our hearts.
1. Chorye Spoone, pitcher, Bowie
You just know with his picture on the cover of this article that he was gonna make the list. Spoone stunned everyone last year by capitalizing on his talent and putting together a stellar year. Hopes were high that he would stamp his spot in Baltimore by this fall, possibly bypassing Norfolk altogether. Instead, the Baysox only got 9 starts out of Chorye, all with mixed results. He managed to compile a 3-3 record, appearing to revert to pre-2007 form recording almost as many walks as strikeouts, before being placed on the DL twice. He was finally shut down for good during the last month of the season. It will be interesting to see where Spoone ranks in the system after a disappointing 2008.
2. Pedro Beato, pitcher, Frederick
Beato was considered a steal as a supplement pick in 2006. Two years later, Beato has proven to be nothing of the kind. After posting rather pedestrian numbers in '07, the 6'6'' righthander reached a standstill in '08. Ten of his 19 starts resulted in losses. Hitters torched him for a .306 batting average, and he struck out only half a batter an inning. Finishing with a 5.85 era didn't help his cause either. Unless Beato has an amazing 2009 season, it appears he has been relegated to low-level prospect status.
3. Brandon Tripp, outfielder, Frederick
It's hard to knock a guy who hit 17 home runs and drove in 69 runs. But when that same guy was the 2007 Orioles Minor League Player of the Year who also happened to ring out to a .236 batting average, an on-base percentage below .300, and 145 strikeouts in 123 games, then you have a case for most disappointing. Tripp had his moments for Frederick. He hit most of his home runs in spurts, much like in '07, but had a much more difficult time keeping his average up and avoiding striking out in every at-bat. Seriously, who would have thought that the guy leading the Keys in strikeouts would NOT have been Brandon Snyder, Billy Rowell, or Chris Vinyard. Tripp needs to rebound in '09, cut down on the strikeouts, and try hitting to contact every now and again. The guy could have a future at a higher level.
4. Tim Bascom, pitcher, Frederick
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2 months ago
Yeah Spoone was a huge dissapointment. Guys were expecting him to be with Triple A by now.
Beato has been very bad as well, he's like 4-9.
Tripp is a semi-dissapointment. He is hitting just .240, but he made the ASG and has almost 20 home runs.
Bascom is not as big a dissapointment as Spoone, but still is. I think he'll have a big year next year. I didn't expect him to do very well.
Kieron Pope is sorta a dissapointment, but he's starting to come around. He has 14 homers.
Rowell had a terrible start. But, he's hitting just under .250 (.249) right now. That's amazing considering he was at .213 in July.
Matusz is just another case of a stuck up draft pick
Penn: I GIVE UP. He gets hurt like the day before getting called up like evry year
Yeah Paco was a dissapointment and Danny is hitting like .248 but has over 30 steals.
Erbe is pissing me fof!! All orioles fans think, he's 21 and can throw 98! However, they left out that he is 9-12 iwth a 4.50+ era
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