Mr. Stockstill, became the Player Development Director November 2004, after spending the previous eleven years within the Farm system.
After signing with the Chicago Cubs’ organization in 1978, Stockstill played eight seasons in the farm systems of the Cubs, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and Montreal Expos, advancing as high as Triple-A Oklahoma City in the early 1980s. He played eight seasons in the Mexican League, including his last 1 1/2 years as player-manager for Union Laguna. He finished with a .342 career average, third on the Mexican League’s all-time list.
When he was hired as the Player Development Director, his initial comments to the press were:
“The two main things we have to instill is pride in being an Oriole and the respect for each other and the main focus of baseball,” Stockstill said. “What you’re in it for is the game of baseball, not thinking of the money or where [you] should be. We can’t get away from having the pride in the Orioles and respecting each other.”
His brother John, is the Orioles Director of International Scouting.
Mr. Stockstill graciously agreed to answer a few questions from Baltimore Sports and Life.
BSL – “Nolan Reimold has 693 AA at-bats, in which he has produced 201 hits, 44 doubles, 3 triples, 36 homers, 118 rbi, 117 runs, 80 walks, 129 k’s, 290 baa, and an 880ish OPS.
If he winds-up going to AAA Norfolk, to play everyday – what specific goals will the Player Development department have for him this coming year?”
Dave Stockstill – “The goals for Nolan Reimold are for him to become a better baseball player in every phase of his game. He needs work to become a better outfielder, hitter, and base runner. He needs to continue to improve his accuracy of the bat head in his swings to produce a higher percentage of hard hit balls. He needs to improve his pitch recognition. In short, like all other players, he will have a program designed for him toward improving all areas of his game.”
BSL – “Melvin Mora’s contract expires at the end of 2009, though an option does exist for 2010.
2005 1st Round pick Brandon Snyder has recently performed in the Hawaiian Winter League, Carolina League, and the Arizona Fall League.
It would seem reasonable to believe that if he were to post an 800+ OPS at Bowie this year, he could be an option for the Orioles in 2010, at 1st or 3rd.
As 3rd is a harder position to fill, is there any consideration on moving Snyder to 3rd (where he played in the HWL during Fall 2007) for the 2009 season?
If not, is it because the organization wants him to worry about his bat first as he ascends to AA?”
Dave Stockstill – “Brandon Snyder has played some 3rd base at each level, including when he was at Bluefield. He continually works at 3rd base and played there a little in the Arizona Fall League this past fall. Our staff continually evaluates his progress at each position to find the best situation for him to become a productive player to help our major league team.”
BSL – “2006 1st round pick Billy Rowell has had 922 Professional at-bats… If he were to have 250 at-bats at Frederick through June 2009, 200 at-bats at Bowie through August 2009, 150 at-bats in the Arizona Fall League, and another 250 at-bats at Bowie through June 2010 – he will have had basically doubled his current level of professional experience.
If he performs in those next 850 at-bats, he should realistically be a potential option at the big-league level in the second-half of 2010.
How can the team help Rowell improve his strike-zone recognition?
In those existing 922 at-bats, he has had 89 extra-base hits, equaling 1 per 10.3 at-bats. How do you rate his raw-power?
Defensively, would the team consider reaching out to Brooks, or DeCinces, or even Cal and having them work with Rowell on his foot-work at 3rd during Spring-Training?”
Dave Stockstill – “Billy Rowell is a very young player who made progress last season at Frederick. I would not attempt to put any numbers of at bats as milestones for the purpose of projection of movement within the system. We will continually give him the instruction and the work and continually evaluate his progress and make adjustments in his work as he develops in his baseball abilities.
Billy has very good raw power. However, many players who hit for power in the major leagues do not hit for big power early in their minor league career. We do not teach trying to hit home runs. Home runs will come as he learns to hit the ball hard more consistently.”
BSL – “Arrieta was 6-5, with a 2.87 ERA in 113ip, 80hits, 120k’s, 51 walks at Frederick.
Tillman was 11-4, 3.18 ERA, 135.2 IP, 115 hits, 154 k’s, 64 walks at Bowie.
Relatively similar years, with the acknowledgement that Tillman was at the higher-level, and is two years younger overall.
Is the focus for both this year, improved fast-ball command?”
Dave Stockstill – “There is constant focus for all of our pitchers on fastball command. Tillman and Arrieta are no exceptions to this. To improve fastball command, it is necessary to look at the reasons it isn’t as good as we would like it to be. In some pitchers it is in their mechanics and in some it is in their mental approach. Both Tillman and Arrieta are very aggressive and have a lot of confidence. They are also relatively inexperienced at the professional level. They showed considerable progress and we will continue to work with them in this area as well as other areas of their game.”
BSL – “Bergesen turned 23 in September, and was 15-6, with a 3.22 ERA in 148 IP, 143 hits, 72 k’s, 27 walks at Bowie.
Obviously a pitcher allowing less than a hit per inning pitched, and only 27 walks in 148 innings is a prospect.
However, Bergesen has trouble against LH batters.. Combine that with his low K rates, and there is plenty of reason to believe he would have trouble as a ML starter…
Would the O’s consider attempting to bring in former Oriole Mike Boddicker to spend time with Bergesen this spring?
Boddicker succeeded with similar stuff to Bergesen, as a guy that was able to regularly change-speeds.
Tom Tango (recently hired by Seattle) relayed that Boddicker used to throw a pitch, that Ray Miller described as a ‘Foshball,’… A hybrid of the Forkball, that breaks like a screwball.
As you know, due to the left to right movement of the ball when thrown by a RHP, a screwball is used by RHP against LH batters in the same way a slider is used by RHP against RH batters. Thrown outside to LH batters, making them chase balls out of the zone… if this can improve Bergesen’s numbers vs Lefties, and improve his K numbers overall… that is a good thing…
Dave Stockstill – “Brad Bergeson had an outstanding season last year. He was very consistent with his command and consistently pitched innings without using high numbers of pitches. There are adjustment he needs to make as he goes up the ladder to become a successful major league pitcher. He constantly works on those. Each of the people you mentioned as possible instructors are outstanding people. We have our minor league coordinators in major league camp to insure their knowledge of what the major league staff is teaching so that they can bring this back to minor league camp and carry out the consistency of the instruction from the major league team down throughout our system to the Dominican Summer League. At this time, we do not have plans to bring in other instructors to spring training.”
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.