Introducing the BEVys!

Our friends over at the Bird’s Eye View podcast (Carne Cabeza featured them in our ESR O’s Fan Spotlight earlier this year – read it here) are having a mid-season awards show for the O’s. They approached us about coming up with a couple categories of our own, which we were more than happy to do.

We’ll be rolling out our two categories starting today. Please vote below, and all the winners will be announced on a future episode of Bird’s Eye View!

Our first category: The Randy Wolf Memorial Forgotten Man

Did you remember that Randy Wolf was on the O’s last year? If you’re anything like me, you completely forgot about him (I was reminded when one of the fine O’s podcasts – I forget which one – brought him up this week). Wolf did indeed don the orange and black in 2012 though, appearing in five games and pitching to a 5.28 ERA in 15.1 innings before being shut down with…some sort of injury. Like I said, who remembers?

So which Oriole – that has appeared for the team so far in 2013 – is the most likely to have a similar non-place in our collective Birdland memories at this time in 2014?

The nominees:

Yamaico Navarro – Navarro has appeared in eight games for the Birds so far in the first half, filling in at the revolving door at second base. He had eight hits in 28 AB, driving in two runs. The only hit of his that I remember was his only extra-base hit, a triple off the scoreboard at OPACY. His glove left something to be desired though, and Buck has no patience for lack of execution in the field. Navarro was sent packing at the end of May, and seems to have little hope of being recalled any time soon.

Travis Ishikawa – Ishikawa is probably on your mind at the moment, because he’s currently on the roster. Called up just last week – seemingly for the sole purpose of the O’s not losing control over him – Ishikawa spelled Chris Davis at first base on Wednesday, when Davis smashed two home runs from the DH spot. He has one hit and five Ks in nine AB so far. If you vote for Ishikawa, you’re likely betting that he’ll be sent down or otherwise moved ASAP…not necessarily a dangerous bet.

Chris Snyder – The Birds brought on Snyder as a backup catcher when Taylor Teagarden got hurt. He appeared in six games and went 2-for-17 at the dish. Snyder accepted his assignment to AAA Norfolk upon Teagarden’s return, but if Taylor and Matt Wieters both stay healthy for the rest of the season, we’ve likely seen the last of Snyder in Baltimore in 2013.

Josh Stinson – Stinson made a single start against the Toronto Blue Jays at home back in April. He gave up only five hits in 5.2 innings, but unfortunately four of those hits cleared the fence. Stinson is back in Norfolk, and it’s doubtful we’ll be hearing much from him again.

Jair Jurrjens – Jurrjens is an interesting case. He made a single start in May against Tampa, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He’s 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA in Norfolk, where he’s given up 66 hits in 73.0 IP. Every time a spot becomes available in the rotation, it seems that his name is mentioned, yet he’s routinely passed over, most recently for Jake Arrieta and Zach Britton. As he’s had success at the MLB level, it’s doesn’t seem too far-fetched that we’ll see Jurrjens up here again at some point (perhaps following roster expansion in September?) Either way, he’s most likely not going to win the Randy Wolf Memorial Forgettable Man award, just because so many folks had high expectations for him this year. (Note: The poll widget only lets me select up to six responses, so we’re omitting Jurrjens from voting. Congrats?)

Zach Clark – Clark has to be the favorite. I remember him just because he is a fellow UMBC alum, but other than that, I got nothin. He came into the game in Seattle on May 1, and allowed three earned runs in 1.2 IP. He’s currently listed as on a rehab stint with the O’s GCL sqaud, where he is reportedly trying to reinvent himself as a knuckleballer (right? I think I remember hearing that.) Good luck, Zach.

Alex Burnett – Burnett appeared in two games for the O’s. He was good in one (0 ER, 1 H in 1.0 IP 5/9 vs. KC) and not so good in the other (3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB in 0.1 IP 5/17 vs. TB). The O’s DFA’d him on May 23. The Cubs claimed him on May 27. He appeared in one game for them, pitching a scoreless frame against the White Sox, before being DFA’d again on June 1. Ouch. It’s been a tough year for Alex – maybe a BEVys victory is just what he needs to get back on his feet?

Honorable Mention: Conor Jackson. C-Jack, we hardly knew ye.

So, O’s fans…which player should win the Randy Wolf Memorial Forgotten Man award? Cast your vote below:

[cardoza_wp_poll id=”4″]