Baysox Notebook: Joseph, Avery, Widlansky Carrying Bowie's Offense

The Baysox don’t have any hitters in the Eastern League’s top 10. In fact, their highest-ranked hitter is 30^th. But they’ve got three players who’ve given the team help on offense in a bunch of ways.

Caleb Joseph is that No. 30 hitter, and the catcher’s been one of the team’s top batters. He’s been consistent throughout the season with a .274 average, three homers and 20 RBI.

Joseph’s also given the Baysox help at the right times, batting .333 with runners in scoring position, something that’s been helpful as Bowie’s struggled scoring runs on a regular basis.

Robbie Widlansky also has been consistent, hitting .258 with three homers and 29 RBI through Thursday’s games.

Widlansky’s been on a roll recently, batting .300 in his last 10 games with 12 RBI. He has driven in runs in eight of his last 10 games.

Xavier Avery has caused opponents plenty of worry on the bases all season long. But lately, Avery’s bat has caused even more problems.

Avery is hitting .378 in his last 10 games, and even though his steals have slowed, he’s keeps getting on base and starting rallies. The center fielder started each of the three games in this week’s Altoona series—and got hits to begin each one.

 A CRUCIAL SERIES?

The Baysox head to Harrisburg for a long five-game series this weekend—with one extra game because they’re making up an earlier rain-out.

It’s very early in the season, probably too soon to say something is a “crucial” series, but this one’s certainly got some meaning. Harrisburg sits on top of the tightly bunched Western Division at 23-20. Bowie is in second place at 24-23, just one game behind.

If Harrisburg gets on a roll in this series, the Senators can open some ground between themselves and the Baysox, something that hasn’t happened this season. Taking four of five would give Harrisburg a four-game lead.

A four-win series for Bowie would just give it a two-game edge. That’s why this series could be important for the Baysox—they can’t let Harrisburg get on a roll.

 THE IMPORTANCE OF PITCHING

The Baysox have gotten good starting pitching from Zach Clark (5-2) and Steve Johnson (3-1) this season. But since the offense is struggling, Bowie needs more help from other starters.

Clark and Johnson both have been solid, bringing up the question of whether the Orioles might move them up Class AAA Norfolk. Mitch Atkins (1-2) gave Bowie four good starts since joining the team but quickly moved up to Norfolk.

But Wynn Pelzer (1-5), Richard Zagone (1-3) and others have to be able to help the back end of the rotation.

Pelzer has pitched well at times, as has Zagone, but the Baysox are looking for consistency all the way through their rotation.