When the All-Star selection ballots were distributed to the Double-A Eastern League managers, Bowie's Dave Cash quickly penciled in two of his Baysox, prized left-hander Erik Bedard and first baseman Doug Gredvig.

Shortly thereafter, the ballot was returned to Cash with the gentle notation that he couldn't vote for his own players.

But the incident served to disclose that Cash shares the general can't-miss feeling about Bedard, who has already had a cup of big-league coffee, and has positive judgments about Gredvig, who is far more obscure.

At 6 feet 3, 231 pounds, Gredvig has a commodity that is scarce throughout the Oriole organization: power.

"I think that is to my advantage," he said. "Hopefully, they [the Orioles] see that, and I think they do."

Last summer at Single-A Frederick, he topped all farmhands in the system with 20 home runs and 57 extra-base hits. He also ranked among the Carolina League leaders in total bases, doubles, slugging average and runs scored.

Gredvig was the first Orioles minor-leaguer with 20 homers in two full seasons.

During the off-season, the northern California native stayed in this area to work with Orioles strength and conditioning coaches Tim Bishop and Pat Hedge.

"I was just trying to get in better shape. Although my weight didn't change, I dropped a lot of body fat and added muscle," Gredvig said. "It made me more mobile around the bag at first and stronger when I'm hitting."

The results have shown as Gredvig has climbed to Double-A, maintained his long-ball ability and added 50 points to his batting average, which tops the Baysox among players with more than 100 at-bats.

"Doug is a quiet kid in his own way, but strong mentally," Cash said. "He is determined and works hard."

Only 22, Gredvig was drafted in the fifth round two years ago and has already produced 34 home runs in fewer than 250 games (he missed eight this year with a heel injury). In the minor leagues - where many players are still developing physically - that 34 is an eye-catching number.

He believes his progression has been normal. "I can't complain," he said. "But I don't like to put a timetable on when I get up there [the majors]."

Triple-A Rochester

Pitcher John Stephens, outfielder Larry Bigbie and pitching coach Grant Jackson were named to the International League All-Star squad. Stephens was roughed up in his latest outing, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in five innings to Columbus after going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in his two previous starts. He is also headed for the All-Star Futures Game. He is leading the International League in strikeouts and innings pitched and has nearly one-third of the team's victories. Bigbie's batting average is hovering around .330. ... Pitcher Brian Looney, who was signed out of the independent Atlantic League on May 18, was released after going 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA in nine games. Justin Atchley, another left-hander, was signed to a free-agent contract to replace Looney, becoming the squad's 50th player. ... Steve Bechler received credit for his first victory after nine starts by pitching seven scoreless innings against Charlotte, then got another win five nights later against Columbus. ... Third baseman Luis Lopez was signed as a free agent and debuted Thursday.

Double-A Bowie

Luis Matos and Bedard swept last week's Eastern League Player and Pitcher of the Week awards. It was the first time since 1994 that the Baysox have taken both. Matos batted .545 with three doubles, two triples, three homers and six RBIs, and a hit a walk-off home run Tuesday. Bedard was 2-0 and did not allow an earned run in 13 innings while striking out 12. He had a streak of 24 1/3 innings without an earned run until Friday night when Reading beat him, 4-2. Bedard, also a Futures Game participant, has a 1.92 ERA, which still paces the league. ... Jacobo Sequea notched his first Double-A victory last week with six scoreless innings against Trenton. ... Bowie, which underwent a record-tying 22-game road losing streak, is 4-29 away from Prince George's Stadium.

Single-A Frederick

The Keys finished the Carolina League's first half with an 18-51 record in the Northern Division, worst in their history. The previous low was 24-46 in the second half of 1997. Frederick opened this season 0-7, won once, then lost another seven in a row. But they won their first two second-half games at Wilmington, the first time they posted consecutive victories in more than a month. Beau Hale earned his first win since May 22 in the second contest, and catcher Eli Whiteside was a triple short of hitting for the cycle. ... Mamon Tucker entered Saturday with a team-high 15-game hitting streak during which he has batted .317. ... ... Eddy Rodriguez is fourth in the league with nine saves and has held right-handed batters to a .130 average.

Single-A Delmarva

Two days after being named the Most Valuable Player of the South Atlantic League's All-Star Game, catcher Trey Salinas was transferred to Triple-A Rochester. He was the Shorebirds' leader in virtually every power category and homered in the North's 11-2 All-Star win. Kevin Webster took his place on the roster. Salinas' teammate, Ben Knapp, was chosen the Most Valuable Pitcher after striking out the side in his only inning. ... Delmarva finished the first half with a 32-38 record and in seventh place, 12 games behind Hickory. ... Tripper Johnson (13 games), Gary Cates (nine games) and B.J. Littleton (eight games) all had hitting streaks broken last week. ... The Shorebirds had 15 runs and 16 hits on June 16, both season highs.

Short season

A lack of offense was the major problem in the Aberdeen IronBirds' first-ever series. They scored only five runs in their first three games and did not have an extra-base hit until Neal Stephenson tripled in the seventh inning of the third. ... Matt Tate received credit for the only victory by pitching six scoreless innings and allowing three hits. ... Defending Rookie-level Appalachian League champion Bluefield opened with three straight victories over Princeton, outscoring the opposition 32-4. ... Rookie-level Gulf Coast won its first start, 3-1, over the Red Sox with Richal Acosta yielding two hits in five scoreless innings.