The top 150 in the minors

[paulcoates]

Orioles have 6 guys in here. Not bad...

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=28523

[Lefty0315]

He would have had Wieters around 20 had he been eligible for the list. Olson was also in the top 50.

[CanadianOriole]

I'm a little frightened by the number of D-Rays on that list. The list is loaded with D-Rays - and that's in addition to all the young talent already in MLB for TB. NY and Bos already have a payroll edge on us - I could live without a 3rd emerging powerhouse in our division.

[paulcoates]

41. Billy Rowell - 3B Orioles - DOB: 09/10/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2007 #57

.279/.353/.416, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 49/17 K/BB, 3 SB in 154 AB for low Single-A Delmarva

Rowell didn't make his season debut until May 23 because of a strained oblique and hasn't exactly been on fire since. Still, his was one of the most promising bats from the 2006 draft. The ninth overall selection has a left-handed stroke that promises 25- or 30-homer power, and he'll likely hit for a high average once he settles in. It's just too bad that he'll probably end up at first base rather than third. If the Orioles can land Mark Teixeira in a trade or through free agency, then maybe an outfield corner will be a possibility. Rowell should have the at-bat to carry any position. If he happens to improve enough to stay at third base, then he could be an All-Star someday.


54. Brandon Erbe - RHP Orioles - DOB: 12/25/87 - ETA: 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #82, 2007 #51

6-3, 5.27 ERA, 81 H, 75/46 K/BB in 83 2/3 IP for Single-A Frederick

Erbe was a complete mess during May, a month in which he posted a 9.70 ERA in six starts. His 4.08 ERA since is nothing to write home about, but it has come with 42 strikeouts and just three homers allowed in 39 2/3 IP. Erbe is still young enough that health matters more results. He can hit 98 mph on the gun and regularly works at 91-94 mph. He's just as good when he takes something off the fastball. That he's regressed in the command department and failed to show much progress with his changeup this year hurts his stock a bit. However, the upside hasn't gone anywhere.


101. Nolan Reimold - OF Orioles - DOB: 10/12/83 - ETA: July 2008
Previous rankings: 2006 #144, mid-2006 #73, 2007 #103


105. Radhames Liz - RHP Orioles - DOB: 10/06/83 - ETA: Aug. 2008
Previous rankings: mid-2006 #70, 2007 #143


122. Jim Hoey - RHP Orioles - DOB: 12/30/82 - ETA: Aug. 2007
Previous rankings: none


126. Pedro Beato - RHP Orioles - DOB: 10/27/86 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2007 #139


Once we get Wieters in there and Olson goes back down, that is a very respectable 8 guys. The one thing about these lists are they heavily weighted on last years first rounders. If they have a modicum of success they get put on this list when in reality they may be a potential 150 in the future, just not now. But I guess they are doing some projecting in this list too.

[paulcoates]

Top 150 by Team

8 - Devil Rays, Indians, Red Sox
7 - Rangers
6 - Angels, Braves, Marlins, Orioles, Rockies, Tigers, Yankees
5 - Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Mariners, Padres, Reds, Twins, White Sox
4 - Astros, Brewers, Mets, Nationals, Phillies, Pirates
3 - Royals
2 - Athletics, Giants
1 - Blue Jays

[paulcoates]

Ineligibles

Below are approximations of where some of the ineligible players would have ranked:


20. Matt Wieters - C Orioles
45. Garrett Olson - LHP Orioles

[tywright]

There's no doubt Wieters is our top prospect once he signs. He's a legitimate top 20 prospect in all of baseball

[oriole_way]

It seems that more of the top prospects are on AL teams. For example (according to the poster who broke down prospects by team), no NL team has more than 6 prospects on this list, while 4 AL teams can claim that. Also I see that 27 of the top 50 prospects belong to AL clubs. That's not that impressive, until you remember that the NL has two more teams than the AL.

Looks like the balance of power could remain tilted towards the AL.

[napbow]

Top 150 by Team

8 - Devil Rays, Indians, Red Sox
7 - Rangers
6 - Angels, Braves, Marlins, Orioles, Rockies, Tigers, Yankees
5 - Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Mariners, Padres, Reds, Twins, White Sox
4 - Astros, Brewers, Mets, Nationals, Phillies, Pirates
3 - Royals
2 - Athletics, Giants
1 - Blue Jays

The real problem I have with this is that we don't have a top prospect until the forties. We don't have an elite prospect. Hopefully Wieters becomes that prospect for us but we won't know until he puts on a uniform.

By the way, does anyone know what happened to the 1st baseman from Richmond, Mahoney? He hasn't played since June 3rd.

[hoosiers]

For all the whining about the lack of bats, it looks like we are doing ok after all. Considering how little we receieved the 04 draft, I'd say we match up pretty nice.

Considering how many of Jordan's prospects are still below Bowies (nearly everyone save Paco, Reimold and Olson), I'd say we are in pretty good shape actually.

[Skywalker76]

For all the whining about the lack of bats, it looks like we are doing ok after all. Considering how little we receieved the 04 draft, I'd say we match up pretty nice.

Considering how many of Jordan's prospects are still below Bowies (nearly everyone save Paco, Reimold and Olson), I'd say we are in pretty good shape actually.

Totally agree. We aren't in the same class as the Devil Rays but our farm system ain't as bad as some think.

[napbow]

Totally agree. We aren't in the same class as the Devil Rays but our farm system ain't as bad as some think.

I don't think our farm system is bad. I just wish we had a top 15 prospect.

I believe that Jordan is really doing a good job and in 2 years this will be one of the finer farm systems. This year's draft certainly helped with Bascom and Arrieta in the 4th and 5th.

[Big Al]

There's no doubt Wieters is our top prospect once he signs. He's a legitimate top 20 prospect in all of baseball

If he signs. Don't forget we're dealing with Mr. Boras and Mr. Angelos.

[Skywalker76]

I don't think our farm system is bad. I just wish we had a top 15 prospect.

I believe that Jordan is really doing a good job and in 2 years this will be one of the finer farm systems. This year's draft certainly helped with Bascom and Arrieta in the 4th and 5th.

Arietta hasn't signed yet!

[napbow]

Arietta hasn't signed yet!

I know. I am operating under the assumption that Wieters and him will sign. Wishful thinking, if you please.

[justD]

By the way, does anyone know what happened to the 1st baseman from Richmond, Mahoney? He hasn't played since June 3rd.

July 3rd, actually. Rumor has it that he's nursing a wrist injury.

[oriole_way]

For all the whining about the lack of bats, it looks like we are doing ok after all. Considering how little we receieved the 04 draft, I'd say we match up pretty nice.

Considering how many of Jordan's prospects are still below Bowies (nearly everyone save Paco, Reimold and Olson), I'd say we are in pretty good shape actually.

I'm not sure how this article proves that we are doing ok with the bats, since 4 of the 6 prospects are pitchers.:confused:

Maybe you mean that we are ok overall???

I don't think anyone was complaining about the pitching prospects. Like the article pointed out, we have 4 pitching prospects in the top 150, and that doesn't even include Penn and Loewen. (I realize that Loewen is in the majors but in my eyes he is still essentially a prospect who is just starting out, considering that he has less than 150 IP at the major league level.)

[tywright]

If he signs. Don't forget we're dealing with Mr. Boras and Mr. Angelos.

I did not know that

[Jammer7]

Everybody seems to have forgotten about Hayden Penn around here. Penn, if he had pitched a few less innings and was currently healthy, would be in this list around what...maybe #60-70? I think the kid comes back next year with a vengeance, well I hope so anyway. :)

Brandon Tripp is healthy now and his production is on the rise again. I would love to see Tripp move up to Frederick. He, David Hernandez, Brad Bergesen, Bob McCrory and Chris Vinyard cannot be too far out of the top 150 themselves.

And, call me crazy, but I like what I'm seeing from Brandon Snyder. He's striking out much less and walking more over the last two months and his power numbers aren't bad at all. He may even slide back into the top 150 range if he picks up the power numbers some. His OPS is .969 in July.

I'm sure many organizations have several more guys on the fringe of this list, but this is unusual for the O's. I'm not used to being a fan of a team with a legit farm system. :D