Who is the next impact minor leaguer?

[Gurgi]

Besides Olson who do you think gets to the bigs and makes a major impact. Im gonna go way out on a limb and predict Weiters. I think we sign him before the deadline. He gets some winter ball in and starts next year in Bowie and they move him to the majors by August.


Watch me be dead wrong and he struggles in Delmarva. Somehow I just dont think so.

[Flosman]

I am starting to wonder if Riemold is the next impact player to arrive. The question is can the O's develop a program that keeps him healthy. Obviously he can really rake.

[Gurgi]

He would be my next pick. Hope he gets a september call up.

Think he will?

[Flosman]

I doubt it because he is not on the 40 man yet (not that there are not a couple on there that would be not be missed). Many will act like that should not matter but depending on the rule V players that need to be protected and what the FO decides to do for a direction with the club in the offseason it might. In other words the flexibility might be worth more than a few ABs, IMO.

[Gurgi]

Very good point. I didnt think of that.

[Three Run Homer]

I doubt it because he is not on the 40 man yet (not that there are not a couple on there that would be not be missed). Many will act like that should not matter but depending on the rule V players that need to be protected and what the FO decides to do for a direction with the club in the offseason it might. In other words the flexibility might be worth more than a few ABs, IMO.

Assuming you're talking about Reimold, this would be penny wise and pound foolish on the Orioles part. It's more important for the organization to find out if Reimold is ready for the major leagues than to save a spot on the 40 man roster. If Reimold can handle big league pitching, that's one less lineup spot the O's need to worry about addressing this offseason. If he comes up and hits .150 in September, then obviously he will need to spend a year in Norfolk, and the O's will need to sign another bat.

[Say O!]

If Reimold finishes the season on the big league roster, does that preclude him from being sent to the Arizona Fall League?

[Wingman]

Unforturnately, (meaning there's not to much to chose from) the next impact player from our farm system is either Wieters, Hoey, Reimold or Liz (maybe Penn). Many of our top prospects right now are a ways away from the majors...

[Greg Pappas]

I'll say Liz from the pitchers side, and Wieters from the hitters. Hoey does have a good chance to be outstanding, but Liz has as good or better of an upside and could stick quite nicely as a starter. While scouts are split on Liz's ultimate big league path (starter/reliever) his progress this season has to excite the 'starter' contigent.

[Camden_yardbird]

How quickly the stars have fallen.... Penn is my guess.

[blazer]

If Reimold finishes the season on the big league roster, does that preclude him from being sent to the Arizona Fall League?

I believe it does. If he can get enough ML at bats in September, I think it's worth missing the fall league because he can always play winter ball somewhere.

[Flosman]

Assuming you're talking about Reimold, this would be penny wise and pound foolish on the Orioles part. It's more important for the organization to find out if Reimold is ready for the major leagues than to save a spot on the 40 man roster. If Reimold can handle big league pitching, that's one less lineup spot the O's need to worry about addressing this offseason. If he comes up and hits .150 in September, then obviously he will need to spend a year in Norfolk, and the O's will need to sign another bat.

I would hate to think 25-50 ABs at most would really change the clubs opinion one way or the other. The club knows the talent and should think that he is close but not quite there at this time. He WILL get a shot in the spring and he has a chance to force the issue. But i doubt September will hurt him much or help him alot if he comes up. If he could be successfull next season it sure would help our team alot.

[wayne25]

I'd be shocked and amazed if the orioles produce any "impact player". Roberts and maybe Markakis, and then go back how many decades. But since I am an orioles fan, I hope its Wieters with the all around game, and Hoey as a super closer.

[Mackus]

Reimold gets here first, but Weiters is the next to be a big impact player. Liz follows not too long after, probably late in the year, most likely in the bullpen.

I think at some point next year we could have a rotation of Bedard, Loewen, Guthrie, Cabrera, Olson and a bullpen of Ray, Walker, Bradford, Baez, Hoey, Liz, Penn.

[Radio Boy]

It is definitely Nolan Reimold. He will get a chance out of Spring Training to compete for a starting outfield job in the Major Leagues. He is an absolute 5 tool player, and if you think his injuries have hampered his 2007 season to the point where he won't get an opportunity, keep in mind Nick Markakis played exactly one full month in Bowie and no time in Ottawa before earning the RF job in Baltimore to start 2006. For those who haven't seen Nolan play, there isn't really a big flaw in his game. An outfield with Markakis and Reimold on the corners is arguably the best in the AL, offensively and defensively.

Liz will also get a chance to be a starter in 2008, but probably doesn't stand a really serious chance until mid-season.

[Jenius]

For those who haven't seen Nolan play, there isn't really a big flaw in his game. An outfield with Markakis and Reimold on the corners is arguably the best in the AL, offensively and defensively.

I like Reimold, but this seems a bit much, or at least premature. Injuries or not, it's hard to argue that a guy who strikes out every four ABs and barely hit .250 at A ball last year can be considered to not have a flaw in his game. And while I would love to see an outfield with Reimold and Markakis become one of the best in the league, that certainly wouldn't be the case next season. I think Reimold could make the big club next spring, but I'm just hoping he can stay healthy, before I think of him as a future all-star.

Also, I can't speak from a scouting perspective on Reimold's defense, but I heard he did not rate too well in that category last season. Again, it's one of those things that's hard to evaluate, especially with all the injury issues.

[Say O!]

Interesting to see how the rest of Reimold's season plays out...

Does it make the O's FO reconsider this offseason in terms of how many OFs are needed? In other words, maybe instead of filing 2 spots (CF and LF), it would be a better move to get an elite player in CF (FA, Crawford, etc.), break Reimold in 2nd half of 2008, and therefore be set for 2009?

[Radio Boy]

Striking out will always be a part of the game, especially for a guy who hits with the power he does. A-Rod strikes out at a comparable rate (85 Ks, 417 ABs) which is about 1 in 5 ABs, but nobody is complaining about that. I'm not saying Nolan is A-Rod, but strike outs happen and it's not something to get bent out of shape about. His offense has come a long long way since hitting .250 last season.

As for his defense, getting a chance to see him play everyday is quite a treat. He has great instincts in the outfield and his long legs help him cover a lot of ground very quickly. He doesn't really go diving much, but that's becuase he can cover so much ground that he doesn't have to.

[NoVaO]

I like Reimold, but this seems a bit much, or at least premature. Injuries or not, it's hard to argue that a guy who strikes out every four ABs and barely hit .250 at A ball last year can be considered to not have a flaw in his game. And while I would love to see an outfield with Reimold and Markakis become one of the best in the league, that certainly wouldn't be the case next season. I think Reimold could make the big club next spring, but I'm just hoping he can stay healthy, before I think of him as a future all-star.

Also, I can't speak from a scouting perspective on Reimold's defense, but I heard he did not rate too well in that category last season. Again, it's one of those things that's hard to evaluate, especially with all the injury issues.

I agree with you on the average part, but that hasn't been a problem this year. However, there is a big difference between striking out 25% of the time and striking out 21% of the time (which is basically what he did last year). Again, I agree with most of what you're saying, but I don't the strike outs are that big a deal.