In back-to-back years the Orioles have allowed the pick I wanted them to select to go to the Arizona Diamondbacks (Lawler and Jones). I feel like Cowser was selected in part as an under slot selection, but I am not sold that is why Holliday was selected (even though we signed him a bit under slot). With the money we saved with Holliday, who did we select that required an over slot to be lured away from college? And as a second question, how does anyone in the know feel about those selections?
I get the idea behind having more irons in the fire with guys with future talent instead of that #1 pick, but sometimes, I just want them to pick the player that everyone in the nation views are the can't miss prospect. I know Jones got hurt, but that was likely a freak injury verses a systemic one. I guess I find my myself dreaming of an Orioles program that included Henderson, Rodriguez, Lawler and Jones all in the top-10 of the top overall prospects in the game. The Orioles using someone like Lawler to headline the trade for an established star. With that said, I am still excited over our system and will wait for the outcome of the international signing period before I pass judgement.