John Sickels' O's Top 20

John Sickels is grading the top 20 players in each organization, team-by-team. He's done 5 teams so far and the next two are the Diamondbacks and then the Orioles. The grades so far:

KCR -- 2 A-, 6 B, 2 B-, 9 C+, 1 C ---- Top 10: 3.07 Top 20: 2.68

MIN -- 2 B+, 2 B, 5 B-, 11 C+ ------- Top 10: 2.83 Top 20: 2.58

ATL -- 1 A-, 3 B+, 3 B, 6 B-, 7 C+ --- Top 10: 3.07 Top 20: 2.75

PHI -- 3 B, 5 B-, 9 C+, 3 C ----------- Top 10: 2.70 Top 20: 2.47

TAM -- 1 A, 3 B+, 1 B, 4 B-, 11 C+ --- Top 10: 3.00 Top 20: 2.67

Interesting to see that he's not that high on Tampa (not that they're doing badly).

FYI, the 4 players who have earned A or A- are David Price (A), Jason Heyward (A-), Mike Moustakas (A-) and Eric Hosmer (A-).

Sickels has mentioned that our list will be out sometime this week, by the way.

ARI -- 1 B+, 1 B, 5 B-, 3 C+, 10 C Top 10: 2.80 Top 20: 2.40

The Orioles are up next. It's been taking 2-3 days per team for Sickles to get his grades up, so I'm not expecting anything until Wednesday or so.

Per Sickels:

I am now working on the Baltimore Orioles for the book. Here is a thread to discuss this system.

Interesting stuff at the top...Wieters and Tillman of course, plus some intriguing mid-level guys, though they could use more depth.

Judging from what he said, it's going to be something like:

1.) Wieters

2.) Tillman

3.) Matusz

4.) Arrieta

5.) Erbe/Rowell

If my memory serves me correctly, he's still pretty high on Rowell because of tools and such.

I'm curious to see what he says about Snyder.

If Snyder has a big 2008 in Bowie, he'll be on a lot of lists next offseason.

Sickels threw out this tickler:

current grades Wieters A, Tillman B+, Arrieta B+, haven’t done Matusz yet.

If Matusz earns a B+ our top 4 will be as strong as any team he has graded so far (Tampa has an A and 3 B+, and Atlanta has an A- and 3 B+).

If Snyder has a big 2008 in Bowie, he'll be on a lot of lists next offseason.

Sickels threw out this tickler:

If Matusz earns a B+ our top 4 will be as strong as any team he has graded so far (Tampa has an A and 3 B+, and Atlanta has an A- and 3 B+).

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Tillman moves up to an A- or Arrieta down to a B. I don't think they stay on the same plane. Or should.

Where are you getting this from?

Where are you getting this from?

Sorry, I should have posted the link. Sickels' website is www.minorleagueball.com You'll see his most recent blog entry there says he is working on the Orioles now, and he invites reader discussion. If you scroll through the reader comments you see that Sickels posted the little snippet I quoted above.

Including the Nobel Prize list for inventing time travel!

I'm so dumb. I know this and embrace it.

Top 4 are pretty much a given. He likes Britton alot as a sleeper, also likes Drake as a sleeper too.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/11/18/665005/baltimore-orioles-top-20-p

Just throws Spoone in there on the same level of a guy like McCrory yet he puts the injured Patton the top 10?

That makes zero sense.

Interesting.

Britton at 7 definitely stands out and is very encouraging.

Also likes Hernandez, except for the walks. I fully expect Hernandez and Bergesen to get looks in ST, and hopefully are up by mid season.

11) Kam "The Almighty" Mickolio, RHP, Grade C+: I am Mickolio. I need control for my fastball. Waahhooo…arrruuddicacacaa

Thats hilarious