Tony-OH

Brian Gonzalez - LHP 6' 3" 230 Bats: L Throws: L Age: 20 2016 Team: Delmarva Most Likely Major League Role: 5th starter Ceiling: #4 starter Floor: Left-handed reliever Background: Without a 1st or 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft, Gonzalez was nabbed in the 3rd round to become the Orioles top pick in the 2014 draft. A big wide body young man with little projection, scouts were mixed on whether his pro future was with the bat or on the mound. The Orioles though liked him on the mound and after signing him quickly for 700K, they sent him off to the Gulf Coast League to start his professional career. GCL batters though proved to be no match for Gonzalez has he didn't allowed an earned run in 24.2 innings over eight starts while striking out 25 and walking eight. He only allowed 11 hits and GCL batters hit just .134 off him. The Orioles challenged him by allowing him to finish out the year in the New York Penn League where he held his own in two starts against the much more mature competition. Promote to full season Delmarva at just 19-years old, the wheels came off in 2015 where he struggled to command his stuff. Held Sally League batters to a .249 average, but walked 59 and struck out just 81 in 105.1 inning to put up a 5.71 ERA. 2016: The Orioles returned Gonzalez to Delmarva and he was much better the second time through the league at 20-years old. Although his hits allowed per nine and K per 9 were basically the same as his 2015 season, he dropped his walks per nine down to 3.5. Improved greatly against left-handers holding them to a .193 AVG and allowing only one extra base hit all season. 2016 stats (Delmarva) ERA: 2.50 IP: 147.2 H: 135 (8.2/9) HRA: 0 (0.5/9) BB: 7 (3.5/9) SO: 25 (6.8/9) AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS: .247/.325./349/.674 RHB Slash: .267/.341/.403/.744 LHB Slash: .193/.284/.207/.491 GO/AO: 1.30 Scouting report (now and future) FB: 45/50 CB: 40/50 CH: 45/55 What we know: Gonzalez throws three pitches all of which can be average major league offerings at times. His fastball crept up a tick sitting in the 90-93 range with some occasional sink. Like all of his offerings, he can struggle at times to command the pitch and can go through stretches during games where he just struggles to command anything. His changeup is his best off-speed pitch and it will flash plus on occasion. Like his fastball he doesn't consistently command the pitch. His curveball remains a below average offering though he will flash an average one on occasion. One major league scout noted that his upper and lower halves get out of synch which causes his inconsistent command. Another AL scout felt he improved the most of any starter he'd seen in the system from 2015 to 2016, but also noted he has command issues. What we don't know: Can he get control of his mechanics more often as he matures on the mound? If that happens, will he improves his command of his three pitches, all of which can flash major league average. Can he develop a put away pitch when he needs the strikeout? What he needs to improve: Obviously he needs to improve his command of all three offerings. In addition he needs a go to pitch that he can miss some bats with. Summary: Scouts continue to be mixed on Gonzales with some seeing the potential for him to have three major league average pitches from the left side and thinking that could be enough to pitch at the back end of the rotation even without the plus command. Others have concerns with the mechanics and the lack of command and think he may end up a reliever or a long man. Gonzalez learned a lot this season about being a professional and how to prepare himself between starts. He made strides in 2016 which is exactly what you want to see from a young pitcher. He's prospect age appropriate going into 2017 where he should start the year at Frederick. If he can find consistently more times than not he should find success and continue to move up the chain.

Thanks. Cut and pasted that since he was under the same three innings order as Sedlock, Dietz and Muckenheim.

Keegan Akin - LHP 6' 0" 225 Bats: L Throws: L Age: 21 2016 Team: IronBirds SS Career stats Most Likely Major League Role: 3rd/4th starter Ceiling: #2 starter Floor: Left-handed reliever Background: The Orioles drafted Keegan in the 2nd round (54th overall) of the 2016 draft out of Western Michigan University after an outstanding Junior season (1.82 ERA, 109 IP, 72 H, HR, 30 BB, 133 K, .192 AVG). MLB.com said this about Akin coming out of college - "One of the hardest-throwing lefty starters in the college ranks, Akin usually pitches at 91-94 mph and peaks at 96 with late life on his fastball. Though he's not a big guy, he maintains his velocity deep into games and generates it without much effort in his delivery. There's some debate as to which is better, his low-80s slider or his tumbling changeup, but both should be at least average offerings. Akin has three pitches and fills the strike zone, so he'll definitely be a starter going forward. He fared well against quality competition in the Cape Cod League last summer, another point in his favor." 2016: Like several other college starters they drafted in 2016, the Orioles eased Akin into pro ball due to his college workload assigning him to short season Aberdeen and limiting him to three innings a start. No one had a better pro debut as he dominated New York Penn League batters. Allowed earned runs in two of his first three starts before not allowing a run in his last six three inning starts. Over his last 12 innings he struck out 17, walked two and allowed just five hits. 2016 stats (Aberdeen) ERA: 1.04 IP: 26 H: 15 (5.2/9) HRA: 0 (0.0/9) BB: 7 (2.4/9) SO: 25 (10.0/9) AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS: .161/.218/.194/.411 RHB Slash: .177/.235/.226/.461 LHB Slash: .129/.182/.129/.311 GO/AO: 1.00 Scouting report (now and future) FB: 50/55 SL: 45/55 CH: 45/55 What we know: Akin is a three-pitch lefty with a plus left-handed fastball who can throw strikes. At 6-foot tall with a thick lower half, his body is mature, so what you have is what you have. Luckily for the Orioles what they have a pretty good left-handed pitching prospect. His fastball sits 89-93, though he can touch as high as 94-96 on occasion with good late arm side run. His slider is inconsistent but it's a good left on left pitch and should settle into an average offering once he finds some consistency. His change can flash average or even plus at times, but his command is inconsistent. During his college time he was able to keep his stuff late in games What we don't know: He was about good as you can be in his pro debut, but can he maintain that crispness over 6-7 innings? His slider and changep can be solid average often at times, but they could be inconsistent from start to start. The consistency of those offerings will determine his chance of reaching his ceiling or floor. What he needs to improve: Just consistency of his stuff. He can throw three solid average major league pitches and the sooner he commands all three consistently the faster he was move. Summary: Akin actually outperformed 1st round pick Cody Sedlock and put up one of the most impressive pro debuts of any Orioles draft pick in recent memory. A legitimate three-pitch lefty, he could move very quickly through the system along with his teammate. He'll probably start next season at Delmarva but could be pushed to Frederick.

No, not arguing with you, just relaying what I observed and what I heard from others who have seen him. Regardless, I can't imagine the Orioles pulling him up mainly due to them trying to nurse him through his pro debut after his harsh college use this year.

Well he may have saw him in mid-season form and I've seen him as a pro in a 3-inning stint. As you know, when you see him can matter a lot. The stuff is there, and the body of work suggests the command can be better then it's been, but when I saw him, I saw the power sink but he struggled to command it, especially glove side. He has 10 walks in 18 innings against NY-Penn League batters. I like him a lot, and think he has some promise, but the guy I saw wasn't ready to go up and pitch significant enough innings to be worth having to add him to the 40-man. Could he be a 6th inning guy? Perhaps, but I just don't think they are going to risk putting a guy under that stress who they are trying to baby thru pro 30 innings.

Yes, I imagine they will be brought down but they may not throw them much.

They are fully aware of his innings. He's on a 3-inning plan where he will start every five days and pitch three inning stints. That will give him about 30 pro innings on top of the 101 he tossed in college. The other college starters they drafted early (Akin and Dietz) are on the same plan.

He doesn't have command of his pitches right now. The stuff is there, and after an offseason of rest I expect him to be fine, but he's not ready for Baltimore.

Imagine that, a young, cost controlled legitimate starting pitcher should be held onto. As I said before, during and after the trade, Davies was and is heads and shoulders above Wright and Wilson and was not "in their same group!" This reminds of the time when I wrote up Lincecum as the second best pitching prospect I had ever seen personally (Beckett was the 1st) and sent it to my area guy only to watch the Orioles pass him up for Billy Rowell. Here I am again, Davies is heads and shoulders better than Wright and Wilson, and Davies was sent away for a rent a player who wasn't going to move the needle enough even had he come here and put up his .900 OPS that we all knew he wouldn't. Duquette does some great things as GM, and his scouts do a decent job overall, but they really screwed the pooch on this assessment.

This thread is always a good thread to see bumped!

Harvey pitching in a real game will be like seeing a Leprechaun diving a unicorn into the ocean and finding Atlantis.

Harvey was throwing off flat ground a week or so ago. He'll probably be lucky to pitch in a game that matters by July. Right now, let's just see him log a complete season in the minors before we start talking his role with the Orioles. As fragile as he's been, I might consider putting him in the bullpen for a season as a three inning reliever and see how he holds up.

Even the Markakis die-hards have to be happy we didn't sign Nick to that 4-year contract. He's slashing (.242/.344/.332/.675) for $11 million.

You will not get an argument from me!

I don't disagree. I know DD did not want to include Hader but the Astros would not do the deal without him. Norris worked ouit for us because he was a key member of the 2014 rotation that was a hot Royals team away from being in the World Series. I think everyone knows my opinion on the Davies trade.

Hader, 1.29 ERA, 7 IP, 9k, 3 BB, batters hit .192 off him Davies, 3.60 ERa, 10 IP, 9K, 2 BB, batter s hit .189 off him. Davies would be in our rotation this year. Hader would be our top prospect. Just saying.

Apparently someone on Dan's staff felt the same way as you do because it's the only reason anyone should have considered trading Davies for Parra. Saying that, Bergesen was sinker, slider guy who had a career 5.7 K/9 ratio in the minors which meant he relied on a lot of balls getting hit at people. He spent most of his Double-A season as a 22-year old where he put up a 3.22 ERA and 4.4 k/9. Davies put up a 2.84 ERA in Norfolk along with a 7.2 K/9 in 19 games, and a 3.71 ERA and a 6.4 K/9 in six major league starts at 22. Bergesen had a career 4.8 K/9 in major leagues. On top of it, Davies has three (sinking fastball, change, curve) average to above average pitches plus a slider that will flash average at times to give him a fourth pitch. Other than the fact they both came from the Orioles system and their fastballs were both 88-91, they really were different pitchers.

I could understand most of his other trades. Last year, Miller made the Orioles legitimate World Series contender. To me, giving up E-rod, who I liked and think will end up a solid 3/4th starter was worth it because the organization still had Bundy, Harvey and Davies. Previous to that, although I was an Arrieta guy from s stuff perspective, he clearly was pitching his way to being DFAd along with Strop so packaging them for a starter that they needed made some sense. Obviously in retrospect it has turned out to be a terrible trade. I was even ok giving up Hader for Norris since Norris had years left on his contract and honestly, he was a big part of our championship year last year so that trade I feel was successful. This off season I wasn't in love with giving up both Brault and Tarpley for Snider. Maybe you give up one of those arm for the guy, but no way you give up both. Both had outstanding years and would probably be in the top 10 prospect for this organization if they were still here. The Davies trade made absolutely no sense whatsoever and makes me seriously question where Duquette is coming from at this point. Why trade your best healthy starting pitching prospect for a rental guy who won't move the needle much on a mediocre ball club? The only thing I can think of is that Duquette assessment of Davies was not very high and if so, he's was wrong in my opinion. So in the last year, he's traded away: RHP Zach Davies, 22 (2.84, 81-33, 101.1IP in AAA and 3.71 in six starts in MLB) LHP Steven Tarpley, 22 (2.48, 105K-25BB, 116IP in Low-A) LHP Steve Brault, 23 (2.43, 125K-40BB, in 155.2 IP between High-A and AA) For: Gerardo Parra (.213/.244/.332/.576, -1.2 rWAR) Free Agent at end of season Travis Snider (.208/.296/.458/.755, 0.9 rWAR) Released Either he needs to fire some scouts for these assessments or take a long look at how he values minor league prospects. I'm all about moving prospects in the right deal, but he and his staff did a poor job of evaluating the current Orioles team, the players they acquired, and the prospects they sent away because this is unacceptable and how you destroy franchises for years to come.

Which in a nutshell why I was so adamantly opposed to that trade. We're going to lose Chen this offseason and Gonzalez has not been impressive this year and may have to fight for a job. Tillman was bad, Jimenez was good for a half then bad for a half, and Gausman will end up a good solid #3 pitcher. You don't trade guys like Davies for guys like Parra when you are at best a mediocre ballclub with a middle of the road budget.

I would have only dealt Davies for a player or players that were good now and we had at least another year or two of control. even then, I had no faith in this team and would have been sellers rather than buyers in July.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/milwaukee-brewers-vs-san-diego-padres-b99587597z1-330192721.html https://www.facebook.com/Brewers/videos/10153205781415003/?fref=nf No worries though, he was just a mediocre middle reliever...:rolleyestf: Sinking 89-91 MPH fastball, plus swing and miss change, average curveball, all of which he commands. Pitch F/X classifies his pitches into 7 different categories which means he changes speeds and looks on his pitches which increases his effectiveness. Plus he's 22-years old. On top of it, all seven have plus pitch values. No seriously, not one pitch is below average. If Davies was still in our system, he's probably the number one or two prospect for me (Grant it it's more to do with a lack of options than anything, but still). Instead, we got a .574 OPS and a -1.2 WAR from Parra on a team that will finish below .500. So for the 95 of you that was for this trade and especially for you folks that think Davies was nothing more than a throw away arm, how do you like that trade now? This was a stupid trade at the time and it'll become epically bad as the Orioles try to put together their rotation next year minus Davies.

Well he's certainly hit like him. Unfortunately, Lough was a better defender.

Congrats to the young man. I wish him great success!