Aberdeen stinks, again!

[Frobby]

2005: 27-48

2006: 41-34

2007: 34-42

2008: 36-39

2009: 30-44

2010: 34-40

2011: 2-15

To me this raises some real questions about how well we are drafting.

[Dipper9]

Well I saw the OD win and haven't paid attention since due to being in OC. Wonder when my next Plan A game is? Wonder if I care?

[DrShorebird]

Hang in there. Maybe you will get some recent draft signees soon.

[AVencill]

Hang in there. Maybe you will get some recent draft signees soon.

Yes you will. Mike Wright, Matt Taylor and Devin Jones have been assigned while Sam Tavares, James Brandhorst, Cody Young and Brandon Holloway were released.

[TakebackOPACY]

What questions does it raise? Wouldn't just be easier to look at the draft over the last two or three years and look at them. Aberdeen's record doesn't necesarily mean we've drafted poorly. We have guys from the 2009 draft, 2010 draft, and hardly any from this year's draft on the team. Which picks do you have a problem with?

BTW, I'd be curious to know how the Ironbirds stack up age wise to the other teams. Sawyer, Narron, and Bridwell are still teenagers. Wirsch and Baker are just 20. Our best prospects on the team are the youngest ones.

Sam Tavares, James Brandhorst, Cody Young and Brandon Holloway.

[Malike]

I'll be watching them this upcoming weekend against The Valley Cats. Hope I see some good games.

[glenn__davis]

Seems to me like Baltimore really sees Aberdeen as a "developmental" stage. Almost like an extended spring training, except that people actually keep track of the stats and standings. It just seems like they send guys there just to get their feet wet and get some experience, and that winning games there really is even less of a priority than it is elsewhere in the minors.

I'm sure there are others who have better information than I do, but that's sort of how I see things from a distance.

[Oldorioles]

Aberdeen certainly does stink, you're right about that. I think much has to do with the slower than usual rate of signing new draftees and getting them on the field. I believe that as of today, only two 2011 draftees have actually played for Aberdeen. Davis has six at bats and Howard has logged one inning. It would be nice to gauge some of our 2011 class this season through Aberdeen. Hopefully, the recent signings will get new, more talented guys there and let Aberdeen shed some of the dead weight, like they did yesterday.

There are a few other reasons for the poor record as well:

1) Anyone good from Aberdeen last year was promoted. In fact, the only regular from last year's squad is Knight and he's been as bad this year as last year. This leaves several ho-hum players getting more ABs than they should until this year's crop is signed. Read: Leonora, Knight, Clinton, Goolsby, Hoppy, Petersime, etc).

2) Bluefield was terrible last year and much of the best talent from there (Schoop, Machado, Petrini, Pettit, Martin, even Ohlman and Webb) and from the GCL (Berry) bypassed Aberdeen this seasonfor full season teams.

3) Our best talent at Aberdeen is young. We have six top-10 draft pick there from previous years right now (Sawyer, Givens, Narron, Wirsch, Bridwell, and Cowan). All of these guys except for Cowan were playing HIGH SCHOOL ball just two years ago. I think we need to remember that. Contrary to the draft strategy this year, in 2010 and 2009 we drafted a lot of high schoolers early.

4) The Orioles have been aggressive in promoting these young player, even when the situation may not warrant it. For example, Narron had a ~400 OPS last year in the GCL (limited ABs, I realize) and now he's a struggling 19 year old at Aberdeen with a ~550 OPS.

[NewMarketSean]

Frobby, you're too negative and tedious.

[kbucky5]

I have tried to watch most of their home games online when I get the chance. Seems like they are really having trouble getting the needed hits at the right time. Not sure if that should be blamed on age or not, or just bad luck maybe. It seems every time I watch at least a few times a game they have a runner in scoring position with no one out or one out. Just can't seem to get the big hit at the right time. I feel for the most part the starting pitching has been decent. Not a lot of run support, but looking beyond that they seem to be pitching well. The bullpen situation hasn't been very fun to watch. I almost feel like I'm watching my Texas Rangers when I watch Aberdeen. I sure hope they can get it turned around and start getting some wins.

[bobmc]

Fear not the cavalry, part deux is coming!

"Right-handers Matt Hobgood and Ryan Berry are expected to pitch one more time for the Gulf Coast League O's, probably July 11, and then move to Aberdeen."

http://www.masnsports.com/steve_melewski/2011/07/hobgood-and-berry-will-likely-be-aberdeen-bound-soon.html

[Dipper9]

Fear not the cavalry, part deux is coming!

"Right-handers Matt Hobgood and Ryan Berry are expected to pitch one more time for the Gulf Coast League O's, probably July 11, and then move to Aberdeen."

http://www.masnsports.com/steve_melewski/2011/07/hobgood-and-berry-will-likely-be-aberdeen-bound-soon.html

I hope Hobgood doesn't steal my Rip's BBQ sandwich!

[bobmc]

I hope Hobgood doesn't steal my Rip's BBQ sandwich!

Sounds like they're a "tag team" so it might be tough holding them off.

[TGO]

Aberdeen certainly does stink, you're right about that. I think much has to do with the slower than usual rate of signing new draftees and getting them on the field. I believe that as of today, only two 2011 draftees have actually played for Aberdeen. Davis has six at bats and Howard has logged one inning. It would be nice to gauge some of our 2011 class this season through Aberdeen. Hopefully, the recent signings will get new, more talented guys there and let Aberdeen shed some of the dead weight, like they did yesterday.

There are a few other reasons for the poor record as well:

1) Anyone good from Aberdeen last year was promoted. In fact, the only regular from last year's squad is Knight and he's been as bad this year as last year. This leaves several ho-hum players getting more ABs than they should until this year's crop is signed. Read: Leonora, Knight, Clinton, Goolsby, Hoppy, Petersime, etc).

2) Bluefield was terrible last year and much of the best talent from there (Schoop, Machado, Petrini, Pettit, Martin, even Ohlman and Webb) and from the GCL (Berry) bypassed Aberdeen this seasonfor full season teams.

3) Our best talent at Aberdeen is young. We have six top-10 draft pick there from previous years right now (Sawyer, Givens, Narron, Wirsch, Bridwell, and Cowan). All of these guys except for Cowan were playing HIGH SCHOOL ball just two years ago. I think we need to remember that. Contrary to the draft strategy this year, in 2010 and 2009 we drafted a lot of high schoolers early.

4) The Orioles have been aggressive in promoting these young player, even when the situation may not warrant it. For example, Narron had a ~400 OPS last year in the GCL (limited ABs, I realize) and now he's a struggling 19 year old at Aberdeen with a ~550 OPS.

Other than #4, which is an organizational philosophy issue, don't all ML organizations face the same sort of issues when it comes to short-season A leagues? The teams the IronBirds are obviously not having as much trouble as Aberdeen is. And they probably all face situations where their best players from 2010 were promoted, few 2011 draftees have signed, and they have lots of high school guys only 1-2 years out.

Moreover, Frobby posted the records going all the way back to 2005. They've had one winning season out of six.

I think Frobby's questions are worth asking.

[Stotle]

College players that log time at short season A ball are guys that sign early, and thus are not overslot. Non-college players at short season A ball are generally upside high schoolers that signed in a previous year and international signees who have logged time at rookie ball. Baltimore has lacked early "slot" signing college players (think supplemental and 2nd round picks) and as we all know are generally barren of international talent. That means Baltimore is missing out on two primary sources of talent that would generally be found on a short season club. If Baltimore were bringing in an extra supplemental/2nd round college talent each year, as well as promoting an extra 2-3 international talents and an extra high school signing from the previous year, they'd have a stronger club at Aberdeen.