Duquette's most important task: fix the farm system

[Bradysburns]

There is a lot of truth here, but no one will admit it.

I'll admit it, and I'll second it. Except that I am not sure what Trea is disagreeing with, exactly. You can do both of these things. The Orioles can indeed walk and chew gum. That is my whole take now: It's not grow the arms, buy the bats. It's chew gum and walk. Improve the MLB team's record and roster next year (even if by 5-10 games)... AND improve the farm system with international signings, etc.

The only problem I have with the OP - and perhaps this is just my perception - is that it seems to present a kind of false choice: You can either be interested in developing a healthy farm system, or you are interested in improving the MLB product starting right now. In fact, you can - and must - do both. We need to improve the MLB club next season in some obvious way (roster and record). And we need to create pipelines of young talent leading into the farm system. That's chewing gum and walking at the same time, and I think Duquette can do it.

[Mizerooskie]

The first step can't be to put the team back into the playoffs.

Why? Because it's freaking impossible without more homegrown talent. They're not going to beat the big-market teams to the elite free agent talent.

The Orioles need to get as much talent into the organization at all levels. That starts with the farm system. That's how Tampa competes year to year despite being woefully out-gunned financially.

[Sanfran327]

The farm system has some nice pieces in it right now. We really need to focus on the 40-man roster and getting better development personnel in place to see if we have a few hidden gems in the ranks. We will continue to build through the draft, and Duq will hopefully build a consistent and reliable pipeline to latin baseball.

But I really think that the main focus needs to be the 40-man, which is definitely impacted by the farm system.

[MarylandAaron]

The first step is get the O's back into the playoffs? Well it sounds nice in theory, but unfortunately the O's 1) probably don't have the necessary money to spend on premiere FA's, and 2) no premiere FA's want to come here. Plus even if we got, say Prince Fielder and C.J. Wilson I bet the O's still finish fourth next year. It seems totally impossible to me to buy the O's into the playoffs right now, not to mention the huge risk associated with big contracts.

The ONLY way I can see the O's evevntually becoming a contender is by building up the farm system through the draft and through trades. Not the most sexy way of building a team, but it's the only practical solution right now.

[Hank Scorpio]

I disagree.

The first step needs to be to put a team on the field that can get back into the playoffs. The Orioles need to end the losing. They've got to change the mentality and perception of this team before they do anything else.

Once they do that, then it will make anything else they try to do that much easier.

You don't have to have a strong farm system to win initially but you do need one to sustain winning. But to sustain winning, the Orioles need to actually win first.

Fans don't come to the Yard to watch "scouting and development" and the O's need their fanbase back to generate the neccessary revenue to rebuild those parts of the organization that do need attention.

Duquette will need to develop a succession plan eventually, but not until we figure out the pieces at the ML level.

Extremist perspectives one way or another are flat out wrong and will get you nothing but another 14 years of losing. The one thing that you will always need is a good organization structure for identifying & developing talent. That's a bare bones NEED. If you don't have that, you won't have much else. The Orioles need that first and foremost.

There is a lot of truth here, but no one will admit it.

Ehhhh.... there is a lot of pro free-agency spin, here. Free agency is obviously very necessary for any team to win but refer to my above point.

well said, and highly accurate

...when combined with a strong organizational structure. Without that, nothing he said will make one iota's difference.

[Hank Scorpio]

The first step can't be to put the team back into the playoffs.

Why? Because it's freaking impossible without more homegrown talent. They're not going to beat the big-market teams to the elite free agent talent.

The Orioles need to get as much talent into the organization at all levels. That starts with the farm system. That's how Tampa competes year to year despite being woefully out-gunned financially.

Pffffft Tampa.... their window is closed.

[Roll Tide]

I disagree.

The first step needs to be to put a team on the field that can get back into the playoffs. The Orioles need to end the losing. They've got to change the mentality and perception of this team before they do anything else.

Once they do that, then it will make anything else they try to do that much easier.

You don't have to have a strong farm system to win initially but you do need one to sustain winning. But to sustain winning, the Orioles need to actually win first.

Fans don't come to the Yard to watch "scouting and development" and the O's need their fanbase back to generate the neccessary revenue to rebuild those parts of the organization that do need attention.

Duquette will need to develop a succession plan eventually, but not until we figure out the pieces at the ML level.

Considering what Angelos has done to his fans he should sign up for both to be done at the same time. He's been hoarding money since the late 90s and also have money from MASN. No reason to believe he cant dump money into player development & free agency.

[Orioles0615]

I'll admit it, and I'll second it. Except that I am not sure what Trea is disagreeing with, exactly. You can do both of these things. The Orioles can indeed walk and chew gum. That is my whole take now: It's not grow the arms, buy the bats. It's chew gum and walk. Improve the MLB team's record and roster next year (even if by 5-10 games)... AND improve the farm system with international signings, etc.

The only problem I have with the OP - and perhaps this is just my perception - is that it seems to present a kind of false choice: You can either be interested in developing a healthy farm system, or you are interested in improving the MLB product starting right now. In fact, you can - and must - do both. We need to improve the MLB club next season in some obvious way (roster and record). And we need to create pipelines of young talent leading into the farm system. That's chewing gum and walking at the same time, and I think Duquette can do it.

I like it. New slogan anyone? "chew gum and walk"

[Frobby]

I disagree.

The first step needs to be to put a team on the field that can get back into the playoffs. The Orioles need to end the losing. They've got to change the mentality and perception of this team before they do anything else.

Once they do that, then it will make anything else they try to do that much easier.

You don't have to have a strong farm system to win initially but you do need one to sustain winning. But to sustain winning, the Orioles need to actually win first.

Fans don't come to the Yard to watch "scouting and development" and the O's need their fanbase back to generate the neccessary revenue to rebuild those parts of the organization that do need attention.

Duquette will need to develop a succession plan eventually, but not until we figure out the pieces at the ML level.

We need 22-26 more wins to be a playoff team. To do that through free agency, at roughly $4.5 mm per win, we'd need to increase payroll by $100-120 mm. That simply isn't happening, though you might wish it to be so.

In any event, I am not saying we can't pursue any top free agents. I'm simply prioritizing the most important thing our next GM needs to do. We could get Fielder, Wilson and a third guy and we'd still be only about an 85-87 win team.

[Larry18]

I hope Duquette takes a more patient approach to player development. It seems to me that the Orioles have been in a hurry to promote players at the first hint of success.

[SammyBirdland]

Well, if he keeps drafting like he did for the Red Sox and Expos, our farm system should improve. Here are some players he drafted:

Nomar Garciaparra

Jon Lester

Carl Pavano

David Eckstein

Freddy Sanchez

Mark Teixeira (didn't sign)

International signings he made with the Expos and Red Sox include:

Vladimir Guerrero

Orlando Cabrera

Anibal Sanchez

[LookinUp]

We need 22-26 more wins to be a playoff team. To do that through free agency, at roughly $4.5 mm per win, we'd need to increase payroll by $100-120 mm. That simply isn't happening, though you might wish it to be so.

In any event, I am not saying we can't pursue any top free agents. I'm simply prioritizing the most important thing our next GM needs to do. We could get Fielder, Wilson and a third guy and we'd still be only about an 85-87 win team.

If you count on 10 of those wins coming internally, it could happen. There's also the trade route. A smart, active, GM (wth freedom from the owner)could lead a totally new roster onto the field next year. I'll believe it when I see it, but this shouldn't be as black and white as amateur versus free agency.

[Frobby]

If you count on 10 of those wins coming internally, it could happen. There's also the trade route. A smart, active, GM (wth freedom from the owner)could lead a totally new roster onto the field next year. I'll believe it when I see it, but this shouldn't be as black and white as amateur versus free agency.

And again, I didn't say it was.

[wildcard]

I think that emphasizing both winning in the near term and improving the farm system is the right way to go. Where I differ is that to win in the near term expensive free agents are not needed.

1) Fix the pitching without costing draft choices. The O's already have five or with Johnson six starters. To get through a contending season they need more. Go get two Far East starters and trade for a salary dump like Joe Saunders. It will cost little in talent. Realize that your TOR starters by 2013 are probably Britton, Matusz and/or Arrieta. The additional pitchers just give the system depth to get through the season by putting better pitchers in long relief and in at AAA. They are there for the rotation when injuries hit.

2) Realize that between Nick, Jones, Wieters and Hardy there is a young core that are great defensively and very good offensively. Surround them with 1B Reynolds, Reimold and Andino who each have strengths but are not balanced young players yet. Hold on to Roberts and Scott under the right contract. Supplement them with Davis and a low cost 3rd baseman like Ian Stewart or Alberto Callaspo. The Angels are ready to cut salary according to their owner. Either will not be that expensive to get. Add a back up catcher like Shoppach or Ramon Castro that allow Wieters to rest more and produce most offensively. The core offensive is already in place, it needs depth.

If the O's can get to .500 by developing who they have and adding depth then they can use next off season to add players to put themselves into contention. This team is well on its way to growing together as a contender if it just has the depth to run through the injuries.

While doing this don't acquire free agents that cost draft choices. Get better scouts and player development people. That is the way to get the flow on young players the team needs.

So its both win now and improve the farm system. I am sure Buck already has a plan something like this to work with Duquette on. He has already talked about going after Far East starters. He has already let Tatum go so he can get a better backup catcher. The farm system management, scouting and draft management are already undergoing changes that Buck is involved with. I think this is close to the plan we will see going forward

[allstar1579]

I disagree.

The first step needs to be to put a team on the field that can get back into the playoffs. The Orioles need to end the losing. They've got to change the mentality and perception of this team before they do anything else.

Once they do that, then it will make anything else they try to do that much easier.

You don't have to have a strong farm system to win initially but you do need one to sustain winning. But to sustain winning, the Orioles need to actually win first.

Fans don't come to the Yard to watch "scouting and development" and the O's need their fanbase back to generate the neccessary revenue to rebuild those parts of the organization that do need attention.

Duquette will need to develop a succession plan eventually, but not until we figure out the pieces at the ML level.

Of course you do. There's not a poster or lurker on this site that didn't know that.

Hate to break it to you, but it is absolutely DD's philosophy to build through the draft and then add FA once the core has been established. Don't expect him to go all in the first year.