We'll get it turned around if we get better at drafting pitchers.

[winkies]

Since Mussina how many pitchers have we hit on in the draft? Bedard and who else?

How many guys have turned into good/great starters in 20 years that we developed?

And we still won the division last year easily.

[Three Run Homer]

I think the O's have drafted some decent pitchers, but they have a hard time keeping them healthy. I don't know enough to say whether that's just bad luck, bad development or problems with the medical staff.

One thing I feel confident in saying is that the Orioles are at a huge disadvantage relative to almost every other team in the majors because they refuse to compete for premium international amateur talent. Even the Twins were willing to sign Sano, and he looks like a future MVP candidate.

It's very hard for a mid-market team to compete long-term without an excellent farm system, and it's impossible to have an excellent farm system with one hand tied behind your back.

[Scrat1]

Drafting is not the issue. Development is.

[winkies]

Drafting is not the issue. Development is.

Good point. I don't know much about minor leagues and player development.

I just watch the O's play. But it's gotten to the point where I'm thinking to myself "hey what's going on here?"

[SteveO]

I dunno what the issue is but I have a hard time believing it is strictly luck when teams like the Mets, Cardinals, and A's have developed more starting pitchers in the past 3-5 years than we have in the past 25

When the guy your playing golf with beats you on every hole, at some point you have to accept its not that he is lucky and your not, its that he is good and your not.

[winkies]

I dunno what the issue is but I have a hard time believing it is strictly luck when teams like the Mets, Cardinals, and A's have developed more starting pitchers in the past 3-5 years than we have in the past 25

When the guy your playing golf with beats you on every hole, at some point you have to accept its not that he is lucky and your not, its that he is good and your not.

Yes. With a sample size this large, luck seems to be an excuse that's wearing thin.

[Orioles1954]

Hopefully Gausman ends the streak.

[TINSTAAPP]

I have an idea. How about the Orioles should drafting pitchers in the first round year after year when they've traditionally done a much better job drafting hitters. Since 2000, the Orioles first round position players include Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters and Manny Machado. Even Mike Fontenot was able to last seven years and have a respectable career. Since 2000, they've drafted 12 pitchers in the first round. For their career, those pitchers have a combined 1.2 WAR. Brian Matusz has had the best career by far with a 3.3 WAR for his career. His career WAR isn't even as good as Mike Fontenot! None of our first round pitchers have been as good as Mike Fontenot! Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

[JayThomas]

I have an idea. How about the Orioles should drafting pitchers in the first round year after year when they've traditionally done a much better job drafting hitters. Since 2000, the Orioles first round position players include Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters and Manny Machado. Even Mike Fontenot was able to last seven years and have a respectable career. Since 2000, they've drafted 12 pitchers in the first round. For their career, those pitchers have a combined 1.2 WAR. Brian Matusz has had the best career by far with a 3.3 WAR for his career. His career WAR isn't even as good as Mike Fontenot! None of our first round pitchers have been as good as Mike Fontenot! Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Interesting points. I wonder if this is generally true across all of MLB? I believe that there are way more first round pitchers chosen than first round non-pitchers. I wonder what the numbers are for for career WAR of 1st round pitchers v non-pitchers across all of MLB?

Is this just us or is this a general truth?

[ArtVanDelay]

I have an idea. How about the Orioles should drafting pitchers in the first round year after year when they've traditionally done a much better job drafting hitters. Since 2000, the Orioles first round position players include Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters and Manny Machado. Even Mike Fontenot was able to last seven years and have a respectable career. Since 2000, they've drafted 12 pitchers in the first round. For their career, those pitchers have a combined 1.2 WAR. Brian Matusz has had the best career by far with a 3.3 WAR for his career. His career WAR isn't even as good as Mike Fontenot! None of our first round pitchers have been as good as Mike Fontenot! Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

I'm confused. You say that we should draft pitchers in the first round but then make a bunch of points as to why we shouldn't draft pitchers in the first round.

[Frobby]

I'm confused. You say that we should draft pitchers in the first round but then make a bunch of points as to why we shouldn't draft pitchers in the first round.

There's a typo in his post. "Should" is meant to be "stop." Otherwise, the sentence makes no sense as it is written.

[Bahama O's Fan]

I agree with what Scrat said; it's not drafting, it's development.

[TINSTAAPP]

I'm confused. You say that we should draft pitchers in the first round but then make a bunch of points as to why we shouldn't draft pitchers in the first round.

I meant to say stop instead of should. I wouldn't draft a pitcher in the first round unless they're clearly the best player available or have plus-plus stuff.

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[TINSTAAPP]

I agree with what Scrat said; it's not drafting' date=' it's development.[/quote']

If that's the case, how come our failed pitchers don't go to a different organization and turn it around? Only Jake Arrieta and John Maine for a couple seasons with the Mets had any success after they left the Orioles organization. I blame drafting and talent evaluation as well as the fact that pitching prospects are notoriously volatile for the failure of the Orioles pitching prospects. Development really hasn't been the main problem until the last five years IMO.

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[SpinJr]

I actually agree with the idea of not drafting pitchers in the first round. With the fragility of pitchers in general and our dubious history with them I'm all in on position players, particularly HS players. It's been shown that you can trade position players for pitching later on.

In total agreement with this.