A show of hands:

[DocJJ]

How many people were excited when the O's picked highly polished lefty high school bat Billy Rowell instead of highly polished college pitcher Tim Lincecum?

I sure was!

I'd like to have that pick to do over again!!!!

[Mackus]

A lot of people felt Lincecum's small frame couldn't support his big fastball. Others thought he'd end up as a reliever.

Not too many guys out there with Pedro's body size pitch for very long.

That said, in retrospect, I'd rather have Lincecum at this point. But Rowell was a good pick at the time and is still a very good prospect. He's still incredibly young. He's not much older than some of the HS guys being drafted this year.

[Maverick2143]

A lot of people felt Lincecum's small frame couldn't support his big fastball. Others thought he'd end up as a reliever.

Not too many guys out there with Pedro's body size pitch for very long.

That said, in retrospect, I'd rather have Lincecum at this point. But Rowell was a good pick at the time and is still a very good prospect. He's still incredibly young. He's not much older than some of the HS guys being drafted this year.

I think there were also mechanical concerns and alot questions about how many innings/pitches count he threw in college. IIRC he was ridden pretty his last year at Washington.

[BoysofArbutus]

This would be the first year Rowell would be eligible to be drafted had he gone to college I believe. Where do you think he'd go in this class? Is he in the class of Alvarez and Smoak, etc?

[Mackus]

This would be the first year Rowell would be eligible to be drafted had he gone to college I believe. Where do you think he'd go in this class? Is he in the class of Alvarez and Smoak, etc?

He wouldn't be eligible until after his junior year. He graduated HS in 2006. He wouldn't have been eligible to be drafted until next year.

[BoysofArbutus]

He wouldn't be eligible until after his junior year. He graduated HS in 2006. He wouldn't have been eligible to be drafted until next year.

So theoretically, we have a college sophomore hitting near .300 in High-A. If we drafted him next year, he likely wouldn't sign until late and be in Bowie in 2010. Instead, we'll have him in the middle of Bowie's lineup to start next year at 20/21. I'll take that, even if Lincecum is pitching very well. I haven't given up on Rowell yet.

[wayne25]

So theoretically, we have a college sophomore hitting near .300 in High-A. If we drafted him next year, he likely wouldn't sign until late and be in Bowie in 2010. Instead, we'll have him in the middle of Bowie's lineup to start next year at 20/21. I'll take that, even if Lincecum is pitching very well. I haven't given up on Rowell yet.

Actually he's hitting closer to .250 with not alot of power yet.

[BoysofArbutus]

I still wouldn't give up on him completely. Hell, Reimold is 24 and people still are counting on him filling out the middle of the O's order.

[Sports Guy]

I liked it and while Lincecum certainly looks like the better pick now, its no slam dunk that will continue.

I still think Lincecum has a lot of arm/shoulder issues ahead of him.

[fischbowl]

I was livid mad