Mickolio: Prospect or Organizational Player?

[wildcard]

Kam Mickolio turned 26 on May 10th 2010. He will play most of the 2011 season as a 27 year old. Is he still considered a prospect or has he past over the line into an organizational player?

[Crazysilver03]

Mickolio has had his chances at the major league level and has disappointed in every chance. While he was injured this past season, he broke down again towards the end of the season. At this point, I don't think he can be counted on to help.

[OFFNY]

Kam Mickolio turned 26 on May 10th 2010. He will play most of the 2011 season as a 27 year old. Is he still considered a prospect or has he past over the line into an organizational player?

I don't see Mickolio with the Orioles much longer, but .........

When I saw the Norfolk Tides play in North Carolina against the Durham Bulls in 2008, I went to the dugout for autographs after the game. Of the 25 players on the Tides' roster, only Kam Mickolio made a bee line for me, making sure that I got an autograph (Tyke Redman gave me his autograph too, but I had to ask, he hesitated, and finally said "Alright.").

For that reason alone, I would like to see Kam survive a few years in the majors even as a marginal pitcher, long enough to get a pension, and long enough to say that he had a bona fide major league career, and not just a cup of coffee.

.

[Crazysilver03]

Of course he's still a prospect and the O's are still treating him like one. He's going to stay on the 40 man AND they sent him to the AFL. He either makes the team next spring or the O's risk losing him. I'm not very high on him anymore but there's little doubt the O's still consider him a prospect and he still has a chance to win a bullpen spot next spring. I don't think he will.

Mickolio still has one more option year.

[LookinUp]

I voted no, but it was probably a stupid vote. Kam still has nice upside, just a very low probability of hitting it, IMO.

If it clicks for him, he could still be a dominant reliever. For that reason, he's still a prospect, even though I wouldn't be putting any money on him doing so.

[clapdiddy]

I think he gets one more season as a prospect, but if he can't crack the bullpen with the O's as some point next season and see some success, then he falls into the other column.

Heck, we kept Bob McCrory around for what seemed like forever, so I'm willing to give Kam the benefit of the doubt.

[QBsILLEST1]

Yes he is a prospect and I still do believe in him. He was hurt this last year which resulted in a terrible showing not only in the ML but also in AAA. Lets see what he does this year, if he doesn't make it then I guess it is what it is, but IMO he is definitely still a prospect and has a decent chance of hitting his upside. I am kinda curious as to what people think his upside is and why exactly he has a low probability of hitting it.

[wildcard]

I think he gets one more season as a prospect, but if he can't crack the bullpen with the O's as some point next season and see some success, then he falls into the other column.

Heck, we kept Bob McCrory around for what seemed like forever, so I'm willing to give Kam the benefit of the doubt.

To me a prospect is a player that is on a path to the majors. The club promotes him over others and makes sure he get his playing time.

An organizational player is a filler. The club may keep him around because he is useful but he is not projected to be in the majors. If he plays well and there are injuries he may be called to the majors at some point.

For me, Mickolio has crossed over the line to an organizational player.

[wildcard]

Zach Clark is an organizational player. Mickolio is not. There's a big difference.

Clark has been a organization player for a while. To me, and its only me, Mickolio is just changing over from a prospect to an organization player. And yes, I agree there is a difference in the two players. Mickolio was acquired by MacPhail which gives him an edge.

[LookinUp]

Yes he is a prospect and I still do believe in him. He was hurt this last year which resulted in a terrible showing not only in the ML but also in AAA. Lets see what he does this year, if he doesn't make it then I guess it is what it is, but IMO he is definitely still a prospect and has a decent chance of hitting his upside. I am kinda curious as to what people think his upside is and why exactly he has a low probability of hitting it.

I think his upside is as a nasty setup man, or even a closer if it really clicks. His size creates problems with hitters picking up the ball. He also has a ton of natural movement on his pitches, so he's hard to square up on when he keeps the ball down.

Unfortunately, he appears to have terrible mechanics and that results in a simple inability to throw strikes, and when he does, an inability to locate in the zone.

Guys who throw hard or have 1 nasty pitch are a dime a dozen. He's a little better than that, but I really think he'll have an incredibly hard time ever becoming consistent enough to gain the trust of a major league manager coming out of the pen.

I'm not ruling it out, but I have no reason to think it's at all likely.

[Arthur_Bryant]

I think he gets one more season as a prospect, but if he can't crack the bullpen with the O's as some point next season and see some success, then he falls into the other column.

Heck, we kept Bob McCrory around for what seemed like forever, so I'm willing to give Kam the benefit of the doubt.

Good mention. Mickolio is probably where McCrory was a couple of years ago, with one more year to show something. If he can stay healthy, he'll probably get that shot some time in 2011. There is even a chance that he makes the club out of ST.

[wildcard]

. There is even a chance that he makes the club out of ST.

That chance is pretty slim or it should be. It would take some injuries or several trades of relievers to get that to happen.

[wildcard]

Nothing personal, but I think you just don't understand what an organizational player is.

Please inform me.

[Sports Guy]

I voted organizational player but that is because I feel he is closer to that than a prospect at this point...However, I wouldn't label him a true organizational player yet.

End of the day, he has a big arm and no ability to command it. Some team may still take a chance on him and having him in a deal may help sweeten the offer but I suspect most clubs have players like Kam in their system.

He still has a chance to be a solid member of the pen though and that is why I wouldn't label him an organizational player.

[wildcard]

I voted organizational player but that is because I feel he is closer to that than a prospect at this point...However, I wouldn't label him a true organizational player yet.

End of the day, he has a big arm and no ability to command it. Some team may still take a chance on him and having him in a deal may help sweeten the offer but I suspect most clubs have players like Kam in their system.

He still has a chance to be a solid member of the pen though and that is why I wouldn't label him an organizational player.

Kind of in the gray area. That's fair.