The “All Questions Answered” threads are posted every Wednesday. The rules are pretty simple:
- Three questions per poster.
- Please avoid asking broad questions like “name your top 20 prospects”.
I’ll answer questions throughout the day.
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-What do you think of the players chosen to go to the AFL this year (re: Dan Connolly: Ps Mickolio, Pelzer, Egan and Drake; infs, R Adams, Miclat, Townsend; C Joseph and OF unnamed yet)? Are there guys on the list you think shouldn’t have been selected? How about guys not on the list that should have been put there?
-Looks like Zach Britton won’t be called up, and Tillman will be. I know you like that move, so now what do you think the plan for Britton should be? Offseason work?
-What do you think about the [speculative] call-ups? Though they will be up today, I’m presuming, what do you think of the call-up specifically of Brandon Snyder at this point? We know he doesn’t look like the future, but do you think it’s a good idea to be giving him a chance to save himself by producing against the AL East in the few opportunities he could get? Feel free to comment on Andino and Reimold as well.
- I like the selections. Pedro Beato would’ve been a good hoice but my guess is he’s out for the season. He’s finally established himself as a legitimate prospect and some innings against advanced competition would have been good. Pelzer has some room for more innings — he was one of the more obvious choices. I would have sent Brandon Cooney instead of Egan. I would have sent LJ Hoes but you are only allowed 2 players from A+ or below — and they already have Townsend and Drake — so there was no room for Hoes.
- No matter how good Britton pitches at Triple-A next year, I’d like to see him make at least 20 more starts there.
- See my post about Snyder yesterday. There is speculation that Harbor park has been pushing his numbers down. Whether or not that’s true or not is yet to be seen — but he has the swing and approach to be a slightly above-average big leaguer.
I almost feel insane asking this, but is Billy Rowell reestablishing himself as a prospect? After a respectable season, it seems reasonable to assume he’ll start next season at double a, where he’ll still, I believe, be below the league’s average age and only two levels from the majors. Is he coming around as a player, and will the Os be forced to protect him for the rule 5 draft?
What will be the effect of the organization ending it’s relationship with Bluefield? Between that and the scaled down instructional league, it seems like they’re in the middle of a relatively major reorganization.
Steve Johnson‘s disappointing season has coincided with an increase un strikeouts. How do you view him. Jow compared to this time last year?
He’s bumped up his walk are but is striking out in 35% of his at-bats. It’s an improvement when you compare it to his last 2 seasons but he has a long way to go. He’s young so he’s going to get more chances but unless he makes some serious strides with his pitch recognition and swing plane I think he’ll become an AAAA guy. I don’t think he’ll be protected from the Rule-5.
I’m a big fan of the move and the effect will be a good one. This will allow the Orioles to cut 30-35 players which improves the talent level of their other low level teams. People wonder why we are always terrible in the lower minors — it’s because we have about 35 guys playing that wouldn’t be employed if we had 2 rookie league teams.
I’ve seen him multiple times this season and his stuff isn’t as good as the strikeouts would indicate. His fastball is straight and he has little command of his curveball — which can be blamed for the number of home runs he gives up.
So the time is almost here to make a large volume of cuts based on the loss of Bluefield. I get concerned that age will be taken to heavily in consideration. Can you give me your assessment of keep or cut on the following low level “older” players. Allar, Startup, Parker and Keating.
Of the four you mentioned I’d keep Allar. Guys who throw that hard will always get more chances. His performance has faded since his move to the rotation but his work out of the bullpen was decent. He should get a shot at Frederick next year.
Once Britton is gone, who is your top pitching prospect for the O’s?
Do you think after the way Avery is dominating Bowie for his age, that he will become a top 75 prospect?
Ryan Berry or Bobby Bundy.
I wouldn’t say he’s dominating but it’s nice to see the SB% come up. He’s striking out a ton and his walk rate has plummeted. Small sample size of course. I don’t think he makes it on any top 100 lists at the end of this season but next season he should be a top 75 guy, assuming he continues to progress at this rate.
Will the Os put Egan and Beato on the 40 man roster to protect them from the Rule v Draft?
Will Patton be used as a LOOGY next year?
They will, no doubt.
I read something earlier today where Andy MacPhail said they may plug Patton in next year’s rotation. He has been pretty dominant against lefties this year so I would look at him as a LOOGY, but the Orioles may go a different route. Splits here:
http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?pl=461856
Why wasn’t joe mahoney sent to the AFL?
Who do we need to protect from the rule V draft this winter?
Any chance someone from AA gets the call to the big leagues once their season is over?
Pedro Beato, Pat Egan, Billy Rowell (if we feel another team’s going to claim him), Ryan Adams, Tyler Henson. I think we’ll see Pedro Florimon removed from the 40-man.
I doubt it, but if anyone from Bowie gets the call it would be Joel Guzman.
Oh ok, nvm on the mahoney question. i just read the AFL post. He has a wedding this offseason.
did hoes improve defensively this year? who has the higher ceiling at 2nd – Hoes or Givens? Here in South Carolina all I can do is read blogs and box scores…has hobgood improved much this year? has he shown stuff worthy of such a high pick? thanks
Hoes improved his footwork and transfer on double-plays. I think I saw him 4 times in spring training and 4 times at Frederick and the improvements were easy to see.
Givens has a higher ceiling but Hoes is a much safer bet.
His velocity has been up and down this year and I’m not sure he’s been in good shape. Doc Shorebirds, the Orioles Hangout Delmarva beat writer, reports Hobgood is expected to cut some weight this off season and show up in spring training in what may be the best shape of his life. More analysis of Hobgood:
http://oriolesprospects.com/2010/05/26/matt-hobgood-scouting-report/
What is the relationship between a minor league team’s performance one year and the next team above it in the organizational ladder the next year? Like Aberdeen was in last place in 2009, and the Shorebirds are in last place in 2010. This year Aberdeen is next to last – does this predict another losing season for Delmarva in 2011?
Spring training in 2011 – will the minor league Oriole teams be training at the Twins Lakes complex on in the Ed Smith Stadium area?
The records of the lower level affiliates should be much improved this year, as they’ll have more talent and less fillers. It also has to do with breakout seasons, it’s hard to predict minor league team records. To be honest, I don’t pay attention to minor league standings during the season. 85% of the players will never touch a major league roster, which is why I focus on the players I feel have the chance to make an impact.
The upper minor league teams (AA & AAA) will play their spring training games on the backfields of Ed Smith stadium. And yes, every player below AA will play & practice at Twin Lakes.
Why were B.Britton and M.Abreau promoted to Norfolk?
The Tides were left with a hole at SS/2B when Andino was recalled. They already have Hughes and Aubrey who can play 1B but they still needed another position player. Britton can play 2B, SS and 3B. This also allows Jonathan Schoop to get a few A+ at-bats before the season ends.