Baseball America's Best Tools Survey

[Jordan Tuwiner]

Every year, Baseball America surveys players, coaches, etc. from each league to create lists of the best tools in each league.

I don't have a BA account but I'll post what I can find about which Orioles are on the lists.

Manny Machado made the EL list for best defensive SS, best infield arm, and most exciting player.

[TuckerBlair89]

Glad to hear Machado is getting the defensive recognition he deserves. He has come so far defensively and I am very impressed. Glad to see others are noticing too.

[mthompson]

He makes alot of tough plays, but really needs to become more consistant. 23 errors at this point in the season is not that exciting.

[ofahn]

He makes alot of tough plays, but really needs to become more consistant. 23 errors at this point in the season is not that exciting.

Have you taken into consideration the often horrible condition of the infields he plays on?

[osforlife]

Have you taken into consideration the often horrible condition of the infields he plays on?

I thought Bowie's field is pretty nice. Maybe I'am just used to playing on little league fields.

[TuckerBlair89]

23 errors by a minor leaguer at the age of 20 at AA Bowie is not a big deal at all. (which this is easily the hardest jump outside of to the MLB)

Machado is absolutely fine, not to mention a lot of these errors are from earlier in the season. Why has no one mentioned this? (not you guys, but media guys referencing it).I've seen Machado play at least 10 times this season and it's a broken record but he is impressive. Errors in the minors tell you nothing. Nothing at all.

[ofahn]

I thought Bowie's field is pretty nice. Maybe I'am just used to playing on little league fields.

I was referring to the away fields.

[osforlife]

I was referring to the away fields.

Ahh yeah probably. I saw Machado make 4 errors on Friday and Saturday. But I believe he will be and is a good defensive shortstop.

[TuckerBlair89]

Machado is going to make errors, and he is still so young, but the true evaluation is how he progresses. He has absolutely shown advancement in the field, and that is all you can really ask for.

[mthompson]

Im not saying he wont be a solid defensive ss but he has a very wild throwing arm, but that could be fixed if he can find a consistent release point. Also, he is a bit of a hot dog leading to a bunch of stupid errors. Again, that can be fixed if someone gave him the clockwork orange treatment on him with nothing jeter plays

[ofahn]

he is a bit of a hot dog leading to a bunch of stupid errors

Please remember that he's 20 years old. The first time he "hot dogs" it in the ML and it leads to an error it will be a race to see who talks to him first. Wieters or Jones.