I like Arrieta a lot. Could be a decent mid-rotation starter. Matusz could be ready soon. And then there's Wieters. Honestly, this list isn't as bad as I thought it would be. There are certainly teams with worse minor league systems than this. I'm looking at you Ed Wade.

Reimold's too high, Mickolio's too low, otherwise just about right.

-- MWE

The top 3 is up there with anyone's, I'd say. Beyond that it gets a bit uglier (I'm not a huge fan of Arrieta) but really this isn't that bad a system any more.

If you just look at the top 1, the Orioles are loaded.

this list isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

It has improved. O's fans are aware of it. I think it'll start to draw more general attention with the offseason scouting pubs.

Why do they bother with those "Projected Lineups," anyway? If that's the 2012 lineup, the team will still suck.

Reimold's too high, Mickolio's too low, otherwise just about right.

Too low? Are you saying that Mickolio should be higher than 10th? That seems...crazy. I was shocked that even made the top 10. I think he's in the 15-20 range.

Why do they bother with those "Projected Lineups," anyway? If that's the 2012 lineup, the team will still suck.

I always thought it was an implied comment about how much talent needs to be brought in from outside the organization.

"Okay, here's how we'll win the division: We will clone Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts. Roberts and his clones will be the infield. Markakis will be the outfield. We will have Wieters catch, with some schlub backing him up. We will then make Jim Palmer young again using magic."

I'm relatively happy with the system, especially on the pitching side. BP ranked it 10th last year and it's only improved. After the top four, there's no big drop off until 15 or so. There's David Hernandez, for example, who lead the EL in Ks. But we still lack strong position prospects, besides Wieters. Luckily, our best young ML talent are position prospects, and Snyder and Reimold should be decent ML players though.

"Okay, here's how we'll win the division: We will clone Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts. Roberts and his clones will be the infield. Markakis will be the outfield. We will have Wieters catch, with some schlub backing him up. We will then make Jim Palmer young again using magic."

Heh. All this year I've said they need to make eleven Guthrie clones. Ten for the pitching staff, one to play SS.

BP ranked it 10th last year

Right. Those saying "hey, they might not be the worst system in baseball!" haven't been paying attention. They're not the Rays or Red Sox (and unfortunately both of those teams are (a) already good at the ML level and (b) in their division), but they have a pretty decent system at this point.

Mickolio at #10 is mystifying to me too.

Even if David Hernandez doesn't make it as a starter, he's a better relief prospect than Mickolio.

Are you saying that Mickolio should be higher than 10th?

Yep. He's going to be a power groundballer once he gets full command of his sinker, and that's a potentially devastating combination. I'd put him right behind Erbe among the pitchers.

Hernandez's secondary stuff is still very hittable, although he made some positive moves this year, and I don't like the direction that his walk rate headed this year. I just don't see his stuff as playing in the majors.

-- MWE

I think the key for the Orioles is making the right decisions this year about trading for quality and depth. If they decide to shore up the rotation and infield with expensive "name" players and veterans, I think they are doomed to tread water. But if they turn players like Huff, and possibly a few others such as Mora, Sherrill, Hernandez and even Scott and Roberts into good young talent they can become contenders within the next few years when from the quantity of prospects they acquire a few might be ready to supplement the excellent core of Markakis, Jones, Wieters, Tillman and Matusz who should be maturing into solid major leaguers and even stars by 2010-11.

Even if David Hernandez doesn't make it as a starter, he's a better relief prospect than Mickolio.

I'd have a hard time saying that about two pitchers I'd never seen (assuming you haven't).

Luckily, our best young ML talent are position prospects, and Snyder and Reimold should be decent ML players though.

I'd change "should" to "might." Hitters, while not quite as unpredictable as pitchers, are still far some reliable when they're kiddies. If you don't believe me, I've got an Andy Marte with your name on it.

I would say Reimold is a "should," while Snyder is far more of a "might." Reimold doesn't have a ton of upside, but he's got a good chance of becoming a decent ML player for a few years IMO. He looks like he could be the next Luke Scott, which would be a good result for a 3rd round pick.

We'll see. He was old for his league and repeating it (albeit after some success there the year before). How much better is he going to get?

I think Reimold's most likely career path is a fourth outfielder with about 6-8 big league seasons. Maybe he gets lucky and turns into Luke Scott. As you say, that's a win from a 3rd round pick.

I'd have a hard time saying that about two pitchers I'd never seen (assuming you haven't).

I've seen Mickolio live and on TV several times and I've seen video of Hernandez. I like Hernandez's stuff better, and he could probably add a few MPH to his fastball in the bullpen.

I like Hernandez's stuff better, and he could probably add a few MPH to his fastball in the bullpen.

But that's his only plus pitch right now, and I'm not seeing the evidence that his slider and curve are going to develop to the extent where they're anything more than average. Mickolio, on the other hand, has two plus pitches (the fastball and sinker) and just needs better command of them.

-- MWE

I think Reimold's most likely career path is a fourth outfielder with about 6-8 big league seasons. Maybe he gets lucky and turns into Luke Scott. As you say, that's a win from a 3rd round pick.

But it shouldn't be enough to put him ahead of Erbe.

-- MWE

"Okay, here's how we'll win the division: We will clone Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts. Roberts and his clones will be the infield. Markakis will be the outfield. We will have Wieters catch, with some schlub backing him up. We will then make Jim Palmer young again using magic."

Adam Jones says hello.