For the most part, today's game was dominated by Orioles veterans Aubrey Huff and Nick Markakis. Huff had three hits and three RBIs, and Markakis added two doubles and two runs scored.

Still, some minor leaguers and players with non-roster invitations to spring training helped the Orioles to a 4-2 victory over the Florida Marlins at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.

Final score: Orioles 4, Marlins 2

Thumbs up

Blake Davis -- The 25-year-old shortstop continues to play well in spring training. Davis was 1-for-1 after taking over for Cesar Izturis in the game. Davis, who hit .284 with four home runs and 53 RBIs for the Double-A Bowie Baysox last season, is 3-for-4 so far this spring.

Brian Matusz -- The Orioles' first-round pick in last year's MLB draft made an impressive debut in the Grapefruit League. Matusz collected three strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings against the Marlins. He allowed one hit and one walk. With each encouraging performance, Matusz moves closer to convincing officials in the organization that he's capable of pitching in the major leagues sooner rather than later.

Nolan Reimold -- The 25-year-old outfielder was 1-for-3 with a strikeout in today's game, but he earns extra points for getting a stolen base. Reimold entered the game as a defensive replacement for Felix Pie in left field, and he shifted to center field after Jolbert Cabrera pinch-hit for Justin Christian in the sixth inning.

Thumbs down

Justin Christian -- Speaking of Christian, the 28-year-old outfielder was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a runner left on base. The former New York Yankees prospect is now 2-for-7 (.286) with one home run and two RBIs in three games this spring. Christian is facing long odds to make the Opening Day roster, but I like the effort he shows when playing the game.

Scott Moore -- Moore started at third base for the Orioles today, and he finished 0-for-2 with two runners left on base. The 25-year-old infielder was removed from the Orioles' 40-man roster before spring training started, but he could provide an offensive spark from the minor leagues if he's given a chance later in the season.

Justin Turner -- Turner, who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason trade for Ramon Hernandez, took over for Moore at third base in today's game. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout. The 24-year-old infielder is now 1-for-7 with a double and an RBI in four games this spring.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

The readers have spoken, so I'm going to tweak the format for these daily breakdowns.

Originally, I was trying to pick only three players in each category, which is why I had a third group for "other performances." Basically, I intended to put notable players in this spot if I didn't include them in the first two categories.

People e-mailed me to say they didn't see the point in the third category, however, and I agree. So, starting with today, I'll only be mentioning the positive and negative performances in two distinct groups with no limit on the players in each category.

Final score: Marlins 3, Orioles 2

Thumbs up

Jake Arrieta -- Arrieta, who will turn 23 next week, tossed one scoreless inning against the Marlins. The right-handed pitcher had one strikeout and two groundouts in the outing. That's the type of performance you expect from a top pitching prospect. He's not going to make the Opening Day roster, but it's still good to show his stuff to the major league coaches.

Blake Davis -- In his only at-bat, the 25-year-old shortstop had an RBI double in the ninth inning. He is now 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI so far this spring. It's going to be good to track Davis' performance in the minor leagues during the upcoming season because he needs a good year in order to keep his place in the Orioles' future.

Hayden Penn -- It's probably now or never for Penn's future with the Orioles, so it's good that he pitched well in today's game. The 24-year-old right-hander, who is out of options, allowed two hits in two scoreless innings. Penn had three strikeouts in the loss. For now, I'm sticking by my earlier prediction that he makes the Opening Day roster as the No. 5 starter.

Wilfrido Perez -- The 24-year-old left-hander tossed a perfect inning, retiring all three hitters he faced on groundouts. Perez might be a sleeper to make the Opening Day roster, but it's likely that he'll spend a little more time in the minor leagues before making an impact in the majors. Keep an eye on his performance for the rest of the spring.

Matt Wieters -- The Orioles' top prospect redeemed himself from an 0-for-2 performance in yesterday's victory by going 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored today. Wieters served as the team's starting designated hitter, and he doubled against Marlins relief pitcher Logan Kensing in the sixth inning. Donnie Murphy pinch-hit for Wieters and grounded out in the eighth.

Thumbs down

Craig Brazell -- The 28-year-old first baseman, who received a non-roster invitation from the Orioles, remains hitless this spring. Brazell was 0-for-1 with a runner left on base in today's loss after he replaced Ty Wigginton. Overall, Brazell is 0-for-4 with an RBI.

Jolbert Cabrera -- It was a particularly tough afternoon for the 36-year-old utility player. Cabrera was 0-for-3 with a strikeout and three runners left on base. To make matters worse, he also committed a throwing error in the loss to the Marlins. Cabrera needs to turn his luck around in a hurry if he hopes to keep any chances of making the Opening Day roster.

Lou Montanez -- After two good performances, Montanez was due for a lackluster game offensively. The 27-year-old outfielder was 0-for-2 with a strikeout in today's loss, but he's still hitting .333 with two runs scored this spring. After Adam Jones was scratched due to a sore arm, Felix Pie started in center field and Montanez took over for him later in the game.

Nolan Reimold -- The 25-year-old outfielder was 0-for-2 with a strikeout and a runner left on base against the Marlins. Reimold did earn some positive points, however, when he turned a double play by forcing Marlins shortstop Robert Andino at second base. Pie also had an outfield assist by throwing out Marlins left fielder John Raynor at home plate in the fourth inning.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Offensive outbursts by several young players helped the Orioles beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-3, at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. I've compiled a list of positive and negative performances by the prospects and players with non-roster invitations below.

Final score: Orioles 11, Cardinals 3

Thumbs up

Justin Christian -- The former New York Yankees prospect, who is in spring training with the Orioles as a non-roster player, was 2-for-4 while playing center field in today's game. He connected on a two-run home run in the second inning against Cardinals starting pitcher Kyle Lohse. Christian, who will turn 29 in April, also walked and scored two runs in the win.

Scott Moore -- The 25-year-old third baseman was 2-for-2 with a three-run home run in the victory. The Orioles removed him from the 40-man roster in the offseason, so he's going to need several more games like this in order to work his way back into their plans for the 2009 season. With that said, it's good to get a glimpse at his power potential.

Nolan Reimold -- After yesterday's game against the New York Mets, several people asked me how Reimold performed since I didn't include him in the breakdown. Well, he was 0-for-1 in the 9-3 loss to the Mets. The 25-year-old outfielder made up for it in today's victory over the Cardinals. Reimold was 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. Both of his hits -- a two-run home run in the second inning against Lohse and a two-run single -- were with two outs. He also walked in the game.

Thumbs down

Adam Donachie -- The 24-year-old catcher, who received a non-roster invitation to spring training, was 0-for-1 in today's game. He struck out with two runners on base. Donachie is facing long odds to make the Orioles as the backup catcher, so this performance won't help his cause. The Orioles signed Donachie as a minor league free agent during the offseason. He also participated in spring training with the organization in 2006 after he was acquired in a trade following that year's Rule 5 draft.

Andy Mitchell -- The 30-year-old right-hander, who could be considered a sleeper to make the pitching staff for the Orioles out of spring training, gave up a solo home run to Cardinals utility player Joe Thurston in the eighth inning. Mitchell allowed three hits, including the home run, and a walk in two innings.

Matt Wieters -- I know it's probably not a good thing for Orioles fans to see the top prospect in this category, but Wieters was 0-for-2 with a runner left on base in today's win. Still, it's only his first game against a major league team during this year's spring training, so there's no need to jump off the bandwagon yet. The 22-year-old catcher will probably have plenty of hits by the end of March.

Other performances

Lou Montanez -- The 27-year-old outfielder followed up yesterday's encouraging performance by going 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored against the Cardinals today. Montanez entered as a pinch-runner for Nick Markakis in the third inning and finished the game in right field.

Brandon Snyder -- The 22-year-old infielder replaced Aubrey Huff at first base in today's game and went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. It's definitely encouraging for Orioles fans to see Snyder making a contribution during a major league game. If all goes as planned, it will be happening a lot more often in the future.

Justin Turner -- The 24-year-old infielder was 1-for-2 with an RBI for the Orioles in today's victory. It's a good rebound for Turner, who was 0-for-2 with three runners left on base in the loss to the Mets.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

Not many people commented on the entry about left-handed pitcher Zach Britton, so check it out and offer your thoughts when you get a chance.

The few readers who participated in the discussion about the 21-year-old starting pitcher believe he will continue to show improvement during the 2009 season. Everyone mentioned that a surplus of starters in the Orioles’ minor league system could hurt Britton’s chances to make it to the major leagues, but they noted that it’s good for the organization as a whole.

While I agree that there are several pitchers in front of Britton in the minor leagues at this point, he has the ability to climb the list in the future. Britton is definitely an under-the-radar type who could catapult into the top level of the organization’s pitching depth with another strong performance in 2009.

Like I said in the previous entry, look for the 6-foot-2, 172-pound pitcher to increase the strikeouts this season and earn 10-15 wins. He’s going to make people notice his ability with his performance on the field.

While Orioles prospect Matt Wieters is earning all of the publicity – including the designation of Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect for 2009 – fans should keep an eye on another catcher at the lower levels of the organization.

Caleb Joseph, who the Orioles selected in the seventh round of last year’s MLB draft, played in 63 games for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds in 2008. The 22-year-old catcher hit .261 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs. Joseph was tied for fifth in the New York-Penn League with 19 doubles.

The biggest criticism of Joseph’s performance with the IronBirds is probably his plate discipline. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound catcher had 56 strikeouts and 15 walks during the 2008 season. If Joseph can work the count and cut down on the strikeouts, the batting average should climb to a higher level in the future.

Prior to being drafted by the Orioles, Joseph played for three seasons at Lipscomb University in Tennessee. He struggled during his first season for the Bisons, hitting .265 with no home runs and 22 RBIs in 45 games.

In his final two years, however, Joseph showed tremendous improvement.

He batted .335 with 25 doubles, eight home runs and 48 RBIs in 56 games during the 2007 season. Joseph also had 11 stolen bases that year, and he was only caught stealing twice.

In his final season at Lipscomb, Joseph emerged as a power hitter and led the Bisons to the Atlantic Sun championship. He batted .342 with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs in 63 games. Joseph also had 20 doubles, and he led the conference in total bases (160). He was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the postseason tournament after hitting .407 with two home runs, seven RBIs, 10 runs scored and three stolen bases in five games.

Defensively, Joseph has shown that he’s capable of being an above-average catcher. He threw out 29 of 67 (43%) base runners attempting to steal in 2008 with the IronBirds. It’s possible that Joseph could switch positions in the future, particularly if Wieters locks up the position with the Orioles as expected, but that shouldn’t happen anytime soon.

It’s probably logical for Joseph to start the season with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, but don’t be surprised if he plays with the Single-A Frederick Keys from the beginning. He’s a little bit older than the typical low-level players, so it will be good to move him along quickly if he can handle it.

Overall, I’d expect Joseph to hit a lot of doubles again in 2009. His batting average, home runs and RBIs will also improve this season, but the telling sign will be what happens to his strikeouts and walks. Joseph needs to work on the plate discipline in order to climb through the Orioles’ minor league system.

What are your thoughts on Joseph’s progress? Since Wieters is expected to emerge in the major leagues soon, should the Orioles consider a position switch for Joseph as soon as possible? Is it better to let Joseph continue working as a catcher with the hope that he succeeds, which would give the organization a surplus at another position?

Let me hear your answers to the above questions, as well as any other predictions you have about Joseph’s future in the organization.

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Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Zach Britton
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Greg Miclat
• Kam Mickolio
• Lou Montanez
• Troy Patton
• Hayden Penn
• Wilfrido Perez
• Nolan Reimold
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters
• Rick Zagone

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Predict the future
        

We'll see how this feature develops over the next few weeks, but I thought it might be a good idea to track the performances of the various players in the Orioles' minor league system who are participating in spring training with the club. These breakdowns on O's on Deck will include minor leaguers and non-roster invitees, since they're often overshadowed by the other players in the game recaps.

Since most of the Orioles' spring training games aren't televised, I know the majority of fans rely on the Internet to follow the team's performance. I'm open to suggestions on how this feature should be handled, but I think it's best to pick some players who had a positive game, as well as others who didn't fare well.

Let's start with today's game against the New York Mets in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Final score: Mets 9, Orioles 3

Thumbs up

Robby Hammock -- The 31-year-old catcher, who is competing for a backup role with the Orioles, was 1-for-2 with an RBI double while serving as the designated hitter. He was thrown out attempting to stretch it into a triple, but that doesn't take away from the initial run-producing hit.

Lou Montanez -- The 27-year-old outfielder was 1-for-2, and he shined defensively against the Mets. Montanez collected two outfield assists in the game, including a double play that forced the Mets' Alex Cora at home plate. If he's able to string together a few similar performances throughout the rest of the spring, the Orioles might need to find a place for him at the start of the season.

Ross Wolf -- The 26-year-old right-hander tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the Orioles. The non-roster invitee will need to build off this strong performance if he hopes to make the team out of spring training.

Thumbs down

Craig Brazell -- The 28-year-old first baseman, who led all minor leaguers in home runs (39) in 2007, was 0-for-2 in the loss. He batted ..234 with 27 home runs and 87 RBIs in 130 games for the Seibu Lions in 2008, but he also had 139 strikeouts. So, I guess it's good news that he didn't collect any strikeouts today.

Jolbert Cabrera -- The 36-year-old utility player was 0-for-2 in the game, and he left two runners on base. With Chris Gomez and others ahead of him in the depth chart, Cabrera's margin of error will have to be small if he truly hopes to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster, so today's effort won't help.

Justin Turner -- The 24-year-old second baseman, who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds for Ramon Hernandez in the offseason, was 0-for-2 and left three runners on base. Turner also grounded into a double play during the game.

Other performances

Blake Davis -- The 25-year-old shortstop was 1-for-1 with a walk in the game. He's going to start the year in the minor leagues, but he could push his way into the Orioles' future plans with some good hits in his time at major league spring training.

David Pauley -- For a player that's looking to earn a spot in the Orioles' rotation, Pauley didn't get off to a good start in spring training. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed four runs and five hits in 1/3 of an inning. It will be best for Pauley to realize that it's only one appearance, and he'll get other opportunities to prove himself during the spring.

Oscar Salazar -- The 30-year-old infielder was 1-for-2 with an RBI in the game for the Orioles. The odds are stacked against Salazar making the major league roster out of spring training, so it's important that he continues to collect RBIs when he's given an opportunity.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

When reading through the comments from last week’s post about outfielder Nolan Reimold, I noticed that a lot of people believe the Orioles have two options with his future – switch him to another position or trade him.

If Felix Pie has a good season in 2009, the Orioles will have long-term solutions at each of the three outfield positions. I realize that there’s a possibility that Pie won’t adapt to an everyday role, but he’s definitely ahead of Reimold in the pecking order at this point.

So, logically, the Orioles could shift Reimold to first base in order to find a place for him in the major leagues. He’s never played that position in his professional career, however, so it’s probably not the best idea to rely on him to play there with the Orioles.

A trade would make sense, if the Orioles could get solid value in return, but it would be best for the team to keep their surplus of outfielders. Reimold will only be a phone call away with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in case someone gets injured. That’s the smart thing to do, in my opinion.

For today’s discussion, I want to talk about starting pitcher Zach Britton.

The Orioles selected the 21-year-old left-hander in the third round of the 2006 MLB draft. Britton played high school baseball in Weatherford, Texas, and elected to sign with the Orioles instead of accepting a scholarship to play in college at Texas A&M.

In his first professional season, Britton was 0-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 11 starts for the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles in 2006. The 6-foot-2, 172-pound pitcher had 21 strikeouts and 20 walks in 34 innings.

Britton was 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA in 15 starts for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds during the 2007 season. In 63 2/3 innings, he issued 22 walks and had 45 strikeouts. Britton only surrendered one home run during his time with the IronBirds.

The biggest improvement for Britton occurred last season while he was pitching for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. He finished 12-7 with a 3.12 ERA and one complete game in 27 starts. Britton had 114 strikeouts and 49 walks in 147 1/3 innings for the Shorebirds.

With the abundance of pitchers above him in the Orioles’ minor league system, it’s easy for Britton to be overshadowed. He has quietly improved each year, however, so it’s important for Orioles fans to keep an eye on him during the upcoming season. Britton will probably start with the Single-A Frederick Keys in 2009.

If he pitches well for the Keys at the beginning of the season, I think he might earn a promotion to the Double-A Bowie Baysox sometime in the middle of the year. Look for him to have a 3.25 ERA and 10-15 wins during the 2009 season. Although he hasn’t collected an overwhelming number of strikeouts so far in his career, I think Britton will surprise a lot of people and average about one strikeout per inning in 2009.

What are your expectations for Britton during the upcoming season? Do you think he’ll show improvement again, or will he take a step back in 2009? Among the pitching prospects in the Orioles’ minor league system, where would you rank Britton?

Feel free to list projections for the rest of his career, including how you believe Britton will perform in the major leagues. I’m interested to see what everyone thinks.

By the way, has anyone attended spring training? Feel free to upload your photographs of your encounters with the Orioles to the Facebook fan page for O’s on Deck, as well as the user-generated content photo gallery on baltimoresun.com.

------------------------

Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Greg Miclat
• Kam Mickolio
• Lou Montanez
• Troy Patton
• Hayden Penn
• Wilfrido Perez
• Nolan Reimold
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters
• Rick Zagone

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 4:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Predict the future
        

Former Orioles starting pitcher Jason Johnson, who is attempting to make the New York Yankees' Opening Day roster, was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma of the right retina on Feb. 9.

According to this story in Newsday, Johnson had gone to buy new contact lenses in Tampa, and the eye doctor noticed an abnormality. A retina specialist provided the diagnosis and sent him to the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia for treatment.

I'm not a health expert by any means, but it looks like this condition is extremely rare. According to this medical Web site, it affects about six people for every 1 million. The good news is that Johnson said there's a 98 percent recovery rate for people with his stage of retinal cancer, according to the Newsday article.

Johnson pitched for the Orioles in five seasons from 1999 to 2003. He was originally acquired from Tampa Bay in a trade for Danny Clyburn and a minor leaguer in March 1999. Johnson won 10 games in two different seasons (2001 and 2003) for the Orioles, but he also had two bad years (1-10 in 2000 and 5-14 in 2002).

Cancer isn't Johnson's only health issue. Some Orioles fans might recall that he deals with type 1 diabetes on a regular basis. Beginning in the 2004 season, Johnson received permission from Major League Baseball to wear an insulin pump while pitching.

The 35-year-old right-hander still hopes to play for the Yankees after making a recovery. For now, he's limited in his baseball activities, and Johnson's main focus is to get healthy.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Former O's minor leaguers
        

If you're looking for a part-time job and a chance to catch some minor league baseball during the summer, it might be a good idea to check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Job Fair. The event will be held tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury.

Several jobs are available for the 2009 season, including ushers, parking lot attendants and concession stand workers.

If you're interested, the Shorebirds ask that you bring your resume and be ready to fill out an application to let the team know which positions you want. Don't worry if you're unable to attend the job fair because you can stop by the Shorebirds front office to fill out an application at another time.

The Shorebirds mention that you must be at least 16 years old with transportation in order to be considered for a job opening.

For more information, including a list of available jobs, check out the Shorebirds Web site.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Judging by the input from readers about relief pitcher Wilfrido Perez, it seems like he has gained the attention of a lot of people during his four seasons in the Orioles’ minor league system.

Mostly everyone agreed that Perez seems to be a logical choice for a left-handed specialist in the future, and some people believe he could be ready for the major leagues by the end of the upcoming season.

I’d like to see how the 24-year-old reliever performs in spring training and during the beginning of the 2009 season before penciling him into the major leagues, but he’s definitely earned some respect with his impressive statistics so far in his career.

When thinking about which player we could talk about during today’s discussion, I realized that I have completely overlooked Orioles prospect Nolan Reimold to this point in the “Predict the future” series.

I couldn’t help but realize the irony because the Orioles have seemingly done the same thing to the 25-year-old outfielder on a couple different occasions in his brief career.

When they needed to bring up an outfielder last season, the Orioles promoted Lou Montanez and left Reimold with the Double-A Bowie Baysox. I know Montanez was on his way to winning the Triple Crown in the Eastern League, but Reimold is regarded as a higher prospect and he was quietly putting together his best professional season.

Reimold, who the Orioles selected in the second round of the 2005 MLB draft, hit .284 with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs last season for Bowie. He was tied for second in the league in home runs, second in runs scored (87), fifth in RBIs and tied for sixth in hits (144). Reimold had 82 strikeouts and 63 walks in 139 games for the Baysox.

When it looked like the 6-foot-4, 207-pound outfielder might get an opportunity to compete for a position in the major leagues in 2009, the Orioles traded for Felix Pie from the Chicago Cubs. It looks like Pie will be given a chance to become the starting left fielder for the Orioles, and Reimold seems destined to start the season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

Although Reimold has solid minor league statistics, he’s struggled to stay healthy on a consistent basis. Foot, back and oblique injuries have bothered Reimold during his time in the Orioles’ minor league system, but he enjoyed a relatively pain-free season in 2008.

In four seasons in the organization, Reimold is batting .278 with 70 home runs and 242 RBIs. He hit .306 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in 50 games for the Baysox during the 2007 season, despite being limited because of an oblique injury. Reimold had 19 home runs in 2006 with the Single-A Frederick Keys, and he hit 15 home runs during the 2005 season while splitting time between the Keys and short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds.

It looks like Reimold will begin the 2009 season with the Tides, but I don’t think he is destined to stay in Norfolk for the entire year. If Pie struggles in the major leagues and Reimold starts strong, the Orioles might consider a change.

Still, Montanez likely remains ahead of him in the list of promotions, so you might not see Reimold in the major leagues until 2010 at the earliest.

I expect Reimold to hit around .290 with 15-20 home runs and 80-90 RBIs for the Tides. He’ll also show good plate discipline and be among the leaders in the International League in walks. Finally, and perhaps the most important prediction, Reimold will remain healthy and prove to the Orioles that he’s ready to earn a role in the major leagues.

What does everyone think about Reimold? Instead of acquiring Pie, should the Orioles have given Reimold a chance to earn the starting position in left field?

Do you think there’s a possibility that he might perform well enough in spring training to force the Orioles to keep him in the major leagues? Will he be promoted in the middle of the season?

I know there are a lot of strong opinions about Reimold, so let’s hear them.

------------------------

Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Greg Miclat
• Kam Mickolio
• Lou Montanez
• Troy Patton
• Hayden Penn
• Wilfrido Perez
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters
• Rick Zagone

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: Predict the future
        

According to the latest list of minor league transactions on the Baseball America Web site, two former Orioles relief pitchers have signed with new organizations.

Former Orioles left-hander Kurt Birkins agreed to a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies, while right-hander Winston Abreu signed with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Orioles selected Birkins in the 33rd round of the 2000 MLB draft. He was 6-4 with a 6.61 ERA in two major league seasons for the Orioles. His best season was in 2006, when the 28-year-old reliever was 5-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 35 appearances.

Birkins was selected off waivers by Tampa Bay in October 2007. He looked strong in six appearances for the Rays at the beginning of the 2008 season. Birkins had a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings before being sent back to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. In 31 games for the Bulls, however, Birkins struggled to repeat those impressive numbers. He was 2-3 with a 7.52 ERA and walked 28 hitters in 40 2/3 innings.

The Orioles signed Abreu as a free agent in December 2005, and he made seven appearances for the team in 2006. Abreu allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in eight innings, and he became a free agent following the season.

Abreu pitched in the Washington Nationals' minor league system in 2007, as well as two stints in the major leagues. He was 3-0 with a 1.20 ERA and five saves in 37 appearances for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. In 26 games for the Nationals, Abreu was 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA.

The 31-year-old relief pitcher played for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan during the 2008 season. Abreu had a 3.32 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings.

The blog post also mentions that the Orioles have agreed to terms on a minor league deal with Japanese pitcher Ryohei Tanaka.

Tanaka is a 26-year-old right-hander who has pitched primarily in the minor leagues in Japan. Chiba Lotte selected Tanaka in the first round in 2001. He had an 8.10 ERA in five appearances for the Marines during the 2003 season, which was his only time in the big leagues. Tanaka had five strikeouts and 10 walks in 10 innings.

Overall, the Orioles' acquisition of Tanaka probably won't make a difference -- at least on paper.

While the Orioles shouldn't count on him to make a contribution in the major leagues, the move shows that the organization is serious about making waves in Japan. The idea that the team is able to sign several Japanese players will help the Orioles build long-term success in the international scouting department.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Former O's minor leaguers
        

According to SI.com, Washington Nationals prospect Esmailyn Gonzalez isn't who he says he is.

The Web site reports, according to four sources, that the 19-year-old shortstop is really 23-year-old Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo. The Nationals gave the infielder a $1.4 million signing bonus in 2006, which was the largest given to an international player in team history.

Gonzalez led the Gulf Coast League in batting average (.343), and he was selected as the GCL Most Valuable Player in 2008. He finished second in the league in on-base percentage (.431) and runs (42), and third in RBIs (33) and hits (62). It was the shortstop's second season in the GCL. He batted .245 with 11 RBIs and 13 runs in 33 games during the 2007 season.

MLB.com has more information about the report. If true, this news could alter the Nationals' minor league plans because Gonzalez obviously will be viewed differently if he is four years older.

Several organizations have Gonzalez ranked among the Nationals' top 10 prospects, including ESPN's Keith Law, who has him listed at No. 3 in the organization. John Sickels ranks Gonzalez at No. 8 in the Nationals' minor league system, while Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus picks him ninth. Baseball America lists the shortstop at No. 10.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Do you think you are capable of singing the national anthem at a minor league baseball game?

I know I couldn't do it, so that's why I'm passing along the information to the O's on Deck readers.

Two of the Orioles' minor league affiliates -- the Double-A Bowie Baysox and the Single-A Frederick Keys -- will be holding in-person tryouts in March for the opportunity to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a game during the 2009 season.

The Baysox will have auditions for people interested in singing the national anthem at Prince George's Stadium on Saturday, March 14. They are looking to find someone to sing before each home game in 2009, so there are over 70 chances for you to be selected.

Registration at Prince George's Stadium will begin at 9 a.m., and the singing will start at 9:30 a.m. If you want to audition, you have to make sure you register because they're not going to let you sing if you're not signed up. The tryouts will be held no matter how bad the weather is, according to the Baysox, so make sure you dress accordingly. Finally, they're not accepting pre-recorded auditions of the song. You have to sing it in front of all the people in attendance.

"The national anthem is an integral part of baseball, and the Baysox take great pride in being able to involve local talent in an American tradition," Baysox assistant general manager Phil Wrye said in a news release from the team.

For more information about the Baysox and their auditions, check the team's Web site.

If you're not satisfied with your auditions for the Baysox, you'll get another chance to prove that you have what it takes to show your national pride in front of minor league baseball fans. The Keys will be holding tryouts on Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. You have to register in advance to reserve your spot. Check out the Keys' Web site for the registration form.

The Triple-A Norfolk Tides and Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are also soliciting interested singers with links on their respective Web sites.

The Tides request that you submit a recording of the national anthem on cassette tape, compact disc or digital audio file. You can find more information about where to send the audition tape on the Tides' Web site.

If you'd like to sing the national anthem for Delmarva, you should contact Shorebirds director of community relations Aubrey Pfau. There's more information about the requirements listed on the Shorebirds' Web site.

Now that I've passed along information about auditions to sing the national anthem, I expect to hear a lot of good singers while I'm hanging around the ballparks during the upcoming season.

If you sound like one of these two celebrities, please don't bother trying.

Carl Lewis

Roseanne

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

In case you're planning a trip to Florida for spring training, I've listed the minor league game schedule for the Orioles below. Remember, the Orioles' minor league facility is at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, not Fort Lauderdale like the major league camp.

Each day included in the schedule will actually have four minor league games being played -- two home and two away. The team listed on the left will host the Triple-A and Double-A games, while the team on the right will be the home field for the high Single-A and low Single-A matchups.

The schedule is subject to change, so don't shoot the messenger if you go to Sarasota one day and there's no one home. For the record, I'm probably going to be in Florida during the middle of March, so maybe I'll see some of you down there.

Date // AAA and AA // A // Time

March 17 // Baltimore // Cincinnati // 1 p.m.
March 18 // Camp day
March 19 // Tampa Bay // Baltimore // 1 p.m.
March 20 // Baltimore // Boston // 12:30 p.m.
March 21 // Cincinnati // Baltimore // 1 p.m.
March 22 // Baltimore // Cincinnati // 1 p.m.
March 23 // Camp day
March 24 // Baltimore // Tampa Bay // 1 p.m.
March 25 // Baltimore // Boston // 12:30 p.m.
March 26 // Tampa Bay // Baltimore // 1 p.m.
March 27 // Baltimore // Cincinnati // 1 p.m.
March 28 // Camp day
March 29 // Tampa Bay // Baltimore // 1 p.m.
March 30 // Baltimore // Minnesota // 1 p.m.
March 31 // Baltimore // Cincinnati 1 p.m.
April 1 // Minnesota // Baltimore // 1 p.m.
April 2 // Camp day
April 3 // Tampa Bay // Baltimore // 1 p.m.
April 4 // Camp day

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

One thing I learned from last week’s discussion about relief pitcher Kam Mickolio is that Orioles fans are cautiously optimistic about his future. The general sentiment among readers was that the 6-foot-9, 255-pound right-hander could become the team’s closer eventually, but he needs to improve his control.

While I agree that Mickolio isn’t known for his accuracy, he probably only needs to slightly lower the amount of walks that he allows in order to be a successful reliever in the major leagues. Throw in the fact that Mickolio doesn’t allow a lot of home runs – six total in 144 minor league innings – and it only seems like a matter of time before he’s pitching at Camden Yards on a regular basis.

His size and overpowering fastball seem to make the 24-year-old reliever a logical fit for the majors, but the Orioles have the luxury to take it slow with Mickolio because the organization currently has a surplus of late-inning relief pitchers.

Let’s talk about another relief pitcher who is considered a long shot to make the Opening Day roster – left-hander Wilfrido Perez.

The 24-year-old reliever split the 2008 season between the Single-A Frederick Keys and Double-A Bowie Baysox.

Perez was 2-4 with a 2.88 ERA and two saves in 26 appearances for the Keys before being promoted in July. He had 69 strikeouts and 30 walks in 56 1/3 innings in Single-A. In 16 appearances for the Baysox, Perez had a 2.31 ERA and one save. He struck out 23 hitters and issued eight walks in 23 1/3 innings for Bowie.

His best season was in 2007 with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, when Perez was 5-3 with a 1.67 ERA and five saves in 27 games (eight starts). The 6-foot, 140-pound pitcher had 108 strikeouts in 81 innings for the Shorebirds. As a starting pitcher for Delmarva, Perez was 2-0 with a 0.28 ERA in 32 2/3 innings.

Tendinitis in his throwing shoulder limited Perez to seven games (five starts) for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds in 2006. He was 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 25 innings. During the 2005 season, Perez was 3-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 12 starts for the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles. He was third in the Appalachian League with 75 strikeouts in 58 innings.

In four minor league seasons, Perez is 10-11 with a 2.55 ERA and eight saves. He has 306 strikeouts and 105 walks in 243 2/3 innings.

His plans to make the team out of spring training got off to a rough start Sunday, when he left the workout early because of dehydration. It looks like Perez will be fine, but you still have to believe he’s going to start in the minor leagues in 2009.

Perez represents an intriguing option as a left-handed reliever in the future. The strikeout numbers are very promising, especially for someone who is extremely small in size. In my opinion, he’ll pitch for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides during the 2009 season. If he has another quality season in the minor leagues, look for Perez to be a strong candidate for the bullpen in 2010 and beyond.

I know some Orioles fans would probably like for Perez to replace Jamie Walker in the bullpen this season, but it’s good to take it slow and give Perez more experience. With that said, he could be promoted in the middle of the season if he is pitching well and Walker doesn’t recover from his troubles in 2008.

What do you think about Perez? With his success in limited action as a starting pitcher in the minors, do you hope the Orioles continue to use him in that role? Is he going to be the Orioles’ prototypical left-handed reliever for several seasons?

By the way, I’d like to offer a special thanks to Blaine from the O’s on Deck Facebook fan page for suggesting that we talk about Perez in today’s entry. If you’re not already a member, sign up for the page and join the conversation.

------------------------

Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Greg Miclat
• Kam Mickolio
• Lou Montanez
• Troy Patton
• Hayden Penn
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters
• Rick Zagone

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Predict the future
        

With Orioles pitchers and catchers participating in their first workout today in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., I started thinking about the potential impact of the prospects in the future.

There are several pitchers in the Orioles' spring training camp who aren't likely to make the Opening Day roster. These prospects are participating in workouts primarily to show the organization what they're able to do to help the team down the road. Of course, some of these players have a better chance at making the team to start the 2009 season than others, and they're all at different spots in their development.

It's always possible that unforeseen circumstances could cause these players to never make a contribution in the major leagues. Injuries are the biggest culprit to derail an organization's long-term plans, but the Orioles have numerous options in their minor league system. So, it's likely that at least a few pitching prospects will make some contributions -- large or small -- at the major league level.

Measuring potential impact in the major leagues can be done in several ways. We can talk about which players will be the first to begin playing for the Orioles, or we can discuss which pitchers will have the longest career in Baltimore. We can even rank the players based on short-term success that helps the team win more games in a few seasons -- and maybe a World Series championship.

I want to hear what everyone thinks about this topic.

First, in your opinion, tell me what's more important to a pitcher's impact for the Orioles -- personal dominance or team success. Is it more important for you as an Orioles fan to see a pitcher win 20 games or lead your team to the playoffs?

Next, I want to know which player you believe will fulfill your requirements. If you think it's more important to meet individual goals, like winning a Cy Young Award, tell me which pitcher is most likely to do that. Will Jake Arrieta (pictured), Brad Bergesen, David Hernandez, Brian Matusz, Chris Tillman or another pitching prospect play a bigger role in leading the Orioles back to contention in the American League East?

I've thrown out some names above, but didn't include other prospects on purpose to see how many people would mention them. Personally, I've talked about how impressed I am with Arrieta in the past and that hasn't changed. He is still the one prospect that I think will make the biggest impact in the major leagues in the future.

Oh, and if you're wondering, I'm including individual and team success in that prediction.

What are your thoughts?

-------------------------------------

Feel free to publish your comments below, but also vote for your choices in a poll here.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

As several readers mentioned in yesterday’s discussion, they think minor league infielder Greg Miclat could become the long-term replacement for Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. Other people believe the team should keep Miclat at shortstop for as long as possible, and hope that he’s able to develop into a starter at the position in the majors.

While I agree it’s possible for Miclat to replace Roberts eventually, I wasn’t suggesting with my predictions that is ultimately what should happen. It’s a great idea, in my opinion, to continue using Miclat as a shortstop as he progresses through the minor leagues. It is always possible that he can be switched to second base in the major leagues if he struggles defensively at shortstop, similar to what the Orioles did with Roberts.

Some people discussed Miclat’s shoulder injury that limited him during the 2008 season, but it’s believed that the 5-foot-9, 175-pound infielder is fully recovered and ready to go in 2009.

I wasn’t sure which player to talk about during today’s debate, so I asked my friend Dave, a lifelong Orioles fan, if he had any suggestions. He wants to know what everyone thinks about relief pitcher Kam Mickolio.

The Orioles acquired the 6-foot-9, 255-pound reliever from the Seattle Mariners in the February 2008 trade for left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard. In three minor league seasons, Mickolio is 9-5 with a 3.12 ERA and 10 saves in 98 appearances. So far, he has only allowed six home runs in 144 innings in the minors.

Mickolio made his major league debut for the Orioles on Aug. 20, 2008 against the Boston Red Sox. He allowed one run and three hits in one inning during the game, but he also collected two strikeouts. Overall, Mickolio was 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in nine games for the Orioles. He had eight strikeouts and four walks in 7 2/3 innings.

Prior to his promotion, Mickolio split the 2008 season between the Double-A Bowie Baysox and the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.

The 24-year-old right-hander was 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA and one save in 28 games for the Baysox. He struck out 40 hitters and issued 22 walks in 38 1/3 innings.

Mickolio pitched much better during his stint with the Tides. He was 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and two saves in 17 games. The Mariners’ 18th-round selection in the 2006 MLB draft had 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 20 innings for Norfolk.

It’s probably best for Mickolio to begin the upcoming season at Norfolk, in my opinion, because he needs to work on his command. Still, there’s a possibility that Mickolio could make the Opening Day roster if he is able to dominate in spring training.

I think Mickolio will play for the Tides to start the season and be available as one of the first relievers to be promoted when the Orioles need someone. With his size, Mickolio might pitch his way into the closer role for the Orioles in the future. Let’s take it one step at a time, however, and hope he excels in middle relief during the 2009 season.

What are your predictions for Mickolio in 2009? Will he spend most of the season in the minor leagues, or do you think he’s going to have a role for the Orioles? Do you think Mickolio will be a closer in the future, or is he just another middle reliever?

------------------------

Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Greg Miclat
• Lou Montanez
• Troy Patton
• Hayden Penn
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters
• Rick Zagone

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Predict the future
        

Earlier this week, we talked about left-handed pitcher Troy Patton. Most readers agreed that it is going to be difficult for the 6-foot-1, 185-pound starting pitcher to overcome the torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, but they still believe he'll have a future with the Orioles.

Like I said, Patton is going to have to prove he's healthy before I pencil him into the organization's long-term plans. As many people pointed out, the 23-year-old starting pitcher compiled solid numbers in the minor leagues before injuring his shoulder. If he's able to make a full recovery, Patton could wind up having the best career out of the five players acquired for shortstop Miguel Tejada in December 2007. Still, I wouldn't be counting on him as a major contributor at this point, especially with the abundance of pitching prospects in the upper levels of the Orioles' minor league system. With low expectations about his performance, it will be an added bonus if Patton excels.

As one reader mentioned, the lack of starting pitchers in the major leagues for the Orioles should be enough to force the organization to give Patton an opportunity. That's a good observation, but I think his health should be the team's top priority. It remains to be seen how the Orioles will deal with Patton, but I think it's best for the team to be cautious.

On the Facebook fan page for O's on Deck, one person said he'd like to see "Predict the future" features on L.J. Hoes, Xavier Avery and Greg Miclat. Since I think it's great to give the fans what they want, today's discussion will be about Miclat. We can talk about Hoes and Avery sometime soon, but I wanted to focus on Miclat today because I've seen him play in person. Remember, don't hesitate to facilitate discussion on the Facebook fan page because, like today, we can always continue that conversation as part of a blog entry.

When I first saw the 5-foot-9, 175-pound infielder play for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds last season, my first reaction was to make a comparison to Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. Many analysts and scouts have also made a similar connection between the two players, so I'm not alone in this observation. They are almost exactly the same size, and both players are switch-hitting middle infielders who are known for their speed. Like Roberts, a permanent shift from shortstop to second base could be in Miclat's future.

One advantage, however, that Roberts has over Miclat is power -- even if the Orioles second baseman isn't known for that characteristic. Miclat didn't hit any home runs in three seasons at the University of Virginia, and he failed to collect any in limited action as a member of the Orioles' minor league system in 2008.

While it's not a requirement to be able to hit home runs in order to have a career in the major leagues, it certainly would be nice for Miclat to build up his strength and add that element to his game. When I watched him with the IronBirds, the 21-year-old infielder showed the potential to be able to hit the ball effectively into the gaps. Miclat only collected two doubles for Aberdeen, but he hit 33 doubles in 168 career games in college.

With his speed -- 83 stolen bases in 97 attempts at Virginia -- Miclat will be able to take an extra base on a lot of hits, turning singles into doubles and doubles into triples.

Miclat hit .291 with six RBIs and nine runs scored in 16 games for Aberdeen last season. The Orioles' fifth-round pick in the 2008 MLB draft also had three stolen bases in five attempts for the IronBirds. He was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in one game for the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles before being promoted to Aberdeen.

Apparently, according to this article in The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.), Miclat is learning that it's not necessarily bad to play in the Orioles' minor league system.

Miclat will likely start the 2009 season in Single-A, but it's unclear if he'll be playing for the Delmarva Shorebirds or Frederick Keys. I think there's a greater chance that he'll begin the year with the Shorebirds, but the Orioles might choose to push him along quickly and assign him to Frederick. I'm not sure what the organization's plans are for Miclat, but it's probably best to let him work on a few things in Delmarva.

The Orioles will let Miclat play with the Shorebirds in 2009, in my opinion, similar to how they handled outfielder Matt Angle last season. Angle, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2007 MLB draft, hit .287 with four home runs and 35 RBIs in 126 games for Delmarva in 2008. Angle also had 22 doubles, 82 runs scored and 37 stolen bases as a member of the Shorebirds. In fact, I'm going to predict similar statistics for Miclat with Delmarva in 2009.

With that said, Miclat will turn 22 in July and he played for three years in the Atlantic Coast Conference, so the infielder already has more experience than a lot of other prospects in the South Atlantic League. It's a tough call on what is the best scenario to further Miclat's career with the Orioles.

How many people are familiar with Miclat? Do you think he'll eventually replace Roberts with the Orioles? Are you concerned that he seems to lack power, or does his speed and switch-hitting ability make up for it? Where do you think Miclat should play in 2009?

------------------------

Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Lou Montanez
• Troy Patton
• Hayden Penn
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters
• Rick Zagone

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 6:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Predict the future
        

Last week, we discussed pitcher Rick Zagone, who pitched for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds in 2008.

Mostly everyone agreed that the left-hander was impressive in his first professional season, but several readers think he needs to have success at higher levels in order to have a chance at contributing in the major leagues.

Since his numbers in college at Missouri were mediocre – and the New York-Penn League is probably a step back from the Big 12 Conference competition he faced with the Tigers – I agree that Zagone will need to put up similar numbers in 2009 in order to show that he’s worthy of being mentioned in the discussion with the rest of the pitching prospects.

With that said, I believe he’ll continue to succeed in the future. At worst, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound pitcher should be able to build a solid career as a situational reliever in the major leagues. Still, I think Zagone possesses the ability and deception – he hides the ball well during his delivery – that would allow him to become a dependable starter at the back of a team's rotation.

Let’s talk about another left-handed pitcher who is a big question mark heading into the upcoming season, although it is due to a different reason.

Troy Patton, who was acquired from the Houston Astros in the trade for shortstop Miguel Tejada in December 2007, is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound starting pitcher missed all of last season due to the injury, but he’s expected to be ready for 2009.

Although he’ll compete for a spot in the major leagues, it’s probable that Patton will begin the year in the minors. This strategy seems like a good idea in order to ensure that Patton is completely healthy before putting him in a high-pressure environment.

Patton was 0-2 with a 3.55 ERA in three games (two starts) for the Astros at the end of the 2007 season. He had eight strikeouts and allowed three home runs in 12 2/3 innings for Houston. Patton was 10-8 with a 3.51 ERA while splitting time between the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and Triple-A Round Rock Express before the promotion.

In four minor league seasons, Patton is 18-16 with a 3.01 ERA. He has 396 strikeouts and 127 walks in 445 innings. The Astros’ ninth-round pick in the 2004 MLB draft struck out 132 hitters in 119 2/3 innings in 2005. Patton collected 139 strikeouts in 146 innings during the 2006 season, but he only managed 93 in 151 1/3 innings in 2007. It will be interesting to see how the shoulder surgery affects his strikeout totals this season.

Ideally, Patton will begin the season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox and – after he proves he’s healthy – move quickly to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. The Orioles shouldn’t rush Patton, in my opinion, but he might pitch his way into the major leagues at some point during the 2009 season.

To say it’s difficult to recover from a major shoulder surgery would be an understatement, so it might be foolish to expect any contributions from Patton with the Orioles. I’d like to hope for the best, but he’ll have to prove to me that he’s completely healthy before I pencil him into the Orioles’ long-term future.

What are your predictions for Patton during the upcoming season? Do you think there’s any chance that he’ll make the roster out of spring training? Would you rather see him build up his arm strength in the minor leagues? What is the likelihood that Patton will enjoy a successful career with the Orioles?

Let me know what you think. I’m interested to hear your opinions about Patton’s future, including his long-term accomplishments.

------------------------

Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Lou Montanez
• Hayden Penn
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters
• Rick Zagone

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Predict the future
        

The Double-A Bowie Baysox are advertising the opportunity to purchase naming rights for the field at Prince George's Stadium on the team's Web site.

It should be noted that this idea pertains exclusively to the field and not the actual ballpark, which will remain Prince George's Stadium. For example, if I were to purchase the naming rights -- which won't happen since I just purchased a new car -- it would be called "Dean Jones Jr. Field at Prince George's Stadium."

According to the message from Baysox general manager Brian Shallcross on the Web site, the team is looking to identify a long-term partner for the venture. The team is offering signs inside the stadium to the prospective buyer, as well as a spot on the large sign located outside Prince George's Stadium on Route 301. Other ideas could be discussed with the Baysox.

If you think this might be a good opportunity for your organization, feel free to contact Shallcross to set up an appointment. There has been some interest since the team posted the idea last Monday on its Web site, according to Baysox communications director Tom Sedlacek, but he declined to offer specifics.

In other minor league stadium news, the home field of the Single-A Frederick Keys, Harry Grove Stadium, will undergo several renovations prior to the start of the upcoming season, the team recently announced.

Along with updates to the restrooms, press box, clubhouses and seating area, a new scoreboard and videoboard will be installed at the stadium. These moves are being completed in order to make the stadium in compliance with the Americans for Disabilities Act.

According to the release, a wheelchair lift will be added to the first base side of the stadium to allow disabled fans access to the lower level. The team also renovated the public restrooms, and a new elevator has been added to the Keys Courtyard.

"All of the renovations we have seen come to Harry Grove Stadium these past few years are a huge step in our continuing goal of enhancing our fans experience," Keys general manager Dave Ziedelis said in the news release from the team.

In the past two seasons, the Keys have also made improvements to the playing field, suite level and the stadium lights. The Keys will play the first home game of the 2009 season against the Salem Red Sox on Friday, April 17 at 7 p.m.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Yesterday, we discussed our thoughts on 21-year-old right-hander Brandon Erbe. Most people agreed with my projections for the McDonogh graduate, but a few readers mentioned that they believe his future is in the bullpen.

That's an interesting observation. With his power and size, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound pitcher could develop into a late-inning reliever. I don't think the Orioles are ready to give up on Erbe as a starter, however, so that experiment will have to be delayed. As long as he continues to compile the strikeouts, the Orioles will be forced to find a way to continue advancing him through the organization. Trust me, it's a problem that they would love to have.

In my opinion, there are two goals for Erbe to work on in 2009 that will help improve his long-term success. I'd like for Erbe to improve his control and focus on keeping his pitches down in the strike zone. The home runs and walks allowed will be reduced if he's able to do these two things consistently this season.

For today's debate, let's dive deep into the Orioles' minor league system. I'd like to talk about a pitcher who is definitely under the radar in the organization -- left-hander Rick Zagone.

Each time I saw Zagone pitch for the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds in 2008, he impressed me. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound pitcher was 7-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 15 games (11 starts) for the IronBirds. Zagone had 79 strikeouts and walked 14 hitters in 65 1/3 innings. He was tied for fourth in the New York-Penn League in strikeouts.

The Orioles selected Zagone in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB draft. He played in college for three seasons at the University of Missouri. The 22-year-old pitcher performed well during his freshman year, but he struggled in his final two seasons with the Tigers. He was 6-3 with a 3.28 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings as a freshman. In his sophomore season, Zagone was 7-2 with two complete games, but his ERA jumped to 5.03. Things got worse for Zagone during his junior season, when he lost his spot in the Tigers’ starting rotation and was only 2-3 with a 5.25 ERA in 70 1/3 innings pitched.

I've seen a few analysts mention that Zagone will likely have a more successful career as a relief pitcher, but I think it's better to keep him as a starter. Zagone eventually should pitch in the major leagues if he's able to build upon last season's success with the IronBirds.

It's unclear where Zagone will pitch during the upcoming season, but I think it would be best if he begins the year with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. The Orioles could promote him to the Single-A Frederick Keys or Double-A Bowie Baysox if he's pitching well in the middle of the season. They could also choose to have him start with the Keys, but it all depends on where the other pitchers in the organization are placed.

What are your thoughts on Zagone's performance during the 2009 season? Do you think he'll be able to build upon last year's success? Should the Orioles keep him as a starting pitcher, or would it be better to shift him to the bullpen? Will he have a successful career in the major leagues?

Let me know your expectations for Zagone. You can also discuss this topic and others on the Facebook fan page for O's on Deck. It also would be nice to get some minor league photographs and videos added by readers. Make sure to check it out and become a fan if you haven't already. Thanks to all the people who have already signed up, but be sure to utilize all the tools available on the page.

------------------------

Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brandon Erbe
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Lou Montanez
• Hayden Penn
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Predict the future
        

Earlier this week, we discussed our thoughts on David Hernandez. For the most part, Orioles fans seem to believe he’s going to play in the major leagues at some point in his career.

Some people think Hernandez will be a solid contributor in the starting rotation, while others consider him a better fit in the bullpen, potentially as a closer. Everyone agrees that Hernandez needs to improve his control in order to have a successful career.

As a couple readers pointed out, the organization should give Hernandez an opportunity because of the high amount of strikeouts that he’s collected in four minor league seasons. The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher has 535 strikeouts in 473 innings in the minor leagues.

It’s good to have a pitcher who is capable of overpowering hitters, but he also needs to be able to minimize the number of base runners allowed. That’s why it’s important for Hernandez to reduce the amount of walks before he’s called up to the major leagues.

Let’s talk about another Orioles pitching prospect today – McDonogh graduate Brandon Erbe.

It seems like the list of promising young pitchers in the Orioles’ minor league system never ends, which is a good thing for an organization that desperately needs to strengthen its pitching staff.

The Orioles selected Erbe in the third round of the 2005 MLB draft, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations so far in his career. In four minor league seasons, Erbe is 18-22 with a 4.55 ERA. Since he’s still young and possesses a solid repertoire of pitches, the 21-year-old right-hander remains high on the list of pitching prospects in the Orioles’ minor league system.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound pitcher was 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA in 28 starts for the Single-A Frederick Keys last season. Erbe led the Carolina League with 151 strikeouts, and he issued 50 walks in 150 2/3 innings. Erbe also surrendered 21 home runs, however, which was the most in the league.

Last season was Erbe’s second consecutive year as a member of the Keys. He was 6-8 with a 6.26 ERA in 25 starts for Frederick in 2007. Erbe had 111 strikeouts and gave up 14 home runs in 119 1/3 innings during that season.

The Orioles have taken a patient approach with Erbe’s development during his time in the organization. He’ll probably begin the 2009 season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox. With the influx of several other pitching prospects, it’s important that Erbe starts to emerge as a leader, or he could be lost in the shuffle.

Erbe likely will spend the entire season in Bowie. I think he’ll probably have 10-12 wins and an ERA around 3.75. Look for Erbe to be among the leaders in the Eastern League in strikeouts and home runs allowed. He decreased the amount of walks last season, and I believe that trend will continue in 2009.

The high amount of strikeouts are definitely one of Erbe's strongest selling points, but he allows too many home runs at this stage of his career to be projected as a potential player in the major leagues. Erbe still has a lot of room for improvement, but there’s also plenty of time before the Orioles should give up on him. He doesn’t fit into the team’s immediate plans, but there is hope for the future.

What are your predictions for Erbe during the 2009 season? Do you think he’ll step forward as a leader among the Orioles’ pitching prospects, or will he fade into anonymity as another draft pick who didn’t work out for the organization? Is it still too early to tell?

Let me hear your thoughts about Erbe for the upcoming season, as well as your long-term expectations.

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Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• David Hernandez
• Brian Matusz
• Lou Montanez
• Hayden Penn
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Predict the future
        

UPDATE: The Orioles have agreed to a minor league deal with left-handed pitcher John Parrish, according to The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec. Click here to read the full story.

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Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press reports the Orioles and Parrish are close to agreeing on a minor league deal.

Morosi says the Detroit Tigers pursued the 5-foot-11, 181-pound pitcher, but he's "likely to sign a minor-league contract with Baltimore within the next several days."

Parrish was 1-1 with a 4.04 ERA in 13 games (six starts) for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008. The 31-year-old pitcher, who the Orioles selected in the 25th round of the 1996 MLB draft, went 10-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 17 games (13 starts) with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs last season.

After making his major league debut on July 24, 2000, the veteran left-hander spent parts of six seasons with the Orioles. His best season was in 2004, when Parrish was 6-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 56 appearances. Parrish was traded to the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 9, 2007 for minor league outfielder Sebastien Boucher.

In seven major league seasons, Parrish is 13-13 with a 4.54 ERA.

You can add him to the growing list of pitchers competing for spots on the pitching staff in spring training. Parrish would be a solid pickup that could help the Orioles if he's able to prove himself and earn a roster spot.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

How many Ravens fans watched the Super Bowl last night? If you didn't watch, I won't pass along the bad news about which team won. You can figure it out.

Last week, we shared our predictions for the upcoming season for Jason Berken, who seems to be overshadowed by the other pitching prospects in the Orioles' minor league system. I don't know if it's a sign of his anonymity amongst fans, but less people commented on the entry about Berken than the other young pitchers we've discussed.

Still, the fans that participated in the debate, for the most part, think he deserves an opportunity. As long as he continues to pitch with minimal walks and home runs, then the 25-year-old right-hander should definitely get a chance to prove he belongs in the major leagues.

With the Orioles' surplus of starting pitchers in the organization, Berken's long-term future could be in the bullpen. It seems plausible, but there's no reason to mess with success if he keeps performing well as a starter. I know Orioles fans would enjoy having less walks and home runs allowed by the starting rotation.

Speaking of pitchers who give up a lot of walks and home runs, let's discuss right-handed pitcher David Hernandez today.

In four seasons, the 23-year-old starting pitcher has allowed 41 home runs and 206 walks in 473 innings in the minor leagues. While pitching for the Double-A Bowie Baysox in 2008, Hernandez led the Eastern League with 71 walks in 141 innings. He surrendered 10 home runs, which is low compared to the 16 he gave up as a member of the Single-A Frederick Keys in 145 1/3 innings during the 2007 season.

Despite the high amount of walks and home runs, Hernandez only has a 3.94 ERA so far in his minor league career. He was 10-4 with a 2.68 ERA last season, which was the third-best ERA in the league. Hernandez, who had a 4.95 ERA for the Keys in 2007, reduced his ERA by more than two full runs last season.

It's pretty impressive that Hernandez, who the Orioles selected in the 16th round of the 2005 MLB draft, was able to pitch well despite his control issues in 2008. It remains to be seen, however, if the walks will catch up to him as he climbs the organizational ladder.

Personally, I think Hernandez is a pitcher who goes beyond statistics. I've seen him pitch in person several times, and he always seems to have solid command on the mound. In fact, I wouldn't even think about his control issues if I didn't already know about them from the statistics. Perhaps I've only watched Hernandez on good days, but there are definitely positive characteristics that could make him a successful major league pitcher in the future.

Hernandez should receive a good look in spring training, but he'll likely begin the season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. The Orioles know he needs to improve his control before earning a spot in the major leagues, but it's good to get the major league staff working with him.

In the best-case scenario, Hernandez will pitch the entire 2009 season in Norfolk. He'll cut down the walks and home runs, and have an ERA below 3.50. Like Berken, Hernandez could be one of the first players called up to the major leagues in the event of an injury, but that's only if he shows that he's capable of reducing the free passes. He might be able to pitch out of trouble in the minor leagues, but it gets a lot tougher when you're facing the best hitters in professional baseball.

What are your thoughts about Hernandez? Do you believe he should be considered a strong candidate to pitch for the Orioles, or are you tired of pitchers with a high number of walks? Do you think Hernandez will ever be able to improve his control? Does it matter?

Let me hear your predictions about Hernandez's future with the organization.

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Check out previous installments of "Predict the future" by clicking on the links below:

• Jake Arrieta
• Brad Bergesen
• Jason Berken
• Brian Matusz
• Lou Montanez
• Hayden Penn
• Bill Rowell
• Brandon Snyder
• Chris Tillman
• Justin Turner
• Matt Wieters

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Predict the future