What kind of stuff does Zagone have? The strikeout rate looks like he must have a pretty good fastball. Is this true? What other pitches and what quality?

When you dig deep into the Orioles organization it gets harder to evaluate the players. Sure you have the stats, the splits etc but there is nothing like seeing it first hand. I have not seen Zagone first hand but based on his numbers of the first 70 innings in his career I think he is doing well. A lot of strikeouts and not many walks. I second guess this kid because he did so poorly his last few years in college- was he hurt?
So based off of just about nothing I would say Zagone fizzles out at either AA or AAA and sees maybe limitted time in the BIGS. There is a big difference in talent between short season A and AAA ball.

Dean- I think you have to have him start. Get some innings in and see how it goes with the Shorebirds. If he does well as a starter you still have time to convert him to a reliever down the road. He is a lefty, who knows could be a nice surprise.

It appears that Zagone has gotten off to a good start. However, I think his place in the organization mostly depends upon the progression of other prospects in the organization. The wealth of pitchers at Bowie is most certainly going to prevent him from starting there in 2009 barring lots of injuries/major league call ups.

Good stats at Aberdeen are just that. Good stats, at Short season A ball. Stats are half the picture of any player. Great stuff and no results sounds like D Cabrera. Put Zagone as high as possible where he can get starts, probably Delmarva, and use him as a starter until he proves he should move to the 'pen. But there are so many other pitchers with good stats throughout the farm system, Zagone will have to produce to stay in any rotation - same for all the pitchers.

He's a college pitcher who dominated short season A ball last year. Therefore ordinarily I would say start him at Frederick. But I think the rotation may be crowded there, so it's either the rotation at Delmarva or the bullpen in Frederick.

Both he and the O's might be best served by converting him to a reliever soon. With the recent stockpiling of quality arms, the rotations at Frederick, Bowie, and Norfolk are becoming jammed with actual prospects. I don't think there's an "organizational guy" anywhere in those 15 slots. So a college pitcher like Zagone, from a good conference and a good program, who might have advanced quickly in past years, may end up taking things one step at a time.

Since there's a good chance that Zagone will end up in the pen anyway, it might make sense to make that move now and give him a chance to advance at a pace that's appropriate for his experience level. Otherwise, they run the chance of falling out of the picture completely.

And don't look now, but there's another crop on the way right behind him.

I had 1/2 season tickets at Aberdeen last year. Zagone & Cole McCrory ( I believe that was his name) were the most impressive we observed. Both had excellent command of the fastball, very good curve balls & decent off-speed pitches. They also had good mound presence & were very consistant. I would rate them as possible major Leaguers in the future barring injuries or set backs.

It would be interesting if contributors to this blog (and Dean) submitted their opinions about the makeup of the O's major league roster in 2011. Name specific players for all 8 field positions, DH, 5 startes, set up man and closer. The player list could include "outside of the organization" if it's anticipated the O's would fill a specific from outside the organization like a free agent signing/trade.

Lou: Here's my 2011 roster, based on what is in our system now. Trades and free agent acquisitions, of course, would alter this. I'm sure there will be some, but I think that this would be a representative team in 3 years.

C Weiters SP Guthrie
1B Reimold Patton
2B Roberts Liz
3B Rowell Matusz
SS Izturis Tillman
LF Pie CL Ray
CF Jones SU Johnson
RF Markakis Albers
DH Huff LR Hernandez
UTIL Turner Bergesson
C-1B-3B Snyder Mickolio
OF-2B Freel Berken
Sarfate

Where did you get your time machine? I see you saw Zagone pitch for Aberdine in 2009.
----------------------------------
RESPONSE FROM DEAN: Excellent proofreading skills. You're the first person to notice that typo. I've made the correction to 2008. Let's hope he's not in Aberdeen again in 2009, or he won't be getting much recognition as a prospect. Thanks again for the correction. If I had a time machine, I'd tell you what year the Orioles are going to win the World Series! ;)

Is Ray's arm REALLY sound? Lots of rust, too. Bet won't help till mid 2009.

I saw him pitch at Aberdeen two times. Both times he went about seven innings, which is very rare in the NYP League. I loved what I saw out of him. In one sequence, he gave up a triple and calmly struck out the next three he faced. Look for this guy to make some noise in the O's system this year and beyond.

Has anyone offered a reason why/how Zangone is so much better in the pro's than in college? Usually it's the other way . . . What changed?

2011
C - Wieters
1B - Snyder
2B - Miclat
3B - Rowell
SS - Izturis
RF - Markakis
CF - Jones
LF - Pie
DH - Reimold
Bench - Montanez, Turner, backup Catcher

Bullpen
Erbe, Liz, Penn, Johnson, Ray, Berken, Albers, Patton

Starters
Tillman
Matusz
Arrieta
Guthrie
Hernadez

My lineup for 2011 would have to be:

C: Weiters
1B: Snyder
2B: Roberts LJ Hoes in 2012...He has a future...will be EXCELLENT big league player.
SS: MIclat
3B: Rowell
RF: Markakis
CF: Jones
LF: Pie, Reimold, Xavier avery in 2012 or 13??
DH: Reimold, Montanez

Rotation:
Matusz
Tillman
Arrieta
Guthrie
Erbe

Pen:
CL: Jim Johnson
SU: David Hernandez
MR: Chris Ray
MR: Radhames Liz
MR: Matt Albers
MR:Troy Patton
LR: Bradley Bergeson

Other Candidates:
Rick Zagone
Zach Britton
Oliver Drake
Bobby Bundy

Sleeper - Corey Doyne.This should be his year. He won't stay in Va. long. He's healthy and ready. O's WILL have the best bull pen in baseball. Even Stevie Wonder can see that.

Dean, you're are right, Rick is a sleeper...till about 12 noon! I should know he stayed at our house while he played for the Ironbirds. We have housed player for the IB ever since they started and Rick definitly has the whole package. He is focused, confident, and healthy...not ot mention a pretty darn good pitcher. We were impressed with his demeanor on the mound. He is the next Joe Flacco but in baseball! If he does allow a basehit, no sweat, he'll just pick that runner off next pitch. He has a sneaky way of doing that. I think Rick is going to go a long way either as a starter or reliever because he can throw strikes and he never seems to tire.
Never the less, Rick holds a special place in my heart because he became one of the family. We hang his IB jersey with pride.

I had the pleasure of playing with Zagone a couple of years in highschool in Crystal Lake, IL. Personally, he had a live arm in highschool, I mean really live. I think he will be in the majors some day. Its hard to say where he'll end up, because a pitcher in the pen has to have a different mentallity than that of a starter. He has the mentallity of a starter personally I believe. He likes to have the game in his control from the first pitch. The thing with Rick is that he is a lefty, (which is a plus), but he has a really deceptive motion with a almost Dontrelle Willis imitation leg lift. His arm slot allows his fastball to run 2 feet away from righties, and his slider to cut 2 feet in (not really but you get the idea about how much his ball moves). The only reason I can see Rick getting moved into the pen may be the idea of wear and tare on his arm all those years. The rest his arm will recieve (just like many pitchers) will make him that much more effective in the pen. If you ask me, with the way his ball moves and his motion/ arm slot (effectiveness), and if he is able to see the oppurtunity in coming out of the pen along with finding that "mentallity" you need as a reliever....I am saying if...(which he is very capable)...I honestly think closing games is the ticket for Rick Zagone...If he finds a home in the pen give him three years and then you can ask him to autograph one of his O's jerseys...