I wish Billy well. It seems like we've been hearing his name for 5+ years and he's a whopping 21.

You can't help but wish that the Orioles had picked the pitcher selected right after Rowell.

I wish him luck, but if you watch him play, he's lazy.. Saw him a bunch of times in Frederick, and I don't like how he carries himself.. Perhaps the move back to third will motivate him..

Just to recap, Rowell was the #9 overall player in the 2006 draft. The #10 choice just won his 2nd straight Cy Young (Lincecum) while Bill Rowell hits .226 in A ball. But it would appear the Orioles are not ready to concede defeat on Bill Rowell. After checking baseball reference.com, I found no precedent for a player who hit .225 in A ball going on to make the big club. That said, I think the move to 3rd is just a face-saving move. Rowell was not going to be productive at AA and the Keys outfield is stacked plus Mahoney at 1B. I think Rowell just goes down as another failed draft pick and an example of the poor Pre-MacPhail scouting.

21years old?
hardly washed up

Just to recap, Rowell was the #9 overall player in the 2006 draft. The #10 choice just won his 2nd straight Cy Young (Lincecum) while Bill Rowell hits .226 in A ball. But it would appear the Orioles are not ready to concede defeat on Bill Rowell. After checking baseball reference.com, I found no precedent for a player who hit .225 in A ball going on to make the big club. That said, I think the move to 3rd is just a face-saving move. Rowell was not going to be productive at AA and the Keys outfield is stacked plus Mahoney at 1B. I think Rowell just goes down as another failed draft pick and an example of the poor Pre-MacPhail scouting.

Posted by: Josh | April 8, 2010 9:08 AM
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Actually, Joe Jordan, Scouting Director and his Scouting Team is the same now as in 2006. Jordan's first draft was 2005 which has produced Reimold, Olson (Pie), and David Hernandez as ML players. Erbe and Snyder are in the wings at AAA. Wieters and Arrieta from 2007 was also drafted before McPhail (Duquette worked with Boras before the draft). Bergesen was drafted under Macias in 2003 as was Markakis.

Only Matuzs on the current Orioles roster was drafted under McPhail. Now, talk about trades and the other changes, sure, McPhail has been an above average GM, but the drafts are not the reason, Jordan and his team are the reason. BTW, Zach Britton was also drafted the same year as Rowell at #3 and his a top LH pitching prospect at AA.

Thanks Dean,

...For running down Billy Rowell and getting him to talk about his career. He has been somewhat of an enigma since the Orioles signed him right out of High School.

He has the raw ability to be an impact Major League player, good size, power, strong arm. What he needs is maturity and dedication and your interview reveals that he may finally be growing up. The Orioles have hinted in the past that they have been disappointed with Rowell's attitude and work ethic. This may be the year that he finally displays the potential that we all thought he had when he was signed.

Rowell demonstrates that picking high school players has much hgher risk than picking college players who are more mature.

This is also why I didn't care for the recent Hobgood pick.

Billy,
just keep your head focussed and stay positive. You're obviously a very talented person. We fans make criticisms with our own emotions in mind. We think it's a mutual goal but it's not always. You have to push yourself into places that won't always net results that fans will appreciate or even notice. Just have faith that that recognition will eventually come as long as you stay true to your game and focus on having a quality AB rather than getting a extrabase hit everytime up.

The problem with taking high school guys, no matter how high the upside, is that in their natural course of development, they are either A) Forgotten about for five years, or B) Thought to be busts because they didn't make the majors in a year and a half.
Rowell is 21, Hobgood 19 and already people are saying they have no chance.
Sorry to disappoint many of you, but these guys do have more than a chance and they need time to make good.
Look at Jayson Werth. The Orioles traded him away when he was 21 and last year, he hit 36 HRs for the Phillies.
Sometimes it does take time.

I realize that every club in MLB has a story similar to ours, but this one was truly special,

With the ninth pick of the 2006 MLB draft, the Orioles chose Billy Rowell.

With the next - the tenth - pick of the 2006 MLB draft, the Giants chose Tim Lincecum.

Is there still time to even it up a tad with Rowell? Of course. Will it happen? Nahhhh.

But who can resist looking at that draft and avoid pulling a George Bailey at the nearest bridge? And Clarence, this time mind your own business.

Peanutgallery,

I agree there have been some quality picks that have become good ballplayers. But that can be said for every club in baseball. And 20 years ago I would have agreed that drafting is an inexact science. But today, thanks to the internet and other modern technologies, scouting has improved to the point that 66% of the top 15 picks will make the majors, and they are paid large signing bonuses as a result (including Rowell). And it has been the 1st round selections where the Orioles have been hurt. 12 years of picking in the upper half means the O's should have at least 6-8 1st rounders contributing in the majors. But we only have 3 (Markakis, Wieters, and Matusz). Over the same period, Tampa has drafted 7 1st rounders who made the majors (losing only Josh Hamilton to Rule V). So Joe Jordan or no, I certainly hope that something has been done to ensure the Orioles below-par drafting pre 2007 won't be repeated.