General Sports Water Cooler

Thank you

remember that he's a 19 year old in AA

I'm aware of that, and I'm not saying what he will or won't be, but I'd be shocked if he was ready to contribute next year so young and even the best prospects aren't srue things (hell, look at Ackley at the same position). I'd like for him to be the answer, though. Would plug one more hole. Still have LF, 1B, and 3B to worry about, though.

Not really, I said ~ .650, the number I had read was .690 and then he got red hot the past few days with .295 and 5 HR since July 4...

So yeah, I undersold him on the .650 but .690 at AA doesn't indicate to me "can't miss" either. I like his make up, I like him as a prospect, but I'm not ready to proclaim our 2B problem solved quite yet, either. He is 20. Doubtful he is ready to contribute until 2014. Possible, but doubtful. And between now and then we have NO ONE of ML caliber to play 2B.

See, this is what happens when your team becomes a perennial loser and you don't follow them closely. I had no idea he gave 7 excellent years in a row like that (2003-2009). So while he had that position locked down, i can't believe our farm system could not groom at least one heir who was even servicable.

Yup, and on an absolute tear since the 4th, above 1.000 OPS.

He's an intriguing prospect, but do you honestly expect him to come up next season at age 20-21 and contribute? If he doesn't, then 2B is our biggest hole, but it's unreal how many real holes this team has.

Literally - 3 starting pitchers, 1B, 2B, 3B, and LF are all question marks at best.

Scary but true.

Who was the last propsect that was groomed in our system (Jones therefore doesn't count) that didn't disappoint? Wieters is the closest by far - he's at least a very good MLB player but even he is tarnished by being a victim of his own expectations.

I'm referring to the fact that our farm system has been rather pathetic for roughly 30 years now.

oh yeah, that....if you were to sum up one main reason why the farm system has sucked so long, what would it be? talent recognition? coaching? what bad things have the o's institutionalized into their farm system such that they suck year after year?

Ahh, yes. I will give you Markakis (who has actually been a better player than Wieters, which is painful). But yeesh, our first round picks have been duds.

I think pretty much all those guys were rushed. When you rush a prospect you can destroy them. Remains to be seen if that's the case but all those guys were hampered after being pushed to mlb before they were complete pitchers imo.