I’d consider Matusz to absolutely be at the top (along with Wieters & Tillman).
Lefties with control of 4 at least MLB average pitches don’t come around every day.

1. Wieters A
2. Tillman A-/B+
3. Matusz B+
4. Arrieta B+

The O’s had a lot of their top talent playing ball this fall.

Arizona Fall League

Snyder: .328/.418/.655 (Serious sleeper, IMO)
Reimold: .271/361/.494 (solid line, but streaky)
Wieters: .290/.402/.420 (Does he need half a season at AAA?)
Matusz: 22.2 IP, 27/5 K/BB, 5 HR, 1.10 WHIP, 4.37 ERA (very nice debut, start off at AA?)

Hawaii Winter League

Henson: .266/.384/.444 (Good to see some walks)
Bascom and Gleason got shredded.

Gotta love a 6’9 righty with a sinker like that. I’m curious to see what you give him.

I think the mid-level guys are the prospects who may make this a pretty strong crop. Everyone loves to write about the Big 3 (Wieters, Tillman, and Matusz), but, some guys behind them could be above-average players in their own right like Reimold and Snyder. Snyder has fallen off the first few seasons below the radar, but he’s been quietly putting together s nice rebound period ever since last year’s Fall League. This season’s AA appearance will be a pivotal season for him. Arrieta and Erbe both have some intriguing possibilities. More and more Erbe may be an eventual bullpen arm if the command issues persist. Arrieta is probably the better balanced and poised version between the two Dropped-In-The-Draft-But-Signed-Above-Slot draftee for the Os. Both are strong picks for where they picked them.

I have some confidence in more than a few of the guys out of the top 10. A few years ago, John Maine was considered the Orioles top pitching prospect. In this system, I don’t think he cracks the top 10. In fact I don’t think he even trumps David Hernandez. The Os have a lot of arms and I have my hopes that attrition won’t eat up all the depth.

All in all, we must keep in mind the current players in the majors that these guys would be added to, like Markakis and Jones of course. JJ. Guthrie maybe. They have some other solid guys in Michlio, Albers, Sarfate. And perhaps one or more of Penn, Olson, Liz turn into something too.

12-7 3.12 147 1/3 118h 114/49 k/bb 2.81 go/ao .219 baa at delmarva low A

An intresting prospect that will start at high A and could end up in AA….low 90s Fb, slider has really came along nicely probly a plus pitch now, and his change up is solid….not in the class of tillman, matusz or arrietta but i think he can be a good 3/4 ML starter…ill be intrested in seeing what John has 2 say about him…

Overall though the Baltimore system has come a long way in 12 months..

would be considered in the top 10. Lead the EL in K’s with 167 and was 3rd in ERA and a BAA of .217. Command an issue but if he can have a BB/9 of ’07(2.91) and have the same success in ’08 then possible 3/4 starter.

The O’s have a nice crop of prospects coming along - obviously Wieters is the gem (how those teams drafting ahead of Baltimore regret not drafting him)

IMO & based on 08 season:

1 Wieters A
2 Tillman A-/B+
3 Matusz B+
4 Arrieta B+/B
5 Erbe or Hernandez B-

the top 4 are clear & then a drop to Erbe or Hernandez - problem is they are the exact opposites - Hernandez is the guy who record is better than his supposed stuff & Erbe the stuff better than the record.

Problem for the O’s is that there is a real lack of position players post-Wieters & most are either high upside but very raw (eg Avery or Hoes) or guys who are under performing & have limited growth (eg Costanzo,Reimold or Snyder - since his move to 1B).

It will be interesting to see how John actual rates the guys in the 10-20 range & some unusual players like Mickolio or Rowell (& his awful tendency with Ks)

I think you’re undervaluing Reimold. The only problem with Reimold in his minor league career was getting injured which forced him to lose 1.5 years. That accounts for his age. Other than that he’s performed well, and is continuing to do so at AFL. He’s a power hitter who hits moonshots, can take walks, and is a plus defender. How is that limited? No one’s suggesting he’s a perrenial MVP, but, you make him sound like he’s barely Jeromy Burnitz.

Snyder suffered a labrum and 2 lost years as well and that knocked him off track but ever since, he’s been building a nice rebound campaign for the last 1.5 years, and like Reimold, he’s continuing to do so in the AFL. He needs to increase the power and/or reduce the Ks but he’s not been a liability as you imply.

:-)!!

M.Wieters A The best prospect in baseball.
C.Tillman A- Needs to improve control to become ace, but has time on his side.
B.Matusz B+ Good in Arizona.
J.Arrieta B+ Promising. Needs to work on control.
B.Erbe B Much better repeating A+. Needs to cut down on HRs to be effective.
N.Reimold B Good chance to make it as average corner outfielder.
B.Snyder B- Nice rebound in ’08; still just 21.
D.Hernandez B- Needs more time in AA, but looking good as a back end starter or setup man.
B.Rowell C+ Still has the talent; will production ever come?
L.Hoes C+ Fast with good plate discipline. In GCL, posted .308/.416/.390 line.

The Big Three are truly the big three. The link on the side titled “101 Top Prospects” puts Wieters at #2, Tillman at #8, Arrieta at #27, and then Matusz at #31 (probably due to being a recent draftee). Out of these 4 guys, the Os may have a nice crop of future stars to add to Markakis and Jones. And perhaps Guthrie as the “old man” of the team by then.

I like this guy but not as a future ace type . . .what are people seeing in him that I’m not? He looks like a curveball artist with solid but not great attributes elsewhere. I think some may be reading a bit too much into a pretty ERA and being young for the league.

I’d gladly take Matusz.

Wieters A (clearly the #1 prospect in baseball, in my mind)
Tillman B+ — on the plus side, he dominated AA at age 20; on the minus side, control
Matusz B+ — no track record
Arrieta B/B+

everyone else C

There’s just so much garbage in this system that wouldn’t be on anyone’s radar in a decent organization. Rowell can’t hit or field. Snyder doesn’t have the glove to play third or the bat to play first. Erbe doesn’t have an out pitch. Patton, Mickolio… these guys are roster filler.

And I hated, hated HATED my home team’s 2008 Rule 4 draft. Bleh.

…and then you look and see how fast the general depth fades out to “Organizational Player” level. The Orioles are extremely deep in arms. As far as position players, they have their top guys but after, say, Ryan Adams or Matt Angle (who I am not a fan of either) it thins out quickly. All in all, I believe the Os have a deep system in pitching.

Wieters A
Tillman B+
Matusz B+
Arrieta B+/B

Any system with those guys at the top should be good eventually. The degree of attrition that hits the pitching depth will decide how successful this crop will be. Add these guys to Markakis and Jones and they have the makings of an interesting core. Remember that they have already graduated and traded for quite a few arms at or around the majors (i.e. Ray, J. Johnson, Liz, Olson, Penn?, Albers, Sarfate, Michilio, et al..). Even tho their pitching didn’t have much success in the majors, the minors featured some strong rotations with good logjams. That logjam should start to reach the major league level next year.