Eric Nalpas/Baltimore Orioles
Delmarva manager Dave Anderson is walking a fine line between keeping the Shorebirds in the heat of a playoff race and developing an influx of new players.
“We’ve had a lot of changes over the course of the season,” said Anderson, who also managed in the farm systems of the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels and at his alma mater, the University of Memphis. “The first time in my career I’ve had a team on Sunday, and then on Tuesday there 16 different players. We got all those new kids because of the draft. It’s been good.”
Anderson, who has also served as the Orioles’ minor league infield coordinator, understands what it takes to make it to the major-league level after playing eight seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers and two for the San Francisco Giants. He batted .242 with 19 homers and 143 RBIs in 873 career games. Anderson won a World Series with the Dodgers in 1988.
Delmarva has been the starting point for a number of the Orioles’ new prospects, including players from this year’s Major League Baseball draft. Anderson has been able to get early looks at the team’s first-round pick Colton Cowser, in addition to second baseman Connor Norby and outfielders Reed Trimble, John Rhodes and Donta’ Williams.
“All the guys we have gotten in the draft have played really well,” Anderson said. “Obviously, they make some mistakes that all young players make when they start playing professional baseball. The effort has been good. They play hard.”
Cowser was selected with the fifth overall pick in this year’sdraft. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound centerfielder, hit .354 with 24 home runs and a 1.068 OPS from the left side of the plate in three seasons at Sam Houston State.
Cowser was rated the No. 7 draft prospect by FanGraphs, No. 10 by ESPN and MLB.com, and No. 11 by Baseball America. He has potential to hit for power, and is already making a positive impression
“The most impressive thing is that he’s had more walks than strikeouts,” Anderson said. “He really commanded the strike zone. Obviously, his power will come. We’re not really worried about that right now. He’s swinging the bat well.”
Anderson also managed another pair of prospects, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg.
Westburg has a friendly competition with Henderson about who is going to be the future shortstop for the Orioles. Anderson said both were impressive at Delmarva.
“When they were with me, both of them played shortstop, they played third base and they DH’d,” Anderson said. “So, they moved around a lot. One of the things about playing a certain position is that you want to play that position a lot. The more they played, the better they got. Starting the season off, they played really, really well and were swinging the bats great. They did all of the things you want to see them do.”
The Orioles have the top-ranked farm system among the 30 MLB teams, according to Jim Callis, of MLB Pipeline They also have MLB’s top prospect in catcher Adley Rutschman, who has been exceptional all the way through his recent promotion to Triple-A Norfolk.
“No question about that, we’ve drafted a lot of positional players and we’ve gotten better at that aspect of it,” Anderson said. “There’s a really good crop this year and the last couple of years. It’s really improved our minor-league system. You can see that by the players and their performances.”
The Shorebirds are fighting for a playoff spot in the final month of the season. “We’re playing the teams that are in front of us so it’s really good,” Anderson said.
Pinto earns honor: Delmarva right-hander Jean Pinto was named Low-A East League Pitcher of the Month for August. He had a 1.35 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. Pinto allowed batters to hit just .146 and had a WHIP of 0.71. Pinto was acquired by the Orioles from the Los Angeles Angels in December 2020 along with right-handed pitcher Garrett Stallings in exchange for shortstop José Iglesias. Pinto was added to the Delmarva roster on July 27th.
Stowers flashes power: Outfielder Kyle Stowers hit a pair of homers in Double-A Bowie’s 7-3 loss to Somerset on Sunday. Stowers has 24 home runs this year, 17 with Bowie and seven with High-A Aberdeen. With the defeat, the Baysox are 1 1/2 games behind Somerset for a spot in the 2021 Double-A Northeast League Championship Series.
Record day: Outfielder/first baseman Billy Cook went 4-for-5 with a double, three homers and set a Shorebirds single-game record with nine RBIs in a 21-3 victory over the Carolina Mudcats on Saturday. Cook, the Orioles’ 10th-round draft pick this year, also tied the franchise record with three home runs — last done by Collin Woody on August 15, 2017. … Bowie’s Grayson Rodriguez had another strong start in a 6-3 victory over Somerset on Friday, He threw five scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts on 81 pitches. Rodriguez faced the minimum in three of his five innings, and allowed just five baserunners.
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Wonder what everyone complaining about under slot for Cowser thinks now. All the draftees from this year are hitting. Wouldn’t have had some of these guys without going under slot for Cowser. The whole Delmarva team is hitting. Mayo looks like he could be a real piece in the future. Question is where does he fit in the future with all the infielders in the system.
I still wish they would have taken SS Jordan Lawler, who was higher-rated and still fell to the O's at #5.
Well he just had shoulder surgery. Rather have the guy that’s actually playing.
I agree Os20. 1st-rounder signing agreement with SS Jordan Lawlar and the Dbacks is for $6,713,300!!! The slot 6 value was for $5,742,900!!! So the Dbacks maxed out on signing him and the max they could pay with out exceeding their bonus pool. Leaving them with the rest of the whole draft handcuffed on picking players with underslot value,
meaning lesser value players they could draft and then being able to sign or not sign at all.
Jon Heyman, of the MLB Network, reported that Cowser signed for $4.9 million, a significant underslot done by Orioles general manager Mike Elias. And leaving him with more money to draft and sign all the great players drafted and now playing very well at Delmarva!!! This was an excellent pick and move by Mike Elias!!!
They wouldn't have been able to sign Norby and maybe another player or two in this year's Group of Draftees.. I get frustrated too when players like Lawler and Asa Lacy (last year) get passed by, but this team still needs Quality AND Quantity of projectable talent.
People keep forgetting that the Orioles were BY FAR the worst franchise in MLB when Elias took over. We were "at the foot of the Cross..."
It becomes more clear every day over the course of this Season that Elias and Company are a cut-above in their ability to Scout and Draft Players. Has a Low-A Team ever switched-out 16 players in one day?
Likewise with the Organization's ability to Develop these same players.
The future looks very bright in Baltimore from a Talent standpoint..
Well stated BC!!! I've been saying this from day one!!! Some posters on this site will have to eat all their words for all the bad mouthing they have done regarding Mike Elias!!! Some are starting already!!! They should have shown the patience we did and saved all their aggravation!!! They would have been better off. Of course Elias has already stated that the number 1 farm system he has built is not done and will continue for however long he's the General Manager!!!
He will also make the Orioles winners again very soon with all this talent he's getting from the International talent signings, MLB draft signings and trades. But these things take some time and patience!!! It certainly showed on the minor league starting pitchers they call-up this year. But with all the money he's saving now, he can pay for some great starting pitching when the time is right!!!
Great ability to scout out good players? We traded Alex Cobb for Jones. Thought Jones would be the man for second base. How’s that working out? Where was the “analytics” on that trade???
Jahmai Jones produced a two-run double with the bases loaded to pull the O’s within 7-6 yesterday so maybe the nerves of playing in the Major Leagues and on the road are subsiding. Especially in New York and in Toronto against the Yanks and Blue Jay's, two very good teams.
Personally, I would have liked the Orioles to have kept him at Triple-A and get way more reps at 2nd base. A position he is learning to play. But there was a lot of crying on this site about bringing up players this year, thinking they would just perform and the jump would be easy and maybe these posters are finally learning it is not!!!
Also, it's ironic that Hall Of Famer Eddie Murray's is being honored today for homer number 500. He struggled mightily in his first season learning to hit the curve ball but look where he is now!!! So don't judge a book on its cover in the case of Jones just yet!!! Patience!!! Patience!!! Patience!!!
Also Eddie Murray's did have a great first year after settling down. Earl Weaver was adamant about letting him stay and again look where Eddie is now!! Hall of Fame!!! Not saying Jones will be there, I'm saying after 10 games and 34 at bats and learning the Major Leagues, let's give this kid a chance!!! Patience!!!!
There was more than a player-for-player calculus in that Trade..Mr Winchester.
It involved the Angels taking-on a lot of the money owed to Alex Cobb, which reduces what you get in return.
Definitely would take Murray’s 21 yr old rookie “struggles”, batted .283 winning ROY…go O’s…
More on Eddie Murray being sent down after struggling in spring training https://youtu.be/BK8d_ujxotI
In reference to the comment about trading Alex Cobb for Jones, being able to get anything for Cobb was a bonus. Cobb’s a free agent in three weeks, always injured and the Orioles saved 5 million. Jahmai Jones is only 23, and was the Angels #7 prospect. And while Cobb has pitched well, when healthy, he’s only made 15 starts for the Angels. He’s on the IL now. And if you’re going to mention the Cobb trade, don’t forget the Iglesias trade. People whined about that also, but they got back Jean Pinto a 20 year old who was just named Pitcher of the Month in Low A. And Iglesias just got released. So perhaps these people have a clue of what they are doing
Cobb was 7-22 in 3 years here in Bawlamer. What performance. He was oft injured and it was clearly a good move to let him go.
He pitched great while healthy, some have actually said.
His 63 walks and 148 strike outs were Pyrrhic accomplishments. Be real.
Interesting video, says he wasn’t sent down, just admit you’re wrong, he really didn’t have struggles as you described during his rookie yr, that’s why he wind ROY…go O’s…
Congrats to Rodriguez for making it 5 innings & throwing only 81 pitches this late in the season, bodes well for the future…go O’s…
Too many infielders…a good problem to have… gives the club options to trade some down the road for pitching if needed
Another kid who's hitting lights-out is 1B Jacob Teter, who's batting .325 this season.
I still say this year was the year to evaluate what we had in the organization…at the beginning of the year we were expecting better from Zimmerman, Lowther and company, Means was lights out until injury. Matt Harvey was a risk but he had that veteran presence and hasn’t been that bad. When injuries started dropping the starting rotation, we found out that next guy up wasn’t as good as we thought. Severino was a place holder but he started out slow and defensively, well we know how that worked out also. Mountcastle started slow, injuries to Santander and Hayes. I don’t believe DJ is the answer and although i love the way Ryan M plays, not sure if he’s more than a 4th outfielder… but we had to play him to find out. When this season is over, it will be interesting to see who stays and who doesn’t…but help is on the way
Well said. I concur.
Os need to rock next years draft class too. Still need more talent in the pipeline. Farm team doing all this without Kjerstad in there either, or Baumler.
You are so right BMan... next year's Amateur Draft Class is even stronger (it is written) than the 2021 Draft Class.... and Heston Kjerstad will be back.
Don't forget that they are expected to introduce a very strong International Signing Class in the next couple of months.
Where did you read that Kjerstad will be back? Is this just wishful thinking? Myocarditis is a serious, potentially chronic life long condition. There is a very likely chance he’ll never play again. I’m doubtful we’ll ever see him at the major league level, unfortunately.
Winchester, There is indeed a lot of wishful thinking/optimism in my suggesting that Kjerstad will be back.. I am not a clinician and I have no information other than the rest of us. He is however at the Sarasota Training Complex working-out and working under close Medical Supervision to get himself back into shape to be able to take the Field of Play.. It is not unreasonable to take an optimistic view on this.. Lord knows that the Orioles and Heston could use this type of a strong recovery.
Todd, I live just across the river from Harrisburg, where Bowie will play this week. Any idea which day GR will pitch?
Grayson will pitch Thursday.
Thanks, I’ll be on beautiful City Island on Thursday night!
I've said it before and I'll say it again--this farm will REALLY kick.off when the International signees come to fruition. You want an ALL Star SS?--That's where it'll come from.
Throwing this out: who do you fellas like from this year's Orioles team for the next postseason contenders, whenever that is?
As for me - Mullins, Mancini, Mountcastle Means. loving Tyler Wells right now and Jorge Mateo. Urias has shown a lot of grit and versatility. I definitely like Austin Hays if he can stay healthy. And Santander unless there are better corner outfielders coming along.
Not too many starters that get me excited although a few have shown flashes of excellence like Akin a couple starts ago. And Chris Ellis vs the Yanks. Maybe Zimmerman (cuz he's a home boy!) I dig Lopez in short relief. Tate, Scott Sulser?
Obviously neither of the current catchers have a future with the O's.
I'd love to see some real creative small-ball. Bring back the squeeze bunt! And can we perfect the art of beating the shift w. RISP?
Oh I forgot Jahmai Jones. Jury's still out. Like to see him bring up the BA. But I feel like he's got game.
Me again. I want to add one more thing. I feel that a nucleus of the guys who really fought through this awful season, who brought the few and far between bright spots, are the ones who go on to harvest the knowledge and the... style of play that will be a unique and powerful baseball team in the future. I believe there's a lot you can only learn from losing - essentially "what not to do" and that there's is a "well oiled machine" in gestation.
OK. I'm done. I think.
I think Jahmai will be ok. He looks nervous but handled the glove better recently and smacked a double yesterday. That’s gotta help his confidence. Glad to see him getting an opportunity. He looks like a player!
OK Elias lovers....when will the Orioles stop losing, and when will they be in playoff contention? It's been 3 years of tanking. Combine that with Duquette's 2018 finish, and Elias will have had FOUR straight years drafting at or very near the top of the order. Does he need a fifth?
Is the price of building this grand farm system a ½ decade or longer of being baseball's doormat? The Nats fanbase is growing by leaps and bounds. How are the O's doing in that regard?
I've said all along that it has to be a lot easier drafting talent at the top of each round than the bottom. Sure a lot of busts have been drafted at the top of the order, and I love what Elias has done with his draft picks, (especially the underslotting), but after we start to win and we're not picking top shelf anymore ... what then? IMO...that's when the story will be told regarding Mike Elias.
Case in point: Where is Houston' prized minor league system rated today?
It's time to stop tanking...well frankly it's 9 month past due. It's time to stop worrying about service time. It's time to fill some holes from the outside if necessary (pitching). And it's time to stop asking the fans of Baltimore to eat it.
So I ask the Elias booster club once again ... when will the Orioles stop losing, and when will we be in playoff contention? When does Mike Elias start being held accountable?
Drink Pepsi
Yes, it may take a 1/2 decade of being the doormat. The "build" (1954-66) took longer than that. I don't think anybody expected this to go quickly. This is year 3 and there's been a lot of progress below the surface.
I don't like it either but I do believe better days are coming. For one thing, what choice do I have? I don't work in the Orioles front office yet I want to be happy.
The difference between the 54-66 and today's rebuild is that those 50's and 60's team didn't lose by design. There was no draft until '65. And yeah, better days are coming, but until then ... I'll bitch about it. Losijng on purpose is the devil.
I would say the tanking argument doesn’t hold water for multiple reasons. 1) If Elias was SOOO bent on losing, why sign any decent FA’s at all? I realize he’s looked for bargain players, but he’s still signed some decent players over the last few years. Wouldn’t it be easier to lose by signing guys in their 40’s? 2) Elias has already shown a willingness to work his slot $, and not necessarily jump at one of the top 2-3 consensus picks. Doesn’t this strategy contradict tanking for the top pick, particularly in baseball where high picks have a much lower rate of success than other sports? I think it does. 3) You and some of the other Elias haters have ZERO idea of the direction/demands made by the Angelos family, yet the cries for Elias’ firing come ringing from the GM-wannabe crowd, and started not long after he was hired. Elias takes his time bringing up players, he’s an idiot. He rushes, he’ll be an idiot. He’s not going to spend big FA $ until we can contend. That isn’t tanking.
CB .... all I did was ask a question. I didn't ask to be attacked by you.
So yeah CB... all us "GM" wanna be's are just plain stupid. We don't understand like all y'all "GM don't-wann-bes" baseball savants do. Nope...no tanking here. That's why nobody outside of Baltimore is crying for a fix to this problem. Guys likeTim Kjurksian and Ken Rosenthal and many many many other outlets are writing about how the franchise is embarrassing the sport by doing just that....Tanking.
You know....I've never EVER, once called for Mike Elias' firing. Show me where I did. I often write about how I like what he's done with building a system. Thas my friend is documented here at BB.com I've never asked him to spend bid FA$ either...unless $10 million invested in 3/4 pitchers is how you define 'big'; Your reading comprehension skills obviously are way off when you read me anyway. You hear/read what you wanna hear/read.
What I don't like is his underhanded, shortcut semi-cheating manner in which he goes about doing it. You know why we have a higher ranked farm system than the likes of Toronto and Tampa. BECAUSE THEY PROMOTE THEIR PLAYERS!!
If you don't believe there's any tanking going on around here ... what IS going on?
You're absolutely correct CB!!! Mike Elias is just working within the system that MLB has had in place ever since there was a draft system!!! Some crybabies will just never get that point!!! Heard all the crying that José Iglesias was "Dumped"!!!! Which is a lie!!!! He was traded and in this very article shows what they got for him. Some people only read what they want to read. They also never responded to the Number 1 ranked farm system Mike Elias promised either!!!
No really great player wants to play on a losing team. So trying to sign one at this point is obsolete. So Elias is doing the next best thing. Building up the farm system with a truck load of players with the thought of some/most of these guys will work out and when they do the team record will show this. Then go out and sign some better free agents hoping to entice them with the team on the rise and being a part of this!!!
Pinto earns honor: Delmarva right-hander Jean Pinto was named Low-A East League Pitcher of the Month for August. He had a 1.35 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. Pinto allowed batters to hit just .146 and had a WHIP of 0.71. Pinto was acquired by the Orioles from the Los Angeles Angels in December 2020 along with right-handed pitcher Garrett Stallings in exchange for shortstop José Iglesias. Pinto was added to the Delmarva roster on July 27th.
Oh and by the way, Mike Elias has had three (3) drafts and not 4!!! And one of them was ONLY 5 ROUNDS!!!! And had to assemble scouts and a scouting director to put in place for the International signings/commitments that they didn't have before he signed on. And in that line of signings most players already had commitments to other teams and there is a trust factor involved for these players. And these players want to play for a winner also, knowing that in 3 years or less they will play for a Red Sox, Dodgers, Yanks or Tampa Bay team that are winning teams!!! This is why teams such as the Orioles are lucky the draft is in this way!!! Otherwise minor league really good players will all sign for the most $$$ with the Yanks, Sox or Dodgers
I'm asking you please, please please, just dont' read me. Please leave me alone.
Please.
BRR, your diatribes are just old and tired. How about this for reading comprehension…give me a rebuttal on my points.
OK..here's a rebuttal to your misguided points.
1) What decent FA has he signed? Iglesias? OK..he was decent before Elias dumped him. And really he and Galvis (also dumped) really aren't that good. Even when considering they're bargain basement. But who the hell else are you talking about? Maiikel Franco? Bwwwa ahahaha .... The Dark Knight ... FRod? Puhhhhhleeeeeze.
2) And just because you're underslotting your top pick? NO that doesn't contradict the tanking strategy. That's simply using the pick to gain extra picks.
3) Well ...like I said.....I've never called for his firing. Stop saying I did. Whatever else is in that run on sentence is simply gibberish and a personal attack on us "GM Wannabes"
So now I've answered you,but might I remind you that I asked you first. When does Eilias have us in contention? You never answered. At least BenSch had the juevos to give an answer.
What decent FA has he signed, only marginal players that no one was jumping to sign, his biggest splash, Iglesias, who was just released…none, just enough to appease those that are drinking the orange Koolaid…go O’s…
Obsession…go O’s…
Asked for a rebuttal, given, no comment…typical…go O’s…
Camden you are on point . I believe Elias realizes what some don’t to fix the major league club you need to add 4 top tier talent and two top tier pitching prospects at a minimal two guys (Rodriguez and Rutchman) are not going to make a difference oh they might win you 5-8 games more big deal is that worth losing service time I do not believe so . I believe your smarter play is to husband that talent add Rutchman and Stowers , Cowser and Westberg . Add Rodriguez and Baumann to Means and Zimmerman you would have other top talent waiting which is what you want. I just can’t understand this desire to squander good talent in bits and pieces which is what this organization has repeatedly done for nearly all of the last 25 years or more.
I don't think Elias/Hyde throwing games. But who knows, I could be wrong. Everybody is entitled to their opinion cuz, I guess what I'm saying, that's what it is. We don't know.
I'm a Libra, I tend to believe the best about people. But yeah, some times I'm wrong and a get suckered
Having said all that, I doubt they're tanking!
Hyde isn't tanking. His job depends on performance. Elias is tanking.