Top Ten List

And it has nothing to do with David Letterman

by Matthew Taylor

Baseball America's list of the Top 10 Oriole prospects has garnered some attention this week, as you might expect it would for a team whose future hopes rest in the hands of prospects to develop or deal.

I'll leave the serious analysis to others who follow the farm system more closely; however, I will offer this much: it's encouraging that six of the 10 players listed are pitchers. Pitching and defense, pitching and defense, pitching and defense. You can always find a good bat on the free-agent market, but acquiring solid pitching is a considerably more risky and pricey endeavor.

One other note: Has there been a more anticipated O's prospect in recent history than Matt Wieters?

On to the list.

1.	Matt Wieters, c
2.	Chris Tillman, rhp
3.	Brian Matusz, lhp
4.	Jake Arrieta, rhp
5.	Nolan Reimold, of
6.	Brandon Erbe, rhp
7.	Billy Rowell, 3b
8.	Troy Patton, lhp
9.	Brandon Snyder, 1b
10.	Kam Mickolio, rhp

Some reaction to the Baseball America list:

-Seattle Times columnist Larry Stone

"Baseball America came out Wednesday with its list of the Baltimore Orioles' top 10 prospects, and it's another painful reminder of the Erik Bedard trade. No. 2 is pitcher Chris Tillman, and No. 10 is pitcher Kam Mickolio, both of whom came over from the Mariners for Bedard, along with reliever George Sherrill, who made the All-Star team last year, Adam Jones, the Orioles' starting center fielder, and pitcher Tony Butler."

And of course the localized angles (i.e. "He's one our ours") ...

-Tri-City Valley Cats

"Former Tri-City ValleyCats pitcher Troy Patton was named the Baltimore Orioles eighth best prospect according to Baseball America on Wednesday. Patton was the eighth former ValleyCat to reach the Major Leagues when he made his debut with the Houston Astros on August 25, 2007."

-Frederick Keys

"Six former Frederick Keys dotted the listing of the Baltimore Orioles top-ten prospects in Baseball America's annual listing released Wednesday afternoon. C Matt Wieters (#1), RHP Jake Arrieta (#4), OF Nolan Reimold (#5), RHP Brandon Erbe (#6), 3B Billy Rowell (#7) and 1B Brandon Snyder (#9) made the list. The Orioles most recent first round pick, and possible future Frederick Key, Brian Matusz ranked third on the list."