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Orioles Try to Promote Based on Merit, Not on Optimism
By Steve Argeris
Matt Riley and Tim Raines Jr. were examples 1 and 1a of the difficulties in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system in recent years: both highly touted, both rushed through the farm system, both possessing attitude problems and both seemingly destined to be busts at age 23.
So it was no surprise that even though both were having spectacular seasons at Class AA Bowie -- where Raines had spent parts of two previous seasons, and Riley parts of three -- there was no call-up until both were promoted to Class AAA Ottawa in late June. They had to earn it, on the field and off.
"We tried to come in and establish more of a merit system," said Darrell "Doc" Rodgers, the Orioles' farm system director. "The merit system is essentially based on the theory given by [minor league pitching coordinator] Dave Schmidt early-on in spring training. His very appropriate description was that when we felt like players were playing above the league they were in, we'd promote them. You've got a scenario where you can measure a player's progress. The best place to measure, as we started the season, is are they doing the things they need to do to develop, and what are their results?"
Riley's and Raines's on-field results were impressive -- Raines had hit .308 and Riley was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA at the time of their promotion -- but to Rodgers and Baysox Manager Dave Trembley, it was just as important that they didn't squander the opportunity through off-field issues.
"I had a lot of closed-door conversations with those two," Trembley said.
The results have been similar at Ottawa. Raines is hitting .303 through 38 games, while Riley is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA through eight starts.
Sometimes, staying put protects a player's development the most. While Rodgers acknowledges there have been an unusually high number of roster moves on all levels of the system, "if you notice, if you look carefully, certain guys aren't moving. That's not a coincidence."
By Steve Argeris
Matt Riley and Tim Raines Jr. were examples 1 and 1a of the difficulties in the Baltimore Orioles' minor league system in recent years: both highly touted, both rushed through the farm system, both possessing attitude problems and both seemingly destined to be busts at age 23.
So it was no surprise that even though both were having spectacular seasons at Class AA Bowie -- where Raines had spent parts of two previous seasons, and Riley parts of three -- there was no call-up until both were promoted to Class AAA Ottawa in late June. They had to earn it, on the field and off.
"We tried to come in and establish more of a merit system," said Darrell "Doc" Rodgers, the Orioles' farm system director. "The merit system is essentially based on the theory given by [minor league pitching coordinator] Dave Schmidt early-on in spring training. His very appropriate description was that when we felt like players were playing above the league they were in, we'd promote them. You've got a scenario where you can measure a player's progress. The best place to measure, as we started the season, is are they doing the things they need to do to develop, and what are their results?"
Riley's and Raines's on-field results were impressive -- Raines had hit .308 and Riley was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA at the time of their promotion -- but to Rodgers and Baysox Manager Dave Trembley, it was just as important that they didn't squander the opportunity through off-field issues.
"I had a lot of closed-door conversations with those two," Trembley said.
The results have been similar at Ottawa. Raines is hitting .303 through 38 games, while Riley is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA through eight starts.
Sometimes, staying put protects a player's development the most. While Rodgers acknowledges there have been an unusually high number of roster moves on all levels of the system, "if you notice, if you look carefully, certain guys aren't moving. That's not a coincidence."
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