When it comes to the improved farm system for the Orioles - one ranked No. 1 in organizational rankings by MLBPipeline.com and No. 4 via Baseball America - it can seem the club leaves no stone unturned.
Whether it is data and analytics and the latest technology, the move to place five coaches with each affiliate, improved nutrition and even gains in areas like mental skills, the Orioles seem to be doing right by their young talent. They want to give them every chance to succeed.
Seeing the Orioles place six players on the ESPN top 100 prospects list (subscription may be required) released yesterday is the latest validation from an outside source that the Orioles are doing some things right in player development.
In my reporting over many years, I get to know some of the people behind the data and tech and those ratings and am impressed by that group as well. And I also feel in addition to keeping up with the Jonses (not to mention the Yankees and Red Sox) in data, etc., respecting and believing in some so- called old-school concepts is important, too.
Managers on the O's farm like Buck Britton, who will lead Triple-A Norfolk this season, and Kyle Moore at Double-A Bowie believe that winning is important, too. They believe old-school concepts, including winning 90 feet, count. Meaning things like advancing runners and stopping the opponent from doing the same. Playing good fundamental baseball.
They believe chemistry and being a tight-knit team is important. I recorded a Zoom interview with Moore this week as he gets closer to reporting to spring training to skipper the 2022 Baysox.
"Super excited," said Moore, who was manager at high Single-A Aberdeen last season. "Really nice challenge for me professionally. Also just really excited this organization entrusts me to go there and manage this club for them. Can't wait to get there."
Our conversation quickly turned toward the concept of chemistry and a skipper trying to make sure he has a team with an overall great attitude.
"A big area you can't put a metric on right now is clubhouse," said Moore. "What's it like in there? Are guys selfish or unselfish? Do they pick up after themselves? Are they truly playing for each other or are they concerned about themselves? Those are all things we stand for, the whole organization, not just our teams. Hopefully, we have a great culture in Bowie and a great learning environment."
Developing a great culture and chemistry is no doubt important, but there is also no handbook for how that is created by a coaching staff.
"I've studied other coaches in other sports," said Moore. "Read books about it and also just tried to apply everything I've learned in coaching to that culture creation. There is no detail that is too small when it comes to that. ... No detail goes unturned for me when it comes to culture. It's not something you can force. It's not something you can dump on someone, but I do think it is something you can develop and harvest."
Moore said that is important to the Orioles brass, the same group that brought in all the data, tech and analytics.
"No question. It starts with (director of player development) Matt Blood in our front office. He is as aware of culture as anyone I've ever been around," Moore said. "He certainly talks about culture and he is among our biggest with that on our staff. Matt and I and the managers do talk about building that winning culture."
When you think about it, a minor league manager's main job is to develop players that can one day help the major league team. Nothing tops that on his list of things to do. He wants to win, too. But his job is to make players better so they can leave his team, move up and help the next manager win.
"It (winning) certainly is important," Moore said. "I don't think it is atop the list, because it's about creating an elite learning environment, so the player understands what process it's going to take to win when they get to Camden. But I also am not naïve to think we just won't care about winning and then get up to Camden and win. I don't think that's possible. So there has to be a bit of a middle ground there.
"You have to learn how to win and winning is important. When you expect to win, there is a different vibe in your clubhouse. When you walk on the field at 7:05 and you believe you will win every night, there is something to that. And if we were to ignore that or push that away, it would be a big mistake.
"We are about the process. Creating an elite learning environment is the top job. But it we do the right things, we should win some ballgames."
That is where winning each 90-foot increment on bases comes into play. Do the little things and bigger things like winning streaks and championships might follow.
"No question," said Moore. "I always say, you know, because not a lot of these games in the minors have huge consequences like they do in the big leagues, I always hate to see us play bad and win. If we are going to play bad, I want us to get our tail beat. If we miss a cutoff, I want it to burn us. Because I want that guy the very next night to hit the cutoff and win a one-run game. And get the guy over and get the guy in.
"That is why we do this. To develop those very moments we are talking about. How do you get a guy over? How do you hit a cutoff? How will you never take a pitch off?"
Moore managed short-season Single-A Aberdeen in 2018, going 38-37. His 2019 low Single-A Delmarva squad was one of the best in all of the minors, going 90-48. His 2021 Aberdeen team went 58-61 amid a ton of promotions where the IronBirds sent over 20 players to Double-A, where Bowie played for a league championship.
What are the O's doing well right now in player development?
"I would say there is a bunch of stuff we're doing well," he said. "That might come across as arrogant, but there are a lot of things we're doing well and the No. 1 thing we're doing well is the quality of player we're developing compared to other places. I think there is a lot of communication and collaboration among all departments, which is certainly facilitating a lot of the development you're seeing.
"But I think with all that, as I look back at maybe from a player's perspective, the one thing we do 100 percent is if you play well, you go up. No question. If you play well, you get promoted. And there is no blockage, no logjam, things like that. It sends a clear and direct message to the players that your career is in your hands."
That ESPN top 100: Catcher Adley Rutschman earned yet another No. 1 ranking when ESPN's list was released. He tops them all in that top 100. He is joined by five other Orioles with Grayson Rodriguez at No. 8, Colton Cowser at No. 74, DL Hall at No. 94, Gunnar Henderson at No. 96 and Coby Mayo at No. 98.
Miami, with seven, was the only organization with more in that ESPN top 100 than the Orioles. Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh joined the Birds with six on that list.
As a reminder the O's placed five in the Baseball America top 100, with Rutschman (No. 1), Rodriguez (No. 6), Hall (No. 52), Henderson (No. 57) and Cowser (No. 98).
They placed five in The Athletic rankings as well, with Rutschman (No. 1), Rodriguez (No. 14), Cowser (No. 52), Henderson (No. 73) and Hall (No. 81).
Here is the Zoom interview with Moore: