Look, I know it's too early to judge how good or bad the 2017 Orioles will be come April 3, when they host the Toronto Blue Jays for their season opener. That would be like judging a book by its cover or judging how good a movie is one-hour in. And truly, that isn't fair.
What is fair is to judge the process and what that process says about the other 364 days in the calendar year when it comes to the Orioles and their development of players. I mention 364 days because that leaves Dec. 8, 2017, the Orioles' version of Groundhog Day -- otherwise known in the industry as the Rule 5 draft.
When executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette took over for former president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail in November 2011, the Orioles' farm system and list of recent major leaguers were a good tick better than they had been for the previous 25-30 years. There was catcher Matt Wieters, third baseman Manny Machado, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, left-hander Zach Britton, and right-handers Jake Arrieta and Dylan Bundy. Before that, the O's also had right fielder Nick Markakis and second baseman Brian Roberts establish themselves.
