Graham: "We are absolutely one of the premier development systems in baseball"

It was a question that took only a few words to ask, but a long, passionate and well-thought out answer was provided.

I asked Orioles director of player development Brian Graham this week to provide his take on the Orioles taking a fall in several publications' organizational rankings.

Last year the Orioles farm system was rated No. 10 by ESPN.com and No. 12 by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus.

This winter, the Orioles have dropped to No. 22 by ESPN.com and Baseball Prospectus. Baseball America ranks the Orioles at No. 28.

"I'm not sure what the criteria is for evaluation when a publication ranks your farm system first or 28th," Graham said. "I do know we have a great development system in terms of teaching, coaching, discipline and developing players. We are absolutely one of the premier development systems in baseball.

"I also know factually that we are an extremely productive farm system. And that is what every major league team wants, is a productive farm system."

Graham went on to point out how the O's farm has produced many players for the big league team. Players that helped the Orioles win 96 games last year, win the club's first American League East title since 1997 by 12 games and advance to the American League Championship Series. This group has helped the Orioles to two playoff appearances in three seasons and more wins than any other AL East team since 2012.

"If you look at our starting catcher (Matt Wieters), he was drafted and developed (by the Orioles)," Graham said. "A Gold Glove catcher. Our backup catcher (Caleb Joseph), who filled in as our starter last year, was drafted and developed and he led all of Major League Baseball in caught stealings last year.

"Our third baseman (Manny Machado) was drafted and developed and he won a Platinum Gold Glove as well making the All-Star game (in 2013).

"Our closer, (Zach) Britton, was drafted and developed. Kevin Gausman, one of our starting pitchers, was drafted and developed. A really good bullpen guy (Brian) Matusz, he was a draft and development guy. Chris Tillman was actually pitching Double-A and Triple-A here and was part of our development system before becoming an All-Star."

Tillman, went 6-7 with a 5.26 ERA in the Single-A California League in his last 20 starts in the Mariners organization before his trade to the Orioles in February 2008. In his first year in the Baltimore organization, he went 11-4 with a 3.18 ERA for Double-A Bowie in 2009.

"Our starting shortstop (J.J. Hardy) was acquired by trading a minor league player," Graham said. "Bud Norris, another starter, was acquired by trading two minor league players. Brad Brach was added by trading a minor league player. (Alejandro) De Aza was acquired by trading two minor league players. (Travis) Snider was acquired by trading two minor league players.

"Andrew Miller, who was a huge part of our late-season success last year, was added by trading a minor league player. Even Miguel Gonzalez was a minor league spring training invite, who started in Triple-A for a short period of time. He's been a huge part of our major league success and was a minor league spring invite."

So while the Orioles fell in the organizational rankings, they rose in the AL East standings and the farm system had a lot to do with that. It sent homegrown products to the big leagues and/or provided trade chips that brought talent to Baltimore.

"So, I mean, to say our minor league system has been productive is an understatement," Graham said. "Our minor league system has been extremely productive. Our development system is really good. It is easily one of the best development systems in baseball. On top of that, we've drafted good players with the picks that we've had.

"So when you look at how a team is rated first or 28th, I'm not sure what the criteria is for that evaluation process. I just know we have an extremely productive minor league system and our big league club has a strong, strong influence of drafted and developed players.

"Even if you look at our starting five pitchers - Norris, Tillman, Gonzalez, Gausman - four of our starting pitchers have an influence from our minor league system. How many teams in baseball have four that have an influence from the minor league system?"

I mentioned to Graham that you could even go back to the Erik Bedard trade, which brought five players, including Tillman and Adam Jones to the Orioles. The O's traded a pitcher in Bedard that they drafted in the sixth round in 1999. Bedard brought back a haul that included two of the club's current best players.

"Also Nick Markakis, who was such a big part of our organization for so long, was a drafted and developed player," Graham said. "In all honestly, I'm not resentful or angry or anything. I'm very calm with my explanation of how good we are.

"We are good because we have really good coaches and managers. We have a really good system in place and we have a strong influence from Buck (Showalter), Brady (Anderson) and Dan (Duquette). They have a strong influence on the minor league system.

"Our development system is tremendous. We do a really good job of making our players be the very best they can mentally, physically and fundamentally. Of bridging the gap between a player's potential and a player's performance. I'm proud of what we are doing.

"I challenge any major league team to match up with us in how productive we've been in helping the big league club get to where they are."

As a final note to this story, John Manuel of Baseball America, told me he agrees with Graham.

"I think their farm system has contributed in a big way," Manuel said. "Guys like (Matt) Wieters and (Manny) Machado turned into guys that led that team to win the AL East and get to the playoffs twice in three years.

"They have re-established this franchise as a winning franchise. In my mind, the scouting and player development really did their jobs well."

Manuel pointed out it is hard to have both a highly ranked farm system and be a big winner in the majors.

"The Giants just won their third World Series in five years with some homegrown players, but their farm system is No. 25 right now," Manuel said. "It is very difficult to build and win at the same time. Prospect rankings are nice but we don't give out any rings for it."