MLB Prospect Watch

Link: Ackley and Matusz Scouting Reports

We already know a lot about Dustin Ackley and Brian Matusz, but the guys over at Project Prospect have another scouting report on the Mariners' and Orioles' top prospects (respectively).  Among other things, they don't believe Ackley will stick at second base (despite reports that he's doing well), and a breakdown of Matusz pitch selection during his stint in the majors.

Link: O's sign Aussie Southpaw

The Baltimore Orioles have signed 19-year old left-handed pitcher Chris Lamb out of Australia, reports Dean Jones, Jr. of the Baltimore Sun.  The 6' 1" 172-lb pound pitcher had an unimpressive 0-2 record and a 7.00 ERA this year in Australia, so the Orioles must have seen something in his repertoire of pitches to have signed him.

Link: O's Prospects Improving Defense

The Baltimore Orioles future at the corner infield positions include 3B Josh Bell and 1B Brandon Snyder, but as Ben Badler of Baseball America reports, the defensive futures of these two players are not nearly the question marks they once were.

Link: O's Bell to Continue Switch Hitting

Despite speculation that he might have to give up hitting right-handed (due largely to his .193 batting average against LHP this season), Baltimore Orioles 3B prospect Josh Bell, acquired from the Dodgers this season in exchange for George Sherrill, will continue at the craft, reports Roch Kubatko for Baseball America.

Arizona Fall League Highlights from 10/13

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) kicked off yesterday and should once again provide us with a glimpse into the not to distant future of Major League Baseball.  Here are some of the highlights from Day 1:

• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim C Hank Conger went 3-5 with 3 RBI's leading the Mesa Solar Sox to a 10-6 victory over the Phoenix Desert Dogs.  Florida Marlins OF Mike Stanton chipped in as well, going 1-3 with 2 BB's and a SB in the win.   The Phoenix hitting attack was led by Baltimore Orioles 1B Brandon Snyder who was 2-5 with 2 RBI's and while Washington Nationals 1B Chris Marrerro also chipped in with a HR.
• The star in the Surprise Rafters 17-4 drubbing of Peoria Javelinas was New York Mets 1B Ike Davis, who led the Rafters with 6 RBI's and a HR as part of a 4-hit day.  St. Louis Cardinals C Bryan Anderson also had 3 hits and scored 3 runs for the Rafters, while New York Yankees P Ian Kennedy threw 4 innings, striking out 4 and giving up only 1 run.
• Atlanta Braves OF Jason Heyward picked up right where he left off, going 2-5 with a 2B in his AFL debut for the Peoria Saguaros, but it wasn't enough, as the Saguaros were defeated by the Scottsdale Scorpions by a score of 8-4.  The Scorpions hitting attack included a HR by Philadelphia Phillies OF Domonic Brown and 2 RBI's by San Francisco Giants SS Brandon Crawford.  The Saguaros did, however, receive two innings of work from Atlanta Braves P Mike Minor, the 7th overall pick in this year's draft.  Minor gave up one hit and 1 unearned run, while walking two.