masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgI recently asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter to fill out Baseball America’s Best Tools Survey, which he did without complaint. At least, while I was still in the room. And he got it back to me before the deadline.

Each manager was asked to vote for players in his own league.

The Orioles were well-represented in the survey, including Chris Davis, who finished first in the AL for “best power” and third for “most exciting player.” Adam Jones finished first for “best outfield arm” and…I recently asked Orioles manager Buck Showalter to fill out Baseball America’s Best Tools Survey, which he did without complaint. At least, while I was still in the room. And he got it back to me before the deadline.

Each manager was asked to vote for players in his own league.

The Orioles were well-represented in the survey, including Chris Davis, who finished first in the AL for “best power” and third for “most exciting player.” Adam Jones finished first for “best outfield arm” and second for “best defensive outfielder.” J.J. Hardy placed first for “best defensive shortstop.”

Matt Wieters was second for “best defensive catcher” and Manny Machado was second for “best defensive third baseman.” Nick Markakis was third for “best hit-and-run artist.”

Showalter finished tied for second with Oakland’s Bob Melvin for “best manager.”

I tweeted a link to the list, which appears below, and fans immediately jumped on Machado finishing second to the Rangers’ Adrian Beltre. Machado has been tremendous this season, but Beltre owns four Gold Gloves. He’s hardly a bad choice. And Machado did finish ahead of Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria.

BEST HITTER
1. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2. Mike Trout, Angels
3. Joe Mauer, Twins

BEST POWER
1. Chris Davis, Orioles
2. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
3. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays

BEST BUNTER
1. Brett Gardner, Yankees
2 (tie) Elvis Andrus, Rangers
2 (tie) Erick Aybar, Angels

BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT
1. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2. Joe Mauer, Twins
3. David Ortiz, Red Sox

BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST
1. Erick Aybar, Angels
2. Jamey Carroll, Twins
3. Nick Markakis, Orioles

BEST BASERUNNER
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
3. Rajai Davis, Blue Jays

FASTEST BASERUNNER
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Rajai Davis, Blue Jays
3. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox

MOST EXCITING PLAYER
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
3. Chris Davis, Orioles

BEST PITCHER
1. Max Scherzer, Tigers
2. Felix Hernandez, Mariners
3. Matt Moore, Rays

BEST FASTBALL
1. Max Scherzer, Tigers
2. Justin Verlander, Tigers
3. Kelvin Herrera, Royals

BEST CURVEBALL
1. Clay Buchholz, Red Sox
2. Justin Verlander, Tigers
3. Felix Hernandez, Mariners

BEST SLIDER
1. Chris Sale, White Sox
2. Max Scherzer, Tigers
3. Yu Darvish, Rangers

BEST CHANGEUP
1. James Shields, Royals
2. Felix Hernandez, Mariners
3. Fernando Rodney, Rays

BEST CONTROL
1. Bartolo Colon, Athletics
2. Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
3. Felix Hernandez, Mariners

BEST PICKOFF MOVE
1. Andy Pettitte, Yankees
2. James Shields, Royals
3. Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays

BEST RELIEVER
1. Mariano Rivera, Yankees
2. Jesse Crain, White Sox
3. Greg Holland, Royals

BEST DEFENSIVE CATCHER
1. Salvador Perez, Royals
2. Matt Wieters, Orioles
3. Joe Mauer, Twins

BEST DEFENSIVE 1B
1. Eric Hosmer, Royals
2. James Loney, Rays
3. Justin Smoak, Mariners

BEST DEFENSIVE 2B
1. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
2. Robinson Cano, Yankees
3. Gordon Beckham, White Sox

BEST DEFENSIVE 3B
1. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
2. Manny Machado, Orioles
3. Evan Longoria, Rays

BEST DEFENSIVE SS
1. J.J. Hardy, Orioles
2. Yunel Escobar, Rays
3. Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians

BEST INFIELD ARM
1. Adrian Beltre, Rangers
2. Manny Machado, Orioles
3. Jose Reyes, Blue Jays

BEST DEFENSIVE OUTFIELDER
1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Adam Jones, Orioles
3. Austin Jackson, Tigers

BEST OUTFIELD ARM
1. Adam Jones, Orioles
2. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
3. Josh Reddick, Athletics

BEST MANAGER
1. Jim Leyland, Tigers
2 (tie) Bob Melvin, Athletics
2 (tie) Buck Showalter, Orioles