Tony-OH

That to me is the biggest thing for him being a starter long term. He does seem to get dangerous around 70-75 pitches and the command goes. He's getting some early count outs that have helped him get into the 6th inning. When he doesn't get them, he may end up a guy who struggles to get out the 5th. IF, and that's a big IF, if he can work on back to back days and show he can warm up quickly and be effective, he would be a real weapon in the pen, but for now, I'm ok running him out every 5 days until he shows he's not capable of working into the 6th inning more time than not.

Wait, how do you assess if a player is ready or not if not for how they perform at the major league level? How do you assess that a player was not rushed when he's putting up historically bad numbers to start off a career? Now I agree with you that Elias has a better feel for when he should go back down or not, but I don't think Holliday has proven anybody wrong who thinks he was rushed. His performance so far if anything has proven them right. Can he right the ship and prove them wrong, sure, but so far, anyone who says he was absolutely ready have been proven wrong. He's not been just unlucky, he's been terrible at every measurable attribute we have for hitting. There is also a misnomer that players can not learn anything else at a previous level. That's just wrong. Having statcast data now shows there is major league caliber stuff in AAA, it's just often not consistent. Plus, the ability to just relax a little work on the things the major league coaches have him working on in a less stressful environment can also be a plus. He has 147 AA PAs under his belt that he put up a respectable .899 OPS, but he's also a kid who had a 105 PA stretch last year in High-A ball where he put up a .183/.362/.232/.594 slash line where he had two extra base hits and basically only got on base by walking against bad command High-A ball pitchers. Holliday has a tremendous amount of talent, and he's going to be fine in the long run, but I disagree that sending him back to AAA will do him no good. Will having him set more futility records to start a major league career be helpful? If we get swept in a series and he goes 0-for does that mean he's now hurting the team? I'm ok with leaving it up to Elias/Hyde to make that decision, but I would have zero issues if they sent him back to reset for bit.

What does this have to do with my statements? Are you excited over his start? It's ok to be disappointed in a player's start and not give up on him at all. I just will never understand why some of you feel like you need to say "there's nothing to see here" without providing any context or statistical backing. What the hell is up with the snarky lol? That's the kind of BS that pisses me off. Basically, you are showing your fanboy status when do stuff like this. This is the Hangout. we make observations and then we back things up with pertinent stats or information. If you wanna be all fanboy and "lol" posts that give facts because the fanboy in you wants to say, "there's nothing to see here," save your typing. That kind of stuff really rubs me wrong especially when I deserve a lot more respect than you loling a factual post. If you want to be snarky, don't do it my posts. That's disrespectful and BS.

But he's 82nd percentile in barrel percentage and 92nd percentile in Whiff. I saw some some high EVs that were hit at 60 degree angles or more which were pop ups. I'm not saying he's a long term piece. I'd need to see it for longer than two starts, but I like the stuff overall, especially if he can get his curveball over more often to give another look to the change and cutter.

Let's hope that's an issue when he's available. I could see Hays doing an extended minor league rehab if the team is doing well and everyone is hitting.

Certainly hard to sit O'Hearn with the way he's been hitting against righties. But Kjerstad doesn't have major split issues so he may be able to take some of those lefty PAs.

I think the difference here is we see the whiffs on the stuff. That's a great sign for continual success. I don't expect him to keep throwing up zeros for entire starts of course, but I do like the stuff. It's really going to come down to whether his command holds up. Gotta like what we see so far.

After a slow start through his first two series, Sosa had a nice series against Down East Wood Ducks. He's still swinging and missing a little too much, but the 5 walks and 5 doubles were good to see. So far he's had the best start out of the International top prospects outhitting both Tavera and Arias (who is now on IL).

I agree that 1B would be his last positional option, just saying that he "could" play there if needed. But I agree, he will probably DH or play RF mostly.

The question is, can he be productive playing just 1-2 times a week? We don't know because he's never really been in that role. Not everyone can stay productive in a part-time role. I think the Orioles will find a way to get him in the lineup 4-5 days a week. He can play corner outfield (except I would not play him in LF in Camden), DH and 1B. He still does not look great at 1B, but he can be serviceable if it means getting his bat into the lineup. That's a decent amount of ways to keep him and others fresh. Santander probably is at risk to sit a bit more than usual, but this also gives the Orioles an opportunity to have a very left-handed heavy lineup against righties at times, with Mountcastle sitting. The Orioles left-handed heavy lineup could be: 1. Henderson - SS 2. Rutschman - C 3. O'Hearn - 1B 4. Santander - RF 5. Cowser - LF 6. Mullins - CF 7. Westburg - 3B (R) 8. Kjerstad - DH 9. Holliday - 2B Imagine having to face that lineup and then have Mountcastle, McCann, Urias and Mateo for pinch running as a bench. Now don't get me wrong, Mountcastle is not going to be benched all that much, but Kjerstad could give Santander, Cowser, Mullins (with Cowser moving to CF), O'Hearn, Mountcastle, and Rutschman when he DHing a day off. That's a lot of ways to keep him fresh and get his bat in the lineup.

Did Melanie get a head wound? Looks like a World War II bandage on her head.

And no, I could not go to bed.

Damn.... I'll take it...

Eh, Kimbrel is choking.... Shit command tonight.

Yep, no bueno. I'm going to bed. Either I wake up and the Orioles won or a terrible, terrible loss after being up 4-0 which will be easier to take tomorrow morning.