wildcard

Seems like a good time to send Hays to AAA on rehab assignment. That's a good way to get his bat going.

Sunday's starter for the O's is TBD. Suarez or Means. The choice is really about who Elias/Hyde want to start vs the Yankees. Means may be good enough to beat the A's saving Suarez for the first game vs the Yankees. GRod, Kremer, and Burnes could follow. They probably don't want Irvin pitching vs the Yankees because his career OPS vs them is 924. The other consideration is that if Bradish pitches well in Norfolk tonight he could be available to pitch vs the Yankees. But having his first game back in the majors vs the Yankees may not be the best idea. Pitching vs the Reds is no picnic but its probably easier than facing the Yankees. That brings up who is in the rotation if Means and Bradish are both back. Irvin is an easy move to the pen but that still leaves Burnes, GRod, Bradish, Kremer and Means who are mainly starters. Suarez has relieved in the past but how do you take a guy with a 0.00 ERA out of the rotation? There are things yet to happen including Means, Bradish and Suarez effectiveness in their up coming starts.

Norfolk kinda short on infielders. Might see Cook promotion from the Baysox.

O's play 10 games in a row between April 26th and May 5th. I would think no position player (not even Gunnar) plays all those games. Everybody gets a day off sometime in that stretch is my guess. That could make room for Kjerstad to be in the lineup almost like a regular.

Tell me how everyone is playing in a month when this decision may be made and I will have a better chance on having an answer.

They are paying him 3.325m. He will get a lot of chances.

Its fluid. For those that are not established MLB pitchers whoever pitches well continues to get more opportunities. Options play a role.

Burnes probably gets 7 years/35m per year. That is 245m with a risk factor that some years he will not pitch at all due to injury. I would pass on that.

The importance of 2019 is that it shows that Means does not need high velocity to be effective with his pitch mix.

This is what I found: Rangers will extend rehab for RHP Jonathan Hernandez Dallas News https://www.dallasnews.com › Sports › Rangers Jul 1, 2022 — Up to three 10-day extensions are permitted for shoulder and elbow surgery patients, but must be approved by MLB and the Players Association.

There was health information that I did not have when I made the statement. I didn't realize that missing a playoff game due to soreness would result in such a long recovery. Of course he would have to show he is healthy before signing him to an extension. But a 2025 rotation of GRod, Bradish, Kremer, Means and Povich is still possible if John recovers.

I was and still am a Means defender. Velocity is not John's game. In 2019 his average 4 seamer was 91.7 mph. But his changeup was 80.9 mph and his curve was 77 mph according to Statcast. John went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA that year on a bad team. It's the different in the speeds of the pitches that makes John effective. According to the information I found about a Texas pitcher in 2022 coming off TJ surgery the O's can and I think probably will apply to MLB for another month of rehab in 10 day increments. John's comeback story is far from over IMO.

Rangers will extend rehab for RHP Jonathan Hernandez Dallas News https://www.dallasnews.com › Sports › Rangers Jul 1, 2022 — Up to three 10-day extensions are permitted for shoulder and elbow surgery patients, but must be approved by MLB and the Players Association. --------- This is what I think happens to Means if he is not ready for the majors after 2 more starts.

Suarez is the same guy that gave up 5 runs in 4.1 innings to Scranton/Wilkes Barres on April 12th and 5 earned runs in 5 innings to Durham on March 31st. The Twins have the 28th best offense in baseball right now with several players on the IL. Love what Suarez did yesterday but consistency start to start has not been his M.O. this spring. Hope for the best but know the worst might happen.

Means has until the 30th to continue on his rehab. If he is not ready he can be activated and optioned to the minors with his permission. I doubt John wants to come up and bomb so I think he can work something out with Elias if he and the team feel he is not ready. He could pitch at Bowie and hang with the Orioles team the rest of the week. They are paying him 3.325M no matter where he pitches. It just may take some time for him to get back to where he was after a long layout.