Say O!

My opinion in principle depends on the duration of the FA contract. For the Orioles as currently constructed, the roster will be inexpensive over next 3 years with most premium guys either pre-arb or early arb years. That would make me lean toward FA signing of elite SP this upcoming offseason. Now last winter we saw only Nola receive long duration contract at 7yrs (I’m putting Yamamoto & Ohtani in separate category given the JP marketing angle). The industry seemed reticent to give $$$ and length to the other premium SPs (Snell, Montgomery) but was this Boras driven? Would the premium SPs be willing to sign 3-4 yr deals at higher AAVs or instead play out essentially one year deals? Example — would a guy like Burnes go for 4/175M? the market dynamics will be interesting this upcoming offseason with demand (which big market clubs pursuing — Cubs, LAA, SFG, NYY?) and supply (Burnes, Fried as FAs and Montgomery, Snell, Cole as potential opt outs). As well as Boras negotiating factor.

I found it strange that the splitter was barely used vs MIL (<10% usage) when it was Kremer’s best pitch vs PIT (25% usage, 46% WHIFF rate). Curious to see Kremer’s pitch mix tonight vs KCR.

I would counter that he’s a different guy than prior MLB and KBO. The O’s pitching lab got him a few more MPH and movement on the fastball and tweaked slider into more of a cutter. Seems that is at minimum solid RP option given the whiff rates. Fangraphs has historical info from MLB and KBO, screen capped here:

Back to Suarez… Loved how it seemed the managerial staff and teammates were thrilled for Albert. Several spoke of how impressed they were of him as a person, making a positive impression during the Spring on how appreciative and humble Albert was for another shot at MLB opportunity. Gotta root for guys like him. His combo of 96mph velocity and horizontal riding movement on the fastball was fun to watch yesterday. While he did sprinkle in a curveball and changeup, he was 63% 4 seamer and 23% cutter yesterday. Can that basically 2 pitch mix play as SP over the long-term? Even if doesn’t stick as a SP, feels like Suarez could be a factor in the BP, whether MIRP or leverage SIRP. He’s a bit of unique case, with only 1yr MLB service time and long INTL gap. So how does his service time factor for future years? Essentially arb/pre-arb meaning the O’s retain rights for several more years?

This. I think the early book on Holliday is to keep feeding him changeups. Jackson has taken several borderline ones that umps have called strikes and others he has waved over the top of them. So I would tell him to sit on changeup and hopefully he can tattoo a couple and begin altering pitcher perceptions.

Today’s fangraphs article on Kimbrel’s early season dominance. Ben Clemens touches on Kimbrel’s historical numbers before dissecting his 2024 pitches, where Kimbrel is throwing his breaking ball with more sweep and less drop than prior iterations. Notably the swinging strike% for his curveball has dropped off dramatically, but Clemens points out that several have been called strikes and fooled the batters.

and he’s looked great defensively so far too.

Yeah was top notch closer stuff today striking out the side. He has been nails so far this season, glad we signed him.

Burnes struggling with location today, but man velo is up to 98mph on TV gun.

Brewers with the high school small ball and the Os morph into RedSox defensively.

Love the flip shades on Sunday afternoon by Westburg. Classic 70s/80s look and sporting the stache too.

Brewers exploited Holliday there, who should have charged the throw and gotten the play at the plate. Learning experience.

I noticed during both Fri and Sat games that the Brewers catchers would come set and flash receiving position with their glove in one location (like they were calling for a pitch up or a pitch in) prior to the pitch being thrown and then once pitcher motion began would move to second location where pitch would ultimately be delivered. So my suspicion is that Brewers players (Sanchez, Adames, etc) were either (a) peeking back at McCann to see location, or (b) getting signal from runner on base. I think it was the former that set McCann off on Adames because he saw stealing a peak back at the glove. Some of this could be mitigated if McCann actually called better pitch mix and moved in/out….to me McCann was basically setting up outside almost exclusively and would just vary up/down. And he would very early set his target for the pitchers.

Now back to 92mph but good movement and bottom of zone.

Yes, TV gun was showing 94mph