Michael Pineda headed for AAA? (Or UPDATE DL) He got Pounded again by the Phillies

It's like everything I've wanted in a ballclub and an owner at once.  Amazing.

Or Basallo.

Melewski. New owner David Rubenstein has agreed to be the “guest splasher” in section 86 for Friday night’s game against the Diamondbacks. He’s filling in for Mr. Splash, as promoted on the Orioles’ social media accounts.

I have heard that about the batters’ eye, but I’ve also heard the ball doesn’t travel well there.   Also, I’ve read that the lighting there is poor.  So it’s several things.  None of which bothered Jackson Holliday.  😎

I've kind of heard the same thing. It's not just a lack of power that regresses in Aberdeen, but the K-BB ratio have typically been among the worse for the players who eventually made the big leagues (Gunnar, Adley, Cowser, Westburg) and had success.

I'm a fan of Koby's and I think he's done a great job down there under some difficult circumstances. I'm hopeful the new training facility down there will help get more talent to sign with the Orioles. Saying that, I agree that we need to start seeing more guys out of that program able to compete well once they hit the states. I know some got upset at more just [providing facts about the players who are failing when they get to A-ball but it's just the truth. Outside of Basallo and now Bencosme to a lesser extent, none of the international guys have had any real success once they hit Delmarva. So it's one of two things at this point. Kobe and his team are missing a lot (I haven't researched to see how others teams Latin American players are doing) or they are not being prepared well to compete at full season ball levels. It's really weird how they can show pretty good plate discipline and some pop in the FCL, then look like they have no business facing Caroline League pitchers. And before the excuse is, "They're young," they're not that much younger than the other teams that are beating them up.  There was a lot of money spent on Maikol Hernandez, Braylin Tavera and Luis Almeyda and while the book is not finished on Tavera and Almeyda by any means, they are going to have to show something here soon. Good young players with major league promise typically can compete with older players. Basallo has done it. The special ones do.  It's a little weird that Liranzo hasn't played the first two games either. Either he's banged up or they just don't think he's ready to compete against FCL pitching because he should be a priority play.  Now it's not time to give up on any of these guys (minus Hernandez is just a miss) I mentioned and Thomas Sosa has hit a little bit and is competing though his K's are pretty high. It's just time for some of these guys to step up.

This discussion brings up a point I floated yesterday about Wells or Kremer being a risky option for late relief because of the HR ball. Now I wonder, is that true or false? A run is a run is  run. Seems like ERA might be a better litmus test for picking a closer (or any pitching role except extra innings, where it does seem obvious that high K rate is best).