Rasmus and Young and give it a run

I say just go out and sign Rasmus and bring back Delmon. That will allow for a lot of flexibility and we take our chances with this group. Neither of the two contracts will be too rich, certainly nothing crippling if they fail. We still have a very deep pitching staff, and I think Rasmus in RF would make us even better defensively. Young is the RH bat we need on the bench. He gets some time as a RH DH, occasional LF appearance and PH deluxe. Give both Rasmus and Young a 2 year deal. Neither guy is on the wrong side of 30, they both have value and at their ages would both be tradeable if you wanted to at any point in time. Rasmus is so talented that I think he finally grows up under Buck and ends up worth way more than we sign him for. Just my two cents.

i agree. But I think it will be De Aza and Lough and down the tubes the season will go.

Ughhh no, I don't want any of them on 2 year deals.

If you can get one of them on a 1 year deal, take it and run. If not, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

I am for signing Young but I don't want Rasmus, He does not help the O's OBP problem. 124 strikeouts in 376 plate appearances. No Thanks.

I think I would be ok with rasmus. He has power, we are a power team. Wasn't there analysis recently that suggested obp may not be as valuable to one team as it would another? Obp is king, if it is a team wide strength. But having just one guy with good obp doesn't go that far. Team obp is a death of a thousand cuts. We don't have a thousand cuts. So to me, searching for just one obp guy doesn't do much. I could be totally off base with this comment, but to me, it makes sense. Our strength is power, until our lineup is overhauled, I say just keep hitting bombs, and playing good d.

I think I would be ok with rasmus. He has power, we are a power team. Wasn't there analysis recently that suggested obp may not be as valuable to one team as it would another? Obp is king, if it is a team wide strength. But having just one guy with good obp doesn't go that far. Team obp is a death of a thousand cuts. We don't have a thousand cuts. So to me, searching for just one obp guy doesn't do much. I could be totally off base with this comment, but to me, it makes sense. Our strength is power, until our lineup is overhauled, I say just keep hitting bombs, and playing good d.

I think what the O's should be looking for is a balanced offense. They have had over 200 home runs for three years in a row. And if the O's current lineup has just average years they will have 200 home runs agains next year.

The O's were 11th out of 15 AL teams in OBP last year with a 311 OBP. They lost Markakis 342 OBP and Cruz 333 OBP. This makes them about a projected 305 OBP next year with their current lineup. Rasmus' 298 OBP from last year will not help bring the O's OBP up. However if they add Aoki 350 OBP and Young's 337 OBP then the O's may be able to get back close to where their OBP was last year.

I think what the O's should be looking for is a balanced offense. They have had over 200 home runs for three years in a row. And if the O's current lineup has just average years they will have 200 home runs agains next year.

The O's were 11th out of 15 AL teams in OBP last year with a 311 OBP. They lost Markakis 342 OBP and Cruz 333 OBP. This makes them about a projected 305 OBP next year with their current lineup. Rasmus' 298 OBP from last year will not help bring the O's OBP up. However if they add Aoki 350 OBP and Young's 337 OBP then the O's may be able to get back close to where their OBP was last year.

Delmon on had a career year in OBP. I don't think I'd count on a repeat performance from such a free swinger.

I think what the O's should be looking for is a balanced offense. They have had over 200 home runs for three years in a row. And if the O's current lineup has just average years they will have 200 home runs agains next year.

The O's were 11th out of 15 AL teams in OBP last year with a 311 OBP. They lost Markakis 342 OBP and Cruz 333 OBP. This makes them about a projected 305 OBP next year with their current lineup. Rasmus' 298 OBP from last year will not help bring the O's OBP up. However if they add Aoki 350 OBP and Young's 337 OBP then the O's may be able to get back close to where their OBP was last year.

I get what you're saying. But, as our team is constructed, is one or two guys going to make a difference? We will still have poor team obp. It may be a little less poor, but poor no less. Rasmus offense was as valuable as aoki, in less games. I really just feel that a minor uptick in obp isn't that valuable to us. When you go through a lineup where everyone is working counts, drawing walks, passing the baton, it's deadly. But no matter who we sign, that will not be our lineup. So let's add some bombs to negate the bombs we lost. And keep our formula. Again, I totally understand you're point, and I'm not totally convinced I am right in this debate. But right now, gun to my head, that's where I would side.

Delmon on had a career year in OBP. I don't think I'd count on a repeat performance from such a free swinger.

I like Delmon to repeat his production of last year because Buck is picking his spots. He is going to be hitting against pitchers he has a reasonable expectation of hitting.

I get what you're saying. But, as our team is constructed, is one or two guys going to make a difference? We will still have poor team obp. It may be a little less poor, but poor no less. Rasmus offense was as valuable as aoki, in less games. I really just feel that a minor uptick in obp isn't that valuable to us. When you go through a lineup where everyone is working counts, drawing walks, passing the baton, it's deadly. But no matter who we sign, that will not be our lineup. So let's add some bombs to negate the bombs we lost. And keep our formula. Again, I totally understand you're point, and I'm not totally convinced I am right in this debate. But right now, gun to my head, that's where I would side.

To each his own. I would rather have Aoki's 350 OBP leading off than Rasmus' strikeouts, low OBP and some more homers. But that is just me.

You saw what adding Wallace did for the pitchers last year. I think we will see a different hitting approach from Coolbaugh. More OBP oriented. He is not going to change Adam Jones. But he might change Schoop and Machado.

I say just go out and sign Rasmus and bring back Delmon. That will allow for a lot of flexibility and we take our chances with this group. Neither of the two contracts will be too rich, certainly nothing crippling if they fail. We still have a very deep pitching staff, and I think Rasmus in RF would make us even better defensively. Young is the RH bat we need on the bench. He gets some time as a RH DH, occasional LF appearance and PH deluxe. Give both Rasmus and Young a 2 year deal. Neither guy is on the wrong side of 30, they both have value and at their ages would both be tradeable if you wanted to at any point in time. Rasmus is so talented that I think he finally grows up under Buck and ends up worth way more than we sign him for. Just my two cents.

Rasmus stinks and Delmon is a role player.....we will need to do better than that.

Rasmus stinks and Delmon is a role player.....we will need to do better than that.

I get what you're saying. But, as our team is constructed, is one or two guys going to make a difference? We will still have poor team obp. It may be a little less poor, but poor no less. Rasmus offense was as valuable as aoki, in less games. I really just feel that a minor uptick in obp isn't that valuable to us. When you go through a lineup where everyone is working counts, drawing walks, passing the baton, it's deadly. But no matter who we sign, that will not be our lineup. So let's add some bombs to negate the bombs we lost. And keep our formula. Again, I totally understand you're point, and I'm not totally convinced I am right in this debate. But right now, gun to my head, that's where I would side.

Power and pine tar are the two most important things in today's game.

So if you lead the league in Home Runs, you should score the most runs? You are very smart.

i agree. But I think it will be De Aza and Lough and down the tubes the season will go.

Good gosh how can you be so pessimistic? Why should the O's even play the

this coming season? You're are so sure it's in the crapper anyway.