The next milestone: 50 wins.

That 3-4 record is largely because of Kimbrel. I’m not a big believer in the 1-run luck theory, especially now that we have the BS ghost runner. 

I have a question for you and I don’t mean for this to come across as accusatory (unless it is true and I don’t know if it is). Are you an Oriole fan or more of a “fan”/detractor of Jackson Holliday? I ask because you seem to be very focused on the struggles of this one 20 year old player. However, last week, we had a tremendous pitching performance by our entire starting staff and to my knowledge (I don’t recall a single comment from you about that). Maybe you did and I missed it? Which is very possible. Or maybe you just weren’t on here and we’re busy with other stuff? I get it we all have lives. I bring this up because I have noticed that you have very little to say/contribute regarding all of the positives regarding this team who has the second most wins in the Majors. And I was curious as to why that is? (No judgment. Just a curiosity.)

Saw some clips of him last year and was interesting. 

2024 is the year of the pitcher for the O's.  DeLeon is a dude and "chalk" for guesses.  Forret can pop.  Povich isn't on most (any?) top 100, but he's been fringy for the past year+.  He's trending toward a top 50 type. He won't be on lists, but Braxton Bragg has a 14+ k/9 and a 1.69 bb/9.  Maybe a BP nugget next year depending on how he’s doing it. Willem is doing things as a C.  Beavers has been fringy and has been strong so far.  Both probably need a bit more. FCL is too soon to guess... but Almeyda and Liranzo are interesting.  Still a top 5 system I think.  I don't know other organizations as well, but (a good shot at) 3 top 15 guys carries a lot of weight.  Even "losing" Cowser/Ortiz and maybe HK, they are back-filled by good pitchers who weren't really on national radars.

In your opinion what has made Jackson Holliday the number rated prospect in all of MLB? I ask because if you believe in that valuation/talent profile/projection, that is not a player at age 20 who you say he’s only average here so he must go there (where who knows how he’ll be, but oh well on to the next).  Mookie Betts is the absolute rarity in his ability to move all over the baseball field and excel. How many other guys have done that and can realistically do that? I would bet very few. I’m not sure if that is the wisest call to make that the standard for anyone, let alone your most prized minor league asset.

As long you’ve been a fan of the O’s, as impressive as Mayo’s offensive stats are, you have to know that those Minor League numbers do not carry a direct one-to-one correlation to the Bigs. Despite the gaudy numbers, there is no guarantee that he wouldn’t struggle initially with the O’s (like so many other recent prospects have). Is there any downside in allowing him to continue to work on his defense at AAA? Since that appears to be the area of his game that is not “big league ready”?

So am I reading those suggestions correctly? They think Mountcastle is either worth a Tier One Division One starter... or a Tier 2 Division 2 starter? I vote for the first 😉