Tony-OH

I won't even charge them for the idea!

No doubt I'm going to hate the patch. Those unis were awesome no doubt. I'd love to see that retro look used more often. Hell, I'd still like to see them bring back the all orange unis for a game or two.

I don't understand why Elias would need to "spin" his selection at the time. You don't take a kid 1-1 and give him a record bonus if you don't think he can stick at SS long term. As for misjudging him, I think what we saw last season was on par with the reports. He's move well enough (although he does not have elite quickness), has an average arm that might be slightly below average at the big league level right now, but understands the game and is smart defender overall. I'm not sure I understand the "The development of other players could have changed the plan.". Are you talking about Gunnar showing that he can be a solid average defensive SS? Even if Gunnar has shown that, how does that affect Holliday's ability to play there? I mean, the Orioles might like a Westburg-3B, Gunnar-SS, Holliday-2B infield alignment best at some point this season, but that doesn't necessarily mean Holliday couldn't play SS. It just means the Orioles may decide that's their best defensive alignment with those three players. The one thing I try to remember though is that while Gunnar is a solid average defensive SS right now, he very well could be a plus defender at 3B. As he gets older, and if Holliday shows he can be an average defensive SS, that still very well may end up his defensive home.

No doubt he's the type of kid you bet on to improve because of his love of the game, work ethic, and off season facilities he has available to him at the Holliday compound. I think also people forget that overall, he's a pretty solid defensive player already. Like any 19-year old in his first full minor league season, he has things he needs to get better at offensively (needs to hit less balls on the ground) and defensively (arm strength, getting his body in the right position for throws). I have little doubt when it's all said and done that Holliday will end up at least an average defender at SS, but he could be an above average of even plus defender at 2B. Then again, you can say that about most players who play SS.

I think we'll see more power from Westburg this year as he settles in, and the fact that he can play average to slightly above average 2B and 3B gives him so nice value. Ortiz hits the ball on the ground a little too much and while he can drive the ball, he's not going to be a real home run guy like Westburg should be. But Ortiz gets the defensive value edge significantly because he's going to be a plus defender at any infield position you put him at. I love the fact that Ortiz is going to be a great defensive shortstop and I think he'll outhits his zips projections (.247/.296/.366/.663) but he may be more of a .700-.720 OPS guy in the big leagues with a .750 OPS upside. If he comes close to that offensively, when you combine that with his defense, he's going to be a consistent 2-4 WIN player. I'm just happy for him because starting your career at 26-years old is a bit late, but at least he finally knows he's going to have an everyday job this year with the White Sox. Like you, I'll be rooting for him as well when he's not playing the Orioles.

The trading of Ortiz makes Holliday the only everyday backup to Gunnar at SS. Sure, Mateo is still here but we've seen that his bat just can't hold up, so if God forbid, something happens to Gunnar, I think we'd see Holliday as the everyday SS. I'm looking forward to watching Holliday play defense this year to see the improvements. He's got the tools to be a very good shortstop though the arm strength he showed on some throws suggests he might be better suited to 2B. Sayin that, I would have said the same thing about Volpe with the Yankees with his 28th percentile arm strength but he still ended up a slightly above average defensive SS last year (1 OAA, 58th percentile). I do think Holliday has a slightly better arm though.

Reading Bowden talk trade ideas shows why he's not running a team anymore. Good Lord was he off base all off season on these Orioles trade scenarios. TGFE (Thank God For Elias)

I'm digging the new "Creme/offwhite" colors on the uniform. At least I think I do. lol. Still not a fan of that giant Nike swoosh on there. As for the hat with the white panel and old Orioles logo, yick. Not for me. I still think the City connect hat but with the B being orange and perhaps an orange bill or orange stitching would be a great Friday night hat.

I think I did something on him how the Dodgers gave him a cutter and it changed him. I'm worried though that he may not be better than what we have since he's due some regression at 36 years old and has been up and down a lot in his career.

I like De Leon but that would be very, very aggressive for him. I'd rather they take the time to see if they can develop him as a starter for sure.

7th, behind Ortiz. Bradfield is still a bit of a wildcard due to the lack of pop so I'd slot him ahead of him. Ortiz and Hall would be very close though for me.

I think we all agree if that were the criteria. Of course I'm talking about Elias' offseason and improving the team. Burnes and Kimbrel gives him A- for me so far.

Yep, I've been a fan of him throwing that more than his slider for awhile now and he finally started to do it last year. The slider can be good but it's inconsistent. I haven't given up on Baumann at all, just that he's a guy without any options so he needs to figure it out this year. Can he take step forward? Potentially. But I still don't see the wipe out pitch that would make him an impact reliever.

Baumann would be a guy I'd be willing to package because he's out of options. I guess at this point though, who would be willing to move an impact reliever? I know Elias has to know about his bullpen and no matter what he says publically, I'm sure he understands the need for another impact arm. He may just have to hope that Baumann, Wells, Webb or Tate step up.

I agree. I think that's the last piece for me this off season to feel like it was an A+ off season.

Exactly. I know you've seen me call McDermott a right-handed version of Hall because they are very similar. McDermott though has less health concerns and started to make some changes in AAA that made it more promising that he MAY be able to stick as a starter still. Saying that, I still think the bullpen may end up his best role in the big leagues and he will pitch at 25-years old this year.

McDermott would be a guy I'd really be interested in seeing in that role but I really think the Orioles want to develop him still as a starter. McDermott has that swing and miss stuff, but there are also command concerns still so not sure you'd want to start him off in that high impact role, even if they did convert him for this season.

I think all of these guys have talent and can part of the pen, but the guy I'm talking about is that elite setup guy. The Orioles best bullpen was in 2014 after they acquired Andrew Miller. The Britton, Miller, O'Day trio made the games shorter. With the Orioles rotation, if they had that kind of bullpen or something similar, I'd feel really confident. But right now, while there are talented guys, who do we absolutely good about when they come into the game now that Bautista is shelved for a year? Kimbrel should be good, and I know Hyde/Orioles like to match up as much as possible with platoon advantages, but I think everyone would prefer to have that guy you can bring in during the 7th or 8th inning or in a crucial spot and get the big strikeout. I don't know who that is right now.

Agreed, and I think we may see more moves. From inside the system, I didn't mention him but Keagan Gillies will most likely get a NRI to spring training and if he's pitching well in AAA could get a call. Obviously McDermott and Povich come into play as well if a need arises but I doubt we'll see them before the second half unless significant injuries occur, especially since they are currently starting pitching depth.

Perhaps as the season moves on and there is a need, yes. Out of spring training they're both heading for Norfolk's rotation. As for finding the next Coulombe, that is something Elias has been very good at and he might be comfortable trying to do that again. But, there is something very comfortable about having that guy in our bullpen who you can bring in against the heart of the order in the 7th or 8th inning and know if he's on his game, they are not scoring. They also need more strikeout guys for those extra innings with the runners starting at 2B.

We're discussing 2024 though. Just because a player is "backed up" doesn't mean you trade him away for nothing. But they are two major league ready players that don't have clear everyday roles in 2024.

https://orioleshangout.com/2024/02/03/taking-a-look-at-the-bullpen-now-that-hall-is-gone/ Personally, I'd like to see them get another high impact reliever.

Right. The system full of prospects are nothing more than commodities to be used now to improve your major league team's chances of winning a World Series each year. Elias still has some backed up players with Cowser, Kjerstad and Norby having no clear everyday job in the big leagues though I do expect that Kjerstad will replace O'Hearn at DH and play some RF this year. The key will be for how Elias uses his commodities to upgrade his roster. Interestingly, he's only traded two of his draft picks (Hernaiz and Ortiz) for pitching help so far. I'm a little surprised he didn't trade for a young shutdown reliever because even though the bullpen looks good, without Bautista I'd like to have another young stud out there, especially now that he moved Hall.

Perhaps not, but let's face it, the payroll is going to be pretty low for awhile until Adley/Gunnar/Bradish/GRod need to be resigned/extended (which they probably won't do either). I think it's unknown how much of a splash he wants to make or how Rubenstein will spend yet. We don't know what this market is able to support salary wise because we've been Angelosed for so long. I do think we are a small-mid market area, but MLB is flushed with TV money and the Orioles get their healthy share that mostly have gone into the Angelos family's coffers. Why else would a team be valued at $1.7 Billion if it wasn't making a lot of money and have the capability to make a lot of money? I expect Burnes to test the free agency market and most likely the Orioles will be outbid by LA or NY, but with new owners, I now give the Orioles an outside shot to keep him. Something prior to the ownership change was not even remotely a possibility.

If Burnes has a good year, he will be a great test for the new ownership.