Tony-OH

Since 2021 (26-28 yr), Mullins has slashed .273/.341/.459/.800 (122 OPS+) and has been worth 10.4 rWAR and fWAR. His defense this year has ben a little down from last year, but I think his numbers are just recovering from that tough first Red Sox series in Boston when all of the orioles outfielders struggled. I'm glad to have him patrolling CF for the Orioles. By the way, Adam Jones slashed .284/.321/.489/.810 (119 OPS+) over his 26-28 yr old years.

I do find it funny that the only thread not talking about Frazier in some way of late is in the Frazier 2023 thread.

Anyone want to create some pot holes around the Camden Yards player parking lot?

Day to day Hays is never a good thing. He tends to be out a decent amount and when he returns, he's rarely the same guy for awhile.

Yeah, but he still has the ability to move Seth Johnson to the 60-day IL to clear up a spot. Plus he could DFA Gillaspie tomorrow and it's no big deal. Vespi, Zimmermann and Krehbiel also are at risk.

I think Cowser gets the nod right now because he's on a heater and his defense is better than Stowers. Stowers should have been in a rotation with Hays, Santander and DH when he was here earlier, but now that he's back in AAA, Cowser is out performing him offensively and he's a better defender for sure. Stowers is a Santander replacement (whether it's due to injury or performance) while I see Cowser as a great fit defensively in left field and allowing Hays to move to a more natural RF. If Cowser was brought up, basically your outfield defense gets a bump and you only take away PAs from Vavra and Frazier. I think you send Vavra down because Frazier can cover his positions and while I'd rather have Vavra than Frazier, I know Elias is not cutting his $8 million man anytime soon.

I think Frazier is definitely a better instinctual runner than Urias. In fact, one of the things Frazier does do well despite his lack of blazing footspeed, and run the bases well. He reminds me of Brian Roberts a little bit. Roberts was never a burner, but he was a great instinctual runner.

It's almost like some of us said that the Orioles had 3 internal options better than Frazier when he was signed. Weird, those three options all look like better options 23 games into the season. Let's hope Elias will admit his mistake sooner than later, but I think he's getting at least a half year before Elias admits he was wrong. It's easy to run him out there when they are winning despite his subpar play, but it will become more highlighted when the team inevitably goes into a losing streak. Either way, Cowser is a guy who should get all of the PAs that he and Vavra would get in the outfield on top of all the LF PAs against right-handers..

I don't want to make this into a Frazier thread, but yeah, I agree. It's ashamed because I'd much rather have Cowser in LF and Ortiz/Westburg at 2B right now. Instead Frazier is not only getting every day PAs at 2B, he's getting RF time which hurts my brain to think how Elias things this is his best lineup.

You are right. I accidently looked at his career numbers at DH, not his 2023. Either way, the point stands that Cowser's defense in LF will help the team and he's currently made the adjustments and is hitting well and looks ready.

The biggest issue for me is that these numbers are continuing from last year as well. We know the Boston series was very bad for him and everyone else it seemed, but those jump numbers are real good indicator, much better than our naked eye. I'll be honest, besides a few plays here and there and outside of the Boston series, I didn't think he looked that bad out there, but the numbers say otherwise and I tend to believe those jump and ft/sec covered numbers more than anything when it comes to outfield range. I've liked what I've seen from Cowser defensively so far this year even though I have no statcast information for defense to back it up in AAA. Plus, with Henderson starting to hit, I think they can afford his bat if he takes a bit to get his feet under him at the major league level.

Just going by Baseball Reference which puts players in the position that have the most starts there. Santander has the most starts at 9, but he also has the most starts in RF so he's listed there. Vavra has 7 as well as Adley, but Adley of course has the most starts at catcher which puts Vavra down at DH. At the end of the day, Vavra should not have 7 starts at DH. I just think we bring a guy up who is on a heater, especially if hays needs to miss a few games. Last night the Orioles had Frazier in RF and Vavra in LF after Hays' injury. that's one ugly offensive corner outfielders. The Orioles have better options and Cowser is one of them even though he's not on the 40-man.

If you haven't noticed, and I know most of you reading this have, Colton Cowser is on a tear down in Norfolk. Since April 11th, he's slashing .408/.525/.755/1.280 with 12 BB and 13 Ks in 61 PAs. On top of it, he's a very good all around defensive outfielder who would fit in very nicely in Camden's huge left field. We know Hays patrols out there now, but there are some concerns with his defense out there. My biggest concern this year is how far his fielding has fallen over last season and the start of this one. He's -0.6 dWAR and -3 OOA through just 23 games in the outfield. All three aspects of jump are below average with his -1.2 ft/sec reaction time being the worse of his career. He's not getting slower foot speed wise, he's just not reaction very well and his burst speed has fallen 1.1 ft/sec since 2020. It's really hard to start a below average defensive outfielder in left field in Camden Yards. He's off to a nice start offensively (.883 OPS, .378 WOBA) but he would be better served in RF if his jumps and ft covered/sec are going to be below average. We know his arm plays there. Terrin Vavra leads the team in DH appearances (ridiculous BTW) so it makes some sense to send to move Hays to RF, Santander to DH and bring up Cowser to play LF. Vavra can be optioned. It's time. Make the move. The team will be better off for it all around.

Agreed. It was awful execution and anyone who has played the game would tell you that wrapping your fingers around the bat is not the right way to bunt. Hays is kind or who he is at this point. He's a gamer who is going to give you 100%, but he's injury/dinged up prone that typically affects his on field production for stretches at a time, sometimes of his own doing. My biggest concern this year is how far his fielding has fallen over last season and the start of this one. He's -0.6 dWAR and -3 OOA through just 23 games in the outfield. All three aspects of jump are below average with his -1.2 ft/sec reaction time being the worse of his career. He's not getting slower foot speed wise, he's just not reaction very well and his burst speed has fallen 1.1 ft/sec since 2020. It's really hard to start a below average defensive outfielder in left field in Camden Yards. He's off to a nice start offensively (.883 OPS, .378 WOBA) but he would be better served in RF if his jumps and ft covered/sec are going to be below average. We know his arm plays there. Terrin Vavra leads the team in DH appearances (ridiculous BTW) so it makes some sense to send to move Hays to RF, Santander to DH and bring up Cowser to play LF. Vavra can be optioned.

The power alleys at Ripken Stadium are pretty deep at 378 feet and the ball just does not carry very well there.

1.97 pop time on Basallo gunning down a runner at 2nd.

Well at least this butt kicking will be quick!

Just wasn't his night tonight. Really had no command of anything.

Not real sure, but it wasn't one of his smarter decisions.

Ball hit him on the finger when he tried to bunt.

Yoshida seems like one of those guys that will become an Orioles killer. He'll hot about .500 against us and .250 against everyone else.

Hay out and Vavra in. We now have Frazier and Vavra as corner outfielders. lol Yeah, no room up here for Stowers or even Cowser if you want to make that move.

I didn't have an issue with him starting the 3rd, but after a 40-pitch inning, I'd have a very quick hook on him. I get it that they really wanted to see if Bradish could work through it, but he really had nothing tonight and everything was hit very hard. Obviously a tough night and we all know Voth is not good coming in mid-inning, so he very well could have given up the grand slam himself, but maybe you do use Baumann to get through the 3rd BEFORE he gives up the slam. See if Baumann can give you two then go to Voth to try and get through the rest of the game.

It's pretty much your fault.