Tony-OH

C'mon man. I mean, I get it, we haven't been in contention for anything but the first overall pick since 2016, but when your hope is supported by a likelyhood of situation being at almost zero, you have to start realizing you are grasping at straws at best. The Orioles are 5.5 game back with 21 games to play and don't forget, Cleveland is ahead of us by a 1.5 games too, so yes, we do need some help. So not only do the Orioles need to sweep a superior team in the Blue Jays for 6 straight games, we also have to hope that we play the same winning baseball as them in the other 15 games. Then add in that we have to jump another team too, and we're not just talking about being good fans until the math doesn't play out, we're just being silly. THE ORIOLES ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR. And that's ok. Let's just hope they can finish over .500 with players of the future doing well down the stretch.

Apparently not the way the lineups have been coming out. But I honestly don't know how the lineups are filled out besides "It's a collaborative process" coming from Hyde years ago.

I don't think it matters what Hyde thinks when it comes to the lineup because I'm fairly convinced he's given a lineup that's spit out by Sig's computer. Hyde manages every game to win, but I also think he's too much into veteranosity and pitchers splits more than hitter splits. I wish he was more into getting guys major league experience that will help the team make decision next year or help the team be better next year, but again, who knows how much control he has over lineups and moves.

I have more data on him now. It's really hard to judge defense in the minors especially on MILBTv where you don't always get good camera angles on jumps or routes. It's more of a feel thing for me or how I see them moving on the outfield. If i had to put him down now for outfield defense, I'd probably put him as a 40/45 after seeing his burst numbers, feet coved per second, and running speed on bases. Saying that, I'm all for sticking him out in RF the rest of the year and seeing if the numbers improve. I'm all about giving him that experience over the next 22 games and then make a decision on him this offseason on his future position. With no true first base prospects in the system, somebody will need to convert unless the team is willing to keep running out a 1.0 WAR first baseman that has regressed.

Then you went about trashing him for 3-4 paragraphs. Look, I get it, you are one of those fans that is affected on a game by game basis with players. You always kinda have been, but I'm just saying that the way Stowers has been used, it's hard to get a read on him at the major league level. Now saying that, I do not necessarily think Stowers is going to be an all-star, but I can see him putting up Santander-like numbers offensively and for a cheaper price. My question is whether his defensive in the outfield can improve enough or if he can successfully be converted to first base. He's not going to be a high average guy, and he's a bit streaky, but he will hit for some power when it's said and done.

It may be, and with Vavra, he might be a tweener guy who's only real skill with be his hit tool (even though he's struggled of late) but it's way too early to give up on Stowers. He needs to e playing everyday and if that means Hays gets an extra day of here and there then he he needs to take the day off. this about gaining Stowers experience, he's not getting that wallowing on the bench when the season is done from a playoff standpoint. Stowers defense has been sub par, but he's also played a lot of LF with the Orioles after mainly playing RF in the minors. Add in the second decks and I think he'll get better with experience, even though I'm not convinced he'll ever be a good defensive outfielder. Heck, Stowers can DH for all I care though I rather see him in RF to see if he improves, but his bat needs to be in the lineup just about every day. And BTW, maybe Hyde doesn't know, but Stowers hit lefties quite well in the minors.

Sounds like you've identified him a a bust already. I'm going to disagree. He needs to be playing every day. he will make the adjustments and his EVs will start to shine through. Playing once ever y 3 to 4 days is tough on guys who have never done that. Stowers cut his K rate down significantly in AAA this year and yes, he's got some swing and miss in his game, but this is the time to get him the experience to see if he can be a starter next year.

Absolutely agree, and I think he is better than the "worse in baseball" numbers he's put up so far, but his performance does match my eye test from watching him in the minors. He's not going to be a good defensive outfielder at this point, so again, I hope they convert him to first base.

Povich got the ball and has thrown 4 IP so far, allowing two runs in the 4th, but with 4Ks.

Phillips was DFA'd on Aug 19th. He's not on the 40-man so the Orioles will need to sign him to a minor league contract this offseason to keep him in the organization. I doubt it will take a major league deal.

Actually, his route taking has been his best part of outfield defense according to statcast. In the three components of jump, his route taking is at 0.1 ft/sec above average. His problem is his reaction (-1.6) and burst (-2.3) have been terrible and when you combine that with his 37.8% running speed, and my assessment that he was a Santander level (0.7 route, -0.9 reaction and -0.9 burst) was actually generous. He's actually worse. His 27.9 ft/sec covered would be the worse in baseball if his qualified. I'll admit, I wasn't thrilled with what I saw when he was playing defense in the minors, but I didn't realize how bad it was until his statcast numbers came out. Now he's had less than 10 attempts, so it's a small sample size, but to put it in context, Ryan Mountcastle covered 29.6 ft/sec in 2021 when we couldn't wait to get him out of LF. All the more reason to convert him to 1B in my opinion.

He's going to be paid a lot of money by Houston to stay. That job is not coming open in my opinion.

Say what you want about Phillips, but at least he brings value as a pinch runner and defensive replacement in the outfield. Aguliar brings nothing but the potential for a home run once in a blue moon.

Biggest issue I see with Gallagher is that he would probably be asked to start against left-handers when Adley needs a rest or Sunday starters, but he has reverse splits slashing just .200/.266/.304/.570 in his career against lefties. Obviously you have to like the defense, but I don't see why the Orioles would use a 40-man spot for him this offseason. Release him and then sign him to a minor league contract that would pay him 900K if he makes the team. He would be front runner and a placeholder until Maverick Handley is deemed ready. I'll be honest, Handley's bat probably is what it's going to be, but his defense is major league ready. BTW, small sample size, bat Handley slashed .256/.326/.667/.992 in 43 PAs against southpaws. in AA this year. I'd be ok with those two battling out for the backup spot. Maybe resign Bemboom as AAA depth along with Cody Roberts (too many PBs) and the loser of the Gallagher/Handley battle.

True, but you can't afford a bad week in September when you are chasing playoff spot, particularly when you are getting beat by your main competition.

You're about a week late since the move in this thread was for September 5th.

Uggh, bad memories from the Why Not year. A good GM would have been more aggressive in adding talent better than an end of career Moreland and Stan Jefferson.

I can appreciate the fandom of believing there is still a chance, but not only would the Orioles need to turn it back on like they did in August, but they need the Blue Jays or Rays to crash. Does that mean people should stop watching or there won't still be some good moments down the stretch, no way. It's just time for Stowers, Vavra and maybe even Ortiz to get PAs over Aguilar, Odor and perhaps less PAs for Mountcastle and Hays.

Aguilar wasn't that guy all year, which is why he was DFA'd.

Here's some reasons why Gallagher might be here next year as the backup: Here's him stealing strikeouts with great pitch framing: https://www.mlb.com/video/00u7jzgkdtP9kH55c356/reels/gallagher-getting-k-s-on-framing Here he is blocking pitches in dirt. Very much a wall. https://www.mlb.com/video/00u7jzgkdtP9kH55c356/reels/cam-gallagher-blocking Throwing runners Out: https://www.mlb.com/video/00u7jzgkdtP9kH55c356/reels/gallagher-throwing

We don't talk about players like that here. While I agree that Aguilar has no role on this team, we don't call players names or refer to them as piles of whatever.

Perhaps, but if we went out and got the two starting pitchers you wanted, maybe we would not have seen the improvements from Kremer and Bradish this year because they might not have been given a chance? I agree in the sense that this team would have been better, but no one really thought this team was going to be contending for a a wild card spot in September. Either way, what we can agree on is we don't know how Elias will handle building the last pieces for a contending team. We are going to find this out this winter and next year's trading deadline. Elias and his staff have hit on some waiver wire pitchers (Perez, Baker, Krehbiel, Voth) but they've also made some questionable decisions with Chirinos, Odor and Aguilar all being well below replacement level players. Now, the same staff identified Urias and Mateo as waiver wire pickups, so they do have their wins, but their placeholders this year turned out to be not good. Hopefully this team will finish at .500 or above and we'll feel good about our lineup next year and bullpen. Then they can go into the offseason looking to upgrade LF, 1B (still think they should convert Stowers), 2B and the starting pitching. Some of that should come from within. Westburg and Ortiz can battle it out for 2B and Westburg and Stowers could fight it out at 1B if Mountcastle is moved. It's going to be an interesting offseason or at least should be.

.500 could be in jeopardy with the strength of schedule, but as was point out earlier, the Yankees and Blue Jays may be more focused on the playoffs the last time we play them so hopefully we can squeeze out a few more wins. It's like to finish at .500 or better just for the optics and to close out the losing seasons streak. I will say this, the orioles might want to re-evaluate their rest the starter's that need rest on Sunday's mentality and spread them out throughout the week, because their record on Sunday's is awful and a lot has to do with those back up lineups they tend to go with on Sundays. Between Adley's slow promotion (yes the injury was part of that), keeping Gunnar's rookie status for next year (we'll see if that works out) and the inclusion of Odor as a regulars throughout the season despite being a below replacement level player has hindered the Orioles playoff chances this year. Now in their defense, the no one thought of the Orioles as having that chance this year, but we can certainly look back at some decisions and wonder how many wins did we potentially lose out on? The real question is, will things be different next year and beyond when they should be considered contenders going into the season?

Ten years ago, we had a Hangout night where we "Oranged out" the section and ended up getting on MASN several times. That night Nate McLouth sent everyone happy with a walkoff single in the 9th to improve the Orioles to 80-62 and bringing them within one game of ending their 14-year under .500 streak. Of course this team would end up winning the wild card before losing to the Yankees in the ALDS. Bonus rep if you can name all four posters and yes you can read one's name tag clearly.

It's a good question. Ortiz will need to be added to the 40-man this offseason and the way he's been playing, why not? I'd rather he be getting some PAs and playing 2B than Odor or probably even Vavra due to his lack of arm at 2B.