Tony-OH

I'll be honest, I've had zero issues with Dave Johnson or Roch doing color. Neither have great voices for the job, but they both are knowledgeable and gave out relevant information. I also think Geoff Arnold has really gotten quite good on TV. I don't listen to a ton of games on the radio, but he's been very good the last few nights. As for Newman, I agree with what many have said. I think she tries, she's prepared, but she's not very good at play by play and she just seems very inexperienced wit her calls, frequently using wrong terms to describe the action. I watch a lot of MiLB TV while watching the prospects, and I can tell you at least 8 announcers I've heard that are way better. I can imagine it's frustrating for them to see someone jumped way ahead of them with less experience and less ability. But that's the world we live in nowadays. If she was more polished and experienced, I could deal with her voice which at times can get a little grating, but I do think she has an excellent future in some kind of studio role in baseball. I will say this, McDonald to me has taken a step back from when he started. He's turned into Mike Bordick the second, praising every player for everything while using the same old baseball clichés over and over. I thought he was more like Palmer, but saying that, even Palmer has lessoned his criticisms.

Excellent information gathering and analysis!

Apparently this is why you don't listen to a pitcher talk about his movement. None of that has shown to be true at the big league level statcast info.

The orioles have statcast information on all of their prospects every game. Why would they not have seen this lack of movement? Now, the lack of movement could be that he cuts it once in awhile but not enough to be considered a cutter. That slight movement to the left could make his overall average really straight. To me, that's the only explanation unless it was something that started to happen after spyder tact was taken away.

The slider is a very good pitch, no doubt. I think his promise lies is in this pitch. Right now, the only issue is he misses a little too much with it and he's giving up an above average EV off the pitch and 4 home runs. He's only been throwing it now as his main off-speed pitch since late last year in AAA. In the pen, with his ability to throw 97-98 along with the slider, he has a chance to be good out there, particularly if he can work that fastball up in the zone mostly.

That's why I summarize at the end.

While I don't necessarily disagree that drafting pitchers high is risky, I think you need to invest some draft picks in high ceiling arms early on in some drafts. Baumler is the most money Elias has invested into an arm, and while he's already has his TJ surgery, not surprisingly, he's probably the best starting pitching prospect outside of Rajsich's two. Look at the money Elias has invested into Kjerstad, Cowser, and Haskin. the book is out on all of them but they're not exactly knocking on the door looking like impact players. In the end, there is inherent risk to giving money to any amateur player because no matter what the tools, you don't know until they get to the big leagues whether they can compete against that kind of talent.

Haha, I'm not here to admonish anyone for being positive. There are things going on that are positive right now and the organization as a whole is better off than they were a few years ago. As fans, you should look for the fun and enjoyment of the team in any way possible. The reality though is Elias is in his 4th season with the Orioles and the team is 19 games out of first place, the team is 9 games under .500, with the 7th worse record in the league. While wins and losses in the minor leagues are not a great barometer, all of the Elias minor league teams with his draft picks or signings outside of Aberdeen or pretty bad. The GCL and DSL teams are awful. Outside of Henderson, no prospect has broken out this year but many have regressed from their standing at the end of last year. Stowers and now Westburg in AAA look promising and are close, but what pitching help is on the way? Outside of Hall and Rodriguez (Both Rajsich draft picks) who is going to provide help to the rotation? I think Rutschman is going to hit so I'm not overly worried about his slow start, but it would have been nice to see him look like he belongs offensively right away at the big league level. He's not young for a prospect and was supposed to be an advanced hitter. So let's say Henderson, Westburg and Stowers all hit their 90th percentile in potential and become everyday big leaguers. The lineup looks pretty decent then for sure. My question then is, where does the pitching come from? Elias has decided against really drafting pitching highly or signing high priced pitching in the Latin America? Do you feel John Angelos is going to spend money while his brother is suing him? The team is certainly better than the worse record in baseball awfulness that they've been over the years so I'm sure it does feel better, but at the end of the day, looking at the AL East, this team has a long, long way to go to compete.

Which is honestly where I think he'll end up. The question will be does the added velocity make up for the lack of movement and command?

Nice job by Lopez for sure!

Kirk is Creed Willems' right-handed hero!

Perez has been ripe for regression. Unfortunately, he did it in a two-run game when the bullpen is short. Not thrilled with needing 5 outs from Lopez.

Dammit Lyles, you gotta put him away after he disrespected you by trying to get a HBP on a foul ball.

Imagine being as good a hitter as Guerrero and being such a puss!

Certainly would have felt better with Stowers there. Stowers has hit lefties pretty well in the minor leagues.

Hader throws a 97 MPH sinker 65.4 % of the time. He threw one pitch that registered as a 4-seamer with the numbers you mentioned. I mentioned in a previous post that location is a problem, especially against right-handers. when you look at your contour of his fastballs against righthanders. way too many are in the middle of the plate. Location can be an issue for him for sure, but with the lack of movement of his fastball without the big time vertical movement (or lack of drop) he's gotta be way better with his command of the pitch. He rarely shows that kind of command which is why he's rarely had success at the big league level. A 95 MPH with average vertical (it a little below avg but pretty close) can have success up and above the strikezone at times. That's where he's get his swings and misses.

When Nevin is your number five hitter, you are not putting out a very good lineup.

I suppose it's because Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is on the mound, but Stowers has traditionally not have much of a split and has lefties well in the minors. Left-handers have put up a .430 wOBA against him this year as well so i know I'd rather see him instead of McKenna. Honestly, why not give Mullins a night off?

This is the Hangout and you know better than to come up with this BS response after everything I've posted. Why do you think he'll be fine with this very straight fastball? Or did your Magic 8 ball tell you? I have zero, and mean zero issue with someone saying he's going to be fine by showing show data of pitchers like him having success. But just saying, He's going to be fine, like "Forget all of the data and analysis" is just not quality Hangout level response. Very disappointing.

There are only nine pitchers in MLB who have thrown 50 or more pitches this season that have straighter fastballs than Bradish. Of them, only three are right-handed starters and the most any of them use the pitch is 38.7 % (Spenser Watkins). Bradish throws his fastball 53.3% which is a lot for a guy with a bad fastball.

Here's a blind test. Here are four pitchers' fastballs. Which fastball would you want: Vel Vmove vmove vs avg Hmov hmov vs avg Pitcher A: 94.9 13.9 in -0.6 in 1.0 in -7.2 in Pitcher B: 94.9 12.9 in 0.3 in 1.5 in -4.5 in Pitcher C : 92.1 15.8 in -0.8in 0.9 in -5.2 in Pitcher D : 95.7 12.6 in -0.3 in 7.9 in -1.1 in Pitcher B has the best Vertical Movement vs avg Pitcher D has the most velocity and horizontal movement. Pitcher A: Kyle Bradish Pitcher B: Bryan Baker (who some want to DFA) Pitcher C : Spenser Watkins Pitcher D : Tommy Hunter his last year with the Orioles as a reliever Basically Bryan Baker has a better fastball for movement than Bradish and people are talking about him being DFA'd and Bradish as a long term starter here. Now would Bradish's stuff play up in 1-2 inning stints? Possibly. Only Bradish, Watkins and Travis Lakins are the only Orioles pitchers with below average movement on both vertical and horizontal movement on their fastballs among pitchers with 50 of more pitches this year.

Henderson's jump this year when it comes to his swing decisions has been nothing short of amazing. He really has done a great job of swinging at pitches he can do damage on while limiting being fooled. I'm not sure I've ever seen a prospect make this kind of jump in plate discipline while hitting for average and power. Henderson's break out this year has really put him on the map as a top 25 prospect in all of baseball and I wouldn't doubt if he's in the top 10 by year's end if he finishes strong in AAA this year.

I have a great sense of humor. I just don't see how making comments like that are helpful. it's a snide comment that attempts to make the previous analysis, analysis backed with facts, and tries to make it out like it was wrong. I never said he couldn't hit left-handers. I said he's struggled against them so far in his career and was mostly looking for walks and not driving the ball against them in AA.

Yep, he was about to take a dive anyways. Rutschman won't be too far away either. He should be next to graduate.

You should introduce her to my wife who has the same interest level in baseball! lol