Tony-OH

Ok, here's my Crystal ball 4-games into the spring training schedule for the final 28-man roster. Locks (16) SP - Means, Lyles, T. Wells (could be RP but he's making team) RP - Lopez, Sulser, Tate, Scott 1B - Mountcastle 2B - Odor SS - Urias or Mateo (Urias is starting somewhere) C- Chirinos DH - Mancini LF - Hays CF - Mullins RF - Santander Bubble players (12) SP - Bradish and Zimmermann RP - Bautista, Perez, Baker, Akin (Long guy), Fry, Kremer (Long guy) 3B - Owens (Going out on limb and saying he beats out Gutierrez for 3B) C - Nottingham OF - McKenna and Stewart Possible surprises: Vespi over Fry but it would cost a 40-man spot Lowther could beat out either Bradish or Zimmermann (don't think they will keep Lowther as long guy vs sending him down to AAA to start) Sedlock could make team as RHP long guy instead of Kremer Waiver wire pickup for long guy could send Kremer and or Akin back to AAA.

Can you keep your rants about the "Orioles' negligence" in threads about that? This is about the opening day 28-man roster. Thanks.

We don't know the demand for him and again, if they saw something and think he's worth it because of the new slider, then why not? Can't complain about the Orioles signing a guy for too much money and then turn around and call them cheap! lol

Here are some tidbits I've been able to hear about. Nothing earth shattering but some interesting. Coby Mayo is for real (Making my early 3rd over prospect ranking look better and better haha). He could be a very fast mover. Jean Pinto and Drew Rom have looked very good so far. Pinto is going to make some people who left him off top-30 lists look foolish. Prieto has been solid with the bat. Really good bat to ball skills. DL Hall, even though he hasn't pitched in a spring training game yet, has looked very much recovered from his stress fracture.

How is it an overpay if he pitches to a 3.55 ERA (taking his FIP number)? if Elias and his people think he improvements are for real, then it's not an overpay. Do I think he's going to pitch to a 3.55 ERA in the AL East, probably not, but if he can pitch to a 4.50 ERA and make 32 starts and give them 150-180 innings then he's worth that money easy. Besides, we know they can afford the contract so who really cares? This comes down to whether their assessment is right or not. That's what we'll find out.

Maybe Elias has an ownership that doesn't care, I don't think any of us (or very very, very few of us) are arguing that. You keep railing in Elias when Wildcard gave a great synopsis of what Elias has done under his circumstances. You and few others are dumping on Elias when I see what Wildcard sees when it comes from how he's built the foundation of the organization better. I truly think we are in purgatory until Peter Angelos passes away because the team won't be sold until that happens for financial reasons. The only hope (outside of the Peter Angelos passing) is with some improvements this year from some of the young players, as well as the arrival of some of the bigger prospects, that John Angelos will pay some next year. Railing on Elias like he's done nothing misses the point. You and a few others seems to think that those of us that appreciate the route Elias has taken to rebuild the franchise means we support the penny pinching ways of the current ownership when it's the farthest thing from the truth. We have no idea whether Elias was allowed to make a big offer to Correa (despite the claims), but I do think the fact that Boros went to the Twins instead of the Orioles tells us a few things. Maybe he knows Elias can't or wouldn't spend that kind of money knowing Correa can just opt out after the year. Personally, I like what Elias has done to rebuild the franchise, but I do think it's time to start winning at the major league level. This has to be the last year of seeing if T. Wells, Zimmermann, Lowther, Akin, Kremer, A. Wells will be starters for this team. In 2023, Means, Rodriguez, Hall would make a nice top three and Rom could be in that conversation as well. But it would be real nice if they signed or traded for a good arm or two and then the team looks competitive to me. We all feel frustration of losing and I understand your point of view that thinking the Orioles could have rebuilt while being a 70-80 win after thought instead of a 52 win embarrassment. But at the end of the day, I do think getting those large draft pools has helped rebuild this team and agree with you that they need to start showing improvements in the win column this year and be competitive by next year.

It sucks as an Orioles fan, but I feel bad for this young man. He really can't catch a break. No one could have seen this coming when they drafted him. The myocarditis and now a serious hamstring injury has really put him behind. But let's remember, we have Mayo and Baumler because of the Kjerstad drafting. If Mayo becomes who he looks to be, no one will care if Kjerstad doesn't live up to his draft placement.

i had heard Elias said Lyles did something different in September and that's what they are banking on. Lyles pitched to a 2.87 ERA and 3.55 FIP over his 5 games holding batters to a .215/.292/.346/.638 slash. So what did he do differently? Looking at Baseball Savant, it appears he dropped his fastball usage way down to 29.3% (47.4% in April) and replaced that with a sinker at 17.1% (1.5% in April). But the biggest change was in his slider where he increased his horizontal movement to 15 inches in September, 3 inches more than in August and 9 inches more than in April. He accordingly increased the usage of his slider to 26.1% (17.8% in August). Batter slashed just .138/.145/.172/.255 against his slider in September. the effectiveness of his slider made all his pitches play up a bit as hard hit % and barrel% all went down and swing and miss went up significantly on the slider, curveball, cutter and change. So if Lyle's slider is for real, the Orioles may have found themselves a bargain.

Lopez was used in a one inning stint despite reports of him being stretched out. He hit 99MPH though he did give up the solo homer. Him, Bautista and Tate along with Scott and Perez from the left-side would make a really hard throwing bullpen late in games.

Everything about the bottom of the 4th inning is what makes it hard to be an Orioles fan. Your top starter can't finish off three innings, one of your top prospects makes a bonehead call and then drops the ball. Took about 900 hours to get through that half an inning. Sedlock's changeup looked pretty good but his velocity was around 91 and his slider still is below average.

Not a good call by Stowers there. Jones was camped under it calling it when he calls him off while he's sprinting in.

Means just really lost his command by the 3rd inning. I never understand how our top pitchers never can just have easy outings and get their work in. everything Means threw found the middle of the plate especially with two strikes. It's spring training, but it really would be nice to see your starters' come in and get their 3 innings in without imploding.

The announcers are fine, I'm just talking the entire broadcast. They mic up players and coaches in game and on the field, they have a radar gun reading, and overall are the best around. They should force MASN game directors to watch their broadcasts and understand what 1st class looks like.

The Pirates spring training broadcasts are the gold standard. They are so good.

That's the adjustment I've seen from Stowers in the minors. Swings through two curveballs. They go back to a 3rd curveball and Stowers smashed it over the RF fence for rocket home run.

Orioles brought their sticks today in the 1st inning.. You get a hit, you get a hit, we all get hits!

Still no Mike Baumann sighting. Wonder what's going on with him?

Well researched piece, good job Rob. I see the 2022 Orioles being better than the 2021 version for several reasons, one of which is the starting pitching HAS to be better overall. This was a tough offseason for starting pitching which was why the Orioles were so aggressive in signing Lyles before he lockout. The key though will be on the improvements and health of guys like T. Wells, Zimmermann, Lowther and to a lesser extent Kremer and Akin (who think are going to the pen at some point). the depth here is that Rodriguez, Bradish and maybe Baumann (though he has been suspiciously AWOL this spring) and possibly Hall are ready to give their shot if those guys fall. The hope is that the Orioles can make some decisions on these 4th/5th guys and know what they need to do next year to fill these holes in the rotation through trades or Free agency. They have enough offensive prospects to have a competitive lineup in 2023 so if they make a few keys pitching acquisitions, I really do think they can be a contender next year.

3/21 - Reassigned Cody Roberts (C) to minor league camp.

So simple of a concept, but just seems so very lost on some. Would I be upset if they signed a veteran starting pitcher Like Zach Davies to a one year contract to see if he can help, no, but getting a look at the young starting pitching candidates makes more sense to understand what they got. I'm be more excited if we were seeing Lowther, Zimmermann, Baumann, or Bradish but so far they've been MIA in spring games, but then again, so has Means and Lyles. I assume the Orioles are just trying to get them ready on the back fields vs live spring competition.

I'm not sure what you are talking about. We're discussing the article, not the website or other reporters on that site. Just a simple interesting story about a guy in the Orioles spring camp. So yea, you missed something.

Some people have an agenda and feel they must put it into every thread they come upon.

Thanks, missed that.

I've been saying for many years he's going to end up in the bullpen.

https://calltothepen.com/2022/03/18/orioles-conner-greene-rv-mound/