Tony-OH

Perhaps, but we'll see. If they don't, there is something in the medicals that have them concerned because the stuff and build is there and he's only 27. Saying that, I have concerns about the amount of home runs he gave up in Camden Yards last year (9 in 33.1 IP) when it comes to him being a closer. He'll need to cut down on that if they are considering him in that role. Personally, I'd be going into 2022 with him penciled into my rotation. He can always move back out to the pen if it doesn't work out, but he's got better overall stuff than Baumann and Bradish.

Hall has the best overall stuff I may have ever seen when it's all working. He had a few outings where hitters had no chance on all four oh his offerings. It's all about health and whether he will ever have consistent control that will allow him to stay a starter. There is little doubt he has the repertoire to stay there. If Hall had stayed healthy this year, he may have competed with Grayson for the #2 spot on the list.

I'm not sure how they used him this year is any indication how they plan to use him in the future. Elias made it clear after he drafted Wells and Sceroler that he saw them as starters potentially down the road. Wells has the mix and build to be a starter with the only yellow flag this year was how often he was injured. I believe the Orioles used him delicately this year at first because he hadn't pitched since his TJ surgery. Perhaps the wrist and other injuries were because he was pitching more often and not every pitcher can recover when pitching on back to back days or every other day. I believe the Orioles would be doing themselves and Wells a disfavor unless they try him as a starter in 2022. Why not see what they have? Is the bullpen a mess right now? Sure. But a pen can be put together and there are lots of candidates like Baumann, Bautista and Bradish that could fill innings out there in 2022 along with Tate and potentially Harvey though you can never count on Harvey unfortunately. Plus, this article sounds like Roch's thoughts more than anything coming from Elias, which is the only voice that really counts when discussing roles of players.

His stuff took a step back after the elbow injury. He's not the same guy as he was in 2019. The hope is it will recover with another winter off.

Who is the Orioles 2021 #6 prospect?

https://www.orioleshangout.com/2021/10/29/orioles-5-prospect-dl-hall-lhp/

You know, that was so long ago and I really have learned so much more then when I did those early lists. Those early lists were heavily influenced by the people I spoke too, mostly within the organization. Even though I went to a lot of games, I was still fairly new to scouting and understanding what to look for. With MiLB TV, and now with most affiliates having broadcasts (Although Bowie and Aberdeen were embarrassingly behind the curve for camera angles and Aberdeen didn't even have an announcer), I can see so much more. I know I watched more games this year than I've ever seen. It helps when watching the Orioles can be done by casually watchin while I switch back and forth between three games in the minors. lol

My only surprise so far in this poll is that Baumann has one vote an Kjerstad has none. While Kjerstad is a HUGE unknown, remember, this guy was on many top 100 prospect lists coming into his lost year. You still have account for upside.

In my defense, the entire system was kind of an eye roll back then! lol

If it did come off negative, it wasn't my intention. I like Cowser overall, just don't think he'll profile in center field regularly, especially as he grows into his 6-3 frame. I do think he can end up with 15-20 home run power and maybe a bit more because of playing Camden Yards and Yankees stadium 8 times a year (if unbalance schedule sticks). What seems negative?

Who is the Orioles 2021 #5 prospect?

https://www.orioleshangout.com/2021/10/27/colton-cowser/

I don't even know how to begin to answer this because it's based in no reality of anything I've said. If you don't understand or agree with why I have Mayo over Cowser at this point, there is nothing more I can add to help you.

Well this is off the subject of this thread anyways. On the subject, I think unbalanced schedules are distinct disadvantage and I don't know of too many fans that enjoy it. However, I think teams enjoy price gouging fans for games against big market teams with fans not too far to travel so in this case, I don't see the owners giving this up and I don't see the players caring one way o the other. It's the fans that get left out in the cold.

Name one starting free agent pitcher that came here when they had an equal or close offer and then performed well and parlayed that into a bigger contract either here or else where! I'll wait. While I do think previous administrations, probably limited by the owner in the past, have been reluctant to sign high priced starting pitching, I don't think you can ignore the Division concerns, especially when dealing with an unbalanced schedule and hitter friendly stadiums in the AL East.

Yeah, they pack in 12,000 instead of 7,000 during the week.

You have to look at the players holistically. In Cowser I see a line drive guy who hits gap to gap but who probably can't stick in center field effectively. In Mayo I see a potential middle of the order impact hitter who has enough athleticism and arm strength that if he does have to move off 3B (and I have not made that call by a long shot especially with him coming off a leg injury) he should have value in RF and definitely 1B if it leads there. So yes, taking both sides into consideration, I think Mayo's ceiling is much higher than Cowser's but Cowser's risk is lower.

I'd take Mayo every day of the week and twice on Sunday over Martin right now. Martin has defensive issues and a lack of power so I'm not sure what his upside exactly.

Honestly, it came down to the fact that Mayo outperformed Cowser at the same level while being two years younger. Also, the game has gone to such a power as premium game now so Cowser will need some swing changes and to get stronger in order to increase his power output, and the question is, how will that affect his ability to get on base?

Sometimes people think I'm down on a guy when I give my reasonings for ranking a guy over another guy. That doesn't mean I don't like the other guy, just that if I could only have one in my system, I'd take the guy I ranked above him. Henderson has a lot of things to like. He also has a lot of things he needs to improve upon, but that's why he's in the minors. Unlike some others, I want people to know about the things that need to improve so they can have a full and complete picture of player and not the pollyanna approach some other may go with on the prospect scene. I think people know by now that I'm a tough grader, but I also hope they know the amount of video scouting and statistical analysis that goes into my opinions. I only wish I had statcast data!

Haha. I give lots of easter eggs in my comments.

Chipper was a switch hitter who slashed .311/.360/.504/.863 between A+ and AA at 20 years old wit a 42-66 BB-K ratio in 586 PAs. It's of course worth mentioning that Jones was converted to 3B from SS at the major league level. Mayo does have some hitting similarities to Stanton. I like that comp more even though I have not given up on Mayo sticking at 3B yet.

After looking at his statcast info, I'm not sure what the hype was with this guy. remember, the Dodgers DFa'd him and had Evan Phillips pitching in the ALCS. That still boggles my mind.

I don't put a lot of credence into minor league managers opinions in these polls. I watched a lot of Gunnar at both and though he has the raw skills to be good, there are some issues that have me concerned which I'll get into in his profile. I will say that his athleticism does give me hope that he can continue to improve and potentially stick on the left side of the infield.

With only 18.89% of the vote after starting off strong, Mayo was your third choice behind Cowser (36.67%) and DL Hall at (26.67%). Honestly, if I didn't watch as much as I did at Delmarva this year through video, I might have been less aggressive with his ranking. He may honestly have the most upside offensively in the system. Yes, you read that right.