Tony-OH

It's relevant to the kind of pitcher he may be. Stuff and command are big parts of being a major league pitcher, but when it comes to being a relief pitcher, how that pitcher rebounds back is a big issue as well. I'm not saying this is a problem with Pop, but it's something you have to keep an eye on, especially if he's a one inning guy. this is why it's not always easy to just take a starter and make him a reliever because the rest it takes is different for guys. Again, it may not be an issue at all, but let's say for instance he needs two days rest between appearances than his value is limited. I'm not taking up for not protecting him because I already named three pitchers who were protected who should have never have been protected over a healthy Pop. You could of added Bannon and Ruiz as well on to the list of guys I would not have protected over him. But the book has not been completed on this story. I think this was a misstep, but not a catastrophic one.

Let's remember a few things here. 1) I agree that it appears they left Pop unnecessarily unprotected. If he was healthy, and it now shows that he was, he should have never have been left unprotected over pitchers like Goudeau, Sulser or Lakins. 2) Just because Pop made the team doesn't mean he will last all season. Drew Jackson and Nestor Cortes Jr. made the Orioles on Opening Day and then were sent back. 3) We haven't seen how Pop will be used yet. Can he pitch back to back? Can he pitch often? Can he pitch more than one innings or more than 25 pitches? So yes, as of today, this looks like a misstep for Elias in his evaluation or in his information that he had on Pop. But, the book has not been completed on this yet, so we should all hold off on the dramatics.

This is 100% on point. The Orioles have not been consistently relevant as a contender since the early 80s and the only way to fix that was to completely break down and redo how they do business from the scouting, analytics, and development stages. Elias is doing just that, and although it's been painful, and we're looking at another painful one this year most likely unless some kind of "why Not?" thing occurs, it was needed. The Orioles can't spend their way out of this like this did in the late 90s due to the cash cow that Camden Yards was when it was new and the internet barely existed (Yet the Hangout did. . lol). I'm happy with how I see the Orioles being rebuilt, but the proof will start needing to be seen on the field by next season when there should be no reason that the pitching staff, outfield, and catcher don't have a players who could be part of a winning future here in Baltimore.

We see some of that money going into the DR complex and we've spent just fine on International prospects and Amateur draft so it's clear Elias is pending his money on the future. Obviously you can question some of his ways of tanking, but adding young talent instead of shooting for 3rd place and .500 is fine with me. Saying that, this needs to be the last year of this. COVID caused some problems with the timelines as Lowther, Baumann, and maybe Wells could have been ready this spring along with Diaz. Next year though, while I don't see the Orioles competing, I do see them moving to a stage of playing mostly young players with some augmented talent in positions where young talent is not ready.

But that's because I know he will never have value because of his contract. Lopez could have value if for some reason he pitches well. Do I think that's likely, no, but in the perfect world Lopez suddenly has a great year, we trade him in July for prospects, bring up Baumann or Lowther to take his place in the rotation.

But why would you not ant to see Lopez pitch well and perhaps create himself into value? I don't think it will happen as a starter but I'm not sure why you would root against him. Any player that is not part of a winning future here that does well presents himself as a potential trade chip. Do I think the odds are high that it will happen? Nope. Do I think Lopez will make 20_ starts this year. Nope. But I certainly won't root against him.

Ruiz could be DFA'd today and he's going to pass through. I guess with Stewart out he adds a left-handed bat who can back up 1B and 3B and allow Franco to DH occasionally. Once Stewart is able to go, I don't see him having a role on the team. He's a AAAA guy.

I wouldn't put too much into the order. Once opening day is over, every starter now becomes the #1 starter on their day to pitch. My guess is Hyde/Holt think Zimmermann may be a better matchup against the Red Sox than Kremer more than anything. Zimmermann has looked very good this spring and his velocity has ticked up to the 93-96 range.

From what I've seen from his statcast info that was available this spring, his stuff looks similar to his stuff last year. He seems to be using his knuckle-curve more but I think he's most likely in the rotation because he can take some early innings. It's either going to be hi or LeBlanc as that last starter with the other being in long relief. I think Lopez has a track record of what he's been as a starter but I still would like to see him as a sinker/knucklecurve guy out of the pen before giving up on him.

Chill!! You need to take a deep breather because I thought you had gotten better since returning, but the longer you are back, the more you are getting into your old habits. You can not say someone is "completely wrong" because that's not a fact because we don't know if that's a fact or not because he hasn't pitched. Try this, "I hear what you saying, but I disagree and I think he can help us out more than ... " Then perhaps throw in some stats to back up your argument or if you really want to impress people, try out baseball savant. You might learn that your pre-conceived notions or eye tests were wrong.

Then we have nothing to discuss because you are apparently using the good old naked eye test and I'm going to go with the data when I have it. Literally that statement makes you now OldFan. All you need to do is tell us you don't think Mac Sceroler is not a baseball name and your transformation is complete. Honestly, it's your second point that is really your issue. You are not quite known for being open minded once you make your assessments of players and prefer to call guys trash or terrible based off your pre-conceived assessments, which apparently does not involve the best known data that we have on pitcher's stuff. You are certainly allowed to have any opinion you like, but I'm not going to lie, if you aren't using stat cast data when it's available you are doing yourself and your "opinions" a disservice because you are not as informed as you could be. Bu honestly, Sceroler? What kind of name is that?

Never seen a batter hit with two strikes more than Rustchman. Seems like every at bat he starts off 0-2 or 1-2 then lays off or fouls off pitches until it's 3-2.

Remember, there is more to a guy having "balls thrown by him" than bat speed. You can also cheat to get to a fastball if it's expected.

I think that as well. Say he starts off the season with these guys in the rotation: Means Harvey Zimmermann Kremer Lopez He has these guys as long man/sport starts in the pen: LeBlanc Plutko Wells Sceroler In AAA he has: Keegan Akin (starter) Connor Greene (Long guy/spot starter/1-2 inning guy) Josh Rogers (Long guy/spot starter) Tom Eshelman (Long guy/spot starter) Mickey Jannis (Long guy/spot starter) Eric Hanhold (one inning guy) Dillon Tate (one-two inning guy who could still make OD) Cole Sulser (one-two inning guy) Travis Lakins Sr. (one-two inning guy) Then he has the prospect starters for potentially mid to late in the year: Michael Baumann Zach Lowther Alex Wells I think that's enough to get through the season

I think Greene goes to the alternate site because they can keep him there until he's needed. I like Greene as well, but because he's not on the 40-man roster, I think he goes back to AAA unless they give one of the Rule 5 guys back.

You have a strange affection for saying guys have given zero indications that he is good when A) You haven't really seen him B) You don't have a ton of statcast data to go off of C) you keep saying how bad his numbers are but they all came off that one awful outing. If the team can give innings to the Plutko's of the world, they can find innings for Sceroler. The guy has decent arm strength (92-95) and has shown the ability to throw a good curve and change. Do I think he's a future TOR, no, but I do think he could give the Orioles some innings out of the pen and unless I think the Orioles will lose a piece that could be part of the future while he's on the roster, why not? I think he has more upside than waiver wire fodder, but I also know I haven't seen him enough to have a strong opinion. If the Orioles decide to keep him I'm fine with it. If they decided to give him back, no harm no foul. I really don't understand how anyone on here can have that strong of an opinion on with so little data to go off of. Saying that, I'd keep Wells over Sceroler if I had to keep one.

Good question. The Orioles did cut bait pretty quick with Brandon Bailey from the Houston Astros and Michael Rucker from the Chicago Cubs last year. Bailey made his major league debut with Houston last year so we have a little statcast info on him. the numbers on his pitches weren't overwhelming and his velocity (92.1 MPH) on his fastball is lower than what we've seen from Sceroler and Wells this spring. Bailey is now out with Tommy John surgery so perhaps the Orioles felt like he was an injury waiting to happen but more likely it was because his stuff really didn't impress that much. Rucker was raw and from what we heard had some arm strength in the mid-90s but not the command needed yet. Wells is a big 6-foot-8 guy with a fastball that has been sitting 94-96 and has touched 97. He started off throwing the curveball but went more with the slider in his last outing when he tossed three shutout innings wi9th six Ks. He's looks like the kind of arm you want to bring out of the pen so there is some upside. I think he makes the team because he can be stretched out and has some potential upside. Sceroler has been 92-95 so he's shown more arm strength than Bailey as well. His curve has good hard break and he was able to throw a decent change. He might have a starter's upside still but could probably be ok in long relief this year. I think he's worth giving innings to in the bullpen this year. If it doesn't work or he really struggles, you just give him back and bring up one of your depth guys from AAA.

Phillip, if you are looking for information on a player, consider using Baseball Savant. Even if you are not familiar with all of the statcast analytical stats, a quick way to look at how a player performed the year before is the upper right of each player's page. this is where is there's enough data, it will give you the percentile that the player performed across MLB. Here is Paul Fry. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/paul-fry-643316?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb You will see his percentiles were very high for the most part.

Yeah, this year's bullpen is going to look way different than a typical year where you have 4-5 one inning type guys.

Mac, not Max. Either way, Sceroler has better stuff looking at his statcast info, is younger, and has a little upside vs a guy who is a long reliever/swingman. Again, we're looking at the future here and the ability to eat innings. Sceroler besides his one awful outings has been pretty good and has shown a 92-95 MPH fastball, decent curveball and change. Do I think he's a future stud, no, but he's an arm that I would be happy to keep around over a long reliever like Plutko.

Positional player Fireman of the year!

Before we even do this, I still think more moves are coming and potentially with pitching though I think Elias is on the hunt for second basemen and catchers. What we know: 1. John Means is the opening day starter 2. Matt Harvey is the 2nd starter 3. Bruce Zimmermann is the 3rd starter 4. Tanner Scott and Cesar Valdez are in the bullpen. What we think we know: 1. Dean Kremer is in the rotation somewhere. 2. Shawn Armstrong, Paul Fry, and Adam Plutko are going to be in the bullpen. 3. Jorge Lopez has pitched his way onto this team as a starter or reliever 4. Wade LeBlanc is on the team as a starter or long reliever (hopefully long guy) 5. Elias and company like Connor Greene and realize he will be part of the team at some point this year, but because he's not on the 40-man he may have to start year in alternate site. What is possible for Opening Day: Rotation: John Means Matt Harvey Bruce Zimmermann Dean Kremer Jorge Lopez Bullpen: (8) Scott Valdez Armstrong Fry Plutko LeBlanc Tyler Wells Mac Sceroler Dillon Tate would make it if they go with nine relievers or if they ship one of the Rule 5 guys back (most likely Sceroler if they choose one to go back) Remember, as Elias has said, this is about finding ways to keep arms and use them throughout the season. They could option Tate, Sulser, Lakins and have Green, Hanhold, and Eshleman in reserve in AAA. Sulser and Lakins are the two pitchers at risk for DFA if more pitchers are acquired.

God love Steve Wilkerson. There has never been a cockier 4-A player in major league baseball history. Still, the one thing he brings is versatility on defense but I think there's enough versatility in the system where his time has come and gone here.

Ruiz is getting start at 2B today. I don't think he has the foot speed or athleticism to play 2B effectively, but it would increase his value if he can show he can play there and not kill a team. Just makes me wonder why this wasn't tried much earlier if there was even a chance of his playing there. I still think Elias brings someone from outside the organization to play second base.

After hearing Elias's comments, it sounds as if Plutko is on the team for now. Obviously more move could and probably will come, but for now he looks to have a long man spot and could make some starts this year.