Tony-OH

Not sure why it's a dumb thread. Mancini is coming off a missed season and undergoing treatment for cancer. The fact that he is a power hitter and has no extra base hits is something to keep an eye on. I haven't been able to watch his BPs this year so I can't tell his overall strength, but I'm not sure why it's not worth a thread wondering if his strength has recovered or not. The OP did not make any grand proclamations, predictions or concerns over the Orioles chances to compete if Mancini's power numbers are down, but just started the conversation. Sometimes I think some of you just are looking for a way to jump on someone for starting a conversation when that's what this board is for. As always, if you don't like the thread, you can just skip it and move on. As for the question at hand, yes, I've noticed Mancini has no extra base hits and up until the other day, neither did Santander and I believe I actually mentioned that at some point when discussing how the team hasn't hit very much tis spring barring a few players. While I'd like to see some extra base hits start to come over the second half of the spring, I'll be concerned if we're 14 or so games into the 2021 regular season and he still doesn't have an extra base hit. Either way, Mancni is going to get a long leash this season and I've been happy to see him at least getting some consistent knocks so far.

Connor Greene really came out of nowhere for me. Didn't know much about him and certainly didn't think a guy with high 90s stuff would be a minor league free agent signing. I'd like to know about what he did between 2019 and now because his stats make him out to be a pretty wild pitcher, but we haven't really seen that so far. He hasn't walked a batter in five innings and this is a guy who walked 16 in 15.1 relief innings in AAA back in 2019. Either way, I the outing I watched him on TV, I really liked his stuff and not just velocity wise. If his his new found control is for real, he could be a real find.

Maybe HOW dominate Zimmermann has been, but i was really impressed with him last spring before the shutdown and though the fastball and slider really took steps forward last spring, so it's not a shock to me to see him do it again. If he can find that changeup and get a little less velocity on it, he could be another John Means.

Wells of course was an unknown for me before the Rule 5 selection and I didn't know about Greene's arm until seeing him pitch this spring. After watching both, Green for me has the most upside of the two, but I do like Wells enough to keep him around and see how he does this year.

You are basing way too much off of spring training results which both Elias and Hyde have said they take with a grain of salt. Akin is going to be in the rotation this year unless he complete falls apart over the last two weeks of spring or his stuff falls off for some reason. Lopez has pitched well but we have a long track record of Lopez to go off of as a starter. Looking at his statcast info from his 3/11 appearance, it appears his stuff about the same as last year with nothing standing out as a new pitch, much better spin or movement. Basically he's the same guy that has been hammered as a starter pitching well in the spring against sometimes "not major league lineups." LeBlanc? There is no world, except perhaps a bizarro world, where LeBlanc gets a starting rotation spot over Akin unless Akin is hurt. This season is all about evaluation of our young talent and Akin is part of that talent that needs to be evaluated at the major league level.

Anyways, so we were talking about Pop at some point in this thread, right?

I read this in the morning and the first thing I did was to check when you wrote this to make sure you are not an alcoholic.

Wonder where they got that video of him pitching. I heard he looked the best he's looked and there is little doubt if he's back to 94-96 he's going to make the team in the rotation.

I don't have issues with Akin's frame when it comes to starting, but I do have issues with his command long term as a starter. He takes too many pitches to get batters out and his pitch counts rise very quickly. He'll start for a few years then settle in as a multi-inning reliever most likely. If he can learn to pitch often and back to back, he could be a real weapon out of the pen one day. Until then, he'll take the ball every 5th start this year and see how he does. He has a starter's repertoire so if the consistency of command ever comes around or if a team can live with him as a 4-5 inning guy, he'll stick as a starter.

Yeah, I'm not sure why people think a few bad starts early on is going to change Elias/Hyde's plans for Akin this year. His last outing was fine as well.

Elias and hyde aren't going to be persuaded by a few spring starts and Akin is as ready as he's ever going to be. His last outing was fine and he really is a guy they need to see what he can do in the rotation this year. I still think his ultimate role with be in a relief role at the majors, but I'd start him this year and see how he does over an extended period of time.

Abad very well could make the team as well, but I think because he needs to be added to the roster, he'll go down to the alternate site and await an opportunity like LeBlanc. But, they could choose to keep him and DFA Sulser.

Thanks. They could, but I think they know LeBlanc can stay sharp and be ready at the alternate camp. They could very well option Sulser but they would need DFA someone else to make room for LeBlanc, which is why I think he goes to the alternate camp until or if needed.

I think there will be a rotation between the five of them and the four positions (OF+DH). Hyde will be able to use best match ups.

Let's face it, Felix Hernandez has been throwing mid-80s all spring so it doesn't come as a huge surprise that he suddenly has elbow discomfort. This along with the fact that Matt Harvey was reportedly throwing 94-96 yesterday and pitched decently over four innings, and Jorge Lopez continues to pitch well has made it an interesting horse race for the final two rotation spots. Officially, no one but John Means had a rotation spot but I think we all knew that Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer had spots unless they either got injured or imploded this spring. Let's assume these three are in the rotation: 1. Means 2. Kremer 3. Akins That leaves two spots open if they go with the five-man rotation and since Holt basically said he doesn't like 6-man rotation, I'm going to go with a five man rotation. I see almost no way Bruce Zimmermann doesn't make the rotation with his spring so far. Not only hasn't he given up a run, but his fastball was up to 94-95 MPH and touching 96 in his last start and his slider has been a real unhittable pitch. So, I'm saying Zim is in at #4. 4. Zimmermann That leaves one more spot and if we scratch Hernandez off (Nothing is official, but I'm going to go with the fact that nothing good as ever come from a pitcher throwing 2-3 MPH slower than in years past who suddenly has elbow discomfort), that leaves these candidates: 5. Matt Harvey (NRI) 6. Jorge Lopez 7. Wade LeBlanc (NRI) Lopez has pitched the best overall so far and is the only one that doesn't not a roster spot, but if Harvey is throwing 94-96 again, and he's able to look decent, I don't see how he doesn't end up with that 5th spot. I still think Lopez makes the team as a long reliever/spot starter and besides, he's probably been in need of moving to the pen for some time now. With three lefties in the rotation, I don't see LeBlanc making it without another injury. LeBlanc can got to the alternate site and be ready if an opportunity develops. So that's how I see things shaking out there in Mid-march. Obviously the last two weeks could change some things, but if I had to guess, the rotation is going be this to give the rotation a L-R-L balance. 1. John Means 2. Dean Kremer 3. Bruce Zimmermann 4. Matt Harvey 5. Keegan Akin If the Orioles go with 9 relievers for 14 pitchers, here's how I think the bullpen shapes up. 1. Scott (LHP) - High leverage/closer 2. Valdez (RHP) - High leverage/closer 3. Armstrong (RHP) 4. Tate (RHP) 5. Fry (LHP) 6. Cole Sulser (RHP) 7. Tyler Wells (RHP) - Can provide some length 8. Jorge Lopez (RHP) - Long guy 9. Connor Greene (NRI) (RHP) - Long guy/ but don't be surprised if he works into late inning role. Davis gets put on 60-day IL to make room for Harvey. Lakins gets DFA'd for Greene. Now, if the Orioles want more length they could go with LeBlanc over Sulser or possibly Goudeau, but they will both be at the alternate site getting ready so they would be options if needed after the season starts.

Updated with Hernandez injury and Franco signing. So who has been the surprise of the camp so far?

Probably depends on how many innings Lopez can give them. If he they can squeeze 4 out of him they might be ok to get through 8.

Should have, but who knows in the spring. As a reliever he should have been able to get ready pretty quick, but maybe he wasn't mentally ready.

Wonder if Hanhold got thrown into the game without properly warming up because of Hernandez's quick exit. He's been pretty good this spring up until this appearence.

I was going to say MLB Game day had him only with a clean first. Either way, sounds like he left after the first inning and then with with trainers which is never a good sign for any pitcher who was schedule to pitch 3-4 innings.

With Franco signed, it looks like the Orioles position player roster is starting to take shape. Obviously the biggest thing that affects it right now is whether the team carries 13 or 14 pitchers. I still see them carrying 14 pitchers because of the innings load that will need to be taken on by many pitchers with just 60 innings or less pitched last year by everyone. Now I supposed Franco could be optioned this year before opening day if he looks rusty and Ruiz could start the year at 3B, but I'm going to assume he will spend most, if not all of 2021 with the Orioles (at least until the trade deadline). With that in mind, this is how I see the Orioles position players. 1B: Mancini 2B: Sanchez SS: Galvis 3B: Franco LF: Mountcastle/Hays CF: Hays/Mullins RF: Santander/Hays C : Severino DH: Stewart/Mountcastle/Mancini/Santander (He's going to play a lot of CF/LF/RF) Reserves: C- Sisco (I really think Hyde would prefer Wynns here) UTL: Valaika DH/OF: Stewart The Orioles are playing Mullins right now like a regular this spring and I think the Orioles really want his defense in CF (at least against righties). The Orioles best defensive outfield is Hays (LF), Mullins (CF), Santander (RF) but they are playing Mountcastle everyday in LF and he's too young to make an everyday DH. This means they will rotate Mountcastle and Santander with Stewart at DH and free up Hays to play all three outfield spots including starting in CF against lefties. So basically Hyde has lot of options to mix and match in his outfield with Hays ability play all three outfield position effectively and Hays will get 500+ at bats playing all over the outfield. If, and that's a big if, the Orioles go with 13 pitchers, then it opens a spot for Ruiz as a left-handed pinch hitter, backup 1B/3B. I see Ruiz getting DFA'd, getting through waivers and playing DH, 1B and some 3B with Bannon playing 2B on occasion at Norfolk this year. Ruiz would be the first option if Franco gets hurt unless Bannon is tearing it up in AAA (he's looked pretty over matched this spring). the other thing could be to send Ruiz to Bowie to play 3B everyday and be ready in case of injury since they probably want to see Bannon against AAA pitching this year.

Not as much as starters, but they do learn how hitters react and what they need to improve upon. A good example would be Blaine Knight who dominated Low-ball hitters with fastball up and out of the zone and curveballs in the dirt for the most part as well as the fact that Sally League hitters would go after more pitches out of the zone. He found out that High-A hitters are more patient and his lack of command led him to eventually pitch too much in the middle of the plate and he got hammered. I'm sure he took that lesson on what to work on that offseason but unfortunately the 2020 minor league season was wiped out. Personally, I would jump Fenter up to AA and put him in relief and see how the fastball-curveball combo plays in two-three inning stints.

Yeah, I'm not quite sure why the Orioles would not let you bring your own printed out ticket to scan as well as the cell phone. I'm guessing they will update this to allow that possibility.

Well obviously skipping a level can be tough since there's a reason you typically move a guy a level at a time because there are lessons to be learned by each level of talent. Age vs level is going to be weird this year because of the missed 2020. It will be interesting to see how Elias ends up placing his players this year after the missed 2020 campaign. Does Henderson get pushed aggressively to Frederick after his good showing in the alternate camp last year or does he go to his natural next level in Bowie? The Orioles have a lot of shortstops that will need playing time between Delmarva and Frederick. Henderson, Westburg, Hernaiz, Servideo, and Ortiz all are current shortstops that need playing time there to decide where their future will be. But, back to Fenter. I think they should move him to the pen and put him at Bowie and see how he looks. Of course I'm saying this based off my looks at him from 2019 and not what he could look like now. For all I know he picked up a pitch. Where players start 2021 in the minors is going to be fascinating.

I was surprised he spent the whole season in Low-A ball in 2019. He was healthy and pitching well and was already long in the tooth for that level and probably could have been pushed to Frederick halfway through the season. One thought was the Orioles were trying to keep him out of the eyes of teams for the Rule pick and then they could be more aggressive with him in 2020. The fact that he was taken (and returned) this year showed that may not have been the best idea but nobody knew the season would be wiped out in 2020. As smart as Elias is, I'm sure he's learning about this 40-man roster and rule 5 protection processes as he moves along. This was a weird year because no one saw much of anyone in 2020, so I think that's why you saw so many Rule 5 draft picks this year and why more than usual number amounts may stick. Either way, I'm not sure I would have traded Pop for Sceroler or Wells, even though I like Wells a bit and basically that's what he's done if he loses Pop.