Tony-OH

The only way you do is if you think Pop won't get selected or won't stick. I'm not even sure if Pop is back on the mound yet. If you don't need to put Pop on the 40-man yet, it keep a spot that you can use at any time. If someone is released/DFA's during spring training next year from another team and makes a good fit here, you can DFA Sulser at any time and it's not an issue. However, if Popp is taking a spot, but not ready, that might mean Elias has to risk losing a player he wouldn't have to. Does that make sense?

I will say during my video scouting work after the trades last year, I liked Pop more than Carroll. Luke was higher on Carroll then I was, but he said he saw him better which I don't doubt. My biggest issue with Pop, besides the injury which makes him a big risk, is he just didn't miss as many bats as I would have like to have seen with a guy with his stuff. Now, saying that, this is a guy who came a long way from his unspectacular college numbers so his improvements are real. He only struck out 9K/9 over his career, but he's only allowed 5.4H/9 and only one home run which suggests he's tough to barrel up. Either way, I would certainly protect him over a guy like Cole Sulser if I had reports he's healthy and his stuff is back.

Well since he didn't make my top 30, I'm a little more cautious on him until I see what he looks like in his return. Saying that, he is a guy that throws in the mid to high 90s with a unique delivery with a slider that can flash plus. I would have liked to have seen a higher K rate for a guy with that kind of stuff, which is way I'm still a little skeptical until I see him at high levels upon his return. Remember the scouting reports of Cody Carroll were pretty good until I got eyes on and found his lack of ability to command the baseball a significant problem.

I'm not sure too many of these kind of guys are available in the Rule 5 draft. Perhaps with the lost year teams will take some chances on leaving potential everyday players exposed, but typically the Orioles aren't going to fund a potential everyday 3B in the Rule 5 draft.

And Cortes had put up a 1.49 ERA and 10.6 K/9 in 48.1 AAA innings when selected. Which is why again that pitchers like Wells are rarely taken in a rule 5 draft and if they are, they don't last with their new team. Here's what Elias may be thinking though. The chances of Wells being taken is very slim. If he doesn't put him on the roster, he gets whole other year of protecting Wells without losing an option year. There are several guys right now that he can jettison without concern it better players are DFA'd from other organizations. Saying that, the Orioles are pretty deep with Wells caliber left-handed starting pitcher with Zimmermann and Kevin Smith the most obvious AA or higher comps. I believe Lowther is step ahead of them and Baumann above them all, so the Orioles have a nice crop of readyor nearly ready young starters. By next August, I could see the Orioles rotation including: Means Akin Kremer Baumann Lowther Zimmermann would be the other guy who could still be in the rotation (I think he's the favorite as a 5th starter right now) with Wells and Smith in the wings.

How did that work out?

Soft tossing lefties aren't typically guys that get taken in the Rule 5 draft. Saying that, I'd protect him over several guys on the current 40-man including Wynns, Sulser, Martin, Nevin and Sanchez.

Became Minor League free agents: Cristian Alvarado, Danny Barnes, Malquin Canelo, Martin Cervenka, Brian Gonzalez, Tyler Herb, David Hess, Francisco Jimenez, Ty Moore, Luis Ortiz, Brady Rodgers, Jose Rondon, Dwight Smith, Richard Urena, Jesmuel Valentin, Andrew Velazquez Analysis: No big losses here if they don't resign, but the Orioles will probably be interested in resigning the following guys on minor league deals: Cristian Alvarado: Was coming off a good year in Bowie in 2019 where his stuff took a step forward in a relief role. Brian Gonzalez: He reportedly threw the ball well in the Alternate camp so could have earned another look Andrew Velazquez: Can't hit, but did show some versatility defensively and didn't make an error in 171 innings at SS. The rest could be some minor league depth resignings, but I don't see the Orioles having interest in Barnes, Canelo, Herb, Hess, Moore, Rodgers or Dwight Smith Jr. at all.

I agree with the analysis. Hence why I never bought the whole "finance" angle with Brocail.

Pop is one of those high risk high reward guys teams like to take a look at. Obviously he' a big wild card, but he had very good stats before his injury. I think there's potential for him being taken but he's a pretty big wildcard.

From everything I've heard is that Mattson isn't all that special. I wasn't impressed with the video of him from 2019 and the alternate camp report weren't anything glowing. I just don't think he's the kind of guy you take in a Rule 5. While basically ready, middle relievers aren't hard to find.

Here are the players eligible for Rule 5 selection this year. The Orioles 40-man as of 10/4 is 35 players. Here's how I see them being protected Must Protects Yusniel Diaz - OF Michael Baumann - SP Zac Lowther - SP Possible Protects Alex Wells - SP Zach Pop - RP Rylan Bannon - 2B/3B Long shot Protects Brenan Hanifee - SP Isaac Mattson - RP Cody Sedlock - RP No Need to protect Tyler Erwin - RP Brett Cumberland - C Ryan Ripken - 1B JC Encarnacion - 3B Mason McCoy - SS/UTL T.J. Nichting - OF Zach Jarrett - OF Mickey Jannis - SP Ofelky Peralta - RP Cameron Bishop - RP Ryan Wilson - SP/RP Zach Muckenhirn - RP Matthias Dietz - RP Zach Matson - RP

Holy crap, I must've missed this. Man, it always amazes me when team's go "old school" with their managerial selections, especially with all of the new analytics that's part of the decision making nowadays. I wonder how much the 76-year old Larussa knows about analytics. It's just a very interesting hire.

This makes some sense. The only thing is I would imagine the team would go to his wife and they wouldn't have to worry about inheritance taxes unless she passed as well.

I thought they might get into more of what happened during his career off field and perhaps more into what happened afterwards, but I think there is a lot of blank parts because Dalkowski wanted it that way. I'm probably going to get the book and see if there is more in there.

October 30: Baltimore Orioles claimed 2B Yolmer Sanchez off waivers from Chicago White Sox. My initial take: If he's cheap enough it improves the defense at 2B and I guess he could also become the utility guy with his ability to play 3B. Still, I'm not sure I get this move overall. He's not part of the future and he's not really much if any of an upgrade over what they have on the roster now. Basically, this is move that doesn't really move the needle in any direction besides potentially improving 2B defense.

If he's cheap enough it improves the defense at 2B and I guess he could also become the utility guy with his ability to play 3B. Still, I'm not sure I get this move overall. He's not part of the future and he's not really much if any of an upgrade over what they have on the roster now. Basically, this is move that doesn't really move the needle in any direction besides potentially improving 2B defense.

I went back and forth and just decided to go with Nevin since we really don't know what we have with Pop until he's back on the mound throwing competitively.

I think most us die hard Orioles fans love the legend of Steve Dalkowski. There's been a lot written about him, but I just found a new documentary (27 mins) on him made for the Connecticut Public TV channel. I recommend giving it a watch: https://cptv.org/far-from-home-the-steve-dalkowski-story/?fbclid=IwAR2c-sd_RW1-NukZOheGUPD2YEmii64mY7yYyk7mLKm0s9pQ_8uNIh8Z8CY There's also a new book out about him that i plan to get as well. https://www.amazon.com/Dalko-Untold-Baseballs-Fastest-Pitcher/dp/1645427102#:~:text=Gripping and tragic%2C Dalko is,Dalkowski%2C baseball's fastest pitcher ever.&text=Poised for greatness%2C he might,away in the minor leagues.

That was a hell of a game by Maryland Football. 45-44 win over Minnesota??? Wow. QB Taulia Tagovailoa and RB Jake Funk just played a hell of a game!

I don't know if anyone was tough to leave off, but I'd say the following players were in the running for the last two spots: Zach Pop: Hasn't barely pitched in two years so hard to know where he is at this point. Leonardo Rodriguez: I liked what I saw when he was in Aberdeen. Flashed me a plus slider and mid-90s fastball. Luis Sanchez: Good reports on the arm and the age gives him quite the ceiling, but I haven't even seen video of him so he can't give him a ranking yet. Ramón Urias: Has a chance to be an everyday starter next year at 2B. I could have built a case for him to be over Bannon but need to see more from him especially since his defense was so bad during his major league time.

I already posted #29 and #30 this morning.

I 100% agree as long as he doesn't make his politics part of the team. He can have any politics he wants, put I don't want to see the Orioles putting out officials statements demanding another state take the action they feel is right with nothing more than anecdotal evidence to support their points.

Good question. Maybe Plank does though!

I just think he adds an Oriole flavor to it. I don't know if he really adds much else as a business man of anything. It's a valid question though.