Tony-OH

Agreed...

Imagine how much harder it will be next year. They will actually get a lot of more of their recruiting class plus all of the returnees who will come back for their senior year. Trying to find playing time next year is going to be really tough.

We have a winner... Martin has a good hit tool, but his average power limits his ceiling in the power game that is played today.

My educated guess is Elias hopes to build up a stable of position players and then trade for starting pitching that is either ready or nearly ready. Plus, the strength of this organization is in it's pitching prospects with Rodriguez and Hall potential TORs.

The issue people have with your stance is you use words like lunacy or you say the team drafted a .250 hitter. I've said my take on this issue. I liked 5 out of 6 of the picks and like how he decided to take on some high risk, high reward guys in the 4th and 5th rounds when other teams were taking slot 4th and 5th rounders. I'm fine if you disagree nor do I think a differing take on this is luncay. It's just a different opinion and with the way MLB drafts go, it will take years to know who was right so there's no reason to be too upset or too happy right now.

Yeah, Goodell is such a natural on camera. His fake hyping of the stupid crowds on the TV behind him were excruciatingly awkward.

Noted. According to you, a draft strategy by one of the brightest minds in baseball is lunacy. Let's move on.

You are being silly now.

Um, no it doesn't. It usually indicates they have strong arm and not the speed for center. Limited defensive outfielders are usually pegged LF/1B types at draft time.

The issue will be with his footwork at third base, but the hands, mobility, and arm strength all can stay at 3B. I don't see him moving off 3B anytime soon. I could see him at 3B, Henderson at SS, and Hernaiz at 2B at Delmarva next year.

You are hilarious. You are so over the top that I can almost see you seething. I like your passion, but it's so misguided at times. Like your hate for the best quarterback and player in football last year. You see what you want to see, but you need to learn to be more open to other opinions and ideas and also realize you may be proven wrong and then accept that. Let's say both Kjerstad and Mayo's bats become impact guys and they both have RF arms and speed. Do you really think that's a bad thing? I don't care all that much about positions at this point, but want guys with value. Value that they can also trade for ready and proven pitching that will be needed for competitive World Series runs. While we all like to envision these guys doing well at Camden Yards, they are assets to be used to win and win often. That also includes being trade bait for positions of needs when they are close.

Nobody had the money in the 4th and 5th rounds to take them so the Orioles hoped they would slip and be available.

Both Rutschman and Kjerstad have a chance to be good/great OBP guys. Haskin and Servideo both are OBP guys. We don't have enough data on Henderson of Hernaiz to know yet.

Ok, so what did I say that was wrong? I said 1st round talent. I didn't say the Orioles scooped up three 1st rounders. People are losing their minds and besides, it's my opinion based on what I've read, heard and observed on video. People are free to disagree or think I'm nuts. Hell, some people think Elias is stupid. Again, seeing what's going on in this country, I'm long past arguing with people over my opinion. Feel free to respectfully disagree all you like. We all have no idea how these guys are going to turn out and for the people who keep pointing to "the experts" i.e. the guys doing mock drafts and lists, feel free to go back and do the research and see how often they've been wrong. Hell, go to any top 100 prospect lists done by the "experts" and see how many complete failed, including top ten prospects with years of minor league stats behind them. The Orioles, and many other teams, have a lot of data and metrics they are using which some of the "experts" don't have access to. Elias and Sig also have a pretty good track record. So yes, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt while also looking at all the data and information I can find. Anyone who thinks this is an absolute bust right now is ridiculously uninformed. Anyone who thinks this is an absolute fantastic draft that will change the Orioles' horizons in a couple of years is ridiculously uninformed, but the truth is, if two of these guys become above average players and at least one becomes an impact player at the major league draft, it's a damn good draft. I know we don't have a lot to discuss and this is the only game in town, and all points of view are welcome, but some people around here need to take a deep breath and realize the major league draft is a crapshoot after the first round and even late in the first round traditionally, and that's with a full year of baseball that just occurred from the players being drafted. Elias decided that the value of going with Kjerstad was worth getting guys he really liked in Mayo and Baumler. Time will tell whether that was a good idea or not but no one knows right now definitively that it was or was not the right call. No one.

Sure, agreed, but who did we draft that fits that description?

Disingenuous - not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does. Well that's your opinion, but I take exception to you using the word disingenuous to describe my thoughts on this. Whether they get second round money or not, there were some who thought they have 1st round type of talent and had the high school season played out, they might have been 1st rounders. I think what people are forgetting is that many high schoolers were really hurt by no season or a very limited season because they did not have that opportunity to break out. If a scout think a guy has first round talent and just wants more game action to decide, but then he has no game action to really add to the evaluation, that creates risk. That risk drops guys down when less risky players are available. So they very may have 1st round talent, but may get 2nd round money due to the risk factor because of the lost season.

Well that is certainly your right to have that opinion, but I'm going to disagree a bit. The game has changed and power plays. Kjerstad has outstanding left-handed power and let's not act like his hit tool is awful either, it's probably above average. I don't think he's going to be Trumbo out in RF so as long as he's not awful out there, his bat should play and he has an opportunity to be an impact hitter in the middle of the lineup. Signing him allowed the Orioles to get Mayo and Baumler. So let's just say Elias had to make a choice between Martin (who many think has to move off SS and has just average power), slot 4th and 5th round talents vs Kjerstad, Mayo, and Baumler. He gets the left handed power he needed in the lineup (I could see him sandwiched between Rutschman and Mountcastle to give the Orioles and potent 3-4-5 and two high ceiling high schoolers. The more I read and watched video of Hunter Haskin, the more I kinda like him. That swing if fugly, no doubt, but the guy can rake and he's got enough speed and defensive ability to play all three outfield positions. If he can develop into 20 homer power, .280-.290/.340-.350 OBP guy, he's a solid major league starting outfielder, particularly in center field. His arm has accuracy issues, but it's solid to even above average according to most sources but I don't think the arm will end up a detriment or an asset. Now, the only pick I'm not initially thrilled with is the Jordan Westburg selection. I would have preferred the Orioles had gone with a college arm at this point, but Elias/Sig like those big up the middle guys. Westburg does have some talent, but he has to stick at shortstop to get the most value as I don't think his hit tool or average power will make him a great play at 3B ultimately. Now if he ends up at 2nd base as a Jonathan Schoop like second baseman, there still could be some value but I would not be surprised if he's a high strikeout, low walk guy.

Some people are going to stick to their theories and thoughts that somehow Elias is stupid. If this country right now tells us anything is that people are going to believe what they want to believe no matter the overwhelming evidence that shows otherwise. We won't know for years how good this draft was, but the draft strategy was a solid concept.

1st round talents don't always mean they are going in the first round. I mean, if you wanna be tied up on words, be my guest, but guys have 1st round talent and fall for lots of reason including signing demands and risk.

I typically don't do reevaluation of prospect lists after the draft, but once they sign I will, especially since it appears there will not be a minor league season.

I don't know about the "experts" but this kid was rated much higher by the Orioles than 133 I can tell you that. With a smooth, athletic delivery that he repeats well. Add in a 92-94 fastball with a high spin rate, a good curveball already, and was a TCU recruit and yes, I think that qualifies as a steal in the 5th round.

I don't know how they do top lists when it comes to signability, but this kid also missed a lot of time due to mono so he wasn't seen by a ton of teams.

http://www.orioleshangout.com/2020/06/11/elias-adds-two-1st-round-talents-in-4th-and-5th-round-to-complete-impressive-2020-orioles-draft/

Can't say, but I can say they are in the know. that's just an opinion of course, maybe even hyperbole. Either way, this kid has really clean mechanics and is a fantastic athlete. This kid is 6'2" and can dunk a basketball.

Carter Baumler is an overslot who people did not think was signable. The Orioles reportedly will be able to sign all of their draft picks, which tells me they have agreements. What a steal as a 5th rounder. They call him a more athletic Zack Greinke. Baumler brings a 92-94 fastball with a clean, athletic delivery with good spin rate that will up in the zone. Missed time due to mono but some believe he has as much if not more potential than the top two high school arms taken. This is an absolute steal. The Orioles basically ended up with three 1st round talents in Kjerstad, Mayo and Baumler. That's called using your bonus in a unique year the right way.