Tony-OH

Here's Davis statcast numbers since 2015: (The ball was juiced in 2019 so the slight improvements are really still a degraded state when put into consideration to everyone else's jump) Barrel % 2015 17.6 (top 1% of league) 2016 15.1 (top 3% of league) 2017 12.8 (top 9% of league) 2018 10.2 2019 10.5 Exit Velocity 2015 91.8 (top 6% of league) 2016 90.8 2017 89.9 2018 89.0 2019 89.1 K% 2015 31.0 (bottom 2%) 2016 32.9 (bottom 1%) 2017 37.2 2018 36.8 2019 39.5 xwOBA 2015 .390 (top 3%) 2016 .351 2017 .312 2018 .239 2019 .263 (bottom 1%) So what we have here is he's hitting ball less hard each year, barreling less, and striking out more. Last season he hit fastballs better (.243 BA/.248 xBA) than he has since 2015 (.295 BA/.273 xBA) but basically couldn't hit breaking (.095 BA/.141 xBA) and offspeed pitches (.103/.191 xBA) which tells me he was sitting dead red most of the time which could because his bat is slowing (drop in EV and barreling suggest this as well).

I do think teams play their A games against us, but special teams typically put a stomping on these kinds of teams. This is a weird team though, but until they win the Big-10 conference and make it to the elite 8, I'm going to be skeptical.

You know, besides about 10 minutes in the second half, they played really well tonight. Stix was absolutely a beast with 22 points and 19 rebounds tonight. Two game lead with Penn State's loss tonight, but a real tough last five games. Let's see what they got.

Apparently MD felt like they had this game won and came out flat in the second half. Not surprising really. This should be a blow out game but that's not a Turgeon run team staple now is it? They'll win this, but this has become a dogfight as just about everyone but Stix has decided to take an early breather.

Just have to be on the roster, not position.

Yeah, unless they make the elite 8, I'd want him gone. They also need to win the Big10 this year with Michigan State being in a down year. He can not lose to Penn State again either. If you let Penn State become a better basketball school then Maryland then you need to go. This team has no depth and his recruiting really fell of last year. If they win it will be on the backs of Cowan and Stix and they're both gone next year so this is the year.

Hey, put him on there if you want. But if you miss you don't get the half point for a generic name if it's someone else.

I'll give you a half point. Five if you pull off the name!

Just for fun, let's see who before the first spring training game can guess the 26-man final roster. Now the chances are somebody may not even be in camp yet, but let's see what you got. No more guesses after Friday. You get one point for every player you get right. I'm going to go but will wait until Friday so not to influence anyone. If we have Hangout nights this year, whoever comes in first gets two free tickets to one of the games.

Have you ever seen the movie Ricky Bobby? Well Scott is a thrower, not a thinker. When I spoke to him briefly last spring he was one of the few who seemed less than enthralled with the new technology and information. Let's also remember that according to a source, he has a blood flow problem in his hands that leaves them cold and causes him to lose feeling in his fingers at times. That certainly could explain his inconsistencies on the mound. Lots of talent in that arm though who could almost live off that slider alone if he could consistently get it over.

Rucker and Wynns are probably the two most vulnerable to being DFA'd. I could see both those guys making it if they pitch well but we shall see. They are the kind of guys that spring training means a lot too. They are not going to wow the staff, but if they can eat innings as a starter or long reliever there is some value there especially since few of the prospects look ready yet, although Akin or Zimmerman could change some minds.

Heard the same thing from a good source last off season. Davis is here to talk a good game, make super fans say, "He's a nice guy" and collect his money.

I would be surprised if Rucker made the team. First off , that's a big jump for a guy who did not dominate AA. Second, the Orioles will need roster spots potentially for Milone, LeBlanc and Holoday. Rucker and Wynns are the two of the most likely causalities if those three pitch/play well this spring.

I do think Bailey will win a spot, but it might be in the pen. We'll know more as spring shakes out. Both Milone and LeBlanc will need to pitch well to make the team but they have the ability to eat innings (as starters or long relievers) and that's something Elias wants. Bailey could win a spot in the rotation, but the Orioles may just use him in low leverage situation or long relief at first.

Bailey very well may win a spot, but the Orioles may prefer for him to work in long relief at first. He will be an interesting one to watch this spring.

Yep, thanks for adding the info about the waivers. I forgot that part.

I'd like to see them convert him to the pen full-time and let him be a fastball, slider, curveball guy. I'd like to see if it would limit some of his inconsistencies and allow his stuff to play up. It's still too early to give up on him, but this is a big year for him.

It will depend on how they look and how their numbers look in trackman. Elias very well could try to work out a deal like he did with Araujo, but it will depend on what the other teams want. Not sure if he tried to work out a deal for Drew Jackson or not, but it seemed fishy when he made the opening day roster then was sent back a week into the season.

Sometimes people talk to their wives and get great advice that really focuses them on what's important, sometimes you decide collecting a pay check is the most important thing despite having enough money to live of for three generations. Sorry. I don't buy this is anything but a money grab. This is a guy who has convinced himself that he was "underpaid" during his big years so he's just collecting now. He has no role on a rebuilding team or really any major league team. In his last two seasons he's slashed an embarrassing .172/.256/.308/.564 over 874 PAs. His legacy will not be the guy once know as Crush to Orioles fans, but one of a guy who was paid a ridiculous contract by a frail old owner and who has done nothing but embarrass himself on the field since. Walking away was the only thing he had left to save some type or f grace or legacy.

The reason why every Orioles fan should care about Cobb is in the off chance he regains his pre-injury form and becomes some kind of decent trade chip.

Can't hurt, right? Hess has a major league arm and stuff, but he's never been able to find consistency and he makes too many mistakes in the middle of the plate that get hit hard. Perhaps they will be able to provide him some kind of instruction that helps. It will be interesting to see him pitch this spring to see if there are any noticeable changes.

https://www.orioleshangout.com/2020/02/16/accessing-the-pitching-battles-this-spring/

Had some people over for poker so missed some of the second half, but I did see the final four minutes. This was a big win obviously and it was good to see Turgeon finally beat Izzo. It's a down year for Michigan State standards, but a win up there is a big win because that's a great program. I tell you though, Cowan does have ice in veins. He just a total assassin at the end of games with threes and thing is, is it really doesn't matter what kind of game he's had up to that point, he's the guy you want the ball in the hands of with the game on the line in the last two minutes of a game. Trimble hit a lot of big shots in his time, and of course Juan Dixon was money back in the day, but this kid may be the best late game shooter in Terps history. Both the Big-10 tourney and NCAA's are big tests ahead of course, but this was a nice step in the right direction.

Nice half for the most part but lost their minds a little bit over the last four minutes of the half once Stix went to the bench. Let's see if they have two halfs in them. Nice job on the board and they were helped from some cold shooting by MS from 3-point.

updated with Mason McCoy feature.. Tommy Milone will wear number 69.