now

Likewise, I wouldn't toss in the towel yet on Cowser and Kjerstad, who could very well end up outperforming those slot picks.

Agreed, that 1960 edition of Baby Birds was definitely up there too.

Can't argue with your enthusiasm over current prospects but not sure your parallel of 1970 is that accurate. Yes, Baylor and Grich were both 21 and future stars. And there was Terry Crowley at (23), and Johnny Oates (24). But May (26) and Motton (29), along with Roger Freed (24) were bit players at best. Rettenmund was 27 and at the peak of a short career. Otherwise our younger everyday players were already established for a couple of years: Blair (26), Johnson (27), Etchebarren (27), Palmer (24), and Hardin (26). So I'm guessing you were aiming at an overall talent comparison rather than a list of hot prospects, per se. Personally I don't recall a time *ever* when the Orioles were noted for the most (quality or quantity) of top prospects like they are now. On the other hand, if you substitute 1966, you might have a case: Etchebarren 23, Powell 24, Johnson 23, Blefary 22, Blair 22, Haney 23, Belanger 22, Epstein 23, McNally 23, Palmer 20, Bunker 21, Watt 25, Phoebus 24. (Tho I have no idea how these would rate in national rankings at the time).

Funny, I was thinking Dylan Bundy... following Povich's Matusz imitation.

Curious espec. about Ortiz and Hall, as they go fwd. with Milwaukee. Spring stats so far are about what you'd expect, even in this small sample: Ortiz: Hall:

Sure, but in our case the moves contemplated are standard procedure: from the premium defensive positions (3B and SS, respectively) down the scale to lesser positions--the opposite of Betts.

Look at the young Orioles outfield cohort, the lefty-swinging Cowser, Stowers, and Kjerstad. Could they be penciled into an everyday lineup, or are they platoon candidates? In today's bullpen-heavy environment, does platooning even make sense anymore? Here are their 2023 AAA splits vs. LHP: Stowers 73 AB .680 OPS Cowser 76 AB .769 OPS Kjerstad 107 AB .828 OPS Obviously these are small sample sizes, for a metric that can flip even for full-season totals from year to year. Then there are the opposing pitchers' splits to consider. If LH Batter X has even splits but faces a LH pitcher with 50% better splits against LH batters, it would make sense to split the difference and peg the matchup at a 25% disadvantage. (Think Strat-O-Matic, rolling a 4-5-6 for the pitcher's card instead of 1-2-3 for the batter's card, in a given at bat.) Just thinking out loud here. What do you think about the emphasis the Orioles give to platooning. Is it overrated, underused, or just right?

I think you mean Cowser, Stowers and Kjerstad. And I want to agree, though it's a tough sell to swap all three at once!

Here's the view from BB-Ref:

I know this thread is about Mayo but the implications are roster-wide. The depth on this team is getting ridiculous, to the point that the quality of A vs. B squads is up for grabs, whether infield or outfield. Infield: Westburg/Henderson/Holliday + Urias/Mateo/Wong + Mayo, Norby Outfield: Hays/Mullins/Santander + Stowers/Cowser/Kjerstad + McKenna Mayo's urgency aside, the outfield crunch is the most concerning, as the second string is all ready but blocked.

From the dark years: Mike Timlin Tim Worrell Tony Batista Pat Hentgen Kris Benson Kevin Millwood

Jack Flaherty Javy Lopez

This article at MLB.com cites a mechanical tweak with his delivery, with the hips. Just eyeballing it, I see a compact, easy delivery that could set up the explosive fastball.

Love the look of this lineup (All Kids!). And holding their own against the Phillies A team.

This is hard to fathom (though I'm not disagreeing with the observation). I mean, he certainly has value to this 101-win team as a 1B/DH and middle of the order bat... yet no other team would have a need for him? Certainly seems like equal value would be a solid bullpen arm: but then, I guess even those are a coveted commodity. BTW, same goes for Hays, Urias, Stowers, Norby, Mateo as having tradeable value but untraded. Why? Elias just eking out max evaluation time and accounting for future injuries?

Book it!

You can add Stowers' HR vs Atlanta!

It's early and much will get sorted out, but on immediate results and signals I could see Irvin leapfrogging Wells and Kremer. And early good work from the young trio at the bottom also bodes well for their chances to pass Zimmerman and McDermott.

LOL with the subtitle, "The Baltimore Orioles might have been able to make a run in 2023 if they pulled off this trade for a legendary starting pitcher." As if winning the AL East and top seed in the playoffs isn't "making a run." Sheesh, journalism these days.

I think most are discounting Kremer's value as a #3, after he went 13-5 with a league average ERA and 1.5 WAR. Isn't that about right for slotting at #3? As for bullpen, no one but Tony even mentioned Tate. So yeah, we're worse off, but not quite as bad as it might seem at first glance.

If I was a pitcher (or any player) I would love to have Ben McDonald as a coach--for personality and energy as well as knowledge and experience.

Well, this time it is... compared to how high we were flying after "liftoff."

Shocking! but true... 2023 Burnes 3.5 WAR 2019 Cashner 2.5 WAR

Assume you're referring to Burnes's splits. We're still a RHP-heavy staff now, meaning we'll face more lefty batters. The Wells issue (low K's) maybe indicates long/middle relief then, instead of back end? Plus, spot starter and rotation depth.

With regard to Hall, the high BB rate kind of devalues his potential both as a starter and in relief. For that reason, comparing him for example to Wells as a backend 2024 bullpen piece, I can live with letting him go (espec. to the NL). The other downside, though, is having one less LHP and one more RHP (Burnes), which is not exactly maximizing the effect of the LF Wall.