now

I don't know if ideal is the correct word. Fantasy? Strat-O-Matic, with career totals? Total projected WAR? Think of it as a virtual trade proposal. The first group is known quantities, the second group poses more risk. This thought experiment started with assessing relative value for Machado/Kremer. Bundy/Bradish likewise. And of course betting Wieters vs. Rutschman final value. Between Ben McDonald and Adley, the number one picks Machado, Bundy and Wieters were the cream of the Oriole drafts; results were mixed. You could compare head-to-head as you like (e.g., Machado/Rutschman, Bundy/Bradish, Wieters/Kremer). I'll go with our current group, out of recency bias or risk of higher long-term returns.

With Kremer as the top piece in the Machado trade... Bradish (traded for Bundy) looking like a solid starter... and Rutschman looking everything like the catcher-god we envisioned in fellow #1 pick Matt Wieters... which trio would you pick for your ideal Orioles team?

On balance I think it's fair to expect the improved rotation and regressed bullpen will even out, so pitching overall for the team will remain about the same. Meanwhile the hitting should definitely improve!

Cue the pivot to Vavra in RF over Stowers!

good luck with that!

Sort of like batting order, in that the ratio of angst to any actual difference is enormous.

Bradish it seems has also moved down the pecking order, no surprise after his recent battering. As for GRod/Hall tandem it's a way to build innings for both gradually if both are throwing well (vs. Watkins, Voth, Zimmerman, etc.)

It wouldn't surprise me if they wanted to stash GRod and do what I've been suggesting for a while: use a Wells/Hall (or Hall/Wells) tandem.

Now there's a novel idea!

Mountcastle gets lumped with Hays since they both had a disappointing second half last season. I have given up expecting more from either of them but they are both young enough to turn it around, and if they do (especially Mountcastle with the greater power) it would be huge for this year's team.

Well, yeah. I wasn't exactly rooting for MFY injuries... more making a general point, half in jest. As for Rodon, that's one thread still relevant to O's Talk IMO, but no biggie!

Any Yankees bad news is Orioles good news.

This guy is a beast. Seeing him live he just looks like a player, ready to play. Not to mention that easy monster shot with the wrists. If I'm the manager, I want him on my team now. I can see it now... Joltin' Colton

Dream big!

That's an old Irish trick I saw again recently in an old 50s flick with Sean Connery, Darby O'Gill and the Little People, where the king of the leprechauns uses it with the three wishes he grants Darby.

I wonder if it works also in reverse (e.g., Chris Davis): One big miss negates all the hits? Or is "young" the key part?

But they have a big advantage: cutting out those more-than-annoying MLB.TV ads on instant replay, filling every half-inning break. The alternative with MLB.TV is just to mute every time. But adding the MiLB package could be the tiebreaker.

Just add the catcher and you have a heck of a lineup and bench.

Maybe as excited as... 1966, after trading for F. Robinson 1960: "Play the kids!"

And now for something completely different: for Wells and/or Means to return to form and pitch to their potential as #2-3 rotation pieces by the end of the year.

Here we are again, "lying in the weeds."

I hear ya. I find myself muttering the same question a lot during the season. Maybe it's like the old Strat-O-Matic dilemma: there are the hitter's splits to consider; but even if they don't present an advantage, there are also the opposing pitcher's splits to consider. Does that translate into or reflect actual MLB decision-making? It's the only explanation I can think of...

Could be. Part of the plan could also be to give DL a LH mentor with success, kind of a role model to show he can get outs without overthrowing, by pitching not overthrowing.

Speaking of which, nice to see Cowser on the list too. One of those new ranking lists had him as a solid CF. Not sure he's perceived that way around here...

And look at Arizona with 3 of the top 8!