now

I see a few different tiers here, based on how confident we can be of who the players are. Objectively this might be measured as service time to date, but instead I'll go with the more subjective gut approach, and keep it simple with three categories: the known quantity: Mountcastle, Santander inconsistent but promising: Mullins, Stewart too soon to tell: Hays, Diaz, McKenna, Kjerstad (Mancini obviously would go in tier 1, except post-surgery, falls to tier 3 for now. And if the mix gets too crowded there's always 1B.)

Plus, now we have a taste of "winning matters."

Yup, just another crazy twist to this season that four games ago we were within a whisper of the playoffs, now we're midway between playoffs and dead last (and first pick, if that's what it means).

How ironic is that? The most old-school metric with the most lo-tech tool: ye olde stopwatch.

Me too... and I can't seem to shake this pesky avatar. #TINSTAAPP

I believe I read 20 percent.

Thx for the research. DJ also heads that list for OPS/BA ratio, at 5.68 - except for Dick Nen who had one HR and 3 BB with his 8 AB. BTW, good call @Brooks The Greaton the Rob Deer comp, on the list twice.

When Stewart was drafted I thought a good comp might be Kevin Youkilis, for OBP, power, body type. Maybe he's getting there after all. Anyone else see that?

Or Jack Cust?

And fellow first-rounders (2015). That's so cool.

Has anyone ever had a ratio of OPS to BA like that? 1.051 / .185

Not to mention the major league umps, who (conventional wisdom notes) tend to squeeze young players learning the ropes. And these all-too-human umps appear more flawed than ever this season.

It's all real. and None of it is real. (sorry, couldn't resist)

If it makes you feel any better, Mike Wright never led all the minor leagues in strikeouts, as Kremer did in 2018.

Oops, you're right: Nestor. What I was thinking of was not only the soft assortment, but the variable funky arm angles. The key as with any soft tosser is command, and Valdez seems to have nailed it.

In the mold of Nelson Cortes but with better stuff and more command and experience. Let's hope it continues to play.

Well here's 4 out of 5, all coming on strong just as of this week. I would add Valdez to this quartet... and Harvey. May their magic touch continue!

That's awesome, thanks for the research. The Johnson example certainly passes the sniff test for me, with that glaring difference between his 2012 vs. 2013 meltdowns.

Old system: It (the slump) weighs on you, in the back of your mind. New system: "It weighs on the back of your head."

Momentum makes me think of playoffs on a day like this. Stewart's breakout replacing Santander and against Cole to team with Akin's gem. Breaking the MFY losing streak. Plus Toronto and Detroit both losing in walkoffs. O's 3 back with 3 weeks to play. Say what you want, we're in a playoffs race. (I didn't say Series or Pennant, but so what? One game at a time.)

I wonder what managers (or at least Hyde) would say they prefer in their bullpen, if the personnel fits: flexibility (closer by committee) or predictability (designated closer).

You could say the same about Givens but look what happened. Likely the only difference was psychological: but hard to quantify except for the results themselves, which one might otherwise call "random," SSS, etc.... similar to "clutch" for batters, or for postseason performances. That said, I think with Hyde that a psychological reset could change things around. Edit, after rocky appearance vs. Mets: ... then again, maybe 4.70 is just who he is. Edit2: Make that 5.94.

Good point. So what metric would you use to identify the most volatile relievers?

Some interesting stats come up when I try to find the most notorious Orioles ever for blowing saves. It's a manual calculation since I can only find Saves and Save Opportunities. At the high end of saves leaders it's common to see a half dozen blown saves, so I looked further down for worse percentages and perhaps the duds that lost their closer roles (5+ BS). Here goes, with some surprise entries for "Gasoline Alley" including a few on pennant winners and contenders. The much maligned Givens has some good company there: 1974 Grant Jackson 12 / 19 1970 Eddie Watt 12 / 19 2019 Michael Givens 11 / 19 2014 Tommy Hunter 11 / 17 2009 Jim Johnson 11 / 16 2011 Jim Johnson 9 / 14 1989 Mark Williamson 9 / 15 2007 Jamie Walker 7 / 13 2015 Darren O'Day 6 / 11 2000 Buddy Groom 4 / 11 1985 Tippy Martinez 4 / 12 2000 Mike Trombley 4 / 11 1977 Dick Drago 3 / 9 1996 Alan Mills 3 / 8 1990 Curt Schilling 3 / 9 2012 Pedro Strop 3 / 10 1987 Mark Williamson 3 / 10 2016 Brad Brach 2 / 7 2007 Chad Bradford 2 / 7 2010 Jim Johnson 1 / 6 2017 Michael Givens 0 / 6 2004 Jason Grimsley 0 / 6 Strangely missing from this list are the would-be "bad closers" I would expect to see: the likes of Terry Mathews, Mike DeJean, Kevin Gregg... wait, there's one: Mike Trombley. I guess they lost games in earlier innings and never deserved many true save opportunities. I wonder what stat "leader" board would list such culprits that stick out most in our jaded memories... PS Last year's Givens earns his rep here by leading the pack with 8 BS, tied with 1985 Tippy. Sulser's line so far: a rather modest 5 / 8. Recency bias, anyone?

I can see Hyde's logic. Sulser was very effective early on, but hit a bad stretch lately and it got to his head... thus command. A "breather" in lower pressure situations might work to reset his confidence. Meanwhile, I'm really liking what I'm seeing from Tate (maybe not as closer, yet, but still).