Ruzious

At this point, I'd consider giving the 2nd base job to Grenier. He very well may not be the answer, but he's more worth a look than Wilkerson.

I thought that was a great sign for him - getting more economical when he had to. He's a relatively durable pitcher - though he probably could afford to lose a few lbs. This was a very good day for Akin.

The bolded part is the problem. He's arguably the top prospect in baseball, and he's 23 in AA.

Rutschman is hitting better than Mountcastle did that year. He has a .941 OPS vs Mountcastle's .871.

If Hayes and Santander are pencilled in as our starting corner OFer's of the present and future, maybe that opens things up for Vavra to get a lot of at-bats as the 4th OFer - given how injury-prone they are?

I guess the O's thought he couldn't stick at 2B - because he seems entrenched at CF. That's one thing he has in common with Austin Martin, btw. Still OPSing .922 - not a surprise considering he's hit wherever he's been. It's hard to see him getting a legit chance with the O's if he stays in the OF - unless they make him a super-utility player in the Melvin Mora mold.

And I believe his middle name is spelled Afterthought. But seriously <rimshot> - as SG just said - It makes absolutely no sense that he hasn't and isn't being given a legitimate chance in Baltimore.

Haskin was a high 2nd round pick, already 22, OPSing .941 in Delmarva with 11 steals in 12 attempts... Is he really going to develop as well and as quickly in Delmarva as he would in Aberdeen?

Yup - And while I think it does take catchers longer to learn the position, they need to factor in that the wear and tear in minor league games is going to shorten the length of their major league careers - so it's especially important to shorten the learning curve. I can't imagine a player as gifted as Rutschman is going to learn quicker in the minors than he would in the majors, and people like me will pay to see him in the majors even if we lose.

New rule for the next CBA that the owners would like: Once a CFer turns 30, they send them to the glue factory. They figure it's a win/win, because they need to feed the minor leaguers somehow.

Yup, no disagreements there.

I agree with this. Don't use a 1 size fits all method - with very slow progression for players who don't need to be coddled. Make decisions based on whether or not they think the player is ready, and make sure each player is being challenged enough to make the improvements they need.

I think you're missing the boat on all the factors making that a very difficult catch, but we'll agree to disagree. At least I will.

True, but watching baseball for decades, you get a general feel for what's typical, poor, or exceptional throughout the league. It's certainly not going to be exactly right, but it'll do for conversations like this, imo.

Yup. Personally, I like the idea of planning on 2 guys going 4 each, an then the closer finishing.

No question - I agree that's likely his reaction. But saying he was there in plenty of time is just wrong.

C'mon, if anyone's earned the right to not be called biased, it's Frobby. Nobody said it was an impossible catch,; we just disagree on the level of difficulty.

When you're running full speed after covering a ton of ground like that and trying to make a back-hand catch with full extension, you can't assume anybody would catch that. All those factors combined made it a very tough play.

Probably the best thing about not promoting Henderson at this point is that both he and Westburg both now get to play every day at SS - to see if they can handle the position.

Wow, does he pass the eye test. Palmer said his changeup has dramatically improved since the start of the season, and they see him as a starter. I like him as a 3 or 4 inning pitcher. Notice how Kevin Snith was used today by Bowie - pitching the last 4 innings. Why not make that a role to play in the majors - for pitchers like Smith and Wells?

It's a play he could have made - but not should have made. It would have taken a highlight reel level catch to make that play. And... he got a great jump on it. .Armstrong alone cost us the 2 runs.

Well, he was a supplemental 1st round pick, so obviously somebody thought he had the potential to hit well enough to be a major leaguer.

I'd like to think that a light can go on for someone who has some degree of talent and keeps trying and working at it day after day in spite of what seems like constant failure. We shall see.

McLouth did have a nice streak with the O's towards the end of his career before hitting that final wall when he lost a step and just couldn't do what he used to do. Players who can run and make those athletic plays always seem to be more enjoyable to watch. Craig Gentry was like that - I thought he was a lot of fun to watch in the outfield and finished his career well with the O's.

I think there's a point where you can put too much garbage on the field, and if the O's traded Mullins for prospects that aren't ready, they could reach that point, and people like me will stop watching. It's like the Seinfeld episode where Kramer is testing the limits of a car's gas tank - refusing to stop for gas. At some point, the car's gonna run out of gas, and at some point - the team goes from last place to unwatchable.