Ruzious

I'd go with the entire infield being the O's surprise - now that Nunez is getting it done at 1B - the biggest surprise there being that he's playing 1B. Iglesias, Alberto, and Ruiz are givens as surprises. We'll just have to see how long they keep it up. Being that they have the next 4 games at home vs Miami could be a big plus for their stats. Just hope that Iglesias gets healthy. Tbh, I'm most surprised by Ruiz. He really looks like he put in the work in the gym to get in better shape and stronger.

That's quite a statement. How has his defense been this season, so far?

Until I read the OP, I had no idea we're playing 4 against the Marlins. This could be either a lot of fun or a lot of bad baseball or both A and B. What a crazy season.

Heck, I'm pretty sure the only reason I made the team was because my older brother was a good athlete, and they figured I'd eventually be like him. Sorry coaches - I was decent at 3rd base - usually - but I couldn't hit or run.

That's a much better response - though that's anything but the way I was taught to bat through high school. Then again, my HS team was not good.

Tied for 9th in the AL in K's.

You said: "I can’t believe I am asking this but at what point would we consider them a contender?" And I'm trying to tell you - It's too soon to ask that question. If you don't want to hear that answer, don't ask the question.

If they lose the Marlins series, it's over right there, so I'm not going to think past that series until that series is over. At that point, we'll have played 12 games - or one fifth of what's planned to be the regular season. Too soon.

I think he's looked awful at the plate - reaching for way too many outside pitches. The question is - will he adjust?

The case can be made that Alberto's been among the top few pure hitters against left-handed pitching - combining this season and last. I know the O's won't keep it up, but I'm enjoying the 60 game sample size season. Just hoping the Commissioner doesn't implode and ruin it.

Frankly, that's a stupid response on multiple levels.

I gottanother idea to shorten the game: limit the number of pitches per at bat to 10. Some people will say, Meh, it'll just same the time of a few of pitches a game, because very few at bats go over 10. But no... I think it'll get batters to be more aggressive - so they don't have to worry about reaching that 10th pitch - also reducing pitches per at bat. Additionally, that will also reduce walks a little bit - reducing base-runners, which will reduce the time of a game. All 3 of those effects together can make a difference. It would also add some tension and excitement when a player reaches that 10th pitch.

If they're just worried about time, just go to my 10th inning homerun derby idea that parallels the NHL's ot shootout system. 7 innings sounds so minor leagish.

I call it a reason - and a good one, at that. Spin, otoh, is what Lowther has on his changeup - which the Orioles front office won't let us see.

Yup, what Morgan said is exactly what I was going to say. For multiple reasons, they should have used this as the opportunity to have balls and strikes automated.

Lowther dominated at every level, has 380 SO's in his O's career vs 223 hits and 109 walks, with a 1.02 WHIP. And... he's 24 and hasn't gone above AA. ISO Lowther should have changed to Finding Lowther by now.

I'm still angry that the ump doesn't give Sulser the call against Judge, and then Sulser serves him a batting practice fastball. We already know the O's can't win when they don't get that call, but still - you can't react to not getting the call by throwing the ball right in his wheelhouse. And then the ump finishes the game by expanding the strike zone on Hays. That just rubs it in as to the difference the umps treat the O's vs the Yankees. Sure, the Yankees might win even if the O's got both calls, but that doesn't lessen the frustration.

And there's that - the O's do care that Carroll stinks.

More importantly, it's an indication that he stinks - regardless of what the team is striving to do.

Give Chance a piece. Based on their splits, Severino is much better against lefties, and Chance is much better against righties. Seems like it makes sense to take advantage of those splits.

Agreed - though I'm scratching my head as to what that's got to do with what I posted. I'll try to catch up.

As the great scholars once said, Huh?

I agree with everything there, except I'd put Lowther ahead of Akin.

He throws wayyyy too many uncompetitive pitches to warrant a MLB roster spot. I don't get how he's on the team.

Armstrong actually pitched fairly well at Baltimore last season. He got hit much harder on the road.