bluedog

If moving Tony or letting him walk and replacing him with Kjerstad opens up the financial flexibility to extend some of our core (or Burns) or acquire a top SP in FA / trade deadline salary dump, then I'm all for making that swap.

This is a box score for a team 8 games into the season with all 9 players sporting an OPS over 1.000:

Remember midway through last year when some people were claiming Hall was worth nothing? What a turn around for him to be a centerpiece in a trade for one of the best starters in baseball.

I'd take Snell as a free agent.

The best thing would be if the Yanks hold Cole out for the ERA title and Bradish pitches the last game of the season and throws another shutout to beat Cole (which I believe is possible).

Isn't there a pretty strong argument for Coby to win Minor League Hitter of the Year?

Given that he matched Holliday and Caminero statistically and did it at higher levels, isn't there an argument to be made for Mayo to win Minor League Hitter of the Year?

If Coby Mayo hits a HR today and gets 2 RBIs, he'll put up a 30 HR, 100 RBI season - at 21 years old... ...and he's currently ranked as the O's 4th best prospect. It's a good time to be an O's fan.

I just posted this on Twitter in honor of Frobby: @fangraphs are Tier 3 baseball analysts Signed, an Orioles fan

I predict your are going to be holding the Tier 3 thing against Fangraphs for the next decade. And I love it.

Maybe we have that thread about the O's having no chance at winning the world series because they didn't have strong run differential to thank for the 2nd half dominance? Major reverse jinxage there.

I think Elias has shown that his approach is designed to account for injuries as well. The organizational depth has allowed the team to overcome injuries to a number of key contributors this year without the team missing a beat.

The O's record on the road, in 1 run games and in extra innings all point to this team having a championship level ability to play their best in the face of adversity. As of last night the O's also have a 10 or more game lead in the standings over every team in the majors except the Braves, Rays and Dodgers. That's elite.

I think everyone on this O's team are competitors. They can also be other things as well. Good chemistry requires a mix of personalities. Rick Dempsey was a tremendous competitor, but he was also a total "class clown". He was also a World Series MVP. Watch this video of him during rain delays:

You did see the word "plan" in there, yes?

The writers at Fangraphs are Tier 3

It won't all happen at once, but maybe this is the plan longer term? Norby replaces Mateo Ortiz replaces Urias Holliday replaces Frazier Cowser replaces Hicks Kjerstad replaces Santander Mayo replaces either Ohearn or Mountcastle Basallo replaces McCann Beavers replaces Hayes Bradfield Jr replaces Mullins

Ryan O'Hearn 5 for 5 tonight. 4 of those hits were with 2 strikes. Wow....just wow.

That win should count extra towards our magic numbers. Sheesh.

I think this is right. The O's replace Frazier's left handed bat with Holliday and Mateo & Urias with Oritiz & Norby. Mountcastle gets replaced (when he's ready) with Mayo. I don't think there is a logjam in Elias' mind.

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't notice. It's incredible the balance this team has.

According to this tool from baseball reference, the O's are the only team in the Majors with positive WAA at every position. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/team_compare.cgi Baltimores worst positions are +0.1 at SP and PHers and +0.2 in RF. Their best positions are +2.5 for Relievers and +2.1 at 3b Atlanta has -0.5 WAA in LF and -0.3 WAA from PHers Tampa has -0.5 WAA at C and -0.1 WAA from their Reliervers Houston has -0.5 WAA at C and -0.2 WAA from PHers The Dodgers have -1.8 WAA from their Starters(!) and -0.1 from LF and PHers Texas has -4.9 WAA from their Relievers(!!!), -0.9 from LF and -0.3 from PHers Toronto has -0.3 WAA from 1b and RF After that its not even close.

Ryan O'Hearn should be starting every day IMHO.

Platoon at C / DH with Adley is my guess.

I'd happily hand Kremer, Bradish and GRod the ball in a 3 game series.