Jammer7

Yeah, I am always in hot water here. Fuji is just so hard on himself. He’s a talent, and I’m curious to see where he ends up.

I don’t disagree, but he needs a sports psychologist and for Chris Holt to rebuild him a bit.

Probably a guy that gets waived sooner or later this winter, but yeah, more or less.

Well, we did get Jorge Lopez and Ryan O’Hearn from them on waivers. Lopez became an all star closer and got us Yennier Cano, Cade Povich and the other two interesting International arms. So, yes, more please!

Sure, there are many players out there that did not click here or there, but went on to do very well elsewhere. Each case is a different reason. With Heim, he obviously has talent, so the draft was good in the 4th round. The development group wears this one to me. It took him a few years, yes. Perhaps that is because he was developed poorly while in the Orioles organization. I believe the current development group would have had Heim performing much better and sooner in his career. And, as far as Christian Walker, he did not take 6 years to become decent. He’s been at least decent for several years. He could always hit.

You’re on point there. In the last six weeks or so of 2023, he was back to driving the ball to RCF more often. It is important to have more of a gap to gap approach, in general, and half of the games are with Mt. Waltimore. The other 81 games matter just as much. So, he would not be able to pull as many home runs. Honestly, I would prefer him to be more of a doubles and line drive gap to gap guy. Let him set the table for Gunnar and Adley.

He has a lot of power to RCF. He has a good approach for Camden Yards.

I was thinking the same thing. Not as big as Kent, but a similar player. I’m not sure he ver plays much at 2B as an Oriole. With Westburg, Gunnar, Mayo, Ortiz and Holliday around, it doesn’t seem likely. But I would like to see his bat stick around. Could Norby platoon with maybe Cowser next year in LF? Should they move Hays? I’m warming up to it. Hays just does not bring enough offense, though his defense in our OF is mostly very good.

I didn’t see any evidence of significant weight gain. Catchers wear down as others have written here. He clearly wore down at times and we were blessed to have McCann. The biggest thing I did not like about his year was that he batted lead off far too much. I get all of the reasons they gave for putting him there. I know his batting eye, OBP, etc…, and I don’t agree with it. This is the loudest thing I disagree with Hyde/Elias on. (Maybe the bigger question is who should have batted lead off?) Adley responded well at the end of the season when he was moved down to #2. He should be in a run-producing situation on a good offensive team. The bottom of the lineup that preceded him after the first inning did not get on base and let his ability to drive in runs work often enough. He is an elite hitter, and the two strike approach he employed was too picky quite often. He struck out looking far too often. IMHO, I want him looking to do damage. I don’t want him to expand the zone often, but there are times he should be more aggressive with runners on base. Watching him in college, he had an uncanny ability to get big hits to drive in runs. That was a long time ago, Yes, but that is the type of hitter he is. The only other negative thing I have to say is I sometimes question his pitch calling. In fairness, I wonder how much of that is dictated by analytics staffers, and how much discretion is he given. In several instances, we got hurt this year when Adley called the same pitch and location four consecutive pitches. He is an outstanding player, and by all accounts, a great teammate and face of the franchise. But for goodness sakes Adley, stop skipping leg day!

https://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2023/07/08/orioles-contending-elias-less-involvement-teams-draft/ I agree Elias was involved a great deal in the upper echelon picks, but according to this article and many others near the draft this year, he said he took a step back. Ciolek did a great job getting depth down in the draft. The pitching drafts until this year were not of much substance, so be it. I think Ciolek is a bit of a loss as he has done a very good job since Elias elevated him. It is a good sign when other organizations poach our guys. They want our guys and our processes that have been successful. He is replaceable, sure. I would not be surprised to see Matt Blood go elsewhere. I also think he is very good at his job. I think he would be a bit more of a loss. He has been instrumental in finding the outstanding coaches we have had in the minors. Apparently has a vast network of contacts that he developed at Team USA.

Good post. One nitpick. I’m pretty sure Zimm has used three option years. Maybe he sticks until Spring training, but I don’t see a role for him on the big club with no options.

I know he is struggling, and he might not belong in the playoff roster, or at least in a prominent high leverage role. But 101 is 101. There is stuff there. I am curious if they re-sign him and work with him. Give him some “secret sauce.” It’s a legit arm. His mental make-up is certainly in question, as his confidence runs hot and cold. Did I mention he throws 101?

He’s 23-24 years old. Has some knowledge, but has had way too many terrible takes. I think he has had the Orioles DFA about 1/3 of the current roster. Has no understanding of how the ebb and flow a season can take. Called out Elias as though he was some kind of authority. Makes a fool of himself regularly. And he injects his personal political views into things way too often. I listen on occasion, but only in the background in the morning. I enjoy On The Verge, but it has its limitations as well. They are what they are. I listen to the MLB Pipeline pod, and some of the BA pods.

Yep, he’s been huge for us. I am one who was willing to DFA him, if it was a choice between McKenna and Hicks. The reason being his fragility. If he finishes the season healthy, I will be pleasantly surprised. There is no denying what he can bring this team when he is healthy.

Yeah, and that is the concern. If you recognize spin, and other pitches, well, then the concern is less. If the hitter simply uses a “reach step” and does not “gain ground” with the hips moving forward much laterally, I have always thought a leg kick is fine. Kjerstad stays on his back side well, so I have no reason to think it should be an issue. Once he lands, it’s a simple twist and a bang. Heston’s hands are soooo good. I think he is still very underrated here on this board. Particularly as a defender in RF. I will be absolutely shocked if he is not in the major leagues, somewhere, to start 2024.

It doesn’t work for everyone, but he makes it work. It’s just simply about his timing, his trigger. Getting his body in motion to pull the trigger by landing and firing the hands and hips.

Uh, wow. Shallow end of the pool, huh? FYI, I have as much reason to dislike what happened at Pearl as anyone. My grandfather was on the deck of the Arizona when she was hit. He was blown overboard, and survived. He told me the stories of his shipmates suffering and dying. I still have no malice toward someone who had nothing to do with it. You do you, brother, but wow.

I thought this was a solid pick up before the season when you look at his exit velos and the spray charts. He hit a lot of hard shots to short to medium right field and the 2B made those into outs. As far as to why it is an issue to him now, when it seems he uses the entire field, is because of approach in an at bat. A LH batter, particularly a power hitter like Ryan, wants to know that if they get a ball on the inner half that can barrel with their true swing and have a good chance of success. The approach is to look outside and react inside by getting the barrel out in front. If you do that today, it is likely a positive outcome. Before 2023, those guys either hit it out or made an out. So, just speculation, but I would think that added feeling of comfort allows him to stay on the outside pitch and know that he can handle the inner half as well. He wants to produce and win. It’s a results based business, and he is 30 years old. He knows this is his time do it or get forgotten. A truly inspirational story for me this year. The sad part is that Kjerstad, Cowser and others may make him expendable this off season. That’s the business, but I really like Ryan as a player.

No options

I thought this might happen in the offseason, but now? Hyde and Holt are Lopez whisperers, I guess. I hope he can find his confidence, and quickly. So, he cannot compete in the playoffs for us, right?

Lopez and Grichuk would interest me if I’m Elias. Have not seen much of Grichuk the past two years, but with the health of some OF’s in question, Grichuk might give Hays a brief spell in the IL. DFA him when Hays comes back.

I forgot about Cowser’s rookie status. That may well be a factor, though it probably should not. The thing with Hicks, is just the injuries and the frequency of them. I agree with everything you wrote on him, but what good is it if he is always hurt? If we get into a good rhythm as a team and he goes down again in the playoffs, then we have to call someone up again who maybe has not been playing. I like what Hicks can do, absolutely. He just cannot stay on the field to do it.

Yeah, I always thought McKenna could hit in this role. A simple swing, doesn’t try to do too much. The past two games have shown that ability. It’s hard to play a part time role and produce.

With Hicks injuries happening, and his slumping since his hit start, I’d like to DFA Hicks. McKenna fits this team much better. Maybe it is Kjerstad time, but they can go back to Cowser. They need an OF to help Hays, Mullins and Santander get a little rest. They are all banged up. As far as a pitcher addition, for me it’s Means. I do not necessarily think Wells is a lock to come back. Voth is actually pitching very well, and is apparently healthy, which was an issue for much of the season.

Ok, the tone of your post was just a bit more…apocalyptic and dramatic. It definitely will be a blow, but it’s an opportunity for someone to step forward. When an animal gives up the fight and submits, it rolls over and shows it’s belly. They’re not done.