Jammer7

In the longer term, I agree on Cowser. Absolutely. He just isn’t close to the guy he should eventually be, right now. I do not see progress, if anything there has been a regression. Hicks is not much better, and he’ll probably get hurt again soon. He will give us a better and longer at bat while he is in there. Hicks swing is actually quite flawed lately, but was a little better and more compact when he first came over. He disengages his back side and gets long, and on both sides too. I’m not much of a fan of Hicks, but credit to the guy for giving us a spark. I agree it’s about October. Hicks will give us better at bats then too, if he is actually healthy enough. And, I trust him to make plays in the OF much more so.

Look at Cowser’s spray chart. Tell me he is exit velo data is legitimate. He has hit several hard ground balls to 3B and SS. I know the data you are citing, and I understand it. But you have to interpret that with what your eyes tell you. If Cowser had a tail, it would be tucked between his legs right now and there would be a puddle on the carpet.

Cowser looked awful. He rarely got the barrel out front and drive anything. He was blown away regularly by mediocre pitchers. His at bats were short and predictable. He hit the barrel to one about 10 days ago and drove it to RCF for a double. Other than that, he hit some balls hard right at the 3B, sure. But he was not driving barely anything. He was very tentative in the box and we need more than that from an OF. He is not a CF for me, and he looked below average in a corner right now. He was just tentative everywhere. I was very disappointed in how he seemed to be at a loss of confidence. The game is hard. I still think he can be a real good player, but he is far from being able to be a contributing member of a contender right now. OTOH, Hicks will probably be hurt again soon. I would rather see McKenna come up over Cowser. I do not love Hicks’ game, but no one can deny his contributions for the first 3-4 weeks in Baltimore. He adds another quality at bat and helps lengthen a lineup. To me, he is a mistake hitter, which is a lot better than what Cowser is right now. Some here wrote about how Cowser is struggling like Henderson did. It isn’t even close for me. Henderson was much more intentional and confident with what he was doing. Cowser has lost his confidence for the time being. I’m sure his buds will carry on the Star Wars Lego building without him until he gets back.

I cannot remember any SS using a “jump-throw” before Jeter. The way that play was made was to plant the right foot and drive back toward 1B. Cal did that exceptionally well. Honestly, I wish that were still the way as the jump throws usually have very little on them. Mateo’s throw last night was exceptional. He has tried that throw in the past with mediocre results. Jeter made that play well, not as much in his later years. Tulowitski did it well also for a while. It obviously did not begin with Jeter as another poster showed Brooks doing it at 3B, but that was a long time ago and not many remember Brooksie.

KB is clearly the best PBP. He’s a little quirky at times, but I think he is one of the best at his craft today. I do like Arnold and Hollander just fine for back up or filling in. MASN is a complete garbage operation in many ways, but hiring KB, Ben, Hollander and Arnold, along with keeping Palmer around, was good. I think Jim has a lot more to say, at times, but has likely been told to tone it down or he’ll be forced out. He was much more outspoken in years past. I’m only speculating, but I’d love to know what JP knows about things that surround the team.

Jorge is frustrated at this point, of course. He is human. Most players have moments where they don’t “bust it” out of the box, especially in the months of July and August. He does some things that drive us to be critical of his play, but he is no Felix Pie level of boneheadedness. Not even close. So what if he didn’t quite run full out to start. Hyde may have someone address it with him, quietly and professionally. Mateo admitted it in his interview, and he knows better. I do not think he generally lacks hustle, quite the opposite, in fact. There is time for holding someone accountable and attention to detail, but you have to remember the human factor as a teammate or a manager. Fans, well they can be brutal at all times. That is the nature of being a fan. That is why they are fans and not players, managers or team execs. Mullins and Hays have tenure to be the Judge, but McCann, Frazier and Gibson could be more of a panel or triumvirate of justices in the Kangaroo Court.

Some posters should be careful to not break their arms patting themselves on the back. Seriously, the argument to not put Mateo in this position much earlier was the fact that he wasn’t just a good SS, he was the BEST SS in MLB according to Bill James and the Fielding Bible people. And to put anyone else there then was, by definition, weakening the defense. He has proven that he is no longer that guy NOW, but we weren’t there yet in April, May or June. It should be noted that Gunnar was not nearly the SS then that he is now. Westburg has further changed the scenario with his growth and play. The situation has evolved, and things do change. This is the reason they wanted the players to compete for their positions. It has a way of sorting itself out. As far as Jorge playing CF, and a super UT role…NOW, definitely worth a shot to use his speed. There are things behind the scenes we have no idea about. The front office has their reasons for keeping him beyond just his speed, at least I suspect so.

On the replay of that, I noticed O’Hearn about to round 1B and then saw Alonso was standing in front of 1B in his way. O’Hearn actually tapped Alonso on his back as he went around him. Alonso was absolutely startled by the tap. I thought Hyde was wanting him to go to second so they could claim obstruction. Maybe I’m wrong there.

I’m glad to see Clint Frazier back on the field after all he has been through health-wise.

Very interesting. It’s difficult to argue with that article, based on the landscape of what has been done in the past decade or so by other successful teams. This organization underwent a complete overhaul the past five years. They have built this from the ground up. They have a tremendous amount of talent from which to deal. Check, we know this is a rather unique set of circumstances. Their core, beyond Adley, Gunnar, Bradish and Grayson, is beginning to hit their prime years of arbitration. Who do they extend and keep? Who do they deal this offseason and next? Which prospects do they see as being on their next few playoff teams? Did they hold back at the deadline to make bigger, more important, deals with the longer term in mind in the offseason? Does picking up only Flaherty and Fujinami say that they believe they they are not really ready yet to be the team they envision in two or three years? Would adding say Verlander or Scherzer (if they wanted to waive their no-trade clause to come to Baltimore) have signaled being all-in for 2023? Would spending those resources have hampered their efforts of becoming what they envision? I don’t think you can say that they are all-in, no. Are they a loser? I don’t share that opinion, but I can understand where that comes from. I think they are clearly holding back, but being responsible with the growth of the organization and taking necessary steps forward to ensure a longer term extended run. I would be surprised if Mullins, Hays, Santander, Urias and Mountcastle are all still here in 2025. Perhaps all will be elsewhere by then, and I would not be surprised at all. I also wonder what role added financial liability would add to a potential sale of the team. The criticism they have received is certainly fair, but if I am close to being correct, then I get it. Maybe I am way off here.

At first blush, I gave it a B-/C+. I think that is the floor. The only prospect we might miss, at all, is Showalter. HS pitchers are long shots, and he’s three years away. We’ll see how those two acquisitions perform as O’s. They have legit tools though.

I’m not sure how Flaherty is going to work out as a rental, but I am inclined to give it some time to see. Flaherty has a .346 BABIP this year, so it might be a combination of bad Cardinals defense and some bad luck. BB9 of 4.4 and K9 is 8.7, so roughly 2:1. HR/9 is .8, so pretty good there. He was one of the best young pitchers in MLB in 2019, but threw 190 plus innings at 23 yoa, and 151 innings in 2018. He has had some shoulder issues in the past few years, but averaging about 5.1 innings per start this year. He’s a native of Los Angeles, so maybe he wants to go back to the west coast, who knows. I noticed the 4S velo is 92-93, and he barely uses the change up at just over 2% of the time. He has a solid knuckle-curve, and a decent slider. The statcast numbers aren’t great, good extension though. I hope they can help him be a better version of himself for the remainder of 2023, and perhaps he signs to come back on a reasonable deal to see if they can get him even better.

Certainly could be. Any thoughts on who it could be?

Very true, but I believe Verlander is still represented by Mike Milchin, not Boras.

I watched him against the Phillies yesterday. Yes, I want that guy in the back end of the pen for us. He was nasty.

Absolutely all about the character. Dealing with failure and expectations is so tough for some of them. I keep trying to step away, as I tend to run myself into the ground now in my mid 50’s. I have to slow down. Coaching my third and youngest now. Just finished 12U with a trip to Cooperstown. A great trip! Onto the big field for my little lefty. I think I have it so I can step away after 17 years. I have tried before, and I missed it terribly.

Awesome! I’ve had some D1 kids, some in minors. But they got there on their own, in spite of my meddling.

I was a SS, then a CF. I am not saying that a CF does not have to be a good OF, or that it is easier in every way. You obviously need a very good athlete. There is a lot to do out there, sure. The CF should be your best and rangiest OF. But most skilled? I am not sure we agree there. The COF’s back up a lot of throws to bases as well. I was specifically referring to the balls off the walls, corners and the slicing and hooking of line drives. It takes a good bit of work to become a skilled COF and play the corners intelligently. I’ve heard the same commentary many times over the years. For instance, when very athletic MIF’s switch to OF the thought is it is easier to transition to CF than a corner. You bring up some valid points, but it has been my experience coaching older kids that COF is a bit more difficult to master.

It has happened several times in the past few weeks where Adley has called for FB up and outside half. It is very frustrating for me as well as it is usually with two strikes. They are wasted pitches, often just flicked away as a foul ball. Most of these sequences have cost us, some home runs. And it doesn’t appear that these were cases of missing the target as Adley set up for these pitches. I have not seen McCann make these kinds of mistakes, but maybe it’s our analytical folks. IDK. With Wells, I just think he isn’t healthy. His breaking balls were poor last night. It makes me wonder if it hurts too much. Grayson, Bradish and Kremer are the only starters we have that should start a playoff game at this point. I like what Gibby has given us, but he is not a guy that will match up well in the playoffs.

You’re both right, IMO. Does he go in a trade? I doubt it. Does he go back down to AAA when Hicks and Mullins come back? We’ll see. The offense has really struggled since Mullins going back on the IL. Cowser has not given us much at this point. It may not be much more than a numbers thing and who is actually productive.

I think Cowser will be fine, eventually. He looks like he doesn’t believe he belongs just yet. I don’t like him in CF, but he isn’t awful. At the plate, he looks very passive. I like that he is letting it travel and being patient, but he has to be a bit more assertive and look to pull a little more. At least, be more gap to gap. Everything I can remember has been to LF. Some hard hit balls, though. The COF is actually more difficult to play than CF, IMO. The reads are much easier in CF, less balls slicing away or hooking, and no tricky corners in general. CF needs someone with range/speed, but the COF takes more skill as an OF to be good out there.

Walking someone is not necessarily being intimidated. A smart pitcher sometimes pitches around a hitter you do not want to beat you. Especially with men on base. They try to make specific pitches and get a chase, but if they miss they err on the side of caution as to not miss over the middle of the plate. I don’t care if we walk Judge four times a game, honestly. I would throw inside off the plate though, early in the at bat, and see what he might chase. A sinker and/or a change up, a four seam on his hands, and then the slider down and away. Bounce the curve or slider if you get ahead inside. Just do not miss with the four seam above the belt in the middle or outer half where he gets his arms extended. They know that, and maybe Wells just cannot execute right now and he is afraid of making a mistake. I was a little aggravated after watching Wells tonight. My criticism might have been a little harsh. He is not right at the moment. Wells, and other Orioles’ pitchers, need to pitch inside much more. I am tired of seeing our pitchers throw four consecutive fastballs on the outer half in the upper quadrant. They make it easier to hit, and foul those pitches off. Sosa hit an oppo shot in Philly on such a sequence. Someone else did too, I think the Dodgers series. Just too predictable right now.

I already read it, and spoke of his opinion in my last reply. It doesn’t prove anything, either way. It says that playoff experience had a slight edge. The answer is probably more complicated, and organic in nature. Intrinsic to each situation. We’re not going to change the opinion of the other. You said yourself that experience does matter. In the pursuit of a World Series tiitle, you want every advantage you can get. After watching Wells fold and get punked out by Judge and Stanton tonight, I think we’re a TOR starter short. Wells got intimidated by Judge, and you face the best in the playoffs. We need pitchers who have the confidence and courage to challenge the best. To pitch with conviction. I hope we add someone like that.

Ok. No offense taken. GM’s, managers and veteran players, who have won playoff series and World Series games talk about it and say it exists. Anyone who has performed at a very high level, in any profession, can tell you that having been there before helps on some level, more so for some than others. Keith Law and other journalists have written that playoff experience does not matter. To each their own, I guess. No one can prove it either way. I get the argument that you cannot quantify it easily. Elias and Hyde speak about the chemistry and the veterans they added this off-season and credit them with keeping the team from getting too high or low. It exists to them, and they constructed this team. On talent alone, the Padres and Mets should be very good major league teams, and yet they are terrible team loaded with big talent. Chemistry often matters. My point, in my head anyway, about a Verlander or Scherzer did not rest on solely their playoff experience. Their total body of work, their presence, their overall experience, along with playoff/big game experience was what I had in mind. I neglected to write that, though. And, Scherzer is a Ranger now. lol I stand by my comments regarding the playoffs and tournament play being vastly different than a 162 game season. I don’t think anyone can say that important college games or any other game at any lower level is the same as an MLB playoff or World Series game.

Me either. Never will.