Jammer7

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.

Ha! I almost posted the same thing. And yes, we should all be a little disappointed with Felix being injured. He is a tough guy to face in the 9th. He is a distinct advantage for us. However, he blew six saves this year. The next guys will blow some too. That is the game. It is a long season, and we have to move on. I just don’t see why we should wallow in this so much. We don’t know yet what the injury is. So, I’d hope they stay focused on what the goal is here. LFG!

No, he had a couple. Before that, he has been really progressing. They have been giving him more higher leverage situations for exactly this reason. He had a few stumbles, yes. They sent him down to reset because of work load, not because they do not believe in him. How many saves has Bautista blown this year? Six, I think. His stuff is right there with anyone else that is left, except maybe DL. That slider is a weapon. I still think it is Cano or Webb. I may choose Webb because of his mental toughness. The guy is durable and a bulldog out there.

DL Hall and Mike Baumann could be wildcards here. Many of us point to Cano, Webb, Wells and Coloumbe, but I think DL has the best stuff of all of them. And Baumann had been getting higher leverage outs before they decided to back off him for a bit of a reset.

Wells FB has to have great command, or it gets hit really hard. His FB could tick up to 96 or so, but it is still straight. A closer has to be available on back to back nights, and generally often. Wells’ shoulder history makes me cringe in this, just a little.

He was with the Marlins first. I don’t know if I would call him a journeyman either. Long time minor leaguer, yes.

Maybe so. They all break. It sucks. So be it, that’s baseball. Bautista was not the mountain before he got an opportunity. This is an opportunity for someone. We’ll see how it goes.

What are they supposed to do? Cry about it? I mean, every team has injuries. It is exactly next man up, or roll over and show your belly and die.

I do like Webb. He’s a bulldog. He and Cano can handle it for a bit.

Hyde just said it’s an “arm issue.” Hyde was upset about it and would not comment further.