Greg Pappas

Rafaela is an impressive fielder.

Nice at bat Urias!

The Mullins at bat is frustrating because we seem to have trouble moving runners over with none out. Maybe stats say that's not true, but it sure seems that way.

Jesus... wow.

Over and over and over and...

How often must we watch Cowser make a terrible throw? It's beyond ridiculous.

@Tony-OH This is a tough question to preface, but would it be fair in your estimation to say the following players have either been disappointing as Top 5 Round draft picks (2019-2022), or at least unlikely to ever be productive major leaguers? Zach Watson (2019 3rd round) No longer with the organization? Hudson Haskin (2020 2nd round) Anthony Servideo (2020 3rd round) Reed Trimble (2021 2nd round) John Rhodes (2021 3rd round) Donta Williams (2021 4th round) Max Wagner (2022 2nd round) Silas Ardoin (2022 4th round) To be clear, I love what Elias has done as GM. I have, however, noticed a pattern of his taking college bats after Round 1 that have mostly not amounted to much. From 2019, 2nd rounder Kyle Stowers has made it to the big leagues, though he's not that highly considered. Still, a solid 2nd round pick and one that could play in the league for some years to come as a reserve. Also from 2019 is 4th rounder Joey Ortiz, who was a great pick that helped us net Corbin Burnes. I thought about including Jud Fabian, a 2022 2nd rounder, but feel there is still hope he'll be able to contribute. I'd much prefer to see higher upside HS bats get more in the mix in these early rounds. Anyway, I'd love your input on this, as I may be missing something or just being a bit unfair in my critique of these picks. Thanks.

30-year old Taylor Ward of the Angels would be a very solid pickup, in my opinion. He plays quality defense in both LF and RF and has a good bat. While older than Hays, he'd be an upgrade and we'd have control for two years beyond this one. He's a big part of their lineup, so the natural question is, 'Why would the Angels look to deal him?' This is a team that has a weak farm system (zero Top 100 Prospects) and a major league team in need of talent. What they'll do with Trout (32) will be interesting to follow moving forward, but they are in need of a rebuild IMHO. Trading Ward would be a good start. Ward would get the bulk of the AB's in LF (or RF when needed). The cost, as always, would be at issue, and getting a reliever/closer would take priority. Thoughts?

I get that Stowers is performing well at this time, but I'm curious whether Kjerstad's less-than-quality defense in the outfield is contributing to Stowers being up here instead. Kjerstad is a much higher rated prospect and is ML ready, so if Stowers is getting AB's more regularly than when Kjerstad was up, shouldn't HK be recalled to take Stowers' spot? It's an interesting situation.

Has there been any update on where Aneuris Rodriguez will play and when?

Exactly, four years more than Helsley, six altogether. I agree that our biggest need is a top reliever.

I thought it said a few weeks... hadn't realized it could run six.

Any updates? I haven't heard/read anything.

Helsley's not worth Kjerstad, IMHO. Coming into the season Helsley has not has more than 19 saves and is a FA after next season. Kjerstad has four further years of control.

Helsley, who will turn 30 this season, would be an excellent pick up. He is arbitration eligible next season and then a FA in '26. Naturally, the spelling gets to some posters, but it's one of those names. What we'd have to give up (if the Cards are indeed open to dealing him) could be tricky.

The Nats are toast and both Hunter Harvey (29) (yes, that HH) and Kyle Finnegan (32) would be nice additions to the pen. Both are arbitration eligible next season and then free agents in 2026. Harvey has been very good for three years running and Finnegan has been excellent this season, though pitching much better as a closer than his solid prior seasons as a back-end bullpen piece.

Sweet!

This home ump! LOL!

Wow! Great slide!

Just got home and saw the Rutschman HR and that Bradish has been brilliant.

Terrin Vavra just homered again... crushed to CF. 5-3 Tides. Norby follows with a single and stolen base. Kjerstad walked. No Holliday or Mayo today.

Nick Maton singled in two runs to tie it in the top of the 4th. Maverick Handley crushed a liner to third (107 EV), but the 3B snared it and doubled Haskin off third. FWIW, Daniel Johnson is playing exceptional baseball at AAA with OPS around .980 with 9 HR's. He's going on 29-years old and has had a career minor league OPS of .795. So, it's not likely he has a future here, but one never really knows.

For those who have MLB.TV, the Norfolk game is on now. I've been watching beginning this inning. I picked a good time, as Kjerstad and Daniel Johnson have singles and Haskin walked. They're loaded.

For point of reference, I'm 59... born in 1965 for the mathematically challenged. LOL! Sports leagues, like the NFL and NBA, have changed notably over time. Many sports have. In some ways it was/is necessary... perhaps even inevitable with the advent of analytics and other factors. MLB is no different in that regard. But it's lost some of what once made it more exciting... more appealing. I LOVE the Orioles and am the most excited I've ever been about them, but I miss various things about baseball that were once normal. Singles up the middle: It used to be that a batted ball that got past the pitcher up the middle was a hit. It's no longer that easy. Most balls hit up the middle seem to have a fielder awaiting the ball. It's not The Shift, but still a shift of sorts. Players seem to have less bat control. If a SS or 2B had the audacity to essentially play behind the pitcher, I feel many players from the 70's, 80's and even 90's would just hit the ball where the fielder wasn't. Teams would average five K's per game, as opposed to over eight per game now. Home runs and doubles are up, but triples are down. Pitchers used to throw complete games (CG) quite often. And having a reliever or two was usually enough to finish games that weren't CG's. Now if a guy can survive injuries and give you five or more innings, that's 'good.' I could go on, but I have hope that some of what was once good can make a comeback. Stolen bases are trending up again, so that's a start. What do you think?

This was a topic about the trade. It'd be nice if it got back to that.