MCO'sFan

Your points are valid and you certainly may be correct. I happen to disagree. I think Kremer is a lock to be on the playoff roster. I would prefer him over Gibson. I don't think Gibson is a lock anymore because they have Flaherty on the staff. Gibson would be a lock if he were the only "veteran". I don't see them keeping Irvin over Kremer. I could see them keeping Irvin over Gibson. Time will tell and I am just excited to be having conversations about the playoffs!

I believe Kremer is an absolute lock for the playoffs. If he isn't starting ( and I don't think he will) he will be the long man used for insurance against an early game injury or bad performance. Starters get quick hooks in the playoffs so you need a long guy. I think he is the best option for that. I also would be surprised if Gibson is left off the roster.

I was happy when they got McCann. But, he was so bad at the plate that he was nearly an automatic out. Then you'd have him and Mateo in the same lineup and geez, it's like starting every other inning with two outs. I clearly gave up on him too early. It be great if he could be a little more consistent throughout the year. I guess it's better to be hot at the end than the beginning though.

To be honest, this is what I want to see. I think that it is the best way to ensure long term success anyway. Very few players stay with their original teams for long now anyway. The worse then that can happen is handling it like Manny. You sell too late and get very little in return. Players come and go. I will always be an Orioles fan. If you can sign a player or two long term then fine. But as Chris Davis said,in this system, guys get paid for what they have already done and not what they are going to do. The AAV and the number of years you have to sign these guys for just isn't worth it.

I suspect that your are right. I just don't want to wait for an artificial date if he is better than someone on the 26 man now. I am hoping that he repeats the end of last season and can be a real weapon out of the pen. Maybe he isn't ready and needs the extra time. I just don't think there is anything magical about the date rosters expand. I don't understand the thinking there. If he's ready, he's ready.

I don’t care about Voth but assuming he is healthy, I’d get Hall here first.

The pen could get really crowded assuming that Hall, Wells and Means are activated. Only one of the two expanded roster spots can go to a pitcher IIRC. I think Fuji and Vespi/Whoever go.

I was down on him earlier only because I thought Hyde was playing him too much and he was hurting the O’s offensively. If he was playing only once a week like most back up catchers, I could live with that. But, he certainly has gotten hot at a good time.

I think the rebuild may have played a part in this. Let’s see how they operate going forward. I don’t think we will see anyone get the Nolan Schanuel treatment though.

Yeah, I selfishly wanted him to fall to us. Some mocks had him as a possibility. He’s really a great guy with a great personality and a lot of fun. We had a particularly gruff player on the team and Nolan said to him on day 1 that he would make this kid like him and they’d be best friends by the end of the summer. They weren’t but Nolan had 28 other best friends.

I agree. I have not checked BA but Nolan isn’t in MLB’s top 100. He is the Angels #2 prospect. Their system is pretty bare.

I have mixed feelings about this. I coached him in 2021 with the BigTrain and he was a very advanced hitter. I’m not surprised he was promoted aggressively but I had no idea that he’d only spend 6 weeks in the minors. The Angels have been pretty aggressive with bats in the past.

My comment on his Blue Jays dominance was my own. I wasn’t commenting on anyone’s post regarding that other than to say that his numbers against the Blue Jays skew his overall numbers somewhat. I am aware of the inside joke but it’s also true.

Well, I was posting in a thread about Mountcastle. I agree with you on Hays and Santander.

I disagree. While many players have their ups and downs, his are extreme and there is more down than up.

Yes but not quite as strongly. Hays has been disappointing in the second half two years in a row.

I still want him gone. He goes on the crazy streaks which make his overall numbers palatable. But he stinks for large chunks of time too. The O's need more out of 1B.

Move on from Frazier, replace him with Ortiz and start him. Keep Urias for defense and depth. Mateo can be a sub or gone. I don't care.

Definitely not counting on O'Hearn. I can see them trying to bring in a 1B if anything. I'd still like to see an in house option. Something like Santander more often on go all in on moving Mayo to 1B.

I agree and I certainly don't think he has the budget for the level of FA that it would take to make a difference. So, just let the kids play and see if they develop.

Your suggestions are completely valid. I just don't think that's the way I would go and I don't think that is the way the O's go. FA are not sure things either, in fact, there is a decent chance that they never reach a level of value that it would take to sign them. I think that the O's can afford to continue to introduce a few prospects at a time and weather the adjustment periods with the talent already on the team. I do expect them to trade Hays and/or Santander this offseason.

I would say that I think GrayRod has the potential to be a true ace but certainly isn't there yet. I think Bradish can be a solid 2. I think he's there now. We will have to see if he can continue to perform at what is likely his ceiling.

I can't argue with your opinion here. I agree about the pitching. I can't shake my bias though and I prefer they continue with the position prospects that we have until we see they are not going to work out. I would prefer that they see what they have in Kjerstad, Cowser, Ortiz, Mayo and obviously Holiday. I think they have enough pitching to fill out a good bullpen. The only thing is someone to slot at the top of the rotation. They have a lot of starters but too many question marks. Means. Rodriguez, Bradish, Kremer, Wells, Johnson, Povich, etc.

I am trying to enjoy the level of talent the O's have in the system but I have to be honest. They've been so bad at scouting/PD for so long that I am not sure I completely understand and appreciate how good the current system is actually.

I am not in favor of signing a position player via FA. I like the idea of sprinkling in our top prospects. I am done with the Adam Fraizers/Gibsons of the world. I'd like to see Kjerstad on the OD roster and have him in the OF rotation. I think one of Mullins, Hays and Santander are traded this offseason. MCCann is an okay back up but I think if they want to play the back up as much as they have, there needs to be an upgrade. I'd like to see Mountcastle replaced. He isn't consistent enough offensively for a 1B and his numbers are inflated by his reidiculous success against the Blue Jays. I'd like to see Ortiz as our SS until Jackson is ready. He may be ready on OD 2024. This team doesn't need FA unless they sign a true ace. To be transparaarent, I don't like gambling on FA signings. They more often than not don't provide the value needed for the O's