The Goob

No doubt they get credit for O'Hearn, Urias, Mateo, etc. I focused on the draft picks because plenty of teams have sucked for many year and had high draft pics but not gotten these type of results. It is truly astonishing to see the depth of talent in the organization. I don't live in Maryland anymore but obviously wear an Orioles hat most places I go and the amount comments I get from fans of other team about how much they respect the team and their players would really surprise people. It is nearly everyday.

Agreed. It is the whole organization. Hyde for me also does not get enough credit. But the first hire was the most important, Elias and the first person he hired was Sig. I also think we will see a huge impact from the International Scouting Director in the next 2-3 years. It is just unreal that if a baseball fan could pick any team today to be a fan of for the next 5-10 years they would almost have to pick the Orioles.

Several years ago I changed my profile pic to a press photo of Mike Elias after he was hired. I hoped that it would the start of a sea change for the organization. I loved his background, his local ties and the way he spoke and thought about the game. I read the Astros book that featured Elias and Sig and was excited about what they could do for the team I have loved for 45+ years. And never in my wildest dreams could I have ever envisioned the team that they put on the field yesterday. GRod - 2018 first round pick, not an Elias pick but the way he was developed in this system would have never occurred in the past Adley - 2019 first round pick, the no brainer pick but the first made by Elias and the true pivot point for the organization, the culture change the day he was called up Gunnar - 2019 second round pick, the most talented player on the team and one of the top ten in baseball Kjerstad - 2020 first round pick Westburg - 2020 competitive balance pick, 30th overall Cowser - 2021 first round pick, a pick not liked by many at the time because it was under slot and many wanted Kumar Rocker or Jordan Lawler Holliday - 2022 first round pick, not the no brainer that Adley was because of Druw Jones and Elijah Green among others, Elias and Sig made the right call The organization can clearly identify and develop talent. For me though it is something more than that. They seem to be able to identify something in the character and makeup of the players that not everyone else sees. All the stories about the cohesion of the locker room, the vibe in the minors, how much these guys pull for each other and get along matters over the course of a long season. I have been a fan for 45+ years and this is without a doubt the best time to be an Orioles fan that I have ever experienced. They were great last year, they will be great this year and this is just the beginning. The change in ownership is just the cherry on top of the sundae. Everyone talks about extension for Gunnar or Adley or Holliday but for me the press conference I hope for the most is an announcement of a ten year extension for Elias and Sig.

Based on production and results in a small sample size this year and ignoring veteran status I would change the standard lineup a good bit for today: Adley - C Gunnar - SS Cowser - LF Westburg - 3B O'Hearn - 1B Mullins - CF Santander - DH Kjerstad - RF Holliday - 2B I am also assuming Montcastle will sit again tonight.

I am not sure I agree we will get anything for Mateo. I think if he held any real value to other teams he would already be gone. I also don't think that continuing to not field your best 26 hoping to get something of value for Mateo or Urias makes sense anymore. We a clearly a bat short against LH starters. I guess you can continue to DH Adley and let McCann catch or DH Westburg and have Mateo play 2nd. I just don't think that is good roster construction when you have a player with 647 AAA at bats who had an OPS of .842 last year and is at 1.205 this year, is righthanded and would help fill a need blocked by a player who has clearly been a placeholder for two years. The question is who is the best DH against a LH starter and to me that is Norby.

I am assuming that Kemp will go for Holliday soon so he and Mateo would both be gone

I actually think it is Connor Norby. If you have to sacrifice Mateo to bring him up so be it.

This is an incredible idea. I love the layout and the extension of the rooftop bar. It really gives an even more intimate feel to Camden. I am so glad that we have a new smart ownership group that will oversee this renovation and these type of decisions.

Fair. But we don't want Mullins doing it either. So Rutschman is the leadoff hitter and you move Gunnar to 2 or 3. Still the same 1-7 guys IMO. I also think just based on talent Henderson will be much better against LHP this year than he was last year.

I think Redbeard has the roster pretty spot on. The interesting discussion without Mayo on the team to start the year is what does the lineup look like versus a LHP. The roster is LHH heavy with Mullins, Henderson, Jackson, Cowser and O'Hearn getting heavy playing time. Additionally, Santander only had 5 of his 28 HRs last year versus LHP. I really think the Orioles will need to find room for Mayo very soon to be the 3B / DH versus lefties or we will be left with Mateo and Urias playing a lot versus lefties especially if Mullins and Jackson struggle against them. I think by the middle of May we should have a lineup that is Henderson - Rutschman - Santander - Mountcastle - Hayes - Mayo - Westburg 1-7 versus a lefty starter.

Mayo's size and foot speed would seem to indicate that long term his best fit may be at first. Given that Henderson, Holliday, Westburg and even Norby will likely hold down short, second and third this is for the best. Mayo real value is his bat and his power and it plays best at first. Out of all our prospect he and Basallo best fit the profile of the typical 1B/ DH type.

We have made it through about half of spring training and are now three weeks away from real baseball. I spend more of my mental energy than I care to admit thinking about the Orioles lineup, playing time, positional alignment, etc. Two questions for the Hangout. What is your prediction for the Opening Day lineup? If you were the manager and GM and got to write the lineup card with anyone in the organization what would it be? The expected Opening Day starter for the Angels is either LHP Patrick Sandoval or Tyler Anderson so that will likely have a big impact on the order. Predicted Opening Day Lineup Rutschman - C Henderson - SS Santander - RF Mountcastle - 1B Hays - LF Westburg - 3B Urias - DH Mullins - CF Holliday - 2B The lineup if they let me write it Holliday - 2B Rutschman - C Henderson - SS Santander - RF Mountcastle - 1B Mayo - DH Hays - LF Westburg - 3B Mullins - CF Doing this exercise indicated to me that they need to find a way to keep Mayo. They just seem a RHH short against LHP without him. I strongly considered Cowser in RF with Santander at DH and Mayo at 3B but having Henderson, Holliday, Cowser and Mullins all LHH in the lineup is tough. I don't think ultimately Mayo will make the team out of Spring Training but I hope he is up soon his bat is a huge X-Factor for this team and I believe will be needed against LHP all year. If Holliday struggles against LHH I can see Westburg at 2B some with Mayo / Urias at 3B / DH.

I have dreamed about a lineup like this for 30 years: CF - Mullins 2B - Holliday C - Rutschmen SS - Henderson RF - Santander 1B - Mountcastle LF - Hays DH - Kjersatd 3B - Westburg Bench - O'Hearn, Mateo, Urias, McCann

It is amazing how little I care about this. Not because it doesn't matter but because I trust whoever Elias and his staff put into position will be successful with Holt and the infrastructure built around them. Prior to Elias this would have been a huge deal because I would have been holding out hope that a Ray Miller or Leo Mazzone could come in, bring their tools and philosophy and fix the problems our pitching had. A small thing but speaks volumes to me about how far this organization has come in the last several years. Man what I would give to see what this organization structure could have done with pitchers like Jake Arrieta, Eric Bedard, Dylan Bundy, Adam Loewen, Brian Matusz, Zack Britton, Zach Davies. So much talent was wasted largely through ineptitude of the organization.

1. Holliday - SS 2. Rautschman - C/DH 3. Henderson - 3B 4. Mayo - 1B/DH 5. Kjerstad - RF 6. Cowser - LF 7. Basallo - DH/1B/C 8. Westburg - 2B 9. Bradfield - CF Bench - Catcher, Ortiz, The depth and athleticism of this lineup is phenomenal. Minus Bradfield and Basallo, adding Santander/Hays, Mullins and Mountcastle I would not be surprised that this is the lineup by the end of this year.