e16bball

Murphy is in there. Clemens tipped that one earlier when he was discussing Francisco Alvarez — said Will Smith, Adley, and Murphy are the only catchers higher on the list. It has to be Tatis that isn’t on the list. Which feels a little petty, given J-Rod is in the top 10. The Tatis contract is a lot bigger, true, but he’s also a better player (at present, at the very least). He’s nowhere in the top 50 or honorable mention?

It’s the third time they’ve all started. First time since the ASB. Cowser’s first two nights in the bigs (7/5 and 7/6), all four were in the lineup.

I’ve read a handful of articles suggesting that Steve Cohen is willing to eat salary in order to get more prospect return for some of these guys that the Mets will want/need to move. Which could create sort of an interesting conundrum where we might get some insight into the priorities of our FO (and who’s calling the shots). I would assume, from a team-building standpoint, that Elias would prefer to eat the cash and send back lesser prospects in such a deal. But I’m also quite sure that it would be music to Angelos ears to learn that someone else would be willing to pay Robertson to pitch for us.

The response all year to the “why is Hyde burning out our good relievers?” queries has been…THIS. Because you just can’t count on the other ones to get anyone out.

Any word on when Nate James will be doing it?

Feel like Austin could have tried to keep that alive a little longer if Gurriel was going to tag him.

Seriously. If Hyde had ignored a 300+ point OPS platoon difference (as Gunnar has) and immediately watched the ball fly out of the park, the pitchforks would have been out instantly!

This is a fact, and an undeniable one at that, except that we actually have the 2nd best record in the AL. Frazier is 14th in the AL in WPA, and 2nd on this team. That means, by definition, that he has contributed heavily to our win total with his contributions at the plate. And yes, we all get that his overall batting line is league average. One would not expect a league average hitter to be such a major WPA contributor — and no one should reasonably expect Frazier to remain that moving forward if he stays near this level of performance. But in terms of what has happened to this point, he’s contributed substantially to the club’s winning.

All those explanations, and you still didn’t get to the most obvious one that came to me after I made my post, which is that using Cowser there leaves you without a 1B in the game since Santander was the DH. The difference between Cowser and Mountcastle isn’t worth burning your DH or having to use three bench players on one AB (to then have to sub Urias into the game at 1B). I’m sure that some of your points may well have been in Hyde’s head, although I do have to say that I don’t consider Cowser’s present slashline to be a reasonable representation of the quality of his ABs so far, and he certainly already has a more professional approach than Mountcastle, regardless of their respective experience. And while I recognize there’s some benefit to considering players’ overall track records — they are (and should be) regularly playing O’Hearn over Mountcastle, which speaks to their willingness to prioritize what they’ve done lately. As for the rest of your editorial of a post, which I didn’t quote, you can miss me with that rubbish. I’m sorry that my largely spontaneous, superficial, gut reaction reasoning reminded you of “what’s wrong with America.” I actually prepare, hone, and thoroughly refine comprehensive arguments for a living, so I’ll try to keep in mind that that’s the standard for posts in the OH Game Thread.

The part I don’t get is why you would hit for O’Hearn to gain the platoon advantage — but then refuse to hit for Mountcastle to regain the platoon advantage once the Marlins have countered. The only explanation that makes any sense is that it would have been “disrespectful” to announce Mountcastle and then not even let him hit…but that’s just silly. You were willing to pull O’Hearn because that was a high-leverage AB where we wanted an advantage, you have to be willing to do the same to Mountcastle. He’s a grown up, he’ll get over it. You don’t let him hit when there’s now a better option (Cowser) to take that AB.

He’s hit for O’Hearn in the 4th once and in the 5th twice (including the last game before the ASB).

Would like to think he could have just struck out to help the team there.

Now pinch-hit Cowser for Mountcastle. 14 position player chess move. Checkmate, Fish.

The kind of approach you’d expect from a guy who is #2 on the team (and #15 in the AL) in WPA.

Sandy Alcantara has a 4.72 ERA, and I’m pretty concerned that he’s going to post 7 shutout innings this very evening.

The numbers you’re referencing provide (some) support for the claim that he would strike out 30+ more times over 100 games, not 100 ABs — which is a pretty big distinction. The difference over the course of 100 PAs would likely be much closer to 10 more Ks by Stowers.

In fairness, that’s still a lot better than the posters on social media outlets, who are best summarized by Randy Quaid’s character in Christmas Vacation.

I stand corrected! Thanks for the information

I think a big part of these types of picks is that they’re a hedge against someone like Baumeister or Lord having a health issue (or getting a wild hair in negotiations) and becoming unsignable — like Nolan McLean last year. That frees up a lot of money that would go unspent unless you have a guy or two that you can pivot to. On draft day last year, they probably didn’t expect to sign Carter Young either. But when the money became available, they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Which is probably the plan with Witt and Ritchie, as well.

Chris Stratton is a guy that might be of interest at a lower price. He fares extremely well in the Stuff+ and PitchingBot type analyses, and the K/BB rates look very nice this year (2.97 FIP). Making $2.8M in the last year of arbitration. I still think they’re going to be hesitant to jump into the deep end with the prospect for veteran trades, which could make guys like this a little more appealing. Plus, I think there’s a good chance they may want to add two guys, so he might be a nice second reliever to pick up.

If the O’s are trying to buy low (and maybe diversify) on relief help, maybe they could check in with the White Sox. Putting aside the idea of Liam Hendriks — which would be an interesting gamble for various reasons — perhaps they would look at Joe Kelly and/or Aaron Bummer? Both of those guys have absolutely sterling peripheral numbers over the last two seasons (3.04 and 3.05 xFIP, respectively), but they would both likely be less pricey acquisitions. Kelly just went on the DL (with elbow inflammation, which could be a total deal breaker) and Bummer inexplicably has an ERA over 7 despite the metrics saying it *should* be less than half of that. If they’re asking for a bit too much in return for Giolito alone, maybe they would throw in one or both of those guys to convince us to part with a bit more premium prospect package. Think there’s a fair chance either one of them could be a useful piece down the stretch.

Robert looks tired. Maybe he should switch around and hit from the other side of the plate like a real man…..

3rd place overall in the first round for Adley. Lame format, but a great memory for him (and us).

Adley to the HR Derby:

Somewhat less known than his brother, Jack Fruit.