Moose Milligan

2nd and 3rd already? None out???

Nope, can't turn back the clock. Even if Witt is doing what he's doing this year...if Adley's putting up a repeat 2023 performance, I wonder if we're having these conversations. We might be, but not to this extent. It also comes down to what do you value at that 1:1...a catcher? Or someone that projects to be an up the middle infield talent, great speed, hyper athletic...who stands to have a longer career? A longer peak? If you're looking at it from that perspective, it's Witt...and it was Witt back then. My post admittedly glosses over that the Orioles started winning right after Adley was called up and the intagibles that he brings to the table. IIRC, in early 2022, we were all fit to be tied on here, we were calling the Orioles a dumpster fire, etc. That stopped after he was brought up and we registered a winning season.

If Bradfield ended up with a batting average/OBP of Willie Wilson (.285/.326) I'd be alright with that (note that I said alright, not thrilled). Pettis hit .236/.332 so there was good separation between the batting average and the OBP. Pettis career war was 22.1, Wilson was 46.2. If Bradfield ends up somewhere in the middle between those two, I'd be good with that, too.

I think this is largely the case for them selecting bats at an overwhelming clip in the higher rounds. Looking at @Tony-OH's most recent prospect power rankings, you're starting to see some pitchers crack the top 15 and some of the DSL kids making noise...most notably Morfe. I do think there's an element of "let your competitors make the mistakes" when it comes to drafting pitching in the high rounds and I'm wondering if he's banking on pitching success in the system coming from the DSL picks instead of the draft for whatever reason. I don't think he cares how he gets pitching talent into the system as long as he gets it, whereas we're sitting on this message board screaming at the top of our lungs for us to take pitchers in the draft. The draft isn't the only way to get arms into the system...and while our system has definitely leaned towards hitters over the Elias regime, I'm looking forward to seeing if any of the arms make a leap into the top 10 of rankings this time next year and we suddenly have a gem or two on our hands that we weren't totally aware of on September 2nd, 2024. But back to VH (I'm close to calling him Van Halen, or Van Honeycutt) I'm not sure how warranted this promotion is. I understand the concerns with the swing and miss to his game, they are warranted. As with any prospect, his first full season in the minors will be interesting to watch. It'll be interesting to watch what they're having him do in the offseason, too.

A lot of losing across all levels...but there's reason to like these highlights.

I was half kidding there. I agree, I think he'd want to bet on a bounceback year.

No one's crying, but to think that we could have had Witt AND Gunnar...damn. We would be looking at potentially an all-time great left side of an infield. I do not believe this is who Adley really is...I think there's a bit of a back issue going on. I don't think he's his full self. His new plate approach this year is awful and I'm not sure what that's attributed to. I can't imagine a scenario where SIGBOT and others have told him to sacrifice his plate patience and OBP skills, yet here we are. This said, I have to acknowledge the idea that his best years at the plate are already behind him. That possibility does exist, unfortunately. If that's the case, then it will be hard to watch Witt and wonder what could have been. We have to remember that Adley was the consensus #1 overall pick that year. I'm sure if you went back and looked at all the publications from that year, there might be one or two writers that had Witt #1...and I'm sure there are some posters here that would tell you that "I had Witt over Adley!" It's important to remember that Adley was the first pick that Elias made after arriving here. Since then, we've seen him take Kjerstad when practically no one had Kjerstad linked to us at that slot. He took Cowser at a pick when most projections had him being taken after us. And, IIRC, in a year where there wasn't a consensus #1 overall pick, he took Jackson Holliday...I can't remember anyone saying Holliday was a chance to be the first overall pick in that draft. So Elias hasn't been afraid to think outside the box and draft a bit differently when the Orioles have had high picks in the first round. It's mostly paid off...Cowser looks like he'll be a cornerstone piece...at least he'll be a very solid to sometimes great every day player. Holliday looks like he belongs in his second go-round in the majors this year. Kjerstad's issues have been bad luck, however he has his believers. Let's not also forget that Elias was part of the braintrust in Houston that took Correa #1 when Mark Appel was considered the player to go #1 overall that year. All of that is to say...I wonder if Elias picking Adley in his first year was him playing it safe for his new boss, the fans, etc. I wonder if there's a part of Elias that had Witt rated higher than Adley, yet he knew that he had to make a good first impression on his new boss and he knew he had to give the fanbase something to get excited about and that played a part into taking Adley over Witt. Had he been here for a year or two prior and already garnered the trust and support of Angelos and the fans...I wonder if he takes Witt instead. I've been thinking about that for about a month now, especially after looking at how he's drafted in the high pick territory every year after taking Adley. Adley's selection at 1:1 is becoming somewhat of an outlier when it comes to Elias "being the smartest guy in the room," as some have derisively called him during this recent stretch. I wonder if the smartest guy in the room really was dead set on taking an older college catcher over a hyper athletic and projectable high school shortstop #1.

Then he should absolutely care about this year. He'd be ignorant not to think that his FA haul might have taken a bit of a hit with his recent performances. He was looking like a CYA contender for most of the season, now that's definitely going to Skubal.

I've remained fairly calm during our skid of mediocrity...primarily because I need both hands to count all the injuries. It's explainable. I will be annoyed if we take 2/3 from this series...not upset, just a little annoyed. And the only reason I am thinking this way is because we have Povich starting a game. He probably belongs in their rotation instead of ours, yet here we are. Anything less than 2/3 and I will hit the ceiling. Especially if the Yankees expand their lead.

I know. Yet, I was responding to someone that said "I think some people are underestimating how damaging it is to have Kimbrel on the roster." I think no one here underestimates how damaging he's been.

Buy low.

I can see that.

What an absolute stud. If Burnes can get his act together and if G-Rod comes back strong that’s a good 3 into the playoffs.

Have to sweep. But there’s no doubt we will let one get away.

This is where I’d bring Kimbrel in. Either up 5 or down by more than 5.

Rockies catcher recites the Victoria’s Secret catalog before throwing back to the pitcher.

I like stealing with a six run lead. Keep it up.

Alright Gunnar

Fair enough. You won’t get me defending MLB’s tv plan. Won’t catch me watching the WNBA though.

I like stealing up by 5. Do it again

Hyde is trolling Roy.

Light this trashcan up

At this point I’m good with a 50/50 split until Adley starts hitting again

Ugh. Oh well, nothing you can do on that.

One of the best for the 2010s decade. I’d say so.