Moose Milligan

Gotcha, and noted. I think they can use him as an opener this year, keeping in mind what his current pitch counts have been. Maybe actual starting next year after a program this winter. IMO, that's what they should do.

Eh, well compared to whoever else we've had this year, he certainly looks like he could be a major part of the Orioles next staff, be it the best option out of the pen (he already is), or maybe a starter. Now that's not a high bar to hurdle at the moment, but it looks like he's definitely got a role on the team next year. Outside of Means, I'm not sure anyone else on the staff can say the same. Part of the next winning team? Remains to be seen. I'd agree, saying he's the second best pitching prospect would be wrong. But they've gotta stretch him out to give him starts unless they're going to use him as an opener. I'd like to see him get starts next year, certainly.

That's fine, but he mashed lefties in 2019 and last year. I'm not sure what the decline is due to. Even if they platoon him, he's still playing an important role on a team with the best record in baseball. He's had a way better career than Dwight Smith JR ever has.

If he gets starts, obviously they should limit his pitch count. I could see them using him as an opener, get to 50 pitches and bring in Lopez for the next 40-50 pitches. But more importantly, they need to have him finish the season on a high note and have him on a workout program this winter to perhaps be a starter next year. Even then, I don't know if he's ready for 25 starts next year at 80-100 pitches. Maybe he's a swingman next year and a full time starter in 2023.

The other part of the Yaz hindsight is that he was traded to bring in Dwight Smith Jr who wasn't great shakes either. At first glance, their minor league stats were comparable. Difference is that DSJR was a first round pick, 53rd overall and Elias has shown that he likes former high picks. You're right, it does happen. It just sucked because we could have used a corner outfielder that could hit a little and stay healthy. He's regressed some this year but he's still a starting outfielder on a contending team.

Wells looks to have good stuff. Akin doesn't. Mike Wright had a live arm and flashed every once in awhile, that's why he got to hang around and that's why you're okay with seeing more of Wells and ready to close the book on Akin.

I think he's fired people already, maybe not in the last couple of weeks. Earlier this year I think he got rid of a bunch of people. An owner with a twitter account is entertaining though.

Tell us something we don't know. But he also doesn't care and would tell you as much. Wells has been the one pleasant surprise for the staff this year not named Means. No doubt about it.

He hasn't?

Wells' uncle has entered the chat.

We'd have to pay and probably outbid the next team by a million or two. If all things are even between us and practically any other team, yeah...no way they're choosing us. Overspending sucks, but it's the likely hole the franchise has dug for itself over the years.

I've seen no indication that the Orioles will be targeting any real free agents, either. I've also NOT seen any indication that they won't be targeting any real free agents, too. Offseason starts after the World Series. Now I'm expecting a terrible offseason, much like last years where we scrape the bottom of the barrel and bring in guys that essentially no one else wants. But I'd like to be surprised.

I think we all recognized that we had two top flight guys in G-Rod and Hall and were thinking that a guy or two could step up. Thin, maybe...but there was room for growth. Now it's glaringly obvious that the pitching is thin.

In this day and age, K rate is king. I'm not sure why he's been able to tamper down his walk rate, hopefully that's something he could continue to do here. He would be a solid signing, depending on the years, not necessarily the dollars. But he appears to be a guy that can get you 6 innings and strike out 10+/9. Robbie Ray and Means would be two good guys to have at the top of the rotation with Rodriguez joining the rotation sometime next year.

He's posting unrealistic stuff daily, but he admits that he expects the Orioles won't do any of it. That way, he gets to keep raging against the Orioles, can call them stupid, etc, because they didn't do things he views as smart. And that's fine, everyone here does that to a degree. I think growing the arms is fine, if you can do it. I sometimes cringe at the thought of spending a lot of money in free agency on pitching...though if you do that, you're hopefully in a situation where that arm or two can get you to a World Series. An expensive strategy would be signing a guy to a 8/260 million a year deal. I'd much rather try to get 2 or 3 guys in the system like G-Rod. But again, I don't think the Orioles can do it.

Sure, we don't know the details, that's a valid point. There is some speculation on Twitter (yeah, I know) that Fanatics tried to buy Topps a few years ago and Topps told them to go pound sand. So Fanatics elbowed their way in, struck this deal with MLB which leaves Topps out in the cold and now they're going to offer to buy Topps at a fraction of what they initially offered a few years ago.

George Matthew is certainly fun. And I think he could be close to an every day guy if he were in a lineup surrounded by OBP talent. As stated above, you can see why he was a highly regarded prospect. He's most likely a utility guy but I'm happy we've got him so far. He's definitely an upgrade in the utility guy department.

I would like to believe that they will, too. This offseason (lol, every offseason around here is always TeH MoSt ImPoRtAnT OfFseAsON EVAARRRR) will tell us a lot, IMO. We'll have secured the #1 or #2 draft pick, AR will be ready to make his debut next summer, G-Rod will likely be ready, too. I wanted Taijuan Walker last offseason, that seemed like an obvious pick for us but of course we passed. As you illustrated with your Toronto example, you can get decent guys out there. I am hoping (but not confident) that Elias will bring in a guy or two like Walker or Matz. If he sits on his thumbs and brings in a Harvey/King Felix type, you can rest assured that next year will probably be another 100 loss season or close to it. I really want to see Elias attack this offseason, be aggressive and bring in 2 or 3 good free agent pitchers. I'm not saying he needs to bring in a guy like Greinke or Verlander, but I'd be stoked with Stroman (yes, SG, you're correct as usual, Stroman would be a good get), Danny Duffy, or Robbie Ray. I'd even be somewhat SOMEWHAT happy with Jon Gray or Andrew Heaney. Both of them aren't great but they'd probably be better than Akin/Kremer. Even a guy like Teheran who's been hurt and is still only 30 years old would be fine. I would love to see us pursue guys like that this offseason but I'm prepared for the worst.

Doom and gloom, SG! That's my department, as you love to point out how negative I am. After webbrick I do believe I'm the most negative person here, a badge I wear with honor. Yes, our minor leagues, after G-Rod and Hall, look to be filled with guys that have average stuff. Perhaps some of them can develop a pitch like Means developed his changeup and rise above, but odds are that these guys are who they are. It's plain as day, in order to succeed in the majors right now you most likely have to have a big fastball and a wipeout slider/curveball. If you don't, you absolutely have to be able to dot a gnats ass and have good movement on your fastball and secondary offerings. You need to be able to strike guys out at a high rate, consistently. If Kremer, Akin, Lowther etc are any hint of what's to come, this rebuild is going to fall flat on its face unless Elias can bring in quality free agents (read: will the Angelos brothers allow him to spend).

Ah, the Orioles. Just when you think they’ve bottomed out, they just keep finding ways to show you depths you’ve never thought of.

It's not often that I nod my head in agreement with Keith Olberdouche but here we are: I grew up collecting cards, pretty hardcore. From the time I was six, practically through the end of high school. Didn't buy many as an adult until about 3 or 4 years ago when I bought a pack at random while at Wal-Mart and remembered why it was so much fun in the first place. I bought all the brands, Donruss, Fleer and even Upper Deck when I was feeling rich. But above all else, I bought Topps. Lots of fond memories of stopping at a 7-11 with my dad to get a few packs. Organizing them, trading them, buying a Beckett to see how rich they were making me (they weren't). My dad's company did a project for Topps, he went to their headquarters and brought me back a complete set of 1993 and some other packs of Topps Finest. Topps was my brand, even though for years they lagged behind some of the other companies in certain areas. I didn't flinch at all when Donruss, Fleer and Upper Deck lost deals with MLB but this is different. This actually hurts a little bit. Two big middle fingers and a crotch grab to Rob Manfred and MLB. And it's not like they awarded it to Donruss or Upper Deck, two companies that are still in the trading card business...I might even understand that. You gave it to FANTATICS??? Who the **** is that? They're an apparel company. What the **** do they know about trading cards? Topps is as synonymous with baseball as peanuts and Cracker Jack as far as I'm concerned. **** off, Manfred and MLB. You don't do anything right.

Thanks for the bump, anyway. I know that there's a rule against that now, but seeing some of the old names that were posting in here is a trip down memory lane.

I guess that's the key takeaway from this game today.

At least Mullins and Mountcastle have had hits.

Man, forgot about this today. Been busy with work. Glad to see that I haven't really missed anything.