phatty

I agree we will likely see the same number the Nationals have scheduled, 11, for this season. Hopefully, Roch or someone else will have some updates at least from Sarasota during the broadcast, as they’ll be remote again this year. Wonder how much they really save by not sending the crew to Sarasota. You’d like to think they could rent a few Airbnbs for a month and do this right.

“For 2024, the Florida and Arizona Complex Leagues will begin and finish their seasons a month earlier than before.” While I don’t have access to the article it sounds like weather / heat played a factor in the decision to move the schedule. “All 30 MLB teams discussed changes to the complex leagues with MLB all last season. Farm Directors voted to move the season up after considering multiple proposals for different tweaks. In the end, the decision changes the leagues from ones heavily populated by new draftees to ones that will largely be filled with players making the jump from the Dominican Summer League.” Baseball America Article Link

Two experiences linked together: Must have been back in 1996 (give or take a year). My step brother and I purchased a couple jester (clown type) orange and black hats. As always, we arrived early for a batting practice with these new hats on and almost immediately Alan Mills comes over to us with a baseball and says, “I’ll trade you each a baseball for a hat.” After laughing, my 15 year old brain says, I bet we can each get two baseballs. Sure enough he comes back with 4 baseballs and we make the trade. Fast forward to Spring Training March 2023. My buddy and I are in Sarasota and decide to go the minor league complex to watch Jason Hammel and Tommy Hunter pitch. We ran into the pitching coach Rick Adair and many others that day. Pretty cool experience, as we actually got to talk to both pitchers too. If memory serves me right, Hammel was announced the opening day starter that day or the day before. In that same day, I ran into Alan Mills observing the minor league guys from afar. Stand next to him for a bit and of course said “I have to ask, any chance you remember trading me two jester hats back in 1996?” He immediately talked about how much his kids loved them. Long story, short, we talked for a good 20 minutes. He gave me his cell phone number (as he was the pitching coach at Aberdeen and I live right down the street) to stop up once the ironbirds headed up to short season to check out practice / game day (as I was a pitching coach for a local high school). By the way, he never answered when I called him.

I agree - Love to travel to the away games. Just got back from Toronto last week. Having 3 kids on the road the players interact so much more with them out of town. Hoping to maybe figure out a way to hit two or 3 sites and possibly include Hawaii in the mix.

Elite Pipeline are the words Elias uses frequently. To me that suggests that if someone is not going to be elite, they may be packaged in a trade. For me there is only 2 guys on the farm that currently give me the “elite” vibe: Rodriguez and Henderson. The player development and scouting staffs will need to understand our system best to determine if anyone else would fall into that category. Kjerstad, Hall, Ortiz, and the 2022 seem to me to be too early to tell, but I’m open to trading anyone else who could not turn out to be “elite”. Bautista types to me are also “elite” even though they are bullpen only options. I’d be open to moving any other bullpen arm except him for Pablo Lopez types. I also have full trust in Elias to make or pass on these trades.

Since we are finally diving into this market as an organization I think this benefits the Orioles more than I would have thought in the off-season. I believe mlb clubs would have spent a ton more with either of the proposals drafted by mlb and mlbpa. Not too mention we are just now building out the facility in the DR.

Looks like he’s signed but haven’t seen reported bonus…

At the bottom of Steve Melewskis Blog ”The moves leave Norfolk with at least eight pitchers that will be expected to get starter innings. Some may have to do that at times in relief and/or in piggyback situations. Now they have added Knight and Sedlock to a group that already included Mike Baumann, Alexander Wells, Dean Kremer, Kevin Smith, Kyle Bradish and Ofelky Peralta. Zac Lowther is going through an injury rehab assignment in the FCL.” As I’ve watched Akin, Wells, and possibly others (Lowther) thinking making a move to the bullpen may be in their short term future. Not that this relates to the minors, but Lopez is also a strong possibility. Now to the discussion: does Norfolk just piggyback starting pitchers the rest of the way or do we see one or more of these starters moved to the bullpen? IMO the most likely future starters on our rosters include: Means, Rodriguez, Hall, and Baumann. Followed by Bradshaw, Kremer, Smith, Peralta, Knight, Sedlock. A future contending team likely does not include starting Akin, Wells, Lowther. Whike I don’t think I would immediately transition some starters, what pitchers in your opinion have very little chance of sticking with the Orioles in the coming years?

From a developmental standpoint I think the obvious answer is no. Having a good farm system finally I think we are going to start to see a log jam at some positions, possibly releasing someone that ends up developing somewhere else. However, the purpose was to reduce overall spending (I think minor league pay will eventually be increased significantly due to labor laws that have been circumvented with anti-trust). I do like that the Orioles were one of the teams to add a 2nd short season affiliate. The Ironbirds played 72 games in short season. The FCL looks like it will play up to 56 games (albeit a ton of rain outs).

“• Jordan Westburg was Baltimore’s second pick in 2020, taken 30th overall, out of Mississippi State, but started the year with Low-A Delmarva, despite his experience and age (22). Since a promotion to High A, he’s hit .298/.398/.484, playing mostly shortstop along with some third base. He really extends his arms through contact and seems to hit everything hard when he hits it at all, with very good plate coverage and a two-strike approach where he widens his stance (like Juan Soto, if a bit less extreme) and drops the stride. His strikeout rate in High A has been fine, under 24 percent, although in my one game with him, I saw him cut through at least four fastballs in or near the zone. He played surprisingly well at shortstop, but I’d bet on him ending up at third base in the majors because he’ll be bumped aside by a plus defender.” From Keith Law @Athletic

Heard a $10 bill sealed the deal

I think the National did pretty well considering all but Turner is a rental, although the Dodgers jump back to the top with Sherzer personally. Sent Hudson to Padres for Mason Thompson, Jordy Barley Sent Turner and Sherzer to LA for Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray, Donovan Casey, Gerardo Carrillo

If Mariners are trying to to go for it and maintain a controllable player Fry makes a ton of sense, along with some other teams.

It would be nice for Orioles if they continue to deal their prospects. If the Yankees get under the tax this year they reset and likely go well over next year?

still hopeful they miss out on the playoffs!

FYI… I saw this post: