beantownrefugee

Got mine on Sunday. I didn't know it was coming, so what a nice surprise from the Orioles! I like "The Bird" marker to emulate the baseball shaped distance markers along Eutaw Street.

I see where you're getting at. However, I do think the commissioner will weight the 2019 season. MLB claims that draft and waiver rules (both record associated, and by extension, financial wherewithal associated) are means by which small market teams can reasonably compete. But we shall see.

Somehow your avatar makes this statement more impactful ? I'd prefer to see the O's win. No fun "hoping" they lose to get a better draft pick. Besides we don't know how the draft positioning will work. Will they win is another story -- Braves and Rays are two of the best teams.

Agreed the contract you suggest would be most optimal. Other piece of the puzzle with Trey would be to shift him to 1B, cut Davis, so that Trey wouldn't be part of the OF playing time calculus.

Pains me to say this, but there is a chance the O's don't tender Trey a contract. He's ARB-2 for next season, cost $4.75M this season (times 60/162). It would be a difficult decision from a personal and PR point of view. But if it doesn't look probable he'll play much next season, Trey might not be tendered.

Agreed, probably the pitch where it appeared that he overswung. Per Roch, Hyde says DJ Stewart will get most of the playing time in RF.

I'm enjoying watching Cedric's game. He's a throwback to the 80s when many teams had speed in the lead-off position (Rickey Henderson being the best). Also good to have a CF with speed who can get to balls. If he continues, he should at minimum be a solid 4th OF entering in late inning situations for defense, PR, situational bunts.

This article from The Score indicates that "sources" tell Baseball America there isn't expected to be any change in how the draft order is determined. Is anyone here a Baseball America subscriber and able to read the original report? https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2012384/report-2021-mlb-draft-to-be-held-in-atlanta-before-all-star-game The 2021 MLB Draft will take place in Atlanta from July 11 to 13, sources told Carlos Collazo and J.J. Cooper of Baseball America. Next year's event will be at least 20 rounds - and up to as many as 30 - based on an agreement between the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association, according to Collazo and Cooper. The draft will reportedly be tied to the All-Star Game festivities in Atlanta next year. The Home Run Derby is scheduled to take place on July 12 and the Midsummer Classic will be played on the 13. There isn't expected to be changes to how the draft order is determined, sources told Collazo and Cooper. However, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to change the order amid a shortened campaign, an any decision is not expected anytime soon.

I'm not inclined to sell low and give up on this team. Lost 6 in a row while Toronto has won 6. Several bats have gone cold. But Mountcastle is an upgrade in the lineup, and Iglesias sounds like he'll be back on Wednesday -- another upgrade. Best bullpen guys have gotten a few days off with no lead to protect. Starting pitching is what it is. Surely not a top contender, but teams that finish eighth in the league usually have weaknesses. Starting pitching weaknesses can be hidden to some extent with a solid bullpen -- especially in a short season.

I'm excited that the Orioles are NOT the team dropping infield pops, allowing a single to become an inside the park home run, and giving up tons of passed balls. By August 31, if every game on the schedule is played (a big "if"), 35 out of 60 games would be played. That should be enough to venture an educated guess of how the remainder might pan out. I'm in the camp that can't-miss trade offers will not be coming. No guarantee this MLB season finishes, amplified by no agreement that the players will be in a bubble for the playoffs.

For this year, yes the O's do stand a good chance to compete for a playoff berth. I haven't seen mentioned the wild card (pun intended) in all of this --- we may see more opportunities like this coming week against a depleted Marlins team due to COVID. Not unreasonable to think the O's can go 3-2 in the next five games (including today vs. TB). 7-5 through 20% of the season where 8 teams make the playoffs would be solid.

I agree with Twins / Braves. I can recall World Series back to 1979 (which mercifully is blurry for me). Kirby Puckett hitting the HR in Game 6 is a top moment of the last forty years -- and he is my favorite non-Oriole player. Next up on the WS seven game list would be D'Backs / Yankees 2001, and Mets / Red Sox 1986.

A potential solution to this would be to add a surcharge to the MLB package to allow in market streaming. For example, for subscribers in the Orioles and Nationals area, add say $50 (?) if the subscriber wants to access in market games. That way, the O's and Nats retain their media revenues.

Great, so having baseball players espouse your politics is important to you. I said I don't want politics and baseball to mix -- no matter where he is on the political spectrum. Personally I thought your response to new Orioles Hangout poster Explosivio was much too unfair to leave alone, such as reading into "a fella like that" and certainly implying Explosivio's statements as racially derogatory. He clearly has researched Martin via videos etc, and presented his take on Martin as a teammate.

If Martin had worn a Don't Tread On Me hat, would you feel the same way? I also saw a red flag with Martin choosing to use the biggest moment of his career thus far to make a political statement. Some want their entertainers to be in line with their own politics. I personally just want to watch baseball. I don't want the drama. To each their own.

B+ I didn't feel Martin was worth slot value at 1-2, let alone the 1-1 he is apparently seeking. Elias didn't handcuff the remainder of the draft by overspending on Martin. For that reason alone, I'll give this an above average grade. I did however look at Lacy as worth slot value, and would give the O's a trio of highly regarded starters (with Hall and Rodriguez). Maybe Baulmer pans out and becomes that third pitching prospect. Mayo or any of the other picks contributing would be gravy.

I'm expecting Martin, but hoping Lacy. Lacy / Hall / Grayson for 4- 6 years before they hit free agency sounds like a pennant winner

Have to wonder whether Adair's vitriol, at least in part, shattered the confidence of Arrieta and others (Strop?) to the point they were unable to perform. If so, that certainly cost the team dearly in the long run, to lose such capable talent. Adair left the team for "personal reasons" around August 27 2013.

I'm taking the 125% credit. The equivalent of a 25% bond for a (max) 2-year term ain't bad.

I received this response in this from the Orioles' Birdland Member Services Team, and the answer is yes the refund can be applied towards season ticket costs. The value of my tickets through May 31 is $71, and the response was very detailed in the math -- well done by the Member Services Team. "I apologize for the confusion, but yes! The 125% Game Credit can be used towards season ticket costs until the end of the regular season in 2022. For impacted games, including all home games from March 26 through and including May 31, you have the choice to receive a 125% Game Credit on your account which would total $88.75. The full value of your tickets is $71, so that is $17.75 of bonus credit on top of your full ticket value that you’ve earned simply by being a ticket buyer. That game credit can be used for regular season games, membership renewals, seat upgrades, private rentals, and more all the way through the end of the regular season in 2022."

Cool let us know what you find out. I'm inclined to take the 125%, but then I only got one ticket for the cheapest 13-game plan offered (~ $200). So I have less invested. I use my Birdland membership more for the discounts on tickets, concessions, etc. If crediting my account would help the Orioles stay afloat, help pay lost wages to the seasonal staff, and lower the risk of the Orioles leaving town in 2021, seems worth it to me.

If no fans allowed, somewhat defeats the purpose of playing in home ballparks. In that case, the idea of starting the season at spring training locations seems more appropriate, since it would limit travel. And then if somehow MLB decides to allow fans, then move the games to regular home ballparks. I think there will be baseball this year. Opening Day on July 4.

I attended, and thought it was fun. Guess anything Orioles related and being inside the ballpark is a nice reprieve from winter. I would estimate the attendance as 250 - 400. But I might be underestimating, since the guy behind me in line at the O's Team Store said that they were out of sherpa blankets when he arrived, and the O's had said the first 1,000 would get a sherpa blanket. The rain was not too bad, alternated between a mist and light rain. There wasn't too much to do, besides the segment with Hyde, Elias and Sig. I did, finally (!), get to exchange my voucher for the Hawaiian shirt (XLs were wrong size on gameday last July). Also everything in the team store was 50% off, which brought some prices to the right price point for me. Others, like the $150 polo shirt, not so much. Not too much newsworthy during the Hyde, Elias, Sig segment. Putting together Elias' answers to two separate questions.... (paraphrasing) "Villar was a big part of our team last year, but we want to give a chance to others who have more than one year remaining before free agency" and "we're going to look for a veteran player to play middle infield this year, no one in the upper minors ready" (seems like Villar fits that description), not retaining Villar was a pure money play. Another interesting question asked was, would the O's consider taking on salary in a trade if that player was paired with prospect(s), Elias seemed to genuinely say it was a possibility.

Harvey, Means, Sisco, Hays, Mancini

B/B-. I had it as A/A- prior to yesterday. Thought DD was deliberate in trading Manny and Britton, and seemed to get a good deal given that other teams knew we had no choice but to trade them. Liked that they prioritized International Signing Money in the trade for Brach. Yesterday dampened my enthusiasm. Did not like the salary dump as part of the Gausman trade. Schoop trade may be too early to tell, but with the flexibility that the O's did not need to trade him yesterday, seems like the O's could have acquired more. Next phase's success rides heavily on whether the O's can sign VVM, and a solid selection with the #1 (or 2 or 3) pick in the 2019 draft first round.