Big Mac

I picked Torkelson mostly because I think that's the safe pick but I'm still undecided. I would not be upset with Martin, I think the risk there is maybe you end up with a Dansby Swanson type who can't play shortstop.

I'm still reviewing scouting reports and video so I'm actually undecided as to who my preference is for the second pick. Regardless, it seems clear that Martin is a completely defensible pick, even if I ultimately have a personal preference for another player.

Well it is June 10-11, not next week. So you have some more time at least!

Point taken. I just think it's worth noting that a 4.74 ERA in the International League last year is not what that number traditionally would entail. It's more like a PCL ERA.

Really discounting the use of the juiced ball in AAA last year. That ERA was among the best of qualifiers.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/story/2020-05-18/padres-hedges-optimistic-mlb-season-player-rep Some encouraging news in here. Hedges is the Padres MLBPA rep so not a nobody when it comes to this situation.

It's amazing to look back at how differently we handled pitching prospects. Brian Matusz was called up after 19 minor league starts, 11 at Frederick and 8 at Bowie. How is he handled under the current regime? I would think it's Frederick/Bowie the year after he was drafted (assuming similar levels of success) and then at least 10 starts in Norfolk the year after. Would it have made a difference? Who knows.

This was a really good read, thanks for sharing. I don't know that the owners and players can come to a resolution here, but I certainly hope they do. I'd love to spend July through November watching baseball even if it is just from home.

That was not really the point I was trying to make. I generally enjoyed watching Villar.

Lucky for you we traded Villar, so maybe this will be somewhat reduced this year. I like watching everyone that puts on an Oriole uniform, even the most flawed players. There is always something there that's intriguing, these guys are some of the most talented to ever play the sport. Do I think Stevie Wilkerson is an everyday ML player? Absolutely not, but I can find admirable qualities there. I can't wait for them to be back and to cheer them on again, warts and all.

To be fair about the masks, people were told by public officials in prominent positions for a long time not to wear them because they weren't effective. That has to be a significant factor in the resistance by some to wear masks.

So the question is how much would I pay to have 81 orioles games televised this season and the alternative is that there is no baseball at all? Essentially I am trying to spend a partial season into existence? Thousands.

Right, the idea is that it comes within the power to regulate interstate commerce, but it's a little tricky.

That pesky federalism thing tends to get in the way. The same reason why we can't impose a national stay at home order, these things fall under police powers which are reserved to the states. Don't want to break any rules and I'm not speaking to any benefits/drawbacks of this.

So what in the world happened to Davey Johnson in 1973? In his first year with the Braves in his age 30 season he hit 43 HRs and yet never topped 18 in any other season. Looking at the park effects it seems like Atlanta Stadium was a bandbox that year and three members of that team topped 40 HRs, but that still seems just absolutely wild to me.

I think at some point, we just need to see what we have in these guys. Some refinement will need to come at the ML level. I personally don't think college pitchers who are second round draft picks need to spend 4.5 years in the minor leagues.

It's a joke that we're giving Tom Eshelman innings but cut Akin

That's a fair point. I think he's a finished product. If we nitpick little things for pitchers to refine we will never promote anyone. Maybe this is where I depart from Elias but Keegan Akin is 25 and a second round draft pick. Either you can pitch in the major leagues or you can't...

I'm starting to get concerned if any of our pitchers will see ML time. Yeah Akin has things to refine but bring him up, I don't see AAA being a benefit.

I think you are just a stupid person, not alarmist.

I thought we had a policy against political posts.

4-5 depending on how you count them.

You're missing a lot of words here. Surely a savvy investor like yourself wouldn't make such errors!

Probably worth noting at this point that I cannot, and am restricted from trading, individual stocks. Again, I hope those who have made decisions recently end up okay. Everyone has different risk portfolios, probably best for us to leave it alone here.

I regret getting into this at this point but you stand to gain nothing beyond what you would if you just waited it out. I'm done on this topic and I wish you the best of luck. I think the old adage of "time in the market beats timing in the market" comes to mind. Also you didn't time it because you didn't buy back in yet, I have my doubts you will do that properly given my impression of your general capabilities.