Pickles

There's a real Esprit de Corps on this team that can't be denied. It's real easy to root for them. I don't think it's the best defensive team I've seen by any stretch. 2013 has been mentioned. I'd go so far as to say last year's team was better defensively. As far as "favorite" team, it's hard for me to beat 2012, because of the pure thrill of ending such a long period of misery. By 2012 I had kind of come to accept that the O's would always be bad and irrelevant. Forever. Shedding that feeling was pure bliss. There is no greater pleasure than the cessation of pain.

Actually sounds like a developmental success.

I think this is exactly what is happening.

When you're right, you're right.

We should trade Hays and Mullins for Trout.

One would think.

That's hits.

Well that will be the question: Can he still perform?

I actually think that might be the thought process. No matter what he does, he's going to eventually need surgery on that ligament. Might as well try to squeeze every last drop out of the arm before he goes under the knife. Reminds me of Jimmy Smith with the Ravens from a few years ago. He had a partially torn Achilles and it was only a matter of time before he tore it completely and had to go under the knife. So he kept playing on it until it finally gave out on him.

Yeah, if they're reneging on a deal, then that's totally different.

Yeah, that's not cool. Can't believe this would not have been ironed out in advance.

So presumably, the owner wants to try to claw back some of the owed money? TBH, I can't blame him.

Knew it was coming.

It's going to be hard to quantify but clearly this team is by and large younger and more athletic than its competitors and that bodes well for it when it comes to winning and losing. Team speed does not merely manifest itself in stolen bases, but in improved defense and base running in general. As far as Mateo and McKenna go, if they were to be replaced, they would likely be replaced by guys who are also fast, if not as fast as they are, particularly in Mateo's case. I wouldn't be shocked if Mateo was here next year as a 26th man. McKenna I would think will be gone because of the outfield crunch. However, if they end up moving Hays and/or Santander then he probably has a role on the team as a RHH OF. So I could see both being here, and I could see both being gone. Their relative footspeed will have little to do with that decision though.

We'd have a seven man rotation?

How you wear losses is on you. I used to wear Ravens losses badly, but I've grown out of that. Orioles success has always been so rare I've always dealt with it as found money so it doesn't upset me if they lose in the end. I really just think it is a matter of maturing and that is just time. However, what I don't like, and I won't comment on the game threads, because I almost never venture there, but the daily lineup thread. Every single day, no matter the lineup, there's 5-6 negative comments. No matter what.

A lot of teams that win a lot of games go into seasons now with options a whole lot worse than Tyler Wells in the rotation. It would be nice to upgrade. They didn't last year, and it hasn't stopped them from having the best team in the league.

No, he's probably not your fifth guy next year, but you can't say it's "not good" that he's an option for the rotation. Or that he's "completely unreliable." The hyperbole just gives the impression that place very little value on players, who though flawed, still have obvious value.

By your standards we literally have one every day player. Having Tyler Wells as a starting option next spring is a very good thing.

Great. Let's see if we can get him back into a good head space.

Means won't have the overall career because of durability, they are very similar pitchers at their peaks.

Again, and correct me if I'm wrong, but people need to appreciate that just because these two guys were brought up initially, it does not mean they must or will occupy the roster spots for the entirety of the month. The team is going to cycle through roster spots 27 and 28, just as they have 24-26 all year.

Mark Buehrle.

Cowser's comfort will take a backseat to doing what is best for the team. I don't have any insight into Hicks, but if I were the O's I'd be looking to get Hays fresh and healthy for the playoffs, and he clearly needs some time off his feet.