ChosenOne21

The underlying metrics always suggested Norby was due for serious regression, but some people are just desperate not to give Elias credit because they need to be able to point to some single, solitary thing and say, "This is why we're underperforming!" and the guy running the show is the obvious target. I think Norby and Stowers have value as major leaguers, but long-term I don't think they're guys we're going to miss. Entirely possible Trevor Rogers is someone forgettable as well. I guess sometimes both teams lose trades.

Yeah, you'd think someone would have tried this if there was any reason to think it would lead to more runs. I kind of want some team to try it for a couple of years and fail miserably so I can point it out every time someone thinks the answer to our troubles is to play baseball like it's 1905. I'd love to see Wee Willie Keeler try to hit an 87 MPH slider "where they ain't."

So if Gunnar comes up with the bases loaded and two outs, smashes an 100 MPH line drive right at the second baseman who catches it, was that some sort of failing on Gunnar's part? Would you call that a "lack of timely hitting?" The "data schmata" shows that the Orioles had a lot of well struck balls that turned into outs, much more than their opponents, yet somehow this is a failing on their part? Look, there's plenty not to like about the Orioles hitting of late, but how does whether or not they're "pressing" or "expecting to lose" have anything to do with batted ball data? If "pressing" is hitting the ball harder than your opponents and striking out less, sign me up for more of it.

Cade. Does he have a twin brother?

I can't remember a reliever we've had who's been as good as Cano who huge segments of the board seem to think is a fringe reliever. It's kind of mind-blowing. What does the guy have to do to get respect from some of you guys?

I mean, Tampa is one of, if not the best organizations at developing pitching. Should no one ever trade them a pitcher then?

I'm going to be pretty surprised if Kremer doesn't need a short IL stint.

Fair enough. Assuming he doesn't implode next year, I'll still take the over on 4/80. And at a minimum, again, assuming he's at least average next year, I believe what he gets will be closer to 4/80 than 3/45.

If he's even a league-average starting pitcher next year, he'll get considerably more than 3/45 as a free agent. You'd probably have to offer him something like 4/80 before he even considers it, and I doubt he signs even that.

I've never been a catcher, but how hard can it be to scoot up a little behind the plate and not hold the pitch so long after you catch it? This isn't like asking a pitcher to rework his delivery. Are the Orioles just oblivious to this stuff? Is Adley stubborn?

Who's better that we can get to run the team?

You can if his OPS is .930

I wouldn't hate having him back on a reasonable one-year deal and hoping Fabian or someone is ready to take that role in 2026.

I just can't shake the Alex Wells vibes with Pham.

I don't get it. I've never been the biggest Vespi fan, but he's serviceable. Kriske is 30 and has a career ERA of 11. Maybe there's more ceiling with Kriske, but we need stability, and I think we're more likely to get that with Vespi.

I don't know how he keeps doing it, but Albert, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I think it's been extensively studied that sliding isn't faster than running through the bag. The reason you slide is so you don't overrun second or third base and get tagged out. Or to dodge a tag at home plate.

We're starting Ryan O'Hearn versus Framber Vadez? Is Ryan Mountcastle okay?

I mean, we've had what seems like a ridiculous amount of injuries, but that doesn't excuse the healthy players slumping. And while maybe Elias could have done a better job building depth, I think it's nuts to expect him to have someone solid ready to step in for everyone who went down this year.

Maybe we should have an Adley Rutschman + Gunnar Henderson vs. Bobby Witt Jr. + Brady McConnell thread.

This had better be super minor, or I'm afraid it's one injury too many for us.

Good research, but the issue isn't so much power as his already borderline acceptable speed, defense, and contact rates getting even worse. Santander can't afford to lose another step or he's a 1B/DH. If he loses 10-20 points of BA, he's a fringe major-leaguer.

Didn't we already try to bring him back once and it didn't work out? Congrats to the people who called it, I guess, but I'm not blaming Elias for not wanting to go back to that well a second time.

I could offer Santander 3 years/$60M out of my own pocket, because he won't take that deal. Unless he gets hurt or something or absolutely falls off a cliff offensively starting right now, that's not going to happen.

Something like this might be the only way to put the "max effort on every pitch" genie back in the bottle. Not sure if it's a good idea, but it's the only plausible solution I've heard. EDIT: Also, is anyone really doing openers anymore? They seem to have been a fad a few years ago but I don't hear much about them these days.