crawjo

In my view, 2022 is the first year where I'm judging Elias for the on-field product. If this team loses 108 games again, it's his fault. There's no excuse for it anymore. We need upgrades to the infield and the starting rotation for sure, and then also for the bullpen. I don't think the outfield should be a concern. I'm not saying the team needs to compete right now for a playoff spot. But there needs to be progress towards that goal. If it were me and if we had the budget for it, which we probably don't, I would have gone aggressively after Correa. He's young, he fills a need for years to come, and he fills a serious hole in our organization. I get why that won't happen, but to me it would be similar to when the 119-loss Detroit Tigers signed Ivan Rodriguez back in 2004. At some point, you have to start getting serious about fielding a competitive team. If you want this team to compete in 2023 and 2024, it is unreasonable to expect them to go from 100 losses to playoff contention that fast. This is the year we need to step up.

I think it is veterans now that are undervalued. If I were Elias, I would be looking to add veteran FAs (or salary dumps from other teams) that fill holes in the current roster, and then look to flip them at the deadline. We should be looking for bounce-back candidates. It's not a path to World Series contention, but it can help at the margins. Also, I am skeptical that the players we have now would get much in return on the trade market. I would not tank next season for draft position. Lots of teams are doing that, and anyway I think the biggest rewards will come in international signings. So I'm not trading Bundy unless someone overpays, because at the end of the day this team needs a starting rotation and Lord knows our bullpen isn't currently positioned to carry a heavier load.

This is what I don't get...fans almost taking the side of ownership on payroll. We are talking about maybe a $10 million player. That's not such a huge salary hit that it justifies removing 4 WAR from a team that lost 108 games this year.

I don't think I get why you would non-tender Villar. It's not like we have some pressing need to cut payroll, and he was arguably the team's best player last year. Certainly one of the most exciting to watch.

He needs to be released. It is bad for the team and for the organization to keep giving at-bats to an historically awful veteran who is nowhere near the standard for having a successful Major League Baseball team. I just don't see any upside any longer to having him on the roster. He's been producing at a sub-60 OPS+ for more than a year and a half. It's time to bring the torture to an end.

Only on several hops.

I saw the Tides play in Columbus last night. Awful game. Luis Ortiz was dreadful, giving up 5 runs in four innings, striking out 1 and walking 4. Chance Sisco played one of the worst defensive games I've ever seen from a catcher. He gave up three "wild pitches" that an average MLB backstop would have blocked, he threw a ball into center field trying to catch a runner, and he dropped a relay throw that would have easily tagged out a runner trying to score. Tides lost 11-7. I hope that's just a small sample size and not a reflection of his abilities as a catcher. If it is, he should be moved away from the position immediately and turned into a DH.

I wonder why Hyde brought him out for the 9th, and then left him in there for so long when it was clear he was getting tired.

I would platoon him with Mancini at first base starting next year, with Mancini sliding to LF or DH when he isn't playing first. If he isn't at least at replacement level by June, I cut him and eat all the costs.

Villar is the kind of player you pick up just to tide things over during a rebuild. Maybe he's decent and you trade him for something later. Maybe he's not and you just bench or DFA him.

It's a fine signing. They needed to make at least two, and for that money it makes them a better team. He isn't going to be blocking anyone who should be in the majors right now, so I think it is fine. Of course, having Cobb or Lynn or whoever would be better, but maybe not for the years and dollars that would require.

You might be right. But there aren't a lot of options for the salary they would be willing to offer.

I do think they sign one more free agent pitcher. Who will it be? Tillman? Vargas? I think it is unlikely that they get Lynn, but I know I've read they've been in contact with him this winter, so I'm not ready to say it's impossible. Is there any chance of trying to sign RA Dickey, or is he retiring? He might be a decent fit.

Whether the team was going to contend or not, this rotation needed a veteran to eat some innings. I would sign one more and then let all the remaining candidates (Castro, Mesa, Cortes, Ynoa, Wright, etc.) duke it out for the #5 spot.

Yes, only idiot GMs sign players to minor league deals in order to have organizational depth. The great GMs only make big signings and awesome trades.

I remember when intending to cheat was seen as a virtuous characteristic for a baseball player to have. Then came PEDs and all the armchair moralizers.

What on earth would have prevented them from doing it?

I would say the only Oriole whose number is not currently retired who I think should be considered is Mussina. But 35 has been worn by a lot of people since he left town. Still, I wonder if the Orioles might do something if he gets elected to the HOF in the next few years, as he should.

There has been terrible umpiring as long as there has been baseball. Baseball is fine. I personally wish they wouldn't have the live fx displayed for every pitch.

Yeah, my ideal lineup at this point would be: 1. Nick Markakis RF 2. Steve Pearce LF 3. Nelson Cruz DH 4. Adam Jones CF 5. Manny Machado 3B 6. Chris Davis 1B 7. JJ Hardy SS 8. Jonathan Schoop 2B 9. Nick Hundley C I keep Davis sixth just to break up the long parade of righties.