Orioles West

I thought it was a decent signing, but I didn’t imagine him being as good as he has been so far. Some bumps ahead as you mentioned, and some more clutch saves ahead too. That strikeout of Trout with the bases loaded — fun stuff.

I don’t know how long this Suarez wave will last, but it’s fun and a really good story to see a guy fight for one more chance and take advantage of it.

I don't know what the record is for arms utilized this early, but it sounds like a lot. That's a bunch of teams that couldn't through their rotation 3-4 times without needing more arms. Even the Orioles at 6 starters already.

If — and I think we all hope JH gets it going — he does need more time to prepare for MLB pitching and returns to Norfolk, then I wouldn’t mind giving Norby a shot.

I think DR could well be the coolest thing for the O's since the '83 World Series title, and he is a successful human, who probably became successful because of wise investing and keeping projects within a budget. I would love DR to have endless resources and sign everyone possible, but I do not see any way we keep Burnes and a substantial number of our home grown Birds. John Angelos sounded defeatist at times, yet, he had a point about how many times Baltimore can drop 300 million dollar contracts. I love Burnes in orange and black. According to my wife, I probably love Burnes at an unreasonable level. However, I don't see any way we can keep him. And maybe we shouldn't. Pitchers break down way too much (setting aside modern pitch count debates). The Astros plan did include overspending for a starter or two, I'm just not sure that's our O's, even with DR.

Gunnar, Adley, and Jackson - based on the limits of the OP choices, but I understand wanting to keep Burnes around. On the G-Rod mentions, not a bad idea. O's have control, but if he continues to be a frontline starter, an extension could be cheaper than the last 2-3 arbitration years.

I had a chance to see him pitch during the spring for my week of visiting Sarasota. Looked decent there too, but I didn’t think much of it, as I didn’t see a lot of room for him on the roster. It’s a great story (so far) and I’ll just roll with his first start and hope he has a few more quality starts in him. Even if not, it’s a good story for a guy who hadn’t pitched at this level in so long.

Agreed! A pleasant surprise to see that performance — 34-year old back in the Bigs and apparently, wants to stay.

Yeah, the O’Hearn O-hate is going to have to take a few more days off.

In the not proud, not embarrassed arena, apparently I’m working on most years with the fewest posts record — but not on purpose. I was over 1,200 slow posts previously, but that purge Tony mentioned reset me back down to 600. That and work stuff, but I did always read the board. I am back over 800 again, and on a roll. At this pace, I should catch Roy by the year 2486.

Yes it was! My wife heard my (bleep) yeah yell and she was outside of our house. As Big Ben noted, our pitchers today were at their best in the moments they needed to be.

I stream, therefore I am. Already had Apple TV, for a few of the shows and nights like tonight, only place to catch my O's.

I get it -- although I'm not quite as fickle. The O's of my youth spoiled me rotten. Baltimore had one losing season from the time I was born until the part of my contract serving in the USMC (1965-1985). That losing season was when I was two-years old, so I missed most of it. We all know about the last few decades. The worm has turned and not just with the amazing 101-wins last year. There is a vibe, a swagger, and I could feel it in Sarasota a few weeks ago, even in stands. Sitting with optimistic fans again, was weird and wonderful. Baseball is about as humbling a sport as there is, but it sure is a good feeling to wake up everyday and KNOW your team has a shot to win the day.

Ultimately, my speculation about this is why the O’s have not called me for advice. I leave them my number at least once a month, and I never hear back. At the end of the day, if details do become known, and something about Kemp and the delayed call up make more sense, it will amount to mild entertainment, long forgotten after Holliday is an All-Star.

I was thinking the same - mystery injury that never happened appears to be all better.

That’s a solid assertion, I just don’t quite buy in on the 14-day Holliday LHP dodge theory for why he started in Norfolk. It could be true, but we don’t know for sure. If it is true, why didn’t the O’s tell him the plan? I also don’t know that the front office was sweating a Norby option — and if they were, Wong was already around to have his option picked up. Kemp’s aging .209 BA last season wasn’t even exciting enough for the A’s — why pay him so well for a temp fill? Heck, if Elias runs for Congress, he has my vote, but Kemp was a bad idea, in my humble estimation.

Agreed on all counts. I wasn't concerned about your critique, Elias is awesome, but he ain't perfect. I was curious about your take on his overall transparency, which you clarified. That aside, it will be interesting to see how Elias has handled JH, whether it helps or harms the kid's long term relationship with the O's. Kemp is just a whiff, no matter how much I try to make sense of it.

Overall, I think Elias is more available and transparent than most. As a Maryland native living in Colorado, and the Rox GMs here are invisible, unavailable and usually hunted to ground by bloodhounds to get a quote about a roster move. As to the injury stuff, the O’s operate like an NHL team, and I don’t know if that’s good or bad yet overall (definitely bad for media, gamblers, and fans who want answers). All that said, I see the handling of JH, the signing of Kemp as a couple significant hiccups by an otherwise quality baseball dude who has still brought the O’s back from the dead.

You mean you agree with me that an extension seems unlikely. The quote you’re jumping on was my response about the history Boras and how he advises his clients about extensions.

Absolutely, but most of his clients take his advice of hitting the open market for best value. And, I think JH and family are still bummed he didn’t move north with the team — I think they understand this weird two week delay less than we do (other then the LHP gauntlet Tony mentioned).

Even if an extension of some kind is in the works, which would be cool — Boras isn’t going to include bonus years of control, unless it is money at a level we’ve never seen the O’s throw at a player.

Again — until we see evidence to contrary, I’m taking David Rubenstein at his word. Why would he describe his method of leadership to allow his baseball experts make the call and then change that two weeks in?

Until I see evidence to the contrary, I’m taking DR at his word. He has essentially said he will defer baseball decisions to his baseball experts, talking up his GM among the best if not the best GM in the game. However, I do see Elias presenting DR with all of the financial implications surrounding the call up of Holliday — and then the new boss telling him to go for it now.

Count me in with the, "I'll never understand the Kemp signing," side of things -- but it doesn't put a big dent on the GM's rep. My guess is, even Elias, who attends so many games home and away, couldn't stomach another at bat where Kemp looks slow and overwhelmed.

It sure is fun to watch Burnes work. Realistically, I know it doesn't make a ton of financial sense to try and keep him around, with all the talented young players on the roster. And yet,I am starting to want to sign him anyway. Unreasonable contracts are easy from the arm chair here at home, and it's a good daydream...