Orioles West

I voted for that optimistic All-Star Break scenario and a hope he beats the odds and helps the team for the second half. Elias seems more optimistic than I do, because it sure seems like the team should be pushing hard for pitching help instead of sitting back and hoping to make a run with the staff as is.

I was going to start a poll and a thread to go with it titled, "How Panicked Are We?" Complete with art, and passengers from the movie Airplane displaying various levels of panic. I think this thread will suffice as a stand in. And as much as a wanted Dylan Cease over the Hot Stove season, I am not ready to hand over what the ChiSox are asking (which scared all takers away thus far). As much of a bummer as the injury news is, I am going to have to have to rely on the idea that Elias has a plan or two -- and likely keeping the new ownership group in the loop about potential solutions if Bradish does need surgery or Means needs even more time to heal.

Agreed, I am not too worried about Gunnar. I will be there four weeks from now, an extra week later, and hope I get to see him grab a few in game AB’s at Ed Smith.

A very fair point — Burnes at the time looked like the “all in” move for a run in 2024. However, knowing that Means is still a question mark, because they can’t know how much work he will need until he starts working, and the Bradish hit, I would have thought Elias would still be looking for at least one more higher end starter. Burnes isn’t the icing on the cake anymore, and he can only start once every four or five days.

Damn. Not the news any O’s fan wants the first week of spring training. Hoping for the best and that we see Kyle be healthy before 2025.

Investment is a word I expected but I kind of wanted to hear something about championships in there.

Those would be my preferences as well, but the O’s have some choices at least.

So the club option is only a negotiation maneuver? Or does Elias want an emergency back up plan for 1B injuries?

One of the only silver linings living away from home in Maryland, is I haven’t had to deal with cable for a while. MLB.TV streams almost every O’s game on MASN and national TV seems to pick up most of the others.

Welcome to Norfolk?

Eh, one less thing the cleaning crews have to deal with — although I can’t imagine it topped the list of unpleasant things to pick up after a game. I don’t chew anymore, but if I did, I would be fine not dipping for the length of a game.

I know the landscape of the RSN’s is drastically changing — but I hope the new Orioles ownership group can find a way to build MASN up enough they can cover spring games in Sarasota again.

I'm definitely going to watch these, thanks for the heads up. Although, the weak catchers and report is probably one of my favorite weeks of the year, despite no stats to look at. Something about those first images of dudes playing catch that make my happy, happy.

Work kept me offline most of last season, so this was a really fun thread to catch up on and read all of the way through. Comparing reactions people initially had to the first post, and then the reactions as Gunnar picked up the pace. The funny part is, from my fandom corner, I was one who was worried Henderson wasn’t quite ready for the Bigs. Glad I missed out on disagreeing with your initial post!

This is how I voted, but I can see him losing AB's to younger guys as well.

You also asked for clarification from Mr. Linguist. While I appreciate the sentiment, I don't think I've earned the title, after reading the Hangout for a while, there are far better linguists and wordsmiths than me here in the forum. I'm a former editor, which only sets me up for trouble in the future with any typos or miscues or helping someone with semantics.

To boil it down, as I understand it, - foreordained is more secular, allowing for individual agency while preordained is divine plan of creation, a synonym of predestination. I just don't know if I have been preordained or foreordained as Mr. Linguist.

While I don't know any of us can truly know Elias thoughts, it is a smaller leap and a solid bet he sure hopes Westburg and Holliday meet or exceed predictions or expectations. Although I understand Frobby's caveat, that nothing is foreordained (which, to me is also a better word in this case than preordained) for our young Orioles. I guess I've been a fan long enough to have a hopeful side and still be able to rely more on cautious optimism. This is Baltimore and sometimes even our best and brightest let us down or take longer to develop than we want.

It sounds a little bold, but I like it. And I’d much rather see Kjerstad get a shot at it than spending money on JD.

I’m sure JD has some big hits left him, although the idea isn’t especially exciting to me. I can’t see it as an Elias move either, not with this roster.

Tim insights are always interesting to me. As for Woodruff, even if Elias is looking at finding a way to add him, I can’t see an offer going out until the new ownership group is in place.

I’m not quite ready to hand him 2B on Opening Day. I’m as fired up as any O’s fan to see the kid everyday — but he just turned 20 two months ago, the most games he has played in a year is 125 and he only had 18 games at Norfolk, where his numbers were human in that small sample size. He could absolutely help the Orioles this season, and could muscle through playing 150+ games, and yet the MLB grind can get to some younger players. I hope he exceeds all expectations and I loved watching his Dad play here in Colorado. I’ll also be fine if he gets a little more time at Norfolk before he has to deal with Jeter comps. Kid loves the game, lives the game, he will be fine either way.

I'm holding out hope that as long as Jim Palmer is on the MASN roster, that we still have a shot at another WS title. As wiser people than me have said, I'm stitious, but not superstitious. That said, I do love the classic cartoon bird and yet, I have an undiagnosed Orioles' hat addiction. Thus, I will also buy any baseball hat remotely connected to my baseball team. Apologies in advance if anyone sees me with a non-Disney cartoonist designed bird on my bill.

I don't hate cheap extra infield depth, but I'm still hoping Elias is going to take more chances adding bullpen depth over the spring.

Cash deals for depth are rarely sexy — but welcome to the organization Nick Maton.