Can_of_corn

That's speculation. The drastic cuts to payroll was part of Elias' plan that was presented to ownership.

Supposedly Angelos provided Elias what he asked for when it came to payroll. We also don't know how much, if at all, Rubenstein will be increasing payroll. I guarantee you Rubenstein won't be saying that Elias isn't spending as much as he authorized and Elias won't criticize payroll in public.

Of course the buck stops at the top but Elias was the draft guy for at least some of those years. I think that if you don't have success in picking pitchers in the first five rounds, you figure out what is causing the misses and improve your process. You don't just give up.

Until I see him do it I have my doubts Elias will give anyone a four year contract. He's had plenty of chances to sign someone to a moderately long term deal and has thus far declined to do so.

Teams have gone from 98%+ chance to make the playoffs to missing the playoffs so the chance wasn't zero. From Wiki, I give you the 2011 Red Sox, remember them?

I'm sure he can.

That makes it sound like he was just a bystander. How many of those were his drafts?

I think you have to give him until the end of 2025 before you can decide to make a change.

It is not a given that he can play First. He has not yet shown that he can.

I think it was just to keep Mayo in the minors.

Too young for beer pong.

I'm not doubting it happens, I think the O's would have the tools to quickly discover it happening. I think with all the cameras and such these days that finding a tell would be easier than ever.

I would think that the O's would be really good at being able to tell if one of their guys were tipping pitches.

I'm pretty sure if you get walked you can take as much time as you need to get to the base.

I meant who he had when he gave up five all season. Sorry I wasn't clear on that. I'm not sold there is much value in looking at what he did before they changed the rules.

That would have been before they changed the rules to help facilitate the running game. Probably a combination of fewer baserunners, fewer attempts and lowered success rate league wide. Not sure who he had as a catcher but that was also probably a factor.

Heh, sorry if that came off as a brag, I just googled it up and saw third edition.

The Physics of Baseball? I have a first edition copy somewhere.

Yes, he most certainly is. He cites me for violations weekly. My latest was for being an abnormal fan.

Poor guy won't make it through customs if you pack for him.

They don't award errors on balls you don't have the range to reach.

How many Cy Youngs did Moose win? How many rings?

Are you telling me how I should feel as a baseball fan or insinuating that I'm not a baseball fan? It was a good trade for the Orioles and the process was sound. That doesn't change regardless of what type of season or career Ortiz has.

Derek Jeter has five rings.