oriolefan1035

Cedric Mullins is leading off tonight so it’s nothing that precludes him from playing.

Gunnar’s development is important as he’s a big part of our plans long-term. Whether he has anything to learn in the minors or not, he’s not helping us win now. We’re contenders and should be playing our best roster possible. I don’t believe that includes Gunnar until he figures his bat out.

Gunnar deserves to be sent down for Ortiz or Westburg. He has taken the Orioles general hitting philosophy of being patient too far. I feel like he hardly ever swings before 2 strikes. When in doubt be an athlete. He needs to stop overthinking and swing the bat.

This aged well.

Having McCann doesn’t bother me. Adam Frazier blocking the young infielders is far more egregious IMO.

I don’t think the pivot we make should be to add anyone. The strategy was to improve the rotation. That ship has sailed IMO. At this point, I just assume roll with what we have and see what we have with the prospects. Rather than trading several prospects for a few years of a #3 SP, let’s buy down some future costs for players we expect to be here long-term. Get Adley, Gunnar, and Grayson on 10yr deals to increase flexibility in the future.

If you hyped up your wife’s friends and family about the luxury gift you were planning to get her.

Rich Hill and his veteranosity is the most obvious target we’ve had this offseason. I always say that if you ever get an opportunity to sign a 43y.o. pitcher who has journeyed through half the teams in the league over his career, who can retire and convert to a coach mid-season to teach your young guys how to spin a curveball, you’ve gotta take that chance.

I’m hoping it’s DL Hall as a rotation piece. I think we’re counting on Grayson, Means at some point, and 1 of the guys from last year (probably Bradish) to emerge as solid rotation pieces. DL could make this joke if an off-season more tolerable if he hits his upside.

Gotta make sure they squeeze every last dime for Johnny and Louie to fight over when Pete dies.

This off-season has been embarrassing for a team with a bottom barrel payroll yet on the cusp of contention. The Angelos family is holding our fan base hostage.

I disagree. You keep Watkins on regular rest to have him as an option for the rotation. Realistically, with all the off days, you don’t need a 5th starter until September 20th. Lyles, Bradish, Kremer, Wells. Move Voth to the pen as a long man. Once we need a 5th SP, hopefully it’s GrayRod. So it’s not like you’d use either Watkins or Hall with the off days anyways. Watkins stays on schedule and god forbid we have a blow out somewhere in there to give Hall a chance to show something and gain some confidence back to possibly be an asset in the pen down the stretch.

What part of next year are we talking about? Here is what I see by the middle (July) of next year. To facilitate this, I think we trade a controllable OF and a solid pen arm at some point, and bring in a TOR SP (either through FA or trade). For the sake of this exercise, I’ll say that Hays and Tate are the ones we trade away. SP: FA/Trade TOR, GrayRod, Means, Wells, Bradish RP: Bautista, Hall, Perez, Krehbiel, Akin, Kremer, Watkins, Voth C; Adley IF: Mountcastle, Vavra, Mateo, Henderson OF: Mullins, Stowers, Cowser Bench/DH (committee aside from Adley’s non-catching days): Santander, Urias, McKenna, BU Catcher, Westburg

High water mark?! We got a lot of work to do yet with where we’re going.

I do wonder about the chemistry of the team if one guy comes in making more than the rest of the team combined. Could be like that time the Indians added Jack Parkman. We don’t need GrayRod naming his pitches and Mateo making action movies.

Starting Pitching. Johnson, McDermott, and Baumann are unlikely to be solid rotation pieces next year, and may never be. I’d actually add Kremer and Watkins as SP options, but we also have the risk that Hall ends up a pen arm and Means isn’t ready until mid-season next year. A proven ace to put at the front of that rotation wouldn’t hurt…

Elias said during the broadcast today (2nd inning?) that there are guys in Norfolkwho would help in the stretch run. I didn’t get the impression he was talking about Harvey and Baumann.

Which one of our Cy Young candidates should Chirinos catch to give Adley a day off because he’s not needed?

Ok, well I have a game to watch now as the Orioles go for a sweep and chance to move into a tie for a WC spot. You have some minor league stats to check in on. Go O’s and good day, sir.

Yes, you’ve solved the mystery, Scooby Doo. We as fans see the play on the field and feel like our window is already open - we want to see moves made to win now. If you’re happy seeing moves to position Norfolk, Bowie, and Aberdeen win championships, that’s great. I’d rather Baltimore win.

You were advocating we sell at the deadline, and now you’re advocating we keep our stud prospects who are developmentally ready down all year. Should we wait until May to call them up? We don’t need 25 prospects in the top 100 before we decide to make some moves with an emphasis on winning now. Unless they don’t intend for GrayRod, Hall, and Gunnar to start the season in Baltimore next year, there is zero to be gained by keeping them down beyond the August 21st date. You’ll see them this year in Baltimore - do try to enjoy it.

You act like we have no business being competitive in 2022…you’re** wrong dude.

Those advocating to look past this season to the future have not re-evaluated their expectations to see where we actually are. 1GB from 2 of the WC teams, 3GB from the 1st WC as we near the middle of August. Oh, and we're a ho hum 40-26 since calling Adley up on May 21st. The culture is already different and to quote Lou Brown, we're contenders now.

I’m looking at it this way. If we call up GrayRod, Hall, and Henderson in the stretch run this year, I think we’re going to be more competitive in the playoffs than most folks think. I think the odds that the amount Mancini and Lopez would help us there exceeds the amount any of these guys will help us in future years. Is what it is at this point. I’m done beating this dead horse that Roll Tide dragged back onto the track lol. Hopefully time will indicate that we made the right moves.

Using subjective non-consensus top 30 rankings is fitting your narrative. What are the odds these guys become quality MLB players? It’s not like we got top 100 guys in return with a high likelihood of making it to that level. Maybe they will. The likelihood isn’t real high though.