btdart20

Saw some clips of him last year and was interesting.

2024 is the year of the pitcher for the O's. DeLeon is a dude and "chalk" for guesses. Forret can pop. Povich isn't on most (any?) top 100, but he's been fringy for the past year+. He's trending toward a top 50 type. He won't be on lists, but Braxton Bragg has a 14+ k/9 and a 1.69 bb/9. Maybe a BP nugget next year depending on how he’s doing it. Willem is doing things as a C. Beavers has been fringy and has been strong so far. Both probably need a bit more. FCL is too soon to guess... but Almeyda and Liranzo are interesting. Still a top 5 system I think. I don't know other organizations as well, but (a good shot at) 3 top 15 guys carries a lot of weight. Even "losing" Cowser/Ortiz and maybe HK, they are back-filled by good pitchers who weren't really on national radars.

The guardians are statues on a bridge in CLE.

Fangraphs has BAL with the 5th least IP for RP. And xERA has BAL ranked 3rd. 11th in actual ERA. Maybe a bit unlucky... much of that without Perez. Or Wells. Not saying it's not an area to improve, but also framing the "need" in a broader context.

I have Povich and DeLeon are Tier 2. DeLeon has a shot at Tier 1.

This play was that unique confluence of situational awareness, hustle, speed, athleticism, and arm. Turned an easy advance on an error into an out without a slide. Mateo is hungry.

Lol, this!

C, 1B, SS, and RF = bump 2B Mateo/Westburg > Frazier 3B Westburg > Urias CF healthy Mullins > dinged up Mullins LF Cowser seems like more range than Hays. Another category is the bench. That's a tougher read because of RIP strategy and how 2023 maximized the matchups. Gunnar took a while but showed things. Hicks and O'Hearn were gems. 2024 bench has Westburg graduated and Cowser flashing his upside plus a good defense. O'Hearn has built on his success and is now a trusted strong side platoon. Mateo was a bench guy coming in and is now performing (fingers crossed). Last year we were tossing vets against the wall to see what sticks. This year we're tossing the young talent against the wall. Bullpen feels more balanced vs Bautista/Cano dominated. TBD... Rotation is more trustworthy. Each have some questions but the floor feels much more stable because of the depth. We knew the offense was going to score. And we still haven't really gotten many hard hits from our #4. But to balance it out we've had a couple going nuts with not much history before it. Only real surprise is less BBs to do it.

It bumps more realistic topics off the front page quicker.

Congrats to McDermott!

This is the first time Santa has hit 5th this season.

Get past their SPs and into their mediocre BP...

/s

Dude, no one is saying Povich is going to be a top 30 pitcher in the game. He can find success as a LHP in the bottom 20% of str%. Again, LHP get leash...

@Jim'sKid26 @DrungoHazewood - When people compare us to the Rays, this is exhibit A in my mind. Depth, transition management, "slow rolling", match-ups... (and the low payroll but that's another thread).

That's fair. I've been higher on Povich than most for the last two years, so my bias is probably showing a bit too. At this rate, it'll be interesting to see how he pops on mid-season nationals... it wouldn't shock me if jumps into top 50s.

IIRC, the hope for Carter was if there was something hidden by the injury... He was touted, then got hurt, them crapped the bed, then a dice roll and some $. Unfortunately, he’s still waking up a mess.

Feels pretty clear that the brass trusts their talent. Previously it was about working every angle to close the talent gap. Now we're coaching to let them eat.

The alpha lion version of "early".

Prerty stable rarpy on, which makes sense. Was there much of a decision between Beavers and Povich? Not that Beavers deserves to be bumped down, but it does feel like Povich deserves a bump up. Especially doing it at AAA.

Gotta like the BB:K ratio and there's hope in the adage of "doubles become HRs".

I hope they got the stubs for that one!

Stanton's swing at Webb's noncompetitive slider in the dirt was comedic. That's what a commitment to a bad contract looks like...

Sure. But I'll take grounders from Judge and the ghost of Stanton all day, any day.

Is our approach to players in low A any different from other organizations? Are we younger or maybe more international heavy?