luismatos4prez

I guess they're keeping him at Delmarva. Hopefully, he can have a Stowers-like year next year and move all the way to Norfolk.

His stock is way, way up after this year. He's absolutely mashing and he's still a teenager. The infield prospect depth is encouraging right now. Gunnar, Mayo, Servideo, Norby, Ortiz, Westburg, Adam Hall, Vavra, etc. Aberdeen and Bowie will have some crowded infields to start next year!

.255/.305/.447 in the first half (104 wRC+) .289/.344/.599 in the second half (148 wRC+) It could just be a hot streak, but I'm very excited by what I'm seeing from him. There's nothing unusual about his BABIP or HR/FB in the second half to suggest it's luck. His walk rate is up, K rate is down, and he's just mashing.

I agree. The team tries hard, that's all I ask for right now. The 8th inning last night was the best moment of the year after the No-Hitter.

Wow! That's exciting to hear. Another good outing for Bautista tonight, 1IP 0H 2K 1 BB 1 Save He has walked 27 guys in 38 IP this year (6.4 BB/9) which is concerning. Protecting him this winter and letting him work on throwing strikes in Norfolk next spring seems like the best move.

None of Grenier, Blaine Knight, Bishop, and Dorrian get added I'm guessing and Severino is a goner after the season. There's also a group of guys (Nevin, Martin, Harvey, Diaz, Burdi, and Bannon) that I'm fine with stashing in Norfolk if there's room but I'm fine with giving up on at this point if they need the roster spot. I'm a foolish fool who still holds out hope that some ML free agents will be signed this offseason, so I hope they do need the space.

He looks raw still, and he only just turned 24. I would let him and Mateo battle it out for 2B next year, with the loser being the utility man.

My current take: Smith, Vavra, Bradish, and DL Hall are the no-brainers. Neustrom, Bautista, Adam Hall and Vespi are on the bubble. I could see a team taking a chance on any of them. Knight, Dorrian, Grenier, Peralta, Sedlock, Bishop, etc. are out. All have some potential, but I don't think any team will take them. Putting Adam Hall even on the bubble is probably unpopular, but leaving him off makes me nervous because I still think he'll put it together. A team could take a chance on him despite poor performance like Detroit did with Akil Baddoo this year.

Exactly. I'd give ERod 5/75 easily. I'd love to sign Correa or Simmons or trade for Chapman or Glasnow. But it's hard to get into playing armchair GM when I suspect this offseason will look a lot like last year when Matt Harvey, King Felix, and Maikel Franco were the biggest ML moves.

I don't think there's a lot of prospects who strike out 30%+ of the time in the minors and turn into successful big league hitters. I'm bearish on Stowers for that reason. Yet, I think Adam Hall (who also Ks a lot) has been demoted too far in your power rankings. He's still a Top 30 guy for me, I think he'll bounce back next year, though he will likely not get added to the 40 man roster like I would've guessed before the year. Joey Ortiz would be Top 25 for me. He was really impressive this year before he got hurt. Zach Watson is an organizational guy to me. Barely Top 50. He's 24 and his minor league OBP is under .300.

I don't expect Bishop, Neustrom, Dorrian, Grenier, Knight, Jarrett, or Peralta to be added to the 40 man roster. A. Hall, D. Hall, Vespi, Vavra, Bradish, and Smith are all probable adds to me.

Norfolk will be happy to hear this. Franco has destroyed their pitching this year. Franco and Vlad Jr are going to be a pain to deal with for the next few years.

Keith Law saw Ortiz in Aberdeen early this year and noted that he looks stronger, has more loft in his swing, and was able to hit velocity that he was previously unable to catch up to.

I’d like a trade with the framework of trading Santander for Keston Hiura or Brendan Rodgers. I don’t see the need to trade Fry unless Mike is blown away by an offer. He’s a valuable reliever and here for 3 more years. We’re trying to win again soon, right? Right?

Mountcastle can't hit high fastballs right now. Needs to make an adjustment.

I'm read to see what Lowther or Akin can do with some starts. Lopez to the pen, LeBlanc gone hopefully.

I wouldn't count that against Mullins. It would have been an unbelievable play. HIs poor throw home earlier shows why he'll never be a gold glover despite his great ability to go and get the ball.

Back on topic here: Valaika and Urias are Titanic deck chairs. I expect Jahmai Jones and Rylan Bannon to be fighting for time at 2B this summer.

I'm looking forward to chanting "Zero Point Zero" when the Orioles clinch the AL East in September. I almost forgot how much I enjoy watching baseball. Today was a great game. Means was outstanding, Ruiz made some great plays, Mountcastle with the big hit. And Jim Palmer was cracking me up talking about Joe West and his CD.

Palmer talking about West peddling his CD is cracking me up.

I am very impressed with John Means today. All 3 pitches look crisp and he's commanding them well. Easy to dream on him anchoring the next contending team's rotation.

Good for the Mets and Lindor! I'm rooting for them to take the NL pennant this year. I'd love it if the Orioles jumped on a premium infielder next offseason (Bryant, Correa, Baez, Story, etc.) to crowbar open our next contending window. I know they'll never do it, but I never thought they'd sign Tejada either.

Is LeBlanc out then? I considered Fry, Scott, Valdez, and Armstrong to be locks. If both Rule 5 guys, Tate, Sulser, and Plutko are all in then there's no room for LeBlanc in a 9 man pen.

FWIW, I did my own research into this because I tend to be skeptical of things as well. The CDC has been publishing death data in America for years. At the end of 2020, the number of deaths in America above what an average year would be was pretty much exactly the reported figure for COVID deaths. That suggests that the reported COVID death count is quite accurate in measuring COVID deaths. Our poor understanding of health and nutrition is our underlying condition as a country. I suppose that narrative doesn't sell though.

Guys who can throw 60 IP of 4+ ERA like Abad/Tate/Sulser/Lakins aren't valued anymore. If you're going to be a 1 inning guy, you'd better dominate that inning. Otherwise, a guy like Plutko will take your spot. I think an ideal team has 4 long relievers and 3 dominant 1 IP guys in the pen. Then, a 5 man bench of PHs like Renato Nunez/DJ Stewart, a PR/OF like Billy Hamilton, a versatile glove like Ryan Flaherty, and a catcher.