Il BuonO

And I don't get the MLB offices fascination with shortening the time of play and trying to tip the scales towards offense. Can anyone tell me they weren't excited watching a possible no-hitter or even a low scoring affair knowing the next play might decide that game??? It's exciting and my favorite type of game.

I laughed.

I'm almost certain it's not.

Did I miss something or are you speculating? Norby makes perfect sense as the guy who is blocked, but having a veteran not too far removed from a GG season and who still plays solid defense does have upside for a contending team. I agree, though, that Urias is expendable for the Orioles, however, for the same reasons the Yankees would want him, so might the Orioles. McCann seems to be evidence of this because it's hard to imagine what he brings to the team besides "intangibles" or maybe how comfortable the pitchers are with him, which btw, I don't totally discount.

In context, as it applies to GH, I doubt Rubinstein wants to come in like the Marlin's ownership group and be known as the guy who let Moby Dick get away. I saw the film with Provenza and had never even heard the joke until I saw GG on YT. Hilarious how he turned the audience around.

Nice use of that! Use it as a bump on WA.

For years my dad has been saying the balls are juiced. So, they take away PEDs and they'll find another way to tilt the scales for offense. Gotta keep the interest of fans who think baseball is boring. Same goes for most of the new rule changes.

That he can field his position at 3B?

It was a goner! lol

People keep saying that, but Machado was a two month rental and the Orioles got back four? and Kremer wasn't even the headliner. The right team to push them to the top? Santander may be preferred. RM has shown power of late. Point is, it's not cut and dried.

Yes! But I liked him before that and now? Meh (guy who makes excuses), he's good, but most of all he plays for the rich boys club. I've heard that new owner for the Orioles is a pauper, leveraged his mom and pop hardware store or some such stuff!

Arguably....if I am a GM (I did stay at a-nevermind) Santander is a nice get.

And as long as he isn't whining about lost HRs at the Great Wall of Baltimore.

Lol, I'm outta rep.

I spoke it that way and hit send. You've noticed the avatar.

No, but if you're thinking about players with value, he has it. I like what RM has become as a hitter and his defense at 1B has clearly become better, but Mayo's bat may be elite. There are plenty here who project him as can't miss. Will he be a good fit at 1B? Maybe, it's not necessarily written in stone that he plays 3B and makes the errors you're talking about. RM and someone else may get the guy they need to solidify the rotation. And as you say, still only 27. Nothing should be off the table.

I don't give a rip about the MVP discussion and from what I've heard about Gunnar he probably doesn't either. His make-up is ultra-competitive, and he wants to perform well to help his team. I would think he cares more about his team winning a title and him doing everything he can to facilitate that. It's apparent from everything I've heard him say in interviews and what others (coaching staff) say about him. He's a winner. When he doesn't perform as well as HE expects he won't be happy, but it also doesn't last long as to affect his play. He's good at moving on to the next task. The awards and accolades are nice, and he'll get them in due time (he already has). There will be plenty with the continued success of his team, which of course, he is the biggest part.

Outside of a couple bad outings Akin has been pretty good. Baker made some adjustments, from what I've heard, let's see if it's sustainable.

If he's not at DH where do you play him? Westburg has to be in the lineup. O'Hearn? He seems to be the popular OH whipping boy, but he's not sitting vs RHP. And RM is better at 1B AND can hit. I want Mayo's bat, but the choices aren't great. He has to improve his defense. Is that happening? Is he still a work in progress at 3B? Is he improving at 1B? Where is he projected to be more suitable? Has HE gotten any looks in the OF? Castellanos came up at 3B and now plays regularly for Philly in RF. I wonder if his bat is attractive enough on it's own to attract the right return for the Orioles to ship him off.

Mantle

If EBJ develops? Sure. You can always package him or Josenberger. However, think about Betts, a superior athlete who’s now moved back to the IF where he started after becoming a GG OF in right. He was blocked at 2B by Pedroia when he came up and then they decided he was too good in RF to move back, but he was always capable. The Orioles could do the same with JH if and when it’s apparent. He’s talented enough to play CF and move back to the dirt is necessary.

Yeah, it’s unheard of.

A link here would be helpful.

Good points all. Yeah, the transition from the grass to the dirt is not as advantageous because of more reaction time in the OF. It's one of the reasons why I believe it might be an easier transition for him than from SS to 2B. Also, in my minimal experience scouting, it was pretty easy to tell right away if a guy is capable just by asking him to take some balls in the OF. I would guess it's hit their radar.