AdamK

No doubt about it.

It feels like an eternity ago getting excited by news that Irvin dropped weight and developed/stole a new pitch grip from Burnes. He gave us some good outings here and there when we were riding high. I wish him luck.

The injuries to pitchers feels so rampant that I worry our pitching lab (or whatever) approach is contributing to it. I think this is excessive and I don't blame Elias, but I also hope the adjustments or optimizations we're asking pitchers to make isn't introducing mechanics that lead to injury.

Better to happen now than 4 weeks from now? That's what I keep telling myself.

He earned that one! Extra innings with 2 on and 2 outs... I would've too.

Agreed. He's improving at the plate. You can see the work paying off in those moments.

Agreed. Assuming you are referring to this one: He has a great view of the baserunner (who was already 5 steps around 3rd at the time Cowser possessed the ball). With two outs in the inning already, the runner had a huge head start. It was almost as if he wanted to showcase his arm for some other time, like getting it on film. That can't be it though -- I am just looking for some excuse.

Starting to notice Cowser is staring at homers lately... perhaps a little too long for those old school types in the league. I don't mind it, of course. I love to see the guy gaining confidence and working on getting better at this level. But lately I have been wondering if he is going to wear one soon for looking a little too long.

Oh, so now its okay to tell them to get glasses?!

Is there something amiss with our strength and training approach? Perhaps the pitching feedback is too detailed and the tweaks for optimized spin and velocity exceed human physiology.

I like it. I would.

Not sure why our batters aren't wearing the same kind of hand armor Ohtani is wearing. I'm sure it is a "feel" thing, but if we all chip in $5 we can send at least a few pairs. Pitchers aren't going to get less tired from here on out.

And, IF he was at all reluctant this time around and the moves were shaped by that AND they don't pan out - this trade deadline serves as a learning moment for next season when we still have a good farm to deal from. My point is: if he hamstrung Elias and these moves were plan B, he may be less inclined to hamstring Elias next time around. I'm not saying he did, but we should still be able to deal next year with more aggression.

- He is with the team thru the end of the season - His dad stays quiet - He hits - He steals - He goes first to third - Yields to OFers - The spotlight is less on his top prospect status and more on the O's postseason prep

FWIW, without ads on and on mobile, I am - for the first time - seeing the helpful nav bar at the bottom of the screen instead of an ad that covers it. Didn't even know that was down there.

I am choosing to consider this seasoning for a young team facing a lot of adversity. On the other side, they'll be better for it. Like a cast iron skillet you keep forever, but is still a bit new.

True, but - at least this past offseason - our rotation wasn't decimated by injury like it has come to be. It was looking like a strength. This kind of salary hadn't exactly been something the team wanted to pay in the past either.

My initial reaction is that being a fan of a championship-winning team is more rewarding because the players who do it are people you have a relationship with -- even if it's just through a TV screen. We've all invested a lot of time in these players, their stories, their successes, their failures. I suppose that is why there is a certain amount schadenfreude when teams with limitless payrolls and can mercenary their way to a pennant - but don't. But if I think about the above again, its probably because I am too young to remember their last championship (born in 79)... and so I don't know what it's like to see it all come together -- hired or homegrown. So my answer, I guess, should be trade anyone. But I also don't mind the way it is going right now.

Starting to feel like I don't think I am ever going to like anything again. But seriously, the outfield is looking more and more like the Yankees outfield - which has to be up there with the worst of the worst. This type of progress is why I am not looking forward to other ballpark "improvements" the surveys sent around (home plate clubs, upper-deck nightclubs, movie theatre seating, etc)

More worried about this part: ROWE!....say, does that star spangled banner yet wave

Heard Melanie Newman introduce a new nickname in last night's broadcast for Gunnar: The Smoking Gunn. Not sure if this has been around long since I typically watch the broadcast.

I actually watched it a sec ago because I didn't see that game but have noted over time his weakness out there and reaction. Plenty of examples (too many?!) where he isn't jawing with the ump. In this case he does shake his head at the umpire and was clearly in disagreement with his call. Here is the graphic: Here is the pitch: He's fine. Watching it live it was the right call (a strike), but Gunnar is no villain or remotely embarrassing with his conduct.

Something I noticed by watching the Yankee's broadcast's "highlights" from game 1 and 2... MASN's selectivity around what they put on camera made our dugout to be entirely stoic throughout. That's not entirely true. There are some shots of guys like Ohearn (and other trainers/coaches) yelling towards the field. Hard to see what they were saying or who they were shouting to. At the time it was happening it seemed like 100% of the players were unfazed, which wasn't the case. Overall, they seemed to be more calm than Verdugo certainly.

With the amount of video information available immediately following at-bats, and the number of times Gunnar has looked peeved about called strikes outside, I have a hard time feeling like he's upset at anyone other than himself. I interpret his demeanor as a frustration with himself for not sufficiently protecting. Either way, he's the type of special talent that will fix it in his game soon enough.

I like how we are having success against Clay Holmes. Past two games he has pitched 2 innings and given up 4 hits, 3 earned runs and a homer. It's nice knowing later on in the season they have been able to extend his innings.