FlipTheBird

So is Brown just supposed to not speak when you’re feeling down about the O’s? Guy still has a job to do a game to discuss.

Not many teams are ready to start flipping assets in April. Even the “bad” teams are still figuring out what they’ve got.

Fuji has opened the season in Syracuse with 11 walks, 3 wild pitches and 8 earned in 5.1 innings. He has also hit two batters. I do not know if that one is salvageable.

If anything, Kimbrel just maintained what the overwhelming majority of athletes would maintain - that he feels fine. Guys do it all the time, in every sport. They honestly usually even believe it. It’s on the staff of a team - be it coaches or medical guys - to identify that hey, maybe this guy is not, in fact, fine. I don’t think anyone involved today was making selfish decisions. Kimbrel thought he was a little off - as players sometimes are - and that he could get back into the groove, and his manager believed him.

Just imagine if they lose again, tomorrow. There’ll be people here unironically saying that we need to sell, and fire Hyde and Elias. Worst time of the year here is *any* time we play the Yankees.

Quite true. But a real question here would be are you willing to deal Samuel Basallo?

The A’s are admittedly a true paradox right now - so bad, and so unwilling to try/spend, that it’s hard to even know how to deal with them.

Or they could wait 2-3 years and trade him for prospects who are nearly ready/surer bets. Why trade for A-Ball players now?

So you’d be dealing a guy with 6 years of control for, at best, another guy with 6 years of control. I’m not saying they wouldn’t trade him, I’m saying they’ve no real motivation - meaning you’d have to grossly overpay.

Yes, the Athletics players all try less because they don’t have a “home city.” It is known.

I think when people say that it’s less about his calls and more about his voice and inflection? I think?

Oakland has 6 full years of control on this guy. What is their motivation?

Well if you offer them the right deal, any of them. But if you're looking at a right-handed hitter that's probably going to sign a one-year, "prove it," deal... he's very unlikely to choose the Orioles, from a sheer park effect standpoint. That's about it, only person you've boxed out.

I'm just hoping that whatever business we're talking about, it warrants the level of stress that the poster is attributing to it.

Take a breather, champ. They play 162 games for a reason, and you're going to lose 50-60 of them even if you're one of the best teams in baseball. They certainly aren't happy when they lose, but these are professionals that have lost many, many times before in their athletic careers. And they'll lose many, many more. They'll deal with it and be back at it on Tuesday, trying to win ballgames the same as they do every time they go out.

Truthfully, the bullpen is the team's greatest actual weakness. Yes, the bats are cold, but that'll come 'round. But there are multiple guys in the bullpen right now that probably shouldn't be pitching in high-leverage situations for a defending division champ.

I am disappointed with today's game, as well, but inferring that they're at a gut check moment heading into Game 10 at 5-4 is preposterous.

Should have put it in his pocket, for sure. Rough ending. That said, the bullpen has been a mess, too.

Guy has thrown 31 innings the last two seasons and would be getting extended starting with his age 32 season. Sorry, pass.

While Suarez has never replicated quite what he did in Cincy, he's been a big part of the M's the last two years. 150 games and 162 games played, respectively. It's a safe bet they've already got a replacement in mind, be it in FA or via trade.

Neither of these players has established themselves as a No. 1 at this point in time. Both will very much be rotation pieces in 2024 and beyond, but neither has shown anything yet that suggests the organization should stand pat on starting pitching.

There were 10 guys in the league that posted a .900 OPS or better in 2023. Only four of them hit 40 homers. One of those guys was Marcell Ozuna, who basically rose from the grave after looking pretty much done. The other three were Ohtani, Matt Olson and Ronald Acuna. So if you’re saying it’s sign Ohtani or the O’s are doomed, we’re in tough shape. Further, the Braves made it just as far as the O’s despite having three of the four guys that meet your standards.

If you win in the playoffs are get the team championship trophy, that’s what they’re for. These individual awards are supposed to be decided by the incredibly long campaign that leads to October.

Remember that these are voted upon before the playoffs, so as not to over-credit anyone for getting hot in the tournament. Looking at the regular season, Bochy and the Texas FO were not nearly as deserving as Hyde and Elias. Jung... well, we'll never know if he'd have hung on to his lead for ROY.

Even the Rangers have designated Garcia for assignment before. He just went through waivers and came back. Some guys are true surprises.