WalkWithElias

Grading Hyde's decisions will be totally different than how we would have viewed calls made by Buck or managers of most other teams. At the beginning of the season last year, the message was compete for the AL East. It was also a veteran-heavy team. Criteria for evaluating Hyde's decisions need to ask the following questions: Did this decision help with the development of the players involved? Do we know more about the players involved than we did before? Did this decision put the players involved in the best position to succeed? Did the decision put us in better position to win the game? The last point is phrased the way it is, because of the roster he's dealing with. If the situation calls for pulling a pitcher or pinch hitting and he looks at his options - well, we've seen the AAAA squad he's working with.

Every air-tight argument begins "announcers on ESPN" said.

I'd say you're making a fool of yourself with comments like this, but that ship sailed a long time ago.

And we do know spring training numbers are rock solid indicator for future performance

Been a longtime lurker, but going to sign up this year. $25 is a steal and honestly just being able to read and contribute to this message board is worth $25 alone. Thanks to the OH team for all of your work. Lifelong O's fan and this site only enhances that experience.

Hays and Diaz should start the year in Norfolk. Stewart, Mullins, Santander across the outfield is pretty brutal defensively, but the team isn't trying to win this season. Rickard will probably rotate through all three positions and play most days. I also expect Eric Young Jr. to make the team to start the season. He can fill in, serve as veteran presence in locker room, help coach a very young outfield. I've liked his attitude from all interviews I've heard and read and wouldn't mind seeing him end up as a coach in the system. Diaz has looked very promising, but I'd like to see him spend most of the season in Norfolk.

This has been mentioned in a number of places. I wouldn't be upset if they decide to keep EYJ around this season. He'll know his role and be supportive in the locker room. Another Rickard type is only marginally more interesting.

Quote from Roch's game blog yesterday from Hyde. Presumably, neither had seen nor worked with Santander until a few weeks ago, so they don't have much to compare him to. Nonetheless, if he's taking well to adjustments from the new staff, that seems like a good sign.

Move over, Piazza

He was told to dump salary. He could've gotten a lot more in the deal had he not attached O'Day's contract. He accepted a few lottery tickets in exchange for Gausman to offload O'Days $9M in 2019 and whatever was left over the last 2 months last year.

You're missing a facetious comment and pummeling a strawman. I do not believe CoC was suggesting Sisco is the best pure power hitting catcher in baseball history. You're also concerned how people would respond to a comment you didn't make about Mike Wright as justification for criticizing praise for Sisco. But you know, since you're insistent on making this conversation about Mike Wright.... Wright was never one of the O's top 3 prospects, he wasn't a high draft pick. Mike Wright is a 29 year old pitcher who has spent parts of four seasons in the bigs and produced an ERA near 6 in more than 225 innings. Sisco was the club's top positional prospect entering last season, a former 2nd round pick, has won a league batting championship in the minors and been selected for a Future Game. He's also half a decade younger. Sisco has a much better track record of success than Wright. If you're going to keep picking at Sisco's nice start, please stop using Wright as your argument. It's an irrelevant comparison.

I don't think anyone is suggesting he be "handed" a spot on the 25 man. Yes, he needs to earn it. I'd say hitting 3 home runs in the first two games of spring training is a decent start.

You've got a point. No 23 year old has ever struggled in his first major league season and ever gone on to have a productive career. Never happened.