dzorange

Perhaps this was posted in one of the other threads, but Dan Connolly posted another piece today talking about Santander. https://theathletic.com/3963455/2022/12/05/orioles-anthony-santander-mike-elias/

I don’t know if I agree that he’s better than Gibson and has more upside. Even so, I think it’s mostly debating semantics. Syndergaard would also come at the cost of an extra year or two.

I’m surprised that so many people are open to Syndergaard while so many people are disappointed by the Gibson signing. Both would be short term solutions and would offer similar results. Anyways, I hope Syndergaard is off the table now that Gibson was signed.

He also mentioned that this is the beginning of a 10 year window. The Orioles are going to make some moves no question, and this team will be in a better position to win than they were at the end of last season. But it's year one of a ten year window. They are still prioritizing the long term plan, which should make expectations a little more tepid than "lift off". I'm not expecting any "wow" moves this offseason. But it could be a number of moves that add up to a sizeable increase in payroll.

2,500 is not a lot. At all. If you were going to set a number of followers for a reputable source it would be a far higher number. And again, did you actually read that person’s bio? They are a graphic designer. And an aspiring one at that. I’m just a lurker on these forums but I’m really starting to hope that you’re just some sort of troll or something. You really can’t be serious with this stuff.

It’s not real info. They are accounts that make stuff up to get followers. Even the video on Bassitt was intentionally misquoted in the tweet he shared. I wish this guy would stop posting these.

That’s not that many followers and did you even read his bio? What is the point of even posting these? Do you actually think there is something of substance here?

3 followers isn’t enough for you?

I think there is some optimism for Mountcastle in that department next year. His BB% increased from 5.1% in the first half of 2022 to 9.4% in the second half. He's a .261 career hitter and he only hit .221 in the second half last year. He's never going to be an on-base machine but I would not be surprised if he makes strides next season at the plate. Mountcastle has a career 7.1 BB%, which is not good, but it's not downright terrible and is much better than someone like Austin Hays.

I don’t see the issue with today’s play. 1 out already and this was not an automatic out at home.

I have no issues with today’s lineup. Wasn’t sure if Gunnar would be in for a fifth straight game, but he’s been electric so far. Get the sweep today, and tomorrow should be a really fun day.

Facing a lefty tonight. Adley has struggled mightily against lefties at this year and has been struggling of late as well. Orioles also have 7 games in the next 6 days. They're going to have to rest him at some point.

I don't understand the Aguilar hate. He's on the team to provide an extra bat. This is obviously a "B" lineup tonight. Adley and Mullins are out, Aguilar provides some power to replace those two and spells Mountcastle at first base. No one is really hitting great right now. I know Aguilar is struggling this year, but if this was Mancini in this spot no one would be complaining. Both have fairly similar career numbers. The O's also could have benched McKenna or Mountcastle for Stowers, but they didn't. He did get Odor out of the lineup tonight.

Because Stowers offers more value at Camden. It's also clear that Stowers is not going to be an every day player for the rest of this season. I also think it's a stretch to say that Stowers, who has 1 HR in 34 PAs in his career is at least as likely to add punch as Aguilar, who has 108 HRs in 2500 career PAs. I'd rather have Stowers out there, mostly because it takes Santander off the field defensively and I want to see what he can do, but there's a reason the O's signed Aguilar and he's going to get ABs.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Aguilar get a lot of ABs on the road. O's need some punch in their lineup, it's probably not worth trotting him out there at Camden too often. I expect Stowers to get back in the lineup more regularly on this homestand. I'm not surprised that he's not out there tonight, but I am surprised that Vavra is.

I don't see them giving less playing time to Henderson or Urias. Seems like everyone's just going to be on a rotation. Udor's defense has picked up, but as much as I'd like to bench him, I'd also like to get Santander out of the field. Not sure what their plan with Stowers is. Odd lineup tonight.

I don’t think Hall is much riskier of an option than Perez right now. I like Perez, but he’s overachieving and struggled as of late, and also walks a high number of batters.

I want a guy out there with a runner on second and no out who can strike a batter out.

Hall can get a strikeout at any time. Situationally, he can be an asset on the MLB roster. Especially in extra innings where you start with a guy on second. Right now, Bautista is that guy that can get us out of those jams, but he can’t do it every time. He’s also starting to throw multiple innings to close out a game. I wouldn’t trust Hall for more than a batter or two, but he’d be one of their best options situationally. Plus, he’s a lefty.

Imagine if the Orioles spent money this past offseason and we weren’t able to see the development of guys like Hays, Santander, Mateo, Urias, McKenna, Bautista, Lopez, Perez, Kremer, etc. Odor, the one position player they did sign, people are clamoring to he benched or DFA’d. The plan wasn’t for the O’s to be competitive this season and probably even next season. Instead, they’ve made good decisions and they’ve also had the ability to throw guys like Kremer and Bradish out there to see what they’ve got. I’d love for the O’s to spend money this offseason, but only if it’s in a way that helps us for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. We can’t jeopardize future years to try to win now, when we still aren’t fully set up to win now.

Braun won an MVP and has a career WAR over 40. Way too generous. Stowers isn't a top 100 prospect. I might get flack for this, but I could see him having similar type of offensive numbers as Steve Pearce when he was in Baltimore. That's a fairly small sample size, but Pearce slashed .255/.337/.473 in 999 plate appearances with Baltimore. I think Stowers can put up those type of numbers.

I don't think Vavra was ever going to be anything other than a super utility type. Him being a lefty off the bench who can play infield and outfield would be very valuable. At worst, he takes Tyler Nevin's spot and is better offensively and likely better defensively. He and McKenna off the bench could be a luxury.

I don't think I'd sell off any of our prospects. There are guys at the MLB level like Santander, Mountcastle and Hays that I'd rather trade and open up the positions for prospects. Baltimore is likely targeting 2024 or 2025 as the year to go all in, anyways. If Rodriguez has success at the MLB level, I'm absolutely cool with going into next year with a rotation of Wells, Lyles (exercising his option), Rodriguez, Kramer, and trying to sign a veteran like Joe Musgrove or someone else. Still have Bradish, Hall, Means (later in the year) and others to throw in when needed. I think it's too soon to make many major moves with the rotation. 2023 isn't the year to do it, unless the O's are just tearing it up by the trade deadline.

I don't know how anyone can really analyze Hyde's performance that deep. He's in the playoff hunt with a decent roster, but a roster that is not set up to be in the playoff hunt. Trading away two key pieces at the deadline, still rostering guys like Odor, Nevin and Chirinos, blindly throwing darts at a dartboard with the rotation hoping they stick. Hyde gets a thumbs up grade for his job with the clubhouse. Everything other grade is TBD.

I agree with you.