Bemorewins

I have a question for you and I don’t mean for this to come across as accusatory (unless it is true and I don’t know if it is). Are you an Oriole fan or more of a “fan”/detractor of Jackson Holliday? I ask because you seem to be very focused on the struggles of this one 20 year old player. However, last week, we had a tremendous pitching performance by our entire starting staff and to my knowledge (I don’t recall a single comment from you about that). Maybe you did and I missed it? Which is very possible. Or maybe you just weren’t on here and we’re busy with other stuff? I get it we all have lives. I bring this up because I have noticed that you have very little to say/contribute regarding all of the positives regarding this team who has the second most wins in the Majors. And I was curious as to why that is? (No judgment. Just a curiosity.)

In your opinion what has made Jackson Holliday the number rated prospect in all of MLB? I ask because if you believe in that valuation/talent profile/projection, that is not a player at age 20 who you say he’s only average here so he must go there (where who knows how he’ll be, but oh well on to the next). Mookie Betts is the absolute rarity in his ability to move all over the baseball field and excel. How many other guys have done that and can realistically do that? I would bet very few. I’m not sure if that is the wisest call to make that the standard for anyone, let alone your most prized minor league asset.

As long you’ve been a fan of the O’s, as impressive as Mayo’s offensive stats are, you have to know that those Minor League numbers do not carry a direct one-to-one correlation to the Bigs. Despite the gaudy numbers, there is no guarantee that he wouldn’t struggle initially with the O’s (like so many other recent prospects have). Is there any downside in allowing him to continue to work on his defense at AAA? Since that appears to be the area of his game that is not “big league ready”?

I've been to Cleveland many times (never to a Guardians game but near the stadium a few times) and never noticed that. I guess you learn something new everyday?

“Statues”?? - I don’t understand what that is or is in reference to. Regarding your point about our opponents, it doesn’t matter to me, I don’t fear any. I think the Phillies are on a similar elite tier as the Braves and Dodgers. As it relates to the Guardians, other than closer where are they better than us? Ultimately though the regular season (though quite lengthy and certainly has so many variables) is “dress rehearsal” for the post season. If we win or lose series against the better/best teams (other than ourselves) it will not have any impact on what happens when/if we face them in October.

Any idea of what the pitching talent equivalent of Norby or Stowers would be?

IMO having a World Series caliber team on the field is worth me paying whatever that cost to me as a fan. Of course, I have the benefit of being able to afford that uptick and I recognize that not all people do. But we have such a ways to go to get to even being an average size payroll. According to USA Today's numbers for payroll rank (through a simple Google search) the Orioles payroll is at $94,520,400. That is below teams like the Rays, Rockies, Royals, Reds, Twins, and Marlins. And a little over 85 million under the STL Cardinals, who have a payroll of almost 180 million. Why is it that with an owner who has comparable wealth/net worth and a market size that is similar, we couldn't grow into an STL Cardinals payroll?

I know @RZNJ have had our disagreements over this topic in the past. But I would say, it all depends on who you think is the better defender between Westburg and Mayo for 3B? Who you think is the better defensive infielder between Holliday and Mayo.? And who is the better RF between Mayo and Kjerstad? - Ultimately the answer to these questions will determine where guys end up playing?

I love that he is attempting to connect with the fans. This is just so 180 degrees different than anything Angelos.

I just don't see that as a realistically possible notion/outcome. The Padres, Bluejays, White Sox and going a little farther back Braves and Astros have all had highly rated systems. But I don't think that anyone has had anything like this! We have had the #1 prospect in the sport (3 different players) three years running. We have our least amount of top 100 guys now and it's still at like 4/5. We have Major League ready uber prospects who cannot crack the starting lineup and some of our prospects don't have much hope to. Our 5th/6th guys would be most teams #1 prospect. I can't see how this can in anyway be "squandered". Unless you mean that we don't win multiple WS. Then I would say that's possible as that requires a bit of good fortune. But we are going to be a great team for several years, no matter what.

Making decisions based on what happened in 2014 (ten years ago) may not be the wisest when none of these players was on the team at that time (many were still children). Sacrificing Grayson's development is not the only way to get a very good closer and it's probably not the best. We have plenty of young pieces/prospects (who are non-core guys) who we can offer in a trade.

If ANYONE says the that the 2024 Orioles are "worst" they literally know less than ZERO about baseball and their opinion should be immediately discarded here 🗑

Is there ANYTHING that the Orioles can realistically do to put them in a position where they won't be supreme title contenders next, the year, the year after that one? There is no 'desperate' move to make when you have this much excess prospect capital/talent. Why would we not be willing to part with any of that excess in order to increase our chances to have a parade in the fall ("after we haven't sniffed a title in 40 years")? Do you not agree that we have more positional player prospects that we could ever use?

"Greedy"? - Should the players demand the wage the market dictates? Are the Orioles/owners "greedy" when they raise ticket prices or their prices for business to advertise with them? No, to your question, I'm not sure what the team will do with Means. But he has a long way to go (after missing almost 2 full seasons and having a hand full of good starts) to convince them that he should be resigned. As to resigning Burnes, I don't know about that either. IMO the first priority is Henderson and Rutschman.

I hope that the Orioles would not be that short sighted with his development. He needs to be building innings from last year (not lessening) IMO. Given the project holes in the rotation next year (no Burnes nor Means) we will need the innings from him as a top 2/3 starter in the rotation. We have the prospect volume to fix the bullpen (at the back end) without having to surrender any of the top 4 prospects that we have. IMO I don’t think it would be wise to sacrifice the needed gains in his development for next year vs. being unwilling to part with players/prospects who have no projectable place on the team in the future.

Another problem with a 6 man roster (especially when having to carry Kimbrel) is that the roster of the bullpen becomes awful thin. That leaves you with what 6 relievers assuming 1 currently would have to leave (minus Kimbrel who apparently can’t pitch in back to back days). That would be fine if everyone continues to go 6/7 innings. But the moment someone has a 5 inning or less start, the bullpen would instantly become taxed (especially if that occurred on one of Kimbrel’s “rest days”).

I’m not sure what the definition is for “optimal”. But I am pretty satisfied with the team that we have right now (current roster). It is arguably the best in baseball. Obviously Mateo/Urias/McKenna are not great. But IMO, that’s okay. The offense is so good independent of them, that we can win with the simply playing their roles. I’m ok (given Holliday and Mayo’s ages) with keeping them where they are (at AAA) for most and if need be all this season. IMO there is nothing wrong with them continuing to develop at 20 and 22. If/when Mayo Holliday both join the Orioles (occupy the same roster), it is most likely that Mayo will have to play some RF (and maybe 1B). Westburg is too good to sit. And their will be no need for a “super sub/super utility” role when you have so many young top notch talents who need regular reps. I know some fans/posters are anxious to see the next young sensation/shiny new prospect, but it is not really necessary right now. Maybe that changes with injury or some other unforeseen circumstance? But I just don’t see a lot of wisdom about in jettison guys who are performing very well (O’Hearn/Mountcastle/even Irvin) and the team is winning at this kind of clip.

There be 2/3 teams that are on par with the Orioles in terms of the talent on their roster. (None are in the AL - Maybe TEX when their 2 pitchers return?) Otherwise, no matter the opposition, they are the “weaker opponent”.

Even though everyone is pitching well now, it may not be that way when Grayson is ready to return. It is most likely that whoever is pitching worse between Irvin, Means, and Kremer goes to the pen. A 6 man rotation could throw off everyone’s rhythm and routine. With how regimented Burnes is in regards to his preparation and with this being a FA year for him, I don’t see him being in favor of that.

Why in the world would he move O’Hearn or Mountcastle? They are some of the best hitters on the team.

Maybe Tony Taters is finally warming up?

There you go milk man!

That might not come until around the deadline. I think we can manage things until then.

He’s the best pure hitter in the team. It’s been that way since he showed up in an O’s uni.

Man this team is good!