Idaho_OriolesFan

My biggest irritation was that she talked about everything except for actual baseball. The guys would talk about the game and the stats and then she'd talk about silly entertainment weekly type stuff. I guess I get it if you're wanting to bring more chicks into watching baseball cuz girls typically like to talk relationships and social stuff. But as for me I'm like.. can we please just get back to the baseball? Lol.. at the same time, I'm kind of opinionated about Gunnars mustache looking bad so I guess I engage with my own flavor of silliness as well.

YEah he was amazing. What's his track record for keeping his throw consistent and how many innings is he typically good for?

Glad I'm not the only one... i was sitting there cringing and my daughter was like wth? haha... then I had to rewind a couple times to see something and listen to it all over again *facepalm* serioulsy though, it was such a great game though that that's picking at threads for me to complain about Gunnar and Rutschman are still my two favs .. though Rutschman had a rough night

I should have mentioned Gunnars triple... And that has been the second time he got underneath the ball like that. He had that picture figured out and that picture was good. But he laid it out right in the middle and Henderson jumped on it and just drove it. so awesome

What's the general thought on these guys so far this year? Last year they were fire right around August - September and then kinda mellowed out for the rest of the season. I haven't seen them do a lot this year but haven't beem able to pay a lot of attention either. Are they still putting up numbers that say they're our huckleberries or is their question?

oh yeah.. and with those end game catches up against the wall? The only thing that could have sweetened it is if he could have gotten his next hit

So this was the first game I've been able to just sit down and watch (i've been paying attention from the side). Man... these guys are so good... so much talent. What a time to be an Orioles fan! Okay quick couple non-consequential thoughts 1. Keegan Akin was amazing. He threw a couple pitchers that I was like, 'whu?'... the way they shook in and hit right on the spot. Crazy! I could see how he could blow out though if his arm got weak or he was just off. He threw some crazy balls as well as the strikes 2. Gunnars mustache - ehh.. yeah dude shave it or grow a beard. But you know.. whatever 3. That gal sports announcer was driving me nuts talking about gunnar and jackson and dying their hair and .. omg.. stop... pls. mercy... Im so excited for this season.

Tha'ts how I've felt about it for the last few months... Santander is an awesome player and exciting when he's fire. BUT I just don't see Baltimore as his take-off team. I think he (someday) finds a home crowd that exalts him to local celebrity status and he becomes the face of the team... then he takes off.

I think the issue was not a failure of the post-season as in contrast to the regular season... but rather, a continuation of the same. The problems that plagued us with Texas began over a month ago... inability to get hits, absolute shellacking to our pitching crew. I'm uncertain as to what changed over the last several weeks, but perhaps it's a "number of games" issue... given more games, perhaps we would again pull out above average. But in a one series elimination, we balked.

How much has it altered the way games are playing out?

I'm not offering any personal opinion on benefit or detriment, just curious re: the effect on the game. In football several years ago, the constant "hurry-up" offense became a thing and the teams had to start training their players differently and obviously changed a lot about the game. In the same manner, how is the pitch clock affecting pitchers? Their "readiness"? Are ERA's staying consistent? It seems to me that we're seeing massive scores this year, but then again, I hadn't followed for years - are there notable trends? Thanks for your thougths

I've been saying to those around me whom I can trap in a corner, the problem has been the pitching - I don't know if it's due to how the pitch clock has changed the game, or if it's just an us thing. The fielding and batting is phenomenal and can bust out some amazing victories.... but you can't rely on 8-run rally breakouts and up-the-wall catches (as exciting as they are) as any sort of strategy that's going to pay out with longevity. Or even shorter: The rest of the team, with all they're bringing in, just can't keep up with the deficit that the pitching has been bringing.

I agree with you.. the way Hicks was just standing there and had done nothing to minutely obstruct the cathcher-to-2nd relay, betrayed that something unexpected had taken place.

Is this just for the playoffs? I've been able to watch everything (except a couple that only offered audio). Come to think of it, I may have linked a provider... but I'm not certain that I did either.

Keep in mind that I qualified all of this with a subjective "my feeling is... my vibe is..." and acknowledged my noobness to the team. That being said, I dont know where Santander would go, but my "feel" is that he has the ability to be a superstar, not just on the field, but socially - like movie-star / media / tabloid sort of thing. I think he finds a fanbase (sometime, somewhere) that makes him a hometown hero/celebrity. No false dichotomy meant re: M & K. I'm simply explaining the fantasy league that's in my mind. OP --> "IF I HAD to choose". Let's say it was a money thing... or a get rid of one or two to bring in some other dynamic. Other than that, I'm gleaning from the forums and taking a shot at participating.

Here's just my "feel", admittedly not based on more than the little I know.. rather the vibe I get watching the games. Hays, Hicks, O'hearn, Henderson, Mountcastle, Rushman, Mccann are all the solid basis for the team - they hit, they field, they're all arounders; if one or two of them don't show up, the others typically do. I don't know the stories behind why they would stay or why they would not, BUT if I'm the manager, I'm wanting to hold onto that core if possible. Mullins is an awesome fielder (and a highlight reel of his wall catches is one of the reasons I chose to become an Orioles fan) but I'm not certain what the team offers him other than maintaining where he's at. It seems he's added in as a "addition" to something that's taking place rather than being part of the core of that something itself. And honestly, he plays like it. Sometimes the all-star and then long bouts of meh. I gotta think that on a career basis he's looking for what will take him to the next level. Santander... I just don't feel that he would choose to stay. He's cool, he hits like a madman (when he doesn't strike out) but I think he's got other places to go on his trip to stardom. I think that Baltimore is a stepping stone for him. Mateo, Urias, Kjerstad ... well, each one of them makes me nervous when it's their time at bat and they HAVE to get a hit. Don't get me wrong, obviously you can't play at this level unless your very good, and each of them can get a hit... but I feel it's a bit more Vegas odds whether they do. Urias? (who?) he seems to come in and then disappear again without notice or wrinkle. Mateo, guy can steal a base like no-ones business, and has hit a few clutch hits, but again.. small namer. Kjerstad? Young and promising. (does anyone ever get over myocarditis?) If I had to choose between the three, I guess I'd be between keeping a proven moderate Mateo or betting on a potential up and comer Kjerstad.

Yeah... Kjerstad "could" be promising but I haven't seen any hard evidence that he will be. I mean, I'm pleasantly surprised every now and again but my heart doesn't leap for joy when we need a hit and he's up.

I really would hope they don't get rid of Hays... imo he's been one the steadiest players As for Santander, I see him as a power-hitter so it's kind of weird to compare him to Kjerstad, who I see as potentially another consistent hitter in the likeness of Hays, Hicks, and Henderson

I'm uncertain why they would consider getting rid of these two guys... seems to me they're about as stable / great player as there is

I like Santander and Mullins a lot .. *when* they break-out they're exciting to watch! BUT.. I could see trading them IF you got something more stable in return. I couldn't imagine trading them for some sort of lateral move.

I'm uncertain that we "decisively" beat the Rays... and our relievers have me nervous . But spot on re: our starting pitchers and all the other points made. Feeling cautiously optimistic!

Santander is a funny guy to watch... at one point I was hyping him big-time to the rest of the family.. then he went on a forever no-hit streak once they started paying attentio *lol facepalm*. Dude POWERS the ball every time he connects (foul or not) .. yet I'd rather have another Hays or Henderson.

Just kidding! What an awesome year to become an Orioles fan!

How long do contracts usually last? I thought that in other sports, players could get out of a contract if wanted. How does that all work?