Orioles Pleased With Mountcastle's Progress At Third Base

[Slade-OH]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mlb.com/265169618-orioles-ryan-mountcastle-top-3b-prospects.amp.html

[Luke-OH]

I think this is a telling quote.  Sounds like awfully faint praise to me. 

"I think defensively he's actually better at third base than shortstop because his hands are good and he's athletic," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham told MiLB.com this fall. "He's able to get the ball across the diamond."

 

He does do well charging/bare-handing the ball, but his throws are an adventure at times and you can tell he's not used to the way the ball comes at you at 3B, although that part should improve. I really think he'd look better at 2B, but I think that ship has sailed. I feel like 3B instead of 2B was trying to shoehorn him into a Manny-sized hole.  If he doesn't progress at 3B, I'd guess he's LF bound.  That doesn't worry me much though, because he's going to hit.

 

 

[Il BuonO]

3 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

I think this is a telling quote.  Sounds like awfully faint praise to me. 

"I think defensively he's actually better at third base than shortstop because his hands are good and he's athletic," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham told MiLB.com this fall. "He's able to get the ball across the diamond."

 

He does do well charging/bare-handing the ball, but his throws are an adventure at times and you can tell he's not used to the way the ball comes at you at 3B, although that part should improve. I really think he'd look better at 2B, but I think that ship has sailed. I feel like 3B instead of 2B was trying to shoehorn him into a Manny-sized hole.  If he doesn't progress at 3B, I'd guess he's LF bound.  That doesn't worry me much though, because he's going to hit.

I always thought 2B was a better fit for a guy with which it seemed a “weak throwing arm” was a constant refrain.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

5 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

I think this is a telling quote.  Sounds like awfully faint praise to me. 

"I think defensively he's actually better at third base than shortstop because his hands are good and he's athletic," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham told MiLB.com this fall. "He's able to get the ball across the diamond."

 

He does do well charging/bare-handing the ball, but his throws are an adventure at times and you can tell he's not used to the way the ball comes at you at 3B, although that part should improve. I really think he'd look better at 2B, but I think that ship has sailed. I feel like 3B instead of 2B was trying to shoehorn him into a Manny-sized hole.  If he doesn't progress at 3B, I'd guess he's LF bound.  That doesn't worry me much though, because he's going to hit.

 

 

I agree, that quote had me doing a double take when I read it. He can knock the ball down...But that whole "get it from 3rd to 1st" thing still leaves a lot to be desired.

[Can_of_corn]

27 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

I think this is a telling quote.  Sounds like awfully faint praise to me. 

"I think defensively he's actually better at third base than shortstop because his hands are good and he's athletic," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham told MiLB.com this fall. "He's able to get the ball across the diamond."

 

He does do well charging/bare-handing the ball, but his throws are an adventure at times and you can tell he's not used to the way the ball comes at you at 3B, although that part should improve. I really think he'd look better at 2B, but I think that ship has sailed. I feel like 3B instead of 2B was trying to shoehorn him into a Manny-sized hole.  If he doesn't progress at 3B, I'd guess he's LF bound.  That doesn't worry me much though, because he's going to hit.

 

 

They can shift him to second once Schoop walks.

[Frobby]

3 hours ago, Luke-OH said:

If he doesn't progress at 3B, I'd guess he's LF bound.  That doesn't worry me much though, because he's going to hit.

Fine, but how many LF types can one team have?    Mancini’s out there now, Stewart is limited to LF, and Mountcastle would make three.   If Sisco doesn’t cut it at catcher, it could be four.    

[Luke-OH]

9 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Fine, but how many LF types can one team have?    Mancini’s out there now, Stewart is limited to LF, and Mountcastle would make three.   If Sisco doesn’t cut it at catcher, it could be four.    

I don't see it as a big problem.

Mancini is a 1B preferably for me.  Trumbo is gone after 2019 so that's maybe one season of Mountcastle overlap where Mancini needs to play in the OF.

Stewart is the LF if he pans out, which I think he has a solid chance (average outcome being an average LF)

Mountcastle is at least a year away, and there is a chance he sticks in the infield.

Sisco is a catcher for me, but I'd try him at 3B first if I had to, he has enough of an arm and is fairly athletic.

Also, I think trading for a starting pitcher is something that probably needs to happen before the Orioles are competitive again unless they get really lucky with unheralded pitchers stepping up.  All these guys could be trade chips of various values. 

[Il BuonO]

3 hours ago, Luke-OH said:

I don't see it as a big problem.

Mancini is a 1B preferably for me.  Trumbo is gone after 2019 so that's maybe one season of Mountcastle overlap where Mancini needs to play in the OF.

Stewart is the LF if he pans out, which I think he has a solid chance (average outcome being an average LF)

Mountcastle is at least a year away, and there is a chance he sticks in the infield.

Sisco is a catcher for me, but I'd try him at 3B first if I had to, he has enough of an arm and is fairly athletic.

Also, I think trading for a starting pitcher is something that probably needs to happen before the Orioles are competitive again unless they get really lucky with unheralded pitchers stepping up.  All these guys could be trade chips of various values. 

And Davis? There’s no way Mancini plays 1B while Davis is around and breathing.

[Luke-OH]

47 minutes ago, Il BuonO said:

And Davis? There’s no way Mancini plays 1B while Davis is around and breathing.

With Buck maybe not, but Davis isn’t good at 1B anymore and likely will get worse.  He should DH.

[Can_of_corn]

9 minutes ago, Luke-OH said:

With Buck maybe not, but Davis isn’t good at 1B anymore and likely will get worse.  He should DH.

Do you think Mancini is the superior defensive first baseman?

[Frobby]

5 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Do you think Mancini is the superior defensive first baseman?

Not from what I’ve seen.   And it’s premature to say Davis isn’t a good 1B anymore.    His metrics were slightly below average last month year, but could bounce back.     I think some folks here overrate his defense sometimes, but he was very good in 2016 and hopefully can return to that level.  

[Luke-OH]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

Do you think Mancini is the superior defensive first baseman?

I think he’s average-ish, which is better than I expect from Davis going forward unless his 2017 decline was injury related.

Edit: This is far from a strongly held position, I just thought Davis showed some scary signs in 2017 and I think it’s a decent bet that in 2019 (the year I was talking about), Mancini who was a solid defensive 1B in the minors would be a better option at 27 years old than Davis at 33.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

2 hours ago, Can_of_corn said:

Do you think Mancini is the superior defensive first baseman?

I think Mancini could be better overall as a first baseman than Davis. Maybe not as good as a defender, but adequate enough and bring a better bat to the lineup in that position. 

[Ruzious]

On 1/23/2018 at 1:18 PM, Can_of_corn said:

They can shift him to second once Schoop walks.

It wouldn't surprise me if that happens.  Some people say he's going to out-grow 2nd base... but look at Schoop.  Is Mountcastle really going to be bigger than Schoop?  

[Luke-OH]

38 minutes ago, Ruzious said:

It wouldn't surprise me if that happens.  Some people say he's going to out-grow 2nd base... but look at Schoop.  Is Mountcastle really going to be bigger than Schoop?  

Perhaps, Mouncastle is taller and has a similar frame. I don't think he'll get bigger than Schoop, but it's well within the realm of possibility.