28 man opening day roster - so who's on it?

[seak05]

A number of you all are getting really worked up over a guy who slashed .161/.233/.265 at Triple-A last year, and .265/.341/.464 3 years ago in double-A because of 16 AB in spring training.

Do I prefer him to Stewart? sure. But in terms of roster construction, where are his ML ab coming from? In place of Santander? Hays? Even if you're a fan of his, think he'd be better off getting regular at bats, showing he can hit Triple-A pitching, and waiting till Mancini or Santander get flipped, or the inevitable injury. Nobody cares if Stewart or McKenna sit for a week. 

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, seak05 said:

A number of you all are getting really worked up over a guy who slashed .161/.233/.265 at Triple-A last year, and .265/.341/.464 3 years ago in double-A because of 16 AB in spring training.

Do I prefer him to Stewart? sure. But in terms of roster construction, where are his ML ab coming from? In place of Santander? Hays? Even if you're a fan of his, think he'd be better off getting regular at bats, showing he can hit Triple-A pitching, and waiting till Mancini or Santander get flipped, or the inevitable injury. Nobody cares if Stewart or McKenna sit for a week. 

I don't think anyone is getting really worked up.

This discourse is languid.

[Sports Guy]

1 minute ago, seak05 said:

A number of you all are getting really worked up over a guy who slashed .161/.233/.265 at Triple-A last year, and .265/.341/.464 3 years ago in double-A because of 16 AB in spring training.

Do I prefer him to Stewart? sure. But in terms of roster construction, where are his ML ab coming from? In place of Santander? Hays? Even if you're a fan of his, think he'd be better off getting regular at bats, showing he can hit Triple-A pitching, and waiting till Mancini or Santander get flipped, or the inevitable injury. Nobody cares if Stewart or McKenna sit for a week. 

Yea that’s the issue.  Are at bats there for him?  Barring an injury or a Mancini trade, probably not.

[OriolesMagic83]

3 hours ago, now said:

Well it hasn't happened yet. I like underachievers and underdogs and younger players who still have promise, over mediocre vets and career AAAA guys. This side of contention, happiness comes in small portions like that. 

Unlike March Madness, talent almost always wins.  No amount of want to is going to help you hit a 98 mph fastball or throw one if you don't have the talent to do so.

[NelsonCruuuuuz]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

So you LOVED Ritchie Martin at #20 for the A's but Stewart at 25 IN THE SAME DRAFT wasn't a good pick?

Please explain.

(Stewart .5 career rWAR, Martin -2 career rWAR) 

But hey Martin's play is more aesthetically pleasing????

Huh? Rule 5 draft

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, NelsonCruuuuuz said:

Huh? Rule 5 draft

Oh you were talking about Stewart being drafted before and then you said "always" so I just assumed you meant the first time he was drafted, by the A's, in the same draft that Stewart went five picks after.

I can totally see how you would love a rule V pick that has managed to put up -2 rWAR.  Not many guys manage to accumulate that much negative value and stay in baseball.  It's an accomplishment.

[now]

20 minutes ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

Unlike March Madness, talent almost always wins.  No amount of want to is going to help you hit a 98 mph fastball or throw one if you don't have the talent to do so.

Hey it's not about rooting for luck over talent. It's about rooting for newer talent that hasn't had a full opportunity yet vs. talent that has had ample opportunity and come up short. Or in different terms, at this point in the rebuild I'd rather try more high ceiling/low floor guys (like Diaz and Martin) than low ceiling/high floor types (like McKenna and Stewart).

[NelsonCruuuuuz]

10 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Oh you were talking about Stewart being drafted before and then you said "always" so I just assumed you meant the first time he was drafted, by the A's, in the same draft that Stewart went five picks after.

I can totally see how you would love a rule V pick that has managed to put up -2 rWAR.  Not many guys manage to accumulate that much negative value and stay in baseball.  It's an accomplishment.

I like the potential but the d has really disappointed. Strong believer in aiming high and/or at premium positions for the rule 5 draft. Martin was one Garcia another that didn’t work but like the logic. Santander worked!

[Aristotelian]

First round of cuts. I'm a little bummed we won't see more of Grayson but not a surprise. No major surprises but a few players some may have had on the bubble to make the team were Jahmai Jones, Sedlock, Vespi, Kevin Smith and Diplan. https://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2022/03/means-and-lyles-team-up-for-todays-game.html

[Matt Bennett]

13 hours ago, now said:

Hey it's not about rooting for luck over talent. It's about rooting for newer talent that hasn't had a full opportunity yet vs. talent that has had ample opportunity and come up short. Or in different terms, at this point in the rebuild I'd rather try more high ceiling/low floor guys (like Diaz and Martin) than low ceiling/high floor types (like McKenna and Stewart).

In what world does Richie Martin have a high ceiling? He looks like a baby deer at the plate. Does not hit the ball with authority. Doesn't have a good batting eye. Doesn't make consistent contact. He made so many errors last year in so few innings. It takes hard work to rack up a -1.0 WAR in a month. I would prefer not seeing him with the O's again. 

Edited March 28, 2022 by Matt Bennett

[Jammer7]

I’ll take an early crack at the 28 man roster.

Position Players:

• 1B - Ryan Mountcastle
• 2B - Ramón Urias
• SS - Jorge Mateo
• 3B - Kelvin Gutierrez 
• UT - Chris Owings
• 2B/3B - Rougned Odor*
• C - Robinson Chirinos
• C - Bemboom/Taylor*
• LF - Austin Hays
• CF - Cedric Mullins*
• RF - Anthony Santander#
• DH - Trey Mancini
• OF - Ryan McKenna

This is a very RH hitting team, and maybe the only reason I keep Odor is his LH bat. If Stewart is healthy, I would consider keeping him over Odor, though Owings and Mancini can play OF. If Mancini is traded, that would help Stewart, and/or Diaz bigly. Bemboom and Taylor are solid, but expendable, and they would likely pass through waivers. I think they might want to keep Nottingham around for a while and see what he can do in AAA. 

 

Pitchers:

• SP - John Means*
• SP - Jordan Lyles
• SP - Zac Lowther*(R)
• SP - Kyle Bradish(R)
• SP - Tyler Wells
• RP - Dillon Tate
• RP - Cole Sulser
• RP - Bryan Baker(R)
• RP - Felix Bautista(R)
• RP - Tanner Scott*
• RP - Paul Fry*
• RP - Cionel Perez*
• RP - Jorge Lopez
• RP - Mike Baumann(R)
• RP - Bruce Zimmermann*

I think they will want to manage Tyler Wells carefully, and starting is easier to do that. They could easily swap out Zimm for Lowther, but I like Lowther’s stuff right now over Zimm. They can piggyback Zimm or Baumann with Wells. I cannot see Akin on this team right now. Still early, but if Bradish is what he appears to be, how does he not make the team? Hyde mentioned a few games ago that the pen would have some “big arms” that he did not have last year. That makes me think Baker, Bautista, Baumann and Pérez all make it. 

[wildcard]

48 minutes ago, Jammer7 said:

I’ll take an early crack at the 28 man roster.

Position Players:

• 1B - Ryan Mountcastle
• 2B - Ramón Urias
• SS - Jorge Mateo
• 3B - Kelvin Gutierrez 
• UT - Chris Owings
• 2B/3B - Rougned Odor*
• C - Robinson Chirinos
• C - Bemboom/Taylor*
• LF - Austin Hays
• CF - Cedric Mullins*
• RF - Anthony Santander#
• DH - Trey Mancini
• OF - Ryan McKenna

This is a very RH hitting team, and maybe the only reason I keep Odor is his LH bat. If Stewart is healthy, I would consider keeping him over Odor, though Owings and Mancini can play OF. If Mancini is traded, that would help Stewart, and/or Diaz bigly. Bemboom and Taylor are solid, but expendable, and they would likely pass through waivers. I think they might want to keep Nottingham around for a while and see what he can do in AAA. 

 

Pitchers:

• SP - John Means*
• SP - Jordan Lyles
• SP - Zac Lowther*(R)
• SP - Kyle Bradish(R)
• SP - Tyler Wells
• RP - Dillon Tate
• RP - Cole Sulser
• RP - Bryan Baker(R)
• RP - Felix Bautista(R)
• RP - Tanner Scott*
• RP - Paul Fry*
• RP - Cionel Perez*
• RP - Jorge Lopez
• RP - Mike Baumann(R)
• RP - Bruce Zimmermann*

I think they will want to manage Tyler Wells carefully, and starting is easier to do that. They could easily swap out Zimm for Lowther, but I like Lowther’s stuff right now over Zimm. They can piggyback Zimm or Baumann with Wells. I cannot see Akin on this team right now. Still early, but if Bradish is what he appears to be, how does he not make the team? Hyde mentioned a few games ago that the pen would have some “big arms” that he did not have last year. That makes me think Baker, Bautista, Baumann and Pérez all make it. 

Good list

[Aristotelian]

1 hour ago, Jammer7 said:

I’ll take an early crack at the 28 man roster.

Position Players:

• 1B - Ryan Mountcastle
• 2B - Ramón Urias
• SS - Jorge Mateo
• 3B - Kelvin Gutierrez 
• UT - Chris Owings
• 2B/3B - Rougned Odor*
• C - Robinson Chirinos
• C - Bemboom/Taylor*
• LF - Austin Hays
• CF - Cedric Mullins*
• RF - Anthony Santander#
• DH - Trey Mancini
• OF - Ryan McKenna

This is a very RH hitting team, and maybe the only reason I keep Odor is his LH bat. If Stewart is healthy, I would consider keeping him over Odor, though Owings and Mancini can play OF. If Mancini is traded, that would help Stewart, and/or Diaz bigly. Bemboom and Taylor are solid, but expendable, and they would likely pass through waivers. I think they might want to keep Nottingham around for a while and see what he can do in AAA. 

 

Pitchers:

• SP - John Means*
• SP - Jordan Lyles
• SP - Zac Lowther*(R)
• SP - Kyle Bradish(R)
• SP - Tyler Wells
• RP - Dillon Tate
• RP - Cole Sulser
• RP - Bryan Baker(R)
• RP - Felix Bautista(R)
• RP - Tanner Scott*
• RP - Paul Fry*
• RP - Cionel Perez*
• RP - Jorge Lopez
• RP - Mike Baumann(R)
• RP - Bruce Zimmermann*

I think they will want to manage Tyler Wells carefully, and starting is easier to do that. They could easily swap out Zimm for Lowther, but I like Lowther’s stuff right now over Zimm. They can piggyback Zimm or Baumann with Wells. I cannot see Akin on this team right now. Still early, but if Bradish is what he appears to be, how does he not make the team? Hyde mentioned a few games ago that the pen would have some “big arms” that he did not have last year. That makes me think Baker, Bautista, Baumann and Pérez all make it. 

Great list. I think Zimmerman has the stronger overall resume over Lowther. I would be a bit bummed if he was not in the rotation since he had success there unlike *everyone* else last year. Both have options. 

I think Akin finds a way on the team. Maybe starting Owings in AAA or by starting Lowther or Zimmerman in the rotation in AAA.

However it shakes out, I would rather have Akin in the bullpen with Lowther or Zimmerman getting regular starter innings in AAA than bumping them to the bullpen. 

From what I have seen Nottingham seems to be the favorite for backup C although I couldn't tell you why. 

It does seem like the bubble battles are backup C, Odor/Owings/Gutierrez, and Akin/Lowther/Zimmerman.

[wildcard]

28 minutes ago, Aristotelian said:

Great list. I think Zimmerman has the stronger overall resume over Lowther. I would be a bit bummed if he was not in the rotation since he had success there unlike *everyone* else last year. Both have options. 

I think Akin finds a way on the team. Maybe starting Owings in AAA or by starting Lowther or Zimmerman in the rotation in AAA.

However it shakes out, I would rather have Akin in the bullpen with Lowther or Zimmerman getting regular starter innings in AAA than bumping them to the bullpen. 

From what I have seen Nottingham seems to be the favorite for backup C although I couldn't tell you why. 

It does seem like the bubble battles are backup C, Odor/Owings/Gutierrez, and Akin/Lowther/Zimmerman.

Gutierrez has been hitting this spring which gives him a leg up on making the team.  Plus he has no options left.

[Aristotelian]

14 minutes ago, wildcard said:

Gutierrez has been hitting this spring which gives him a leg up on making the team.  Plus he has no options left.

Agreed, I just wouldn't consider him a lock without being able to read Elias's mind. It looks like we can likely keep two of the three. I listed them in no particular order above but I would rank them Gutierrez, Odor, Owings.