Perez and Baker are going to be some of Elias' best waiver claims

[OriolesMagic83]

Impressed with what Perez and Baker showed on Opening Day.  I think they will both be important parts of the bullpen this year.  Kudos to Elias for grabbing them. 

[Hazmat]

10 appearances for Perez, 9 innings pitched, and he has yet to concede a run.  0.00 ERA.

[NelsonCruuuuuz]

I gotta think Baker’s time is up, no?

[Chaka Garcia]

Anybody have profile on Perez? I wonder  why he’s experiencing success after being a castaway for a number of teams. How’s his fastball?

[bpilktree]

13 hours ago, NelsonCruuuuuz said:

I gotta think Baker’s time is up, no?

He has options left so I would think with Watkins on rehab assignment when he is ready Baker the one that goes down.  

[Just Regular]

Maybe Baker will have a little "team that cut me" adrenaline for this series, but yeah he's been looking toasty.

Waiver claims if even ~20% become anything you are probably doing okay, and it'll never be most of them, no matter how much opportunity to out-opportunity other teams you might have.

Perez's wicked stuff is outrunning a Bottom 10% walk rate among AL relievers, but same as Lopez feels like regression will be coming for that ERA.

[sportsfan8703]

It looks like the names on the waiver wire are getting more interesting after some from the roster restrictions being implemented. James Norwood from the Phillies is interesting. Hard thrower. Good K rate. 8 ERA. 3 something FIP. 96.9 mph avg on his FB. 

[Tony-OH]

3 hours ago, sportsfan8703 said:

It looks like the names on the waiver wire are getting more interesting after some from the roster restrictions being implemented. James Norwood from the Phillies is interesting. Hard thrower. Good K rate. 8 ERA. 3 something FIP. 96.9 mph avg on his FB. 

I looked up Norwood. He's got good velocity but the spin direction on his fastball leads to more arm side run than that vertical backspin teams are looking for now. Despite the velocity. his fastball as been pretty hittable and while his split finger will get swings and misses (42.7 WHIFF), he leaves it up in the middle of the plate too often and it gets hit. 

The Orioles like those high spin rate fastballs with good vertical break (or lack of drop really) and like them paired with curveballs or changeups with good horizontal break.

So while velocity wise I'd say he's interesting, he doesn't seem like the kind of pitches Elias and his crew look for stuff wise.

 

[sportsfan8703]

The Cards just DFAd C Ali Sanchez. Really good all around defensive catcher.  .724 OPS in AAA this year.  IL not the PCL. He has an option remaining for this year but would be out of options next year. 
 

Seems like a way to secure next year’s backup C and to stash him in AAA until September. Chirnos can mentor the both of the young guys in AAA. 

[NelsonCruuuuuz]

Baker still here. Not effective. Guess they like his potential but definitely the weak link in the bp. 

[Frobby]

2 hours ago, NelsonCruuuuuz said:

Baker still here. Not effective. Guess they like his potential but definitely the weak link in the bp. 

100% agree.   I do not feel confident when he’s on the mound.  

[Aristotelian]

He's like the Jordan Lyle's of bullpen arms.

[InsideCoroner]

3 hours ago, NelsonCruuuuuz said:

Baker still here. Not effective. Guess they like his potential but definitely the weak link in the bp. 

Baker has a weird setup where it looks like he’s rushing his delivery most of the time. Then when half the pitches sail high and away, that’s even more how it looks, like he’s just too amped up. It felt really lucky when he struck out Arozarena after walking the bases full.

[ScGO's]

Baker still has that solid FIP. I say let it ride with Baker, no DFA yet