Strengthening the Bench

[wildcard]

The O's began the season with a bench o f Owings, Bemboom and McKenna.  And we have been hearing a lot about how poor that bench was from the OH.

In 5 days (June 19th) the MLB rules change with the pitchers going for 14 to 13 and the bench going from 3 to 4.   That in itself gives the opportunity for the bench to be strengthen.

The bench may change to:

Martin 2B/SS mixing in with Mateo and Odor.

Nevin  3B/1B/ OF sharing time with Urias.

Chirinos C

And a rotation of Hays, Mullins, Santander, Stowers, Mancini, Mountcastle each spending a game of the bench every 5 days.   That is if Stowers stays up and McKenna is optioned.    With the heat arriving a rest day each 5 days could help players  stay strong.   While getting to play 5 games out of 6.

I am not suggesting that this be a strict rotation but rather one that Hyde manages. Hyde saw this done when he was with  the Cubs so he has some experience with it.

There is a opportunity  to have a strong bench and get everyone playing time.

JMO.  What do you think?

[jamalshw]

It depends on how long Urias is out, there could be space on the bench for both McKenna and Stowers (though McKenna wouldn't see much playing time except as a defensive replacement and pinch runner) in that scenario. 

I would love to see them keep Stowers, but I don't think we see it until Mancini is traded. I think this is just a 4-day taste of the majors for him in Toronto. 

[Just Regular]

I'm ready for the 2023 Mateo-Vavra-Urias-catcher bench!

May the Top 12 bats dominate the 6000 PA, and the backup catcher get very few.     With Gunnar and Westburg's flexibility, for 2023 alone a bought Infielder could I guess be anywhere.

Even if it is Adam Frazier, Enrique Hernandez and/or his pitcher equivalent, April should be at least tolerable.    Circumstances maybe are aligning for a MLB debut Opening Day start if soft tissue cooperates.

Reserve Mateo could meet the competent team requirement of your backup infielder being SS-capable.

I haven't heard a Ramon Urias timeline guess, but when it is a trunk injury recurrence, I don't think on the second Go it gets to be a 10-15 day thing anymore.

If Stott gets going, I'd take some Segura-Didi money off Dombrowski for Aug-Sep to improve return and to get a little view on if those three could embrace those roles.    Mateo is establishing himself in the league as a piece with some uses but he shouldn't be that upset if the Club doesn't give him the 2023 position.

 

[Just Regular]

2 hours ago, wildcard said:

And a rotation of Hays, Mullins, Santander, Stowers, Mancini, Mountcastle each spending a game of the bench every 5 days.   That is if Stowers stays up and McKenna is optioned.    With the heat arriving a rest day each 5 days could help players  stay strong.   While getting to play 5 games out of 6.

I think #83 is a good clue Stowers sip here is temporary.     The dog days of summer and oncoming heat...those five regulars will also get the All-Star break to help themselves stay fresh for these seven pre-trade deadline weeks.

Put Stowers name in the lineup card in black ink once Trey has a home.

[wildcard]

29 minutes ago, Just Regular said:

I'm ready for the 2023 Mateo-Vavra-Urias-catcher bench!

May the Top 12 bats dominate the 6000 PA, and the backup catcher get very few.     With Gunnar and Westburg's flexibility, for 2023 alone a bought Infielder could I guess be anywhere.

Even if it is Adam Frazier, Enrique Hernandez and/or his pitcher equivalent, April should be at least tolerable.    Circumstances maybe are aligning for a MLB debut Opening Day start if soft tissue cooperates.

Reserve Mateo could meet the competent team requirement of your backup infielder being SS-capable.

I haven't heard a Ramon Urias timeline guess, but when it is a trunk injury recurrence, I don't think on the second Go it gets to be a 10-15 day thing anymore.

If Stott gets going, I'd take some Segura-Didi money off Dombrowski for Aug-Sep to improve return and to get a little view on if those three could embrace those roles.    Mateo is establishing himself in the league as a piece with some uses but he shouldn't be that upset if the Club doesn't give him the 2023 position.

 

I think Elias will keep Vavra at AAA until he has 200 at bats.

[SteveA]

28 minutes ago, Just Regular said:

I think #83 is a good clue Stowers sip here is temporary.     The dog days of summer and oncoming heat...those five regulars will also get the All-Star break to help themselves stay fresh for these seven pre-trade deadline weeks.

Put Stowers name in the lineup card in black ink once Trey has a home.

Now, ****IF**** Trey has to go on the IL with this hand thing, then maybe Stowers gets a last second phone call from the governor and gets to stay up a bit longer.   Who is our backup 1Bman in that case, Adley?   I know Hyde said when he came up that Adley was just going to play DH & C... but circumstances could change.   But that would leave us with just 3 guys to cover 1B/C, which does not seem ideal.   I guess Nevin is a possibility.

[eddie83]

20 minutes ago, SteveA said:

Now, ****IF**** Trey has to go on the IL with this hand thing, then maybe Stowers gets a last second phone call from the governor and gets to stay up a bit longer.   Who is our backup 1Bman in that case, Adley?   I know Hyde said when he came up that Adley was just going to play DH & C... but circumstances could change.   But that would leave us with just 3 guys to cover 1B/C, which does not seem ideal.   I guess Nevin is a possibility.

Nevin would be backup. 

[OriolesMagic83]

40 minutes ago, eddie83 said:

Nevin would be backup. 

I hope Nevin can play 1B better than 3B.