Very, very way too early thoughts

[oriole]

What’s frustrating is this is an example that I’m sure the front office could point to and say “see, they’re not ready” but if they had invested in some actual pitching then we might be looking at a better opening weekend.

Anyways, not gonna kill us to start the season 1-2. I still think they finish around .500 when all is said and done 

[terpoh]

This team looks a lot like the team that crumbled in September and October last year, and not at all like the team that rolled through June, July and August. These three games were very reminiscent to the Jays and Red Sox games end of last year where we couldnt get anyone out. Not sure what is up with the defense. That was solid all year last year. Definitely concerning. 

[Frobby]

My early thoughts are, “it’s too early to have any really meaningful thoughts.”  I guess it’s fairly obvious what needs to go better if we want to contend.  

[Moose Milligan]

Way too early to have any meaningful thoughts. I didn’t expect the pitching to be great but I also didn’t see this defense being this pathetic. 

[RZNJ]

Baker looked much better today.

Baumann is going to take some patience like Baker did last year.   
 

I thought Irvin looked good.   He left too many curves up to lefties but I think he’s going to be good.

Super sloppy defense in this series.  It won’t continue.

I was worried about two dead spots in the lineup with Mateo and Frazier.   Maybe not.

I voted this team for 79-82 wins but I like what I see so far.   It comes down to the starting pitching.

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

Way too early to have any meaningful thoughts. I didn’t expect the pitching to be great but I also didn’t see this defense being this pathetic. 

So you’re thoughts on the defense are pretty meaningless,right?

[Sports Guy]

My thought is that it’s too early for an early impressions thread.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, Sports Guy said:

My thought is that it’s too early for an early impressions thread.

How about a first impressions thread?

[Sessh]

Hmm... so admittedly I'm behind on the thoughts here generally about the team this year, but.... man, we have two people here predicting this is a .500 team in 2023 when the O's were supposed to be, under Elias's grand plan, ready to start seriously competing for a deep playoff run and maybe even a championship. This seems to indicate the plan hasn't gone so well, but I know how passionate people are and how "up-and-down" the emotions can be, but is this an accurate gauge on how people generally feel about this team right now? In 2023, we're still not expecting better than a .500 team? Perhaps this is just frustration due to the rough start?

[Moshagge3]

4 minutes ago, oriole said:

What’s frustrating is this is an example that I’m sure the front office could point to and say “see, they’re not ready” but if they had invested in some actual pitching then we might be looking at a better opening weekend.

Anyways, not gonna kill us to start the season 1-2. I still think they finish around .500 when all is said and done 

Well, as long as we're talking "way too early," I was updating the game thread with the performance of three free agent guys that people had talked about maybe signing to upgrade the pitching.

Ross Stripling vs. Yankees: 5.0 IP 6 H 4 ER 3 HR 2 BB 3 K

Jameson Taillon vs. Brewers: 4.0 IP 7 H 3 ER 0 HR 1 BB 2 K

Chris Bassitt vs. Cardinals: 3.1 IP 10 H 9 ER 4 HR 0 BB 0 K

The most expensive guy made Gibson and Irvin look like Maddux and Smoltz. Taijuan Walker was also available, andhe goes tomorrow against the Yankees, so we'll see how he looks.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, Sessh said:

Hmm... so admittedly I'm behind on the thoughts here generally about the team this year, but.... man, we have two people here predicting this is a .500 team in 2023 when the O's were supposed to be, under Elias's grand plan, ready to start seriously competing for a deep playoff run and maybe even a championship. This seems to indicate the plan hasn't gone so well, but I know how passionate people are and how "up-and-down" the emotions can be, but is this an accurate gauge on how people generally feel about this team right now? In 2023, we're still not expecting better than a .500 team? Perhaps this is just frustration due to the rough start?

It's only year five.

[sportsfan8703]

The Jorge Looez trade was a disaster. I’m venting. 

[Oriole1940]

The games in April count as much in the standings as the games in Sept. so pointing out  that this is a rotten team is appropriate if that is the fact, which IMO, it is.  Can they improve as the season wears on, of course.  But we  all know the AL East in an unforgiving Division.  Not adding impact players, yes plural, already shows.  I hope they improve as the season goes by, but I do not see facts that would support that statement.  

[Going Underground]

For the Orioles (1-2) to reach that point this season, they will need their pitching to improve. Baltimore allowed nine or more runs in each of its first three games, the first team in the majors to do so since 2005

[G54377]

When you start making excuses about paying a player that's not a free agent for 6 years, that's concerning.