Bemboom DFA, O’Hearn is called up

[jabba72]

O'Hearn only has a 683 OPS in 1071 career PA's. So not exactly awe inspiring numbers for 1B or any position really. He's also 29. But, Camden Yards. 

[maybenxtyr]

32 minutes ago, jabba72 said:

O'Hearn only has a 683 OPS in 1071 career PA's. So not exactly awe inspiring numbers for 1B or any position really. He's also 29. But, Camden Yards. 

He's the hot hand at the moment. Maybe he can give the offense a little boost for a week or two. 

 

There's some thought that perhaps he benefits from the shift ban as well.

[byrdz]

O'Hearn reminds me of Chris Davis just in look and stature.

[Just Regular]

Brown had the tidbit he's a Sam Houston State guy like Cowser.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?key_school=fd2613e8&exact=1&query_type=key_school

I wouldn't have guessed that program had double digits big leaguers.     Sometimes I think Elias chooses spare parts as comfort food for his blue chips.    It isn't Lego, but Brown doing the Game 1 profile also volunteered he is really good at ping-pong.

[emmett16]

9 hours ago, Jammer7 said:

Can we just leave Mateo at SS, please? Leave Adley at C, Gunnar at 3B, Mateo at SS, Mountcastle at 1B, Hays in LF, and Mullins in CF. Set the everyday line-up and let's build some continuity with a rotation of players that makes sense. 

I know the organization is all about flexibility, but why in the hell would we take our best SS, also the Fielding Bible winner, and put him anywhere but SS? That is crazy to me, unless it is in a desperation move due to injuries. 

The reason we are struggling with our defense so far is simple to me. With all of the moving parts deep into the Spring, this team simply is not ready to play. The gaffes we have seen in the OF are not who these guys are when they are locked-in. That is on Hyde and Elias. This team looks ill prepared to go out and beat even a decent team on a nightly basis right now.

Full disclosure, I value flexibility a ton.  There are a few reasons for that.  I was taught and brought up in the school of thought that positional flexibility is the best way to improve your craft, help your team, and make yourself more valuable.  I think having positional flexibility at all ages  is very important from youth to MLB.

Baseball is a marathon, it’s not a sprint.  I’m not advocating for putting these guys out there in a short playoff series, obviously you play that differently, but over the course of the year there will be times players aren’t available.  In youth league kids get sick, go on vacation, & play other sports.  In HS & college players get hurt, get sick, and transfer.  In pro ball players get injured and need time off.  Being able to move bats around to keep them in the lineup and not hurt the team significantly can be a major advantage.

I call baseball players ninjas & jedis.  Though you will take 10s of thousands of reps, no two plays play will ever be the same.  Tracking balls from different angles and locations IMO only makes a player better.  There is no routine play in baseball; see ball, attack, make a play.  
 

Playing various positions is also a way to perfect and improve your primary position.  IFs who play the outfield get the perspective of where to position on cuts, have a better understanding of where the ball should go, and get an insight into how to make themselves better at their primary position.  Vice Versa for OFs playing IF as a secondary position. 
 

If you can hit, the bat needs to be in the  lineup, if there is someone who can hit playing your primary position, playing a secondary position  can keep your bat in the lineup.  As a player moves up the ladder they will run into a player above them playing their primary position.  
 

Positional flexibility allows manager to match up with opposing pitcher more easily.  And allows manager to get stronger bats into the lineup.  See Bryce Harper working out at 1b to help his team down stretch should an OFer become available or a need arises. 

Finally - Ohtani.  Yea he’s a superhero and we might not see someone like him, but he dreamed and dares to step outside the box and continues to make himself as valuable as possible.  I’m not a fan of doing things “the way they’ve always been done” I believe in thinking outside The box and making yourself as good as possible at all things baseball.  I think the self fulfilling prophecy is common place in baseball and that’s a shame.  These guys are finely tuned professional athletes.  I expect them to be able to perform at a high level . 
 

*Regarding Mateo - I balked at the thought of him playing CF when the idea came up in the past solely because his bat didn’t warrant it.  With his current bat, speed, and athletic ability.  I’d be inclined to see what he can do out there especially since it would open up a spot for another one of our young IF.  His career bb/k is .18 and is currently .33.  If he can continue that I want to keep his bat in lineup.  Sorry for long winded response. 
 

**Im not saying this is the best way to do it, the only way it should be done, or other thoughts are wrong.  This is just my opinion on how to build a team and how to maximize value of individual players and 26 man rosters. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 14, 2023 by emmett16

[emmett16]

6 hours ago, Just Regular said:

Brown had the tidbit he's a Sam Houston State guy like Cowser.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?key_school=fd2613e8&exact=1&query_type=key_school

I wouldn't have guessed that program had double digits big leaguers.     Sometimes I think Elias chooses spare parts as comfort food for his blue chips.    It isn't Lego, but Brown doing the Game 1 profile also volunteered he is really good at ping-pong.

Hand skills & hand-eye skills all day long makes a player.  Now I’m intrigued.  Wonder if he can take Holiday?

[OriolesMagic83]

How is O'Hearn in the outfield?  I'm guessing he's "what heck is he doing out there" bad.  Always good to have another bat off the bench or for occasional starts at 1B/DH,

[emmett16]

7 hours ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

How is O'Hearn in the outfield?  I'm guessing he's "what heck is he doing out there" bad.  Always good to have another bat off the bench or for occasional starts at 1B/DH,

About 1/4 of his appearances for KC in 01/02’ were in RF.  The game I saw him in Norfolk he didn’t get any chances (that I can remember) so didn’t see much, but didn’t look like a statue out there. 

[TommyPickles]

22 hours ago, EdwinRip said:

I don’t think Urias will play a ton against RHP.

Urias has a .969 OPS against RHP this season.

He has a .785 OPS against RHP in his career.

Dude gets no respect around here.

[RZNJ]

20 hours ago, Jammer7 said:

Can we just leave Mateo at SS, please? Leave Adley at C, Gunnar at 3B, Mateo at SS, Mountcastle at 1B, Hays in LF, and Mullins in CF. Set the everyday line-up and let's build some continuity with a rotation of players that makes sense. 

I know the organization is all about flexibility, but why in the hell would we take our best SS, also the Fielding Bible winner, and put him anywhere but SS? That is crazy to me, unless it is in a desperation move due to injuries. 

The reason we are struggling with our defense so far is simple to me. With all of the moving parts deep into the Spring, this team simply is not ready to play. The gaffes we have seen in the OF are not who these guys are when they are locked-in. That is on Hyde and Elias. This team looks ill prepared to go out and beat even a decent team on a nightly basis right now.

Being lackadaisical on a fly to CF and letting the runner tag up to 2B or thinking you can catch a runner off of 2B from deep LF after he’s tagged up and strayed off the base only to allow him to make a fool of you by advancing to 3B have nothing to do with being ready for the season or playing multiple positions.  It’s baseball 101.

[EdwinRip]

I like Urias, but I’m not predicting what the Orioles will do based off of my feelings.  Frazier and Gunner are not sitting vs RHP.  I think it’s clear that they currently value Mateos defense and he is likely not sitting either…..So that leaves one more spot in the lineup.  That will rotate between vavra, O’Hearn and Urias.  If injuries occur or players fall on their face that may change, but going forward, I just don’t see a path for a tremendous amount of playing time for Urias against RHP.

[wildcard]

It was good to see O'Hearn yesterday but he has bad numbers vs Clevinge, Kopech and Cease.  So I am not sure he starts vs the White Sox.

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, wildcard said:

It was good to see O'Hearn yesterday but he has bad numbers vs Clevinge, Kopech and Cease.  So I am not sure he starts vs the White Sox.

I’m scared to ask.  How many AB’s is that based on?

[wildcard]

8 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

I’m scared to ask.  How many AB’s is that based on?

O'Hearn is 3 for 25 vs the three pitchers.

Many managers and their analytics teams do match ups.   Sometimes there are not  a lot of  at bats to go by.   But is better than nothing and managers do have to make out lineups.

Its really weighing who is currently hitting, vs their hitting history, vs  the match up with the pitcher IMO.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, wildcard said:

O'Hearn is 3 for 25 vs the three pitchers.

Many managers and their analytics teams do match ups.   Sometimes there are not  a lot of  at bats to go by.   But is better than nothing and managers do have to make out lineups.

Its really weighing who is currently hitting, vs their hitting history, vs  the match up with the pitcher IMO.

Do they?

Really?

Is it?