2023 Norfolk Tides

[Frobby]

The 2023 Tides, stacked with top 100 prospects and some very solid AAAA players, have gotten off to a roaring 15-5 start, best in the International League.

It's been a hittters' league so far in 2023, averaging 5.24 runs per game.   The Tides rank second in the league at 7.05 R/G, trailing the Iowa Cubs at 7.56.  They're third in OPS at .854, behind the Toledo Mud Hens (.881) and Iowa (.856).  For reasons I can't fathom, BB-ref does not list Josh Lester among the league leaders, but he appears to be tied for the league HR lead with 8 and leading the league in RBI with 22.  Colton Cowser leads the league with 23 runs scored and Connor Norby is second with 21.  Other standouts have included Hudson Haskiin (1.152 OPS in 13 games but injured now), Ryan O'Hearn (1.074 OPS in 9 games before his call up), Lewin Diaz (.932), Lester (.893), Cowser (.880), Joey Ortiz (.865), Jordan Westburg (.833) and Kyle Stowers (.819 in 12 games since being sent down).   Norby's OPS is below where we'd like it (.729), but he's been productive with his 21 runs scored to go with 17 RBI, second on the club.  

The pitching also has been excellent, with the Tides second in ERA at 3.54 and runs allowed per game at 3.85, trailing only the Memphis Redbirds in both categories.   Standouts have included Drew Rom (2.14 ERA in 21.0 IP), Bruce Zimmermann (2.87 ERA in 15.2 IP), Noah Denoyer (1.50 ERA in 12.0 IP) and Chris Vallimont (0.82 ERA in 11.0 IP).   DL Hall leads the staff in strikeouts with 20 in 16.1 IP, though his results have been mixed so far (4.41 ERA and some short outings).

We expected Norfolk to be very good, and so far, they've lived up to their billing.  Hopefully we will see some graduations to the majors in the coming months, but for now, the Tides are exclting to watch.

 

[interloper]

It's been fun to get all the push notifications. This teams scores a lot of runs. 

I'm most surprised by the pitching performances you noted. Vallimont is one reason why Voth is expendable IMO. We have a bunch of Voths kicking around Norfolk. 

[CHIP]

Of the 5 losses.

Loss 1 vs. Gwinnett (L, 1-6).   Hall and Dowdy each gave up 3 ER in 3 innings or less.  NO Offense

3 straight losses:

Loss 2 vs. Nashville (L, 5-8).  Rom start 6 inning with 0 runs.  3 relievers all cracked to give up 8 over next 3.1 inning.

Loss 3 vs. Nashville (L, 6-8).  Vallimont solid in 4 inning start giving up 1.  Ryan Watson imploded giving up 7 in 2.1

Loss 4 vs. Nashville (L 2-5).  This one the Tides were just beaten over 9 innings.  No offense after starter taken out for Nashville after 2 innings.

won last 3 vs. Nashville

Loss 5 vs. Rochester (L, 0-5).  No offense game #3.  5 of 7 hits by 2 players.  2 of 7 by remaining 7.  2 of 5 runs unearned.  

So of the 5 losses, 3 were no offense and 2 were no relief pitching.

Scary this is there is room to improve for the TIDES.

[CHIP]

BEST GUESS:  PROJECTED ROTATION vs CHARLOTTE this week.  

Tuesday, April 25, 2023                WATKINS
Wednesday, April 26, 2023           ZIMMERMAN
Thursday, April 27, 2023               DL HALL
Friday, April 28, 2023                    ROM
Saturday, April 29, 2023                IRVIN
Sunday, April 30, 2023                  WATKINS
 

DATE                                    RESULT        STARTING PITCHER
Friday, March 31, 2023        W, 6 - 4        G Rodriguez
Saturday, April 1, 2023        W, 13 - 4      Zimmerman
Sunday, April 2, 2023          W, 7 - 4        Watkins

Tuesday, April 4, 2023         L, 1 - 6          DL Hall
Wednesday, April 5, 2023    W, 6 - 3        Rom
Thursday, April 6, 2023        W, 3 - 0        R Watson
Friday, April 7, 2023        RAINOUT        
Saturday, April 8, 2023        W, 21 - 2       Watkins
Sunday, April 9, 2023           W, 4 - 3        DL Hall

Tuesday, April 11, 2023        L, 5 - 8         Rom
Wednesday, April 12, 2023    L, 6 - 8        Vallimont
Thursday, April 13, 2023        L, 2 - 5        Zimmerman
Friday, April 14, 2023            W, 6 - 1        Denoyer
Saturday, April 15, 2023        W, 11 - 8      DL Hall
Sunday, April 16, 2023          W, 7 - 1        Rom

Tuesday, April 18, 2023         W, 5 - 3        Irvin
Wednesday, April 19, 2023     L, 0 - 5        Watkins
Thursday, April 20, 2023        W, 9 - 1        Zimmerman
Friday, April 21, 2023             W, 3 - 2        DL Hall
Saturday, April 22, 2023        W, 9 - 2        Rom
Sunday, April 23, 2023          W, 17 - 7       Irvin
 

[Gurgi]

Wonder if the Oakland A's and the Tides played each other in a seven game match if Norfolk could get four wins?

[SpOkane]

9 hours ago, Frobby said:

The 2023 Tides, stacked with top 100 prospects and some very solid AAAA players, have gotten off to a roaring 15-5 start, best in the International League.

It's been a hittters' league so far in 2023, averaging 5.24 runs per game.   The Tides rank second in the league at 7.05 R/G, trailing the Iowa Cubs at 7.56.  They're third in OPS at .854, behind the Toledo Mud Hens (.881) and Iowa (.856).  For reasons I can't fathom, BB-ref does not list Josh Lester among the league leaders, but he appears to be tied for the league HR lead with 8 and leading the league in RBI with 22.  Colton Cowser leads the league with 23 runs scored and Connor Norby is second with 21.  Other standouts have included Hudson Haskiin (1.152 OPS in 13 games but injured now), Ryan O'Hearn (1.074 OPS in 9 games before his call up), Lewin Diaz (.932), Lester (.893), Cowser (.880), Joey Ortiz (.865), Jordan Westburg (.833) and Kyle Stowers (.819 in 12 games since being sent down).   Norby's OPS is below where we'd like it (.729), but he's been productive with his 21 runs scored to go with 17 RBI, second on the club.  

The pitching also has been excellent, with the Tides second in ERA at 3.54 and runs allowed per game at 3.85, trailing only the Memphis Redbirds in both categories.   Standouts have included Drew Rom (2.14 ERA in 21.0 IP), Bruce Zimmermann (2.87 ERA in 15.2 IP), Noah Denoyer (1.50 ERA in 12.0 IP) and Chris Vallimont (0.82 ERA in 11.0 IP).   DL Hall leads the staff in strikeouts with 20 in 16.1 IP, though his results have been mixed so far (4.41 ERA and some short outings).

We expected Norfolk to be very good, and so far, they've lived up to their billing.  Hopefully we will see some graduations to the majors in the coming months, but for now, the Tides are exclting to watch.

 

With those OPS #s that lineup would fit right in the PCL.

[RZNJ]

8 hours ago, Gurgi said:

Wonder if the Oakland A's and the Tides played each other in a seven game match if Norfolk could get four wins?

Don’t know but it would be fun to see.

[Just Regular]

Its more of @nvpacchi's specialty, but Rom, Irvin and Zimmermann all in the AAA rotation together with everyday Statcast maybe give some data to see if there's any reason to hope Rom's stuff may play and he isn't just another off the official guile lefty failure assembly line.

I hope DL Hall's stuff keeps some separation from those guys.

Certainly I'm jaded enough about the GLFAL that I'll believe one of the Buehrle types pitches effectively for the Orioles when I see it.

[yark14]

8 hours ago, Gurgi said:

Wonder if the Oakland A's and the Tides played each other in a seven game match if Norfolk could get four wins?

Same with the Royals.  I think the Tides could hang with both teams.

[nvpacchi]

13 hours ago, Just Regular said:

Its more of @nvpacchi's specialty, but Rom, Irvin and Zimmermann all in the AAA rotation together with everyday Statcast maybe give some data to see if there's any reason to hope Rom's stuff may play and he isn't just another off the official guile lefty failure assembly line.

I hope DL Hall's stuff keeps some separation from those guys.

Certainly I'm jaded enough about the GLFAL that I'll believe one of the Buehrle types pitches effectively for the Orioles when I see it.

I know the full downloads for AAA statcast data are out there somewhere, but I haven't seen a way to access it yet for the commoner.  If I do, I'll look at Rom's numbers for sure.  And other interesting AAA guys too.

[CHIP]

AAA baseball today starts the automated strike zone for T-Th games and the umpire called zone F-Sun with 3 challenges (batter/pitcher/catcher).  

This is going to be fun to watch just to see how this gets better/worse from the first week today as the season progresses and how it impacts games moving forward.

My son said he saw Maverick was in Baltimore today on Social Media so he must be on his stretch of Taxi Time while Bemboom and Kolozsvary deal with the robots in Charlotte

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, CHIP said:

AAA baseball today starts the automated strike zone for T-Th games and the umpire called zone F-Sun with 3 challenges (batter/pitcher/catcher).  

This is going to be fun to watch just to see how this gets better/worse from the first week today as the season progresses and how it impacts games moving forward.

My son said he saw Maverick was in Baltimore today on Social Media so he must be on his stretch of Taxi Time while Bemboom and Kolozsvary deal with the robots in Charlotte

Wow, your kid is good.   How many people would recognize Maverick Handley on the street?

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, RZNJ said:

Wow, your kid is good.   How many people would recognize Maverick Handley on the street?

Is Social Media the name of a street in Baltimore?

[RZNJ]

Just now, Can_of_corn said:

Is Social Media the name of a street in Baltimore?

Ok.  I misread his post.   Or perused and missed that detail.

[CHIP]

1 minute ago, Can_of_corn said:

Is Social Media the name of a street in Baltimore?

I actually think being on Social Media is more dangerous nowadays compared to the streets of Baltimore