Mullins and Mountcastle back soon?

[deward]

On 6/20/2023 at 3:31 PM, Frobby said:

The truth is, Santander has played pretty well in RF.  He’s +2 Rtot, +2 Rdrs, +0.5 UZR, -2 OAA.   Even if you favor the latter, -2 is not awful.   The results were similar last year: -1 Rtot, +3 Rdrs, +0.8 UZR, 0 OAA.

He’s played very poorly in LF for whatever reason.  

I’d keep Hicks and Ortiz, and option McKenna.  
 

The idea that Santander isn't a real outfielder is a bit absurd. He's plenty viable in RF. I've never understood the narrative that he's some kind of butcher out there who shouldn't own a glove.

[Frobby]

15 minutes ago, deward said:

The idea that Santander isn't a real outfielder is a bit absurd. He's plenty viable in RF. I've never understood the narrative that he's some kind of butcher out there who shouldn't own a glove.

He was pretty bad out there in 2021, nursing various injuries.  In 2022, his overall OF numbers were pretty bad, but when you break it down you see he was much better in RF then LF.   Same this year.   

In RF, he’s not the fastest guy in the world and he sometimes gets slow jumps on balls hit in front of him, but he’s pretty decent.  He’s no Trumbo out there. 
 

[sportsfan8703]

Mullins for Lester should happen quickly. Probably for this weekend. I think we should kick the van down the road on Mountcastle, and let him get in some sort of a groove. 
 

What do we do with Givens?  It’ll be tough for Elias to just cut bait on that contract. 

[wildcard]

Watched part of the Norfolk game last night.   Mullins' swing looks ready  but he is only running at about 75% effort IMO.   They could promote him to DH with Hicks staying in center oft what I saw.  Don't know what Elias will do.  Mullins hit a homer last time up.

Mountcastle looked the same as in the majors.   Can't see him taking playing time from O'Hearn at this point.   He needs to stay at AAA and work on his plate discipline.   Made an error fielding a ball at 1B that led to a run.

Givens looked good to me.   I missed seeing Tate.

Edited June 22, 2023 by wildcard

[Going Underground]

8 hours ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Mullins for Lester should happen quickly. Probably for this weekend. I think we should kick the van down the road on Mountcastle, and let him get in some sort of a groove. 
 

What do we do with Givens?  It’ll be tough for Elias to just cut bait on that contract. 

Not sure they bring Mullins up this weekend if the forecast holds and the field is wet all weekend. At least not to play the field.

[BRobinsonfan]

On 6/20/2023 at 12:30 PM, Baltimorecuse said:

I can't see McKenna at all.  If we're serious about a playoff run he adds zero.  I don't see anyway he makes the team next year so if we're looking to next year what does he bring?  He's  a rally killer now with a very doubtful future.  

Ortiz hasn't shown anything either but now is the time to find out.  

Hyde disagrees.  He values him as a late-inning defensive replacement for Santander, as someone who plays all three outfield positions, and as a pinch runner.  Between last year and this year, Hyde has utilized him a lot. 

[Frobby]

1 minute ago, BRobinsonfan said:

Hyde disagrees.  He values him as a late-inning defensive replacement for Santander, as someone who plays all three outfield positions, and as a pinch runner.  Between last year and this year, Hyde has utilized him a lot. 

Yes, but now we have Hicks.   

[HelenaEngineer]

34 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Yes, but now we have Hicks.   

Exactly - all those roles that McKenna filled over the last couple of seasons, including subbing for Mullins against some lefties in addition to the ones listed, are performed as well or in most cases better by Hicks. Obviously, the Orioles have not had both Mullins and Hicks at the same time yet, but that should happen soon. 

[interloper]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

Yes, but now we have Hicks.   

I don't think it's beyond reality that this team keeps 5 outfielders (Mullins, Hays, Santander, Hicks, McKenna). At least until Mountcastle is back.

Lester goes for Mullins. Santander rotates DH/1B/RF, Hicks starts in the OF most days, McKenna on the bench. O'Hearn starts at 1B/DH against RHP, Urias at 1B vs LHP. 

Once Mounty is back, that's when you get into a "tough" decision with McKenna IMO. 

Edited June 22, 2023 by interloper

[Mooreisbetter27]

I think the idea that Mountcastle will somehow gain plate discipline if he's sent to AAA is just unfounded.  The guy is who he is.  He has literally made comments about it and was sent down by Buck and told to improve that portion of his game and he laughed.  He is who he is.  

[sportsfan8703]

I’d bring Mullins back on Saturday and just DH him for a week. No reason why he can’t just run 75% up here. 
 

Mountcastle… he needs the max time of a “rehab” assignment.

[7Mo]

20 minutes ago, Mooreisbetter27 said:

I think the idea that Mountcastle will somehow gain plate discipline if he's sent to AAA is just unfounded.  The guy is who he is.  He has literally made comments about it and was sent down by Buck and told to improve that portion of his game and he laughed.  He is who he is.  

He did that before an extended stint in MLB. Has his experience changed his mind? I doubt it has although it certainly should. I think "he is who he is" is accurate.

[Baltimorecuse]

1 hour ago, BRobinsonfan said:

Hyde disagrees.  He values him as a late-inning defensive replacement for Santander, as someone who plays all three outfield positions, and as a pinch runner.  Between last year and this year, Hyde has utilized him a lot. 

Yeah, Hyde loves him, for what I regard as very weak reasons.  

[HelenaEngineer]

52 minutes ago, interloper said:

I don't think it's beyond reality that this team keeps 5 outfielders (Mullins, Hays, Santander, Hicks, McKenna). At least until Mountcastle is back.

Lester goes for Mullins. Santander rotates DH/1B/RF, Hicks starts in the OF most days, McKenna on the bench. O'Hearn starts at 1B/DH against RHP, Urias at 1B vs LHP. 

Once Mounty is back, that's when you get into a "tough" decision with McKenna IMO. 

You could well be right, but in that case McKenna's spot is basically wasted. He is not going to see much playing time at all, and you would have a better player available for any role that he might fulfill. Cowser could provide left-handed power in RF and better speed and defense than they have been getting in RF while allowing you to upgrade DH more often with Santander and potentially giving Adley more days completely off without taking a big hit hit at DH when you sit him.

I would say if they would prefer Hicks in RF to Cowser, once Mullins is back, and Hyde would just sit Cowser like he does Ortiz, I would rather see Cowser remain at AAA and stay sharp than sit around in Baltimore. In that case, better to waste the active roster spot on McKenna than on Cowser.

[Frobby]

46 minutes ago, Mooreisbetter27 said:

I think the idea that Mountcastle will somehow gain plate discipline if he's sent to AAA is just unfounded.  The guy is who he is.  He has literally made comments about it and was sent down by Buck and told to improve that portion of his game and he laughed.  He is who he is.  

Of course he won’t.  But his problems the last couple of months are more than just plate discipline.  His plate discipline has never been good, but he’s been a much better hitter than so far this season.  So it’s more about getting his stroke and timing going.  

Here’s how I see it: Norfolk’s team OPS is around .850 and we’ve had many guys exceeding that, including guys like Lester.  Even Daz Cameron is at .835.   Mountcastle should stay there until he’s raking.  If he isn’t, no reason to think he’ll do well in the majors.