Why isn't Ortiz in Baltimore instead of Mateo?

[Three Run Homer]

12 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Vs LHP

Gunnar SS

Urias 3B

Westburg 2B

We’re passed the point where Gunnar comes out of the lineup. Why call Ortiz up to be a part time player?

Because he will probably be a better part time player than Mateo.   

It's not like Ortiz needs to get more developmental time at Norfolk.  Clearly he's mastered AAA pitching.  

[2001OriolesFan]

How good is Ortiz at fielding?   The scouting reports have him listed as a 65, which is between PLUS and PLUS PLUS.    For point of reference, I also looked up the MLB prospects rankings for 2023 at SS.  There were 20 SS in the top 100.

One of them was rated as 45  (below average  fringe average)

14 of them were rated as 50  (MLB average)

3 of them were rated as 55 (above MLB average)

2 of them were rated as 60  ( PLUS)

0 of them were rated as 65 or above.

Oritz is rated as 65.  Better than any SS drafted this year.

Why isn't he playing?

 

 

 

 

[[ "60: Plus. Alex Bregman’s speed or Stephen Strasburg’s control.
70: Plus-Plus. Among the best tools in the game, such as Corey Seager’s arm, Patrick Corbin’s slider or Francisco Lindor’s defense." ]]

 

 

[seak05]

3 hours ago, sportsfan8703 said:

Vs LHP

Gunnar SS

Urias 3B

Westburg 2B

We’re passed the point where Gunnar comes out of the lineup. Why call Ortiz up to be a part time player?

We’re passed the point where we’re worrying about calling someone up to be a part time player. It’s august of a pennant race. You need your best 26. 

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

1 hour ago, 2001OriolesFan said:

How good is Ortiz at fielding?   The scouting reports have him listed as a 65, which is between PLUS and PLUS PLUS.    For point of reference, I also looked up the MLB prospects rankings for 2023 at SS.  There were 20 SS in the top 100.

One of them was rated as 45  (below average  fringe average)

14 of them were rated as 50  (MLB average)

3 of them were rated as 55 (above MLB average)

2 of them were rated as 60  ( PLUS)

0 of them were rated as 65 or above.

Oritz is rated as 65.  Better than any SS drafted this year.

Why isn't he playing?

 

 

 

 

[[ "60: Plus. Alex Bregman’s speed or Stephen Strasburg’s control.
70: Plus-Plus. Among the best tools in the game, such as Corey Seager’s arm, Patrick Corbin’s slider or Francisco Lindor’s defense." ]]

 

 

The Orioles deferring to veteranosity (even though Mateo isn't really that experienced) like they did last year with Odor, when by all accounts they have a more talented player in their farm system that is more than MLB ready.

[Rbiggs2525]

Lefty tonight, 2 for the series. Hopefully today is the day they finally cut bait. 
 

Could be a day to give Gunnar a rest this weekend too.

Edited August 4, 2023 by Rbiggs2525

[Baltimorecuse]

4 minutes ago, Rbiggs2525 said:

Lefty tonight, 2 for the series. Hopefully today is the day they finally cut bait. 
 

Could be a day to give Gunnar a rest this weekend too.

I don't think they want Gunnar to be a platoon player.  He'll never learn to hit lefties unless he gets the ABs.  

[Rbiggs2525]

1 minute ago, Baltimorecuse said:

I don't think they want Gunnar to be a platoon player.  He'll never learn to hit lefties unless he gets the ABs.  

It’s not platoon. I just think he’s been playing a lot recently and may need to DH.

[Sports Guy]

Gunnar is currently the only player on the team that is a true everyday guy…in other words, if he’s healthy, he will play 155+ games a year. 
 

He will get the rare day off and maybe DH from time to time but that’s about it. 

[Baltimorecuse]

47 minutes ago, Rbiggs2525 said:

It’s not platoon. I just think he’s been playing a lot recently and may need to DH.

He's a 22 year-old professional athlete.  

[Greg Pappas]

 As if there was any doubt, these words appear to answer the 'Why is Ortiz still at AAA' question.  

 

[Sports Guy]

Just now, Greg Pappas said:

 As if there was any doubt, these words appear to answer the 'Why is Ortiz still at AAA' question.  

 

I have been saying this for a while and the Elias press conference before the deadline was the clincher. The focus is completely on the postseason roster and Mateo’s speed is a huge asset in the postseason, at least potentially.

That is what this is all about. They don’t feel they need Ortiz to help them get into the playoffs. It’s all about winning in October.

So, for Ortiz to be here, they have to believe that Ortiz gives them a better chance to win over one of Urias, Frazier or a Westburg.

[glenn__davis]

Yep, I think what SG says above is spot on and has been obvious for some time.

They see Mateo as a pinch runner extraordinaire in October.

[Can_of_corn]

6 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

I have been saying this for a while and the Elias press conference before the deadline was the clincher. The focus is completely on the postseason roster and Mateo’s speed is a huge asset in the postseason, at least potentially.

That is what this is all about. They don’t feel they need Ortiz to help them get into the playoffs. It’s all about winning in October.

So, for Ortiz to be here, they have to believe that Ortiz gives them a better chance to win over one of Urias, Frazier or a Westburg.

Exactly, potentially.

It's easy to come up with scenarios in which having him on the team saves the day but how likely is that to happen?  Is it worth the cost of having him on the roster?

[Sports Guy]

2 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Exactly, potentially.

It's easy to come up with scenarios in which having him on the team saves the day but how likely is that to happen?  Is it worth the cost of having him on the roster?

No it’s not and that’s definitely the problem. 
 

With that being said, Mateo isn’t playing much, so even if they dropped him for Ortiz, they are going to have to believe that Ortiz should play over Urias, Westburg and Frazier. 

Personally, I believe that to be a no brainer and feel that he definitely could play 3-4 games a week but if the Os don’t see that right now, there is no reason to call him up.

The reality is that the Mateo isn’t the one holding back Ortiz. 

[scottbbfm]

30 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

Exactly, potentially.

It's easy to come up with scenarios in which having him on the team saves the day but how likely is that to happen?  Is it worth the cost of having him on the roster?

In the regular season, doesn’t really matter.  But there are a lot of times you need a stolen base in the playoffs.  A lot.  Rosters expand to 28 in less than a month - i don’t think it’s that big of a deal to “waste” a spot for a few more weeks to provide that optionality in October.