Jackson Holliday 2024

[EddeeEddee]

2 minutes ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

That could be a factor and also Norby's defense that's his weakest link as a prospect. Kjerstad is certainly deserving, but getting him at bats could be an issue since he can only play 1B/DH/OF.

Kjerstad is blocked by Santander and especially O'Hearn.  I would be willing to take a chance trading O'Hearn to bring up Kjerstad, but I think most around here would not want to let OH go.  Maybe right most would rather trade Santander, but I think Santander is about to heat up.  We'll have to wait and see.

Yeah, pretty sure Norby's defense is what has held him back so far.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

1 minute ago, EddeeEddee said:

Kjerstad is blocked by Santander and especially O'Hearn.  I would be willing to take a chance trading O'Hearn to bring up Kjerstad, but I think most around here would not want to let OH go.  Maybe right most would rather trade Santander, but I think Santander is about to heat up.  We'll have to wait and see.

Yeah, pretty sure Norby's defense is what has held him back so far.

I was in favor of trading one of Mountcastle/Hays/Santander after last year to make room for prospects like Kjerstad.

I see the main issue with trading one of the above or O'Hearn is those players will deliver more value in an Orioles uniform over the return in any trade. I'm leaning towards Elias taking a calculated risk and creating at bats for Kjerstad.

[EddeeEddee]

3 minutes ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

I was in favor of trading one of Mountcastle/Hays/Santander after last year to make room for prospects like Kjerstad.

I see the main issue with trading one of the above or O'Hearn is those players will deliver more value in an Orioles uniform over the return in any trade. I'm leaning towards Elias taking a calculated risk and creating at bats for Kjerstad.

Yeah, we're kind of getting off track here since this is a Jackson Holliday thread, but I will say I don't see how Mountcastle gets traded -- and even if he did it would be to unblock Mayo and not Kjerstad.  Both Mounty and Mayo are righties, and it doesn't look like Mayo will play third base anytime soon.  I think two of the prospects need to get traded -- maybe in the offseason or next season -- unless Hays, O'Hearn or Mounty are dealt.  I think there's a chance the O's bring back Santander, but that's a big wildcard too.

[Satyr3206]

44 minutes ago, EddeeEddee said:

Yeah, we're kind of getting off track here since this is a Jackson Holliday thread, but I will say I don't see how Mountcastle gets traded -- and even if he did it would be to unblock Mayo and not Kjerstad.  Both Mounty and Mayo are righties, and it doesn't look like Mayo will play third base anytime soon.  I think two of the prospects need to get traded -- maybe in the offseason or next season -- unless Hays, O'Hearn or Mounty are dealt.  I think there's a chance the O's bring back Santander, but that's a big wildcard too.

I don't think Elias will seriously entertain bringing back Santander.

[now]

People keep talking about Norby's flawed defense, meanwhile Holliday is looking pretty bad out there. Small sample size, I guess! But how long is the leash?

[LA2]

2 hours ago, Brooks The Great said:

"Played in 10 straight" and "played in 5 straight" includes games he came off the bench. The most games he started in a row after his callup was a whopping 4. That is NOT playing every day. 

Let me clarify right now, being an every day starter means starting every day. Not getting platooned and coming off the bench. My fault for not being more clear that I expected Cowser to get a chance to start every day.

The team also came out of the All Star Break with Cowser being benched, which was preposterous for a prospect of his ability and pedigree. He only got into games following the All Star break, and a few starts, because Cedric Mullins got hurt. That's when the insane infatuation with Aaron Hicks started after Elias signed him. Hicks went on to reward Elias' love of dumpster diving with an absurdly lucky BABIP and terrible defense. And Cowser got screwed over as a result. 

I watched all those games. The way Elias and Hyde handled Cowser was awful. 

Hicks was a big blessing to the team--we're very lucky we got him when we did. There's no way the Cowser we saw last year could have matched what Hicks provided, even on defense and on the basepaths. You cite BABIP, but drawing 35 walks in 236 plate appearances was a huge self-earned positive.

[Billy F-Face3]

30 minutes ago, now said:

But how long is the leash?

That is the big question. I had assumed it would be pretty long, especially with him wearing Cal Ripken Sr's old number and him being the consensus top prospect in Baseball. But if there's been no progress in all that playing time, and it's starting to cost us games, I don't know how the team can take the brunt of that for too long. Especially in a chase for a championship inside the toughest division in baseball. 

The Front Office has surprised me before by looking like they were being patient with a guy only to suddenly option him one day without warning they would.  If we're being perfectly honest Jackson looks like a boy playing amongst men out their right now and he looks like he belongs in the minor leagues with a reset for now until he gathers up experience like Westburg and Norby, or at least as much as Henderson did.

So, we will probably watch Jackson ride the bench vs Ragans tomorrow. What happens after that is something we will just have to wait and see.

I'm willing to cut him some slack, but if it continues to cost us runs and games, then there's not much room for patience.

[OnlyOneOriole]

I will say I am surprised at how utterly useless/helpless JH looks after he got called up.   Not just surprised.

Stunned is a better word.

This is not an 7th round pick who struggled for years in the minors.   This is the #1 pick from 2 years ago who has dominated his entire life in the game of baseball.

Yet he looks like a player in 8th grade playing against seniors in HS.  He can barely make any contact and even his fielding and throwing is very iffy. It is like he took up the game of baseball within the last year.   A complete novice.

 

This has to be mental because even the worst of the worst can make more contact than he is.  He is FLAILING.   No way that is all physical. 
 

At this point you send him down.   No questions asked.   I was more than willing to let him get through this if he SHOWED ANY SIGNS of life.  But he just doesn't.   He looks pathetic. 

 

Manny Machado he is not.

 

Send him down for at least 3 months.   Bring up Mayo.  Or anyone really.  It is better than what he is offering.

Edited April 20 by OnlyOneOriole

[OnlyOneOriole]

7 hours ago, Roll Tide said:

I think that’s the Koolaid sipper in you bro. I can’t imagine anyone here wants to see him struggle or fail. But, another 1 for 29 could damage his confidence. I think you send him down and let him reset. He needs to work to be more prepared part of it gets his strikeouts way down. Even if he had a 6 hit run as someone else mentioned he’d still have a k rate over 40%. He shouldn’t end up a 20%+ K rate guy. 

I had never seen him in a live at bat until I saw him at his first spring training at bat this year.  And I mean his very first at bat.

 

He struck out swinging on like 4 pitches and being honest looked completely over matched.  I remember thinking....."hmmmm that seems odd for a guy so highly touted".   He just seemed like he had no idea what he was doing.

 

But then I never really saw another live at bat from him again all spring training and he ended up doing pretty well.  However every at bat I have seen of him since he got called up?  Looked like that first spring training at bat.  He looks like my wife trying to hit a major league fastball.  He has no idea what he is doing.

I have never seen someone so good against minor league players and yet so bad against major league players.  Just a huge discrepancy.

 

Has to be psychological.   He looks completely intimidated. 

Edited April 20 by OnlyOneOriole

[baltfan]

Ben McDonald mentioned the leg kick maybe not working in the MLB. He is going to have to make an adjustment it seems like.  Just way too many swings and misses. 

[gtman55]

He just doesn't seem ready to me. The only thing to do is send him down. It's a huge leap from AAA to the majors and it's showing. And not just at bat where he looks like a single A guy trying to hit off Cy Young. He is really shaky in the field and even his throws seem slow.

I think keeping him up here is a mistake for the team and for Jackson at this point. Let him go back to Norfolk and have him work on his fielding at second and fine tune his swing and his approach at bat. I feel bad for the kid but even worse if he continues to flail (and fail) at bat after at bat up here.

 

[LA2]

Should Holliday keep whiffing over the next 15-20 at-bats, Elias et al will certainly win my respect if they send him back down. I'm fine with Mateo and Urias. They both had great spring trainings and are fine defensive players who can man several different positions. Mateo adds speed and it's possible that we've been missing out on another torrid April from him (SSS but his 143 OPS+ with 3 doubles in 19 ABs implies we have been).  I would love it if Urias regains the batting prowess and power he showed in 2021-2022 and the '22 glove.

Edited April 20 by LA2

[Going Underground]

I think he makes it through the road trip at least. Don't think they would be flying a prospect across the country. If he still looks lost at the plate ,can see him being sent down on the off day next Thursday. Or maybe they trade him to the A's for Blackburn, Gelof, Max Muncy and Mason Miller before the series.

Edited April 20 by Going Underground

[Too Tall]

Did/do Elias & Co. really think he was/is ready for prime time? I can't believe they bent to pressure to bring him up. This is a cautionary tale that there is a big difference between spring training/AAA and the major leagues. I'm guilty as one who wanted to see him up, but this isn't working. It's really hard to watch. I feel for the kid.

[interloper]

Lol at these comments man.