I think some of our readers here would contend the O's have been poor at drafting. Yet they can put 6-7 homegrown players in their lineup every night and a few of them have been All-Stars. When you consider how hard it is for all teams to produce players, it might better than some feel.
My former MASN colleague Brendan Mortenson wrote this recently which is quite favorable on the O's drafting under Elias ----
It’s depressing when Opening Day, the trade deadline and who we get back and the draft are our highlights. I was born Dec 69. I was born in HavreDeGrace so I have Orioles in my blood, just like a famous player or 2. I will never give up on them. I moved to Florida in 1982. I must say last few nights when we have fallen behind, I have moved over to watch the Rays and Marlins both feel good stories this year. I invite you to watch the play of Xavier Edwards both at bat and at 2b and the hit tool of Otto Lopez. The hit tool of Arranda and Yandy Diaz.
Steve is one of the best in the business and I will always rabidly follow the Orioles, but for sanity I have started to watch some small ball teams. I wish we had an Otto Lopez or Yandy Diaz.
Dang sorry to hear that. For me, an O's fan since six and reporter of the club for many, many years I just could not spend much time watching another team. That's just me. I appreciate good play when I see it but even were this not my work, I'd still be watching every night.
Share your feelings Wayne. Think more O's fans lean towards the Tampa Rays philosophy of what seems like an endless supply of solid starting pitching and solid defense. Since we rarely see the Rays on national tv, you probably will have more insight on their players and style of play. Much respect for Eric Neander and manager Kevin Cash.
Let's keep following Steve and look forward to better days ahead!!
I said this mostly to myself this is what the Orioles needed all off season. Elias chose poorly in his roster construction. And the drafted players that some speak well of can't produce. So we're stuck until Elias is removed and someone realizes we need radical change
We seem to only value Homer swings. Nothing else matters, OBP, speed or gosh forbid defense don’t seem to matter. And if you are LH swing you are golden. I hoped Elias was the guy. Looks like another direction needs to be tried.
He is starting to finally hit a little bit the last month or so. So maybe we do see him after the trade deadline. My concern - they'll have a good defensive OFer batting .150 with a .450 OPS.
Isn’t .150 average with .450 OPS what we have already with ONeal ? At least we would have defense and as a youngster he can improve. I give the kid his chance. At least second half of year IMO.
Hit tool and OBP are two different things. He has a good eye and .360 career OBP. My take - he is just ready to hit at this level. But hell at this point bring him and prove me wrong or right.
8 years he hasn't produced a single pitcher. Nothing. And the hitters from Kjerstad, Bradfield and Honeycutt are likely busts with fringe busts in Cowser and Holliday. He's able to move position players through the minors, I'll give him that, but once here they don't produce.
Has it been 8 years? Gosh it seems like yesterday I was talking with McPhail in Florida. Had acquired Jones , Tillman and I told him how thrilled I was. He said it was a process and to be patient. He never got to stay long enough to see his job thru.
Need Jim Russo, the best scout back in the 60's and 70's. Now it seems like a roll the dice crap shoot. We can always hope for a superstar pick. Go Birds.
Our drafting has not been good. Adley as the #1 pick has not measured up, could have had Bobby Witt Jr, Kjerstad had been a total bust , Cowser is a platoon player. No homegrown pitchers on staff. If I am drafting I want athletes, players who can move around. Give me 8 Blazes and I will wipe you out, guys who can play multiple positions during a game efficiently. In a White Sox game recently, Antonacci started in left field, went to second and then back to left. Overall you have to say that Elias has made more bad decisions than good.
Whether it be all bad luck or development, we have failed with our most recent group of Calvary again. These kids have talent. Not sure what we are teaching or not teaching but something needs to be changed.
The wheel of destiny spins, the phone lines are burning with cosmic energy, and the supreme architects of the diamond are about to make their fateful choices. This is not a mere transaction of human capital; it is the grand alignment of the stars, where the hopes of entire cities collide with the absolute greatness of these young legends. The front offices have crunched the numbers, consulted the heavens, and the fits are undeniably perfect.
I think some of our readers here would contend the O's have been poor at drafting. Yet they can put 6-7 homegrown players in their lineup every night and a few of them have been All-Stars. When you consider how hard it is for all teams to produce players, it might better than some feel.
My former MASN colleague Brendan Mortenson wrote this recently which is quite favorable on the O's drafting under Elias ----
https://www.masnsports.com/blog/entry/how-have-the-orioles-drafted-and-developed-homegrown-talent-since-2019/
It’s depressing when Opening Day, the trade deadline and who we get back and the draft are our highlights. I was born Dec 69. I was born in HavreDeGrace so I have Orioles in my blood, just like a famous player or 2. I will never give up on them. I moved to Florida in 1982. I must say last few nights when we have fallen behind, I have moved over to watch the Rays and Marlins both feel good stories this year. I invite you to watch the play of Xavier Edwards both at bat and at 2b and the hit tool of Otto Lopez. The hit tool of Arranda and Yandy Diaz.
Steve is one of the best in the business and I will always rabidly follow the Orioles, but for sanity I have started to watch some small ball teams. I wish we had an Otto Lopez or Yandy Diaz.
Dang sorry to hear that. For me, an O's fan since six and reporter of the club for many, many years I just could not spend much time watching another team. That's just me. I appreciate good play when I see it but even were this not my work, I'd still be watching every night.
Share your feelings Wayne. Think more O's fans lean towards the Tampa Rays philosophy of what seems like an endless supply of solid starting pitching and solid defense. Since we rarely see the Rays on national tv, you probably will have more insight on their players and style of play. Much respect for Eric Neander and manager Kevin Cash.
Let's keep following Steve and look forward to better days ahead!!
I said this mostly to myself this is what the Orioles needed all off season. Elias chose poorly in his roster construction. And the drafted players that some speak well of can't produce. So we're stuck until Elias is removed and someone realizes we need radical change
We seem to only value Homer swings. Nothing else matters, OBP, speed or gosh forbid defense don’t seem to matter. And if you are LH swing you are golden. I hoped Elias was the guy. Looks like another direction needs to be tried.
But they just had a draft where Enrique Bradfield with OBP, speed and defense was the top pick. He has little power.
Promote him. Cut ONeal and if nothing else speed and OF defense will improve. Trade Ward, put Cowser in LF and stop giving up so many extra outs.
He is starting to finally hit a little bit the last month or so. So maybe we do see him after the trade deadline. My concern - they'll have a good defensive OFer batting .150 with a .450 OPS.
Isn’t .150 average with .450 OPS what we have already with ONeal ? At least we would have defense and as a youngster he can improve. I give the kid his chance. At least second half of year IMO.
Bradfield I thought had hit tool questions coming out of college which impacts his ability to get on base.
Hit tool and OBP are two different things. He has a good eye and .360 career OBP. My take - he is just ready to hit at this level. But hell at this point bring him and prove me wrong or right.
Maybe his health was an issue earlier in the year. He's doing okay at AAA. I would like to see him play in Baltimore
8 years he hasn't produced a single pitcher. Nothing. And the hitters from Kjerstad, Bradfield and Honeycutt are likely busts with fringe busts in Cowser and Holliday. He's able to move position players through the minors, I'll give him that, but once here they don't produce.
Has it been 8 years? Gosh it seems like yesterday I was talking with McPhail in Florida. Had acquired Jones , Tillman and I told him how thrilled I was. He said it was a process and to be patient. He never got to stay long enough to see his job thru.
7.5 years. Long enough to produce a few pitchers
IF they make playoffs. I am going to a game. Never been to one and it so tough to make it, I think I should go.
What use was the rule that led you to this?..
If you can't produce pitching and your hitters all struggle to hit 200 to 220, really what good is the model?
Need Jim Russo, the best scout back in the 60's and 70's. Now it seems like a roll the dice crap shoot. We can always hope for a superstar pick. Go Birds.
That is why Russo is going into Os HOF
Our drafting has not been good. Adley as the #1 pick has not measured up, could have had Bobby Witt Jr, Kjerstad had been a total bust , Cowser is a platoon player. No homegrown pitchers on staff. If I am drafting I want athletes, players who can move around. Give me 8 Blazes and I will wipe you out, guys who can play multiple positions during a game efficiently. In a White Sox game recently, Antonacci started in left field, went to second and then back to left. Overall you have to say that Elias has made more bad decisions than good.
Please don’t draft another high swing and miss guy that is going to be a project in the 1st round!!
RH hitter this time and 1st skill needs to be contact hitter. Then defense. And power somehow near the back of the thinking
Whether it be all bad luck or development, we have failed with our most recent group of Calvary again. These kids have talent. Not sure what we are teaching or not teaching but something needs to be changed.
The wheel of destiny spins, the phone lines are burning with cosmic energy, and the supreme architects of the diamond are about to make their fateful choices. This is not a mere transaction of human capital; it is the grand alignment of the stars, where the hopes of entire cities collide with the absolute greatness of these young legends. The front offices have crunched the numbers, consulted the heavens, and the fits are undeniably perfect.