429 replies to this topic

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Just an absolutely idiotic business decision.

[mdrunning]

Maybe Westburg is hurt. Not waiting another five days is very Un-Elias like. That makes me think there's an injury.

[BobPhelan]

I called it.

https://x.com/theori...VUJft8skf32X07Q

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I called it.

https://x.com/theori...VUJft8skf32X07Q

COngrats. Truly.  But just a dumb business decision. Especially after waiting 2 weeks. Makes zero sense. The draft pick is what like 35th. Cool, I guess. Just not worth the risk of waiting literally days to possibly gain a whole year.  Literal days at this point.  Mindblowingly dumb. All that said, Im super excited to see Holliday. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

 Urias and Westburg struggling helped push the issue along with Holliday getting off to a hot start. Even more reason for me to dislike Urias.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

 Urias and Westburg struggling helped push the issue along with Holliday getting off to a hot start. Even more reason for me to dislike Urias.

Yeah but Kemp is the one that got dumped. Why on earth did they sign him for $1M?

Could have kept Wong.

Didn't gain really anything by sending him down for 2 weeks.

Totally lost as to how this makes any rational sense. I get the ROY and pick arguments. But at this point why not wait 3 freaking days and maybe get a whole year. Comp draft pick means so little compared to a potential full year on the back end.

[RichardZ]

I called it.
https://x.com/theori...VUJft8skf32X07Q

Impressive.

[Slidemaster]

I think it's pretty clear they initially intended to keep Holliday down until they could gain a year of service time. All of their actions indicate that including signing Kemp.

But things change.

They probably saw how tragic their bottom of the order was, and they felt a little urgency after losing a few games they shouldn't have. And most of all, I think they feel very confident that JH is going to place top 2 in ROY no matter when they bring him up (within reason). Might as well try to recoup the draft pick.

Elias isn't an idiot. He has a reason.

[CantonJester]

I think it's pretty clear they initially intended to keep Holliday down until they could gain a year of service time. All of their actions indicate that including signing Kemp.

But things change.

They probably saw how tragic their bottom of the order was, and they felt a little urgency after losing a few games they shouldn't have. And most of all, I think they feel very confident that JH is going to place top 2 in ROY no matter when they bring him up (within reason). Might as well try to recoup the draft pick.

Elias isn't an idiot. He has a reason.

 

I know he's a Boras baby.

 

But that doesn't mean he didn't agree to an unreported contract extension, rendering team control moot. It certainly would explain the curious decision-making beyond the O's lack of hitting the first two weeks of the season. 

[Mike B]

I called it.

https://x.com/theori...VUJft8skf32X07Q

Good Call.  Elias has a reason for everything he does and he seemingly wanted JH to get another week or so or playing second base, before doing it at the major league level.  Exciting times.  I think, Elias sees the extra draft pick almost as important as the extra year.

[Mike B]

Looking at the big picture, I am going to enjoy watching this team mature.  I grew up at a time where the Orioles had guys named Robinson(s), Powell, and then later Ripken, Murray, Singleton surrounded by a core of great pitchers and a corp of good players, who were always augmented by top prospects coming from the farm system.  This team very easily could have their own trio of stars, a top staff of pitching and many good players here now and on the way.

I think the next 5-10 years could provide every bit of fun that the great Oriole teams of the past did.  Enjoy the ride people.

Tear it up Jackson!

[Nigel Tufnel]

Looks like there's a Holliday t-shirt giveaway at Friday's game.

[DuffMan]

Please tell me his walkup music is Holliday Road

[CantonJester]

Please tell me his walkup music is Holliday Road

 

ruff-ruff, ruff!

ruff-ruff, ruff!

[weird-O]

Please tell me his walkup music is Holliday Road

Holliday Celebrate 

[BSLMikeLowe]

[CantonJester]

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I wonder what a good comp for Holliday would be. I guess maybe Seager with less power. I dont think he will have the 30 HR power of Seager. At least not in his early 20s. Getting to 20 HRs would surprise me over the next few years. But you look at the total OPS he put up at a young age in the minors and its right there in line with and even better than guys like Guerrero, Trout, Harper, etc. Interesting profile.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

The one small complaint about his milb numbers is his groundball rate. Its a part of why I wonder about the power/slg early in his career. I dont worry that much about the pure hit tool and eye/on base skills

[TwentyThirtyFive]

DeRosa was comparing him mechanically to Robinson Cano yesterday. I think a young Cano offensive profile works too. Cano didnt hit 20 HRs til his 5th full year at 26 yrs old but the avg and XBHs on the whole were there early in his career.