3634 replies to this topic

[BSLSteveBirrer]

We have zero chance. We don't even swing at balls down the middle when we have two strikes.

Maybe what we need is not a new hitting coach but a new optometrist!

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I cant stress how much the rookies who were called up this year being nothing has hurt this team. Ill say again that I make no judgments longterm but damn none of them have provided anything. Not even Norby when he was here. We thought we had depth. Hell, you go back and read comments from May and people wanted the likes of Mullins, Hays, Mateo, and Urias all moved for the likes of Kjersted, Mayo, Norby, Stowers, Holliday. Kjersted has been solid but hes the only one. But this has been the biggest disappointment from me. I dont expect these guys to come up and hit the ground running but most of them being unplayable really sucks

[NewMarketSean]

Yup mentioned this in the game thread.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

This has been said by Big Ben and others but we have to always remember that the biggest step in baseball is AAA to MLB. Some of these guys are going to flame out. Some will be solid regs but nothing more. Its just crazy to me that someone like Mayo tore up AAA but looks so completely helpless in MLB

[russsnyder]

This has been said by Big Ben and others but we have to always remember that the biggest step in baseball is AAA to MLB. Some of these guys are going to flame out. Some will be solid regs but nothing more. Its just crazy to me that someone like Mayo tore up AAA but looks so completely helpless in MLB

Mayo has stuck out 21 times in 37 ABs (42 PA).

Pretty similar to having a pitcher hit.

I about Loled when Palmer was talking about his "power" to the opposite during one of his ABs last night.

The dude looks like he can't hit a ball 48 feet, much less an opposite field HR.

[Mackus]

Mayo's struggles surprise me more than any of the others because he was the most polished bat and had proven the most in the minors.  Everyone else there was some reason beyond just the normal fear of a guy not producing.  But Mayo was wthout any red flags at least at the plate.

 

Just shows how hard it can be.  Some guys hit the ground running, but most have a big learning period.  But to 2035's point, even that majority who struggle for a while usually aren't as close to zeroes as Holliday and Mayo have been.  Holliday at least hasn't been as bad the second time through, ~600 is still just on the edge of playable and it'd be totally understandable to limp along like that for a couple months.  But even that partial season line is fueled by a really strong 10 days or so and back to nearly pitcher level since then. 

[NewMarketSean]

Have to wonder if the MLB coaches tinkered with guys who raked in Norfolk. I know the jump is hard but these guys have come up and been absolute zeroes at the plate for extended periods of time.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Mayo's struggles surprise me more than any of the others because he was the most polished bat and had proven the most in the minors.  Everyone else there was some reason beyond just the normal fear of a guy not producing.  But Mayo was wthout any red flags at least at the plate.

 

Just shows how hard it can be.  Some guys hit the ground running, but most have a big learning period.  But to 2035's point, even that majority who struggle for a while usually aren't as close to zeroes as Holliday and Mayo have been.  Holliday at least hasn't been as bad the second time through, ~600 is still just on the edge of playable and it'd be totally understandable to limp along like that for a couple months.  But even that partial season line is fueled by a really strong 10 days or so and back to nearly pitcher level since then. 

Yeah it just stinks that they have struggled so much with the bat. I ddnt expect an .800 OPS from either but I didnt expect sub .600 either.  Nor the K rate from either. I mean you can run into bad luck over a SSS and be sub .600 but as russ has pointed out in their ABs they just look  overmatched. You look at a guy like Rvera or Sosa and we know what each of those guys are but they dont look nearly as overmatched at the plate. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Today is the first day Ive waved the white flag on the division. Yeah we still have 3 with them and the tiebreaker but its bleak

[Mackus]

Yeah 4 back with 11 to play is really tough.  2 back with 9 to play would feel a lot more doable.  Be nice to see the tide turn here to even make it interesting even if falling short of actually pulling it off, but the O's have been playing their worst ball of the year so barely feels possible yet alone likely.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Today is the first day Ive waved the white flag on the division. Yeah we still have 3 with them and the tiebreaker but its bleak

It's enough to piss me off. NYY has shat the bed and we still find ourselves 4 back. Speaks to how badly we have shit the bed even harder. Just pathetic to perform this way down the stretch with a division title up for grabs. Something isn't right. I'm convinced that it's more than just slumps/pressure, etc. Something's going on.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

It's enough to piss me off. NYY has shat the bed and we still find ourselves 4 back. Speaks to how badly we have shit the bed even harder. Just pathetic to perform this way down the stretch with a division title up for grabs. Something isn't right. I'm convinced that it's more than just slumps/pressure, etc. Something's going on.

When you say you think something isnt right what do you mean.  Some kind of clubhouse drama?

[jamesdean]

Mayo's struggles surprise me more than any of the others because he was the most polished bat and had proven the most in the minors.  Everyone else there was some reason beyond just the normal fear of a guy not producing.  But Mayo was wthout any red flags at least at the plate.

 

Just shows how hard it can be.  Some guys hit the ground running, but most have a big learning period.  But to 2035's point, even that majority who struggle for a while usually aren't as close to zeroes as Holliday and Mayo have been.  Holliday at least hasn't been as bad the second time through, ~600 is still just on the edge of playable and it'd be totally understandable to limp along like that for a couple months.  But even that partial season line is fueled by a really strong 10 days or so and back to nearly pitcher level since then. 

It's still shocking to me in some ways how much of a glaring difference there is from AAA to the majors.  I mean, these guys are just lost at the plate.  It's like they've never hit before at any level.  I realize AAA pitching in general is bad.  Real bad.  But you would think these guys would at least be competitive at the major league level.  I don't expect them to be hitting .300 but .250 would be nice with some production in RBI's.  What irritates me about Holliday is that his main strength is OBP and drawing walks.  At this level, he's nothing but another free swinger in a sea of them.  When the time presents itself in the off season, I think Elias and the organization needs to sit down and analyze why the disconnect between AAA and the majors is so severe. 

[makoman]

It's enough to piss me off. NYY has shat the bed and we still find ourselves 4 back. Speaks to how badly we have shit the bed even harder. Just pathetic to perform this way down the stretch with a division title up for grabs. Something isn't right. I'm convinced that it's more than just slumps/pressure, etc. Something's going on.

I feel similarly but can’t explain it. Something seems wrong or off, more than just bad performance. Makes me want Hyde gone, even if that’s a little irrational.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

For what its worth, Elias pointed the finger at himself yesterday. I like that, and it does lead me to believe Hyde isnt going anywhere pretty much no matter what happens. 

[Ravens2006]

It's enough to piss me off. NYY has shat the bed and we still find ourselves 4 back. Speaks to how badly we have shit the bed even harder. Just pathetic to perform this way down the stretch with a division title up for grabs. Something isn't right. I'm convinced that it's more than just slumps/pressure, etc. Something's going on.

 

There's definitely some overall team mentality issue in play. You can see it, and I don't think it's all byproduct of their floundering but just as much a cause of it. Still think the deadline moves hurt chemistry and mindsets more than helped.  They were scuffling a little before that but that could be standard variance popping up.  The lineup they started last night looked alien compared to April, and I don't think it's a good thing.

 

Not sure what it will take to get the brain funk out of their systems, but hope something happens soon.  I was really hoping Rodriguez and some bats returning would jumpstart the "fun" factor again, but with Grayson now seeming more questionable on a return timeline, not as hopeful as I was a few weeks ago.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

For what its worth, Elias pointed the finger at himself yesterday. I like that, and it does lead me to believe Hyde isnt going anywhere pretty much no matter what happens. 

So is Elias going to fire himself? If no MAJOR changes are made over the winter it might do me in as an O's fan.

[Slidemaster]

I think it's largely unfair to expect a bunch of rookies, even exceptional ones, to come up mid division race and excel. Gunnar sucked for 4 months when he came up and is now one of the 5 best hitters in the league. Cowser took a massive leap this year. Adley did in year 2 as well. They're going to be good, and I expect next year to be better for them. With that said, some veteran help is needed this offseason.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

I think it's largely unfair to expect a bunch of rookies, even exceptional ones, to come up mid division race and excel. Gunnar sucked for 4 months when he came up and is now one of the 5 best hitters in the league. Cowser took a massive leap this year. Adley did in year 2 as well. They're going to be good, and I expect next year to be better for them. With that said, some veteran help is needed this offseason.

Sure. But that doesn't explain Adley and both Ryans going to crap.

[BSLSteveBirrer]

With 11 games to go the O's are 84-67. They are not going to even win 90 games now. Shoot they'd have to go 6-5 the rest of the way. Their last 10 they are 3-7. Flounder to October and hope for a miracle. Even their prognosis on guys returning sounds more like wishful thinking to keep the fans interested rather than reality.

 

But I will keep watching every damn game.