38 replies to this topic

[BaltBird 24]

Love him or hate him, I think they'll value Cowser's defense in LF over his flaws at the plate. They're definitely your LF/CF combination to start the year. Maybe Bradfield enters the conversation by mid season if he's performing in AAA.

[BobPhelan]

I’ve also convinced myself Adley was hurt

He was.

[glenn__davis]

He was.

Hyde and Elias have repeatedly said otherwise. You have different info?

[You Play to Win the Game]

Hyde and Elias have repeatedly said otherwise. You have different info?

That’s just standard fare these days. Especially if playing through it.

[russsnyder]

I read a short article where Adley said he needed to"heal up" in the off season.They alluded to him having issues after he was hit in the hand in July/Augus. I think the nagging hand & back injuries contributed to his struggles. That said, I think Adley should train a little differently. He wasn't in bad shape, but he seemed to wear down physically as the season played out.

[glenn__davis]

That’s just standard fare these days. Especially if playing through it.

After the season they were both asked specifically if he was dealing with an injury and both said no. I can understand that during the season but usually afterwards is when you here of guys going through things. There's no advantage at this point in hiding an injury.

[BobPhelan]

After the season they were both asked specifically if he was dealing with an injury and both said no. I can understand that during the season but usually afterwards is when you here of guys going through things. There's no advantage at this point in hiding an injury.

Probably nothing that was an actual “injury” but Adley’s comments were that he needed to let his body heal. Missed a game with a sore back, numbers tanked after getting hit in the hand.

Would be nice if he got more full days off next year.

[glenn__davis]

Probably nothing that was an actual “injury” but Adley’s comments were that he needed to let his body heal. Missed a game with a sore back, numbers tanked after getting hit in the hand.

Would be nice if he got more full days off next year.

 

I just don't think it all adds up.  Maybe I'm over-speculating, which I don't like to do with limited info, but to me something seems rotten in the state of Denmark.  Elias and/or Hyde could have easily said "yeah, he's been dealing with a few injuries, nothing major, just things that happen through a baseball season."  They've done that with guys in the past before, specifically with Hays.  They could have backed up what he said in that way.  Instead they seemed to clearly say that he wasn't dealing with an injury.

 

My theory, and it's 100% just a theory and could be wrong, is that they don't think he was fully in shape to meet the demands of the position.  Maybe you're right and he should have more full days off but he also had plenty of days off from catching compared to the rest of the league, and his numbers are significantly worse when he catches.  To me all of that points to a guy who just wasn't fully physically prepared.

 

Admittedly I don't know why that would have changed this year compared to recent years.  Did he maybe get a bit complacent?  Again just speculation.

[mweb08]

I believe the talk from spring training was that Adley worked very hard last offseason on his body.

[glenn__davis]

I believe the talk from spring training was that Adley worked very hard last offseason on his body.

 

Like every other player ever during ST?

 

No, you may very well be right, and I may very well be off base.  I just think it's weird that everyone seems to think he was injured, and he seemed to make that vague statement about his body healing, but the brass continues to insist that he was not.

[mweb08]

Like every other player ever during ST?

No, you may very well be right, and I may very well be off base. I just think it's weird that everyone seems to think he was injured, and he seemed to make that vague statement about his body healing, but the brass continues to insist that he was not.

Sure, but I recall the chatter being more out and positive regarding Adley than the norm.

Well if you look at his stats after he got hit on the hand, it seems less weird imo.

[glenn__davis]

Sure, but I recall the chatter being more out and positive regarding Adley than the norm.

Well if you look at his stats after he got hit on the hand, it seems less weird imo.

 

I don't recall the commentary about Adley in ST but admittedly I don't pay much attention during ST.

 

As for the 2nd sentence I certainly don't disagree.  But why not just say that?  Especially after the season, there's no competitive advantage to hiding it.  "It seemed like taking that ball to the hand messed with his swing a little bit."  Easy peasy. To specifically say there was no injury, after the player had hinted that there was, still seems off to me.

[mweb08]

Some people don't want to blame injuries for poor performance.

[BobPhelan]

Good thread here: https://x.com/oriole...VUJft8skf32X07Q

So his bat speed also took a hit in the second half.

[glenn__davis]

Some people don't want to blame injuries for poor performance.

 

Sure, but Adley sort of did. Not directly but the "let my body get right" quote or whatever it exactly was I think was certainly meant to imply that he was dealing with some physical ailment(s). I'm fine with that quote.  But then for Elias/Hyde to reiterate afterwards that there was no injury seems to contradict that.

 

Not trying to blow it out of proportion, just a strange sequence of statements to me.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I wonder if there will ever be a time where MLB teams will have to officially disclose injuries to keep gambling interests happy, like the NFL does.

[mikezpen]

Definitely move Mountcastle. Create a package w/him and a couple of minor leaguers and look for a decent SP prospect. Seattle weak at first and only so-so overall w/the bat. But tops in pitching ERA. Maybe they have a minor league mound prospect they w/move.

[BaltBird 24]

Mountcastle is a guy I could see blow up when he's eventually moved elsewhere. Wouldn't be shocked to see a 35-40 HR season from him at some point.

[mikezpen]

Maybe he will. He's had 30-plus before. But he doesn't have a future here w/the kids coming up. Plus there are others more important to extend. We can spare him.

 

You won't get a top dog for him, but U don't want some mediocrity w/a 4.80 ERA, either. We already have one Rogers. Hence, a prospect.