25 replies to this topic

[BSLRoseKatz]

Officially the #7 pick, so let's start the thread now

[BaltBird 24]

More bad luck in 2025.

[Slidemaster]

The universe doesn't want this team to be good.

[BobPhelan]

We had the 7th worst record and are picking 7th, yet I still feel swindled.

[mdrunning]

Seventh is high enough to have another college outfielder fall to us.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Lottery is stupid

[TwentyThirtyFive]

We had the 7th worst record and are picking 7th, yet I still feel swindled.

There is some consolation in this. Under the old rules this is where we wouldve drafted. It takes some of the sting away.

[BSLRoseKatz]

https://www.mlb.com/...-draft-coverage

 

You'll be shocked to learn a new mock draft has them taking a college OF lol

[Slidemaster]

https://www.mlb.com/...-draft-coverage

You'll be shocked to learn a new mock draft has them taking a college OF lol

I look forward to the rise and domination of Heston Kjerstad part 2!

[weird-O]

I think it's awesome that after a protracted rebuild, 3 seasons with a winning record, and zero playoff wins, the O's are back to top 10 draft picks. Come on Heston Cowser!!! 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Was it a protracted rebuild. 3 years. One of which was a Covid shortened year that no one really paid much attention

[weird-O]

And if Covid never happened, they would have been competitive that season? Don't be nitpicky, I can be frustrated too. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

As opposed to what? Trying to win 5 more games those years by signing middling FAs. There was essentially no talent in the org when Elias got here.

[Mackus]

There is a very different vibe winning 70 games in a year than 55, especially in the first half of the year. The tanking was purposeless and atrocious and none of our later success is related to having done so. Could've been just normal bad without hurting anything good that came later. The juice of being bad instead of horrific is definitely worth the minimal squeeze.

If you end up with the #1 pick that's a tangible benefit, but they didnt even tank right, only getting that pick one of four years (fortunately the on field team didn't cooperate with management and the fourth year became a decent season). All the other high picks are basically the same, no meaningful advantage to drafting 3rd instead of 8th, for example. A few more fun late spring and early summer nights certainly outweighs that advantage.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

We really have been through this so many times. I'll never believe winning 70 vs 60 makes any difference.  You mentioned if the team stays somewhat competitive early in the season it makes it better. I wont argue that but a team that ultimately wins 70 or even 75 games ( see 2025) can be buried early. Im of the belief that when you are done investing you are done. I know one thing, when I did tune in during the 2nd half of this past year I was not anymore entertained or happy that they were winning at a higher rate. All they did  was piss me off with their sloppy uninspired play. The wins were still bitter.

[Mackus]

If you go into the season knowing you're gonna be dreadful it's a very different mindset then when you think you'll just be bad. The apathy is the worst. The further from horrendous you are, the longer you delay that apathy. That's why I have no hesitation with selling off hard at the deadline but absolutely zero tolerance for a full season tanking.

[weird-O]

As opposed to what? Trying to win 5 more games those years by signing middling FAs. There was essentially no talent in the org when Elias got here.

You're missing my point. It's not that they tanked to rebuild. Do what you feel like you need to do, to create that steady pipeline of talent and win. My point is that the rebuild should yield better results than being the 7th worst team in the sport, within the same span of time as it took to rebuild.  

[Mackus]

You're missing my point. It's not that they tanked to rebuild. Do what you feel like you need to do, to create that steady pipeline of talent and win. My point is that the rebuild should yield better results than being the 7th worst team in the sport, within the same span of time as it took to rebuild.

Nobody thinks 2025 was acceptable, so I'm sure everyone agrees with your point here, including everyone inside the O's. They made some bad assumptions and got worse than expected performance from what was already here and things bottomed about last year. Was not part of any plan for that to happen. Learn how to fix what you can and try again.

[Slidemaster]

Tanking for young talent doesn't work very well if the talent isn't that talented, or gets actively worse once they make the big leagues.

[Nigel Tufnel]

No draft pick lost for Alonso, since he opted out.