42 replies to this topic

[Slidemaster]

Cowser has gotten worse each year he's in the majors. Mayo is a never was.

Elias always was lauded for his drafting and developing, but I'm really starting to wonder why.

[bmore_ken]

A look at the slash lines of this"fearsome foursome":

Bassallo .140/.243/.533 3 HR

Beavers. .230/.310/.610 1 HR

Mayo. .157/.259/.455 0 HR

Cowser. .178/.269/.469 0 HR

YOUCH!!!!

[ivanbalt]

Cowser has gotten worse each year he's in the majors. Mayo is a never was.

Elias always was lauded for his drafting and developing, but I'm really starting to wonder why.

Elias has built a core that can't field, can't run the bases, can't hit for avg, can't get on base, and apparently can't even hit for power.

[jamesdean]

YOUCH!!!!

Somewhere in the world, Mario Mendoza is thinking to himself, "Damn! I was actually a decent hitter after all!"

[Mackus]

One hope with Cowser is that even in 2024 when he was good he was more of a fringe hitter much of the time with a few hot streaks worked in.  The end result was an above average bat.  He had a 1200 OPS his first 60 PA, 600 OPS his next 230 until the All-Star Break, 1000 OPS over his first 100 PA after the break, and then 700 OPS over the final 175 PA to end the season.  

 

Last season he really didn't have any hot streaks.  He had a 850 OPS over 80 PA shortly after returning from his broken thumb but was pretty much a blah 600 OPS hitter the next 3 months.  From July on he never even really had two good games in a row yet alone a couple weeks of feeling it.  I can cherry pick one good week where he had a 1200 OPS over 27 PA but that's it.

 

Don't think I actually currently believe that he's got a hot streak pending or even in him right now, but if we're looking for straws to grasp at, that's one.

 

On the other hand, if you look at the two 2024 hot streaks more like Jorge Mateo's hot streaks were, then its pretty easy to point to those as the outliers that shouldn't be expected to recur and his abilities otherwise as being dreadful.  

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Cowser maybe has sacraficed hard contact for more contact in general. Though he still seems to swing and miss against really good stuff guys. But he has 1 XBH on the year. I know he has had at least 2 infield hits as well. Feels like hes tried everything. He just cant pick up and read spin.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I also think its fair to wonder if the Os have a flaw in their org hitting philosophy. They whiff a lot as a group. Not just strikeout but swing and miss in general. Again, any kind of contact seems like a big issue.

[mikezpen]

Must be spreading to those from other organizations. Alonso was swinging at balls clearly a foot outside the other day.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

We need to track prospects once they leave the org.

- Ortiz was never expected to be much of a bat and has struggled offensively after a good rookie year

-Stowers we know had a breakout year last year. Just starting his 2026 season

-Norby has been a league avg hitter since getting to Miami


Dont think Im really missing anyone else. Can also keep track of any minor league players we moved if and when they get to the show.

[CantonJester]

Cowser should be sent down to work on his approach at the plate. I’d also consider sending Basallo down as well, but I wouldn’t want him being the primary catcher. Basallo is basically a liability behind the plate, but it’s more important he becomes a plus hitter and a serviceable C. So get him starting ABs as a DH and be the BUC in Rochester. Once his bat has ‘arrived’, you can worry about improving his game behind the plate. It’s just uglier now cuz Adley’s out (his return this week will mitigate Basallo’s play behind the plate)…

 

Beavers is what he is. Let him get ABs at the big league level. Mayo should be sent down once Westburg gets back (whenever that might be). 

[BobPhelan]

Other than popping up too much Basallo may be the unluckiest hitter in baseball so far this season. .135 BABIP despite a 85th percentile average exit velocity, 60th percentile barrel%, and 65th percentile hard hit %. He has more than doubled his walk rate, K rate and ISO are basically the same as his first taste in the majors last year.

 

Other than letting that get in his head, not worried. 

 

Beavers - feels like traditional first full season adjustment

 

Mayo - Playing good defense at least, taking walks. Still think there's time

 

Cowser - Wouldn't hate an option at some point if this continues to give him a reset. EBJ is hitting the ball a lot harder this season, think he'll be up over the summer.

[Mike B]

Beavers is just near unplayable in the OF

The problem is he is still better than TON, and Ward.  

[Mike B]

Other than popping up too much Basallo may be the unluckiest hitter in baseball so far this season. .135 BABIP despite a 85th percentile average exit velocity, 60th percentile barrel%, and 65th percentile hard hit %. He has more than doubled his walk rate, K rate and ISO are basically the same as his first taste in the majors last year.

 

Other than letting that get in his head, not worried. 

 

Beavers - feels like traditional first full season adjustment

 

Mayo - Playing good defense at least, taking walks. Still think there's time

 

Cowser - Wouldn't hate an option at some point if this continues to give him a reset. EBJ is hitting the ball a lot harder this season, think he'll be up over the summer.

I have defended Cowser, but I am now of the thinking he needs to spend time at Norfolk and maybe Mayo should catch a ride with him.

[weird-O]

Beavers seems alright as the 4th OFer. Traditionally, you'd prefer someone with a better glove. But he hits and fields adequately enough to hold that bench role. I think Phelan is right. He's just experiencing the give and take of the league making adjustments against him.   

 

With Mayo, you just have to make a decision. You either stick with him and the growing pains, or you move on. He's not going to learn anything in the minors. The part of me that wants an Orioles team that can make a deep playoff run, wants to move on. The part of me that doubts that can happen, wants to stick with him. 

 

Basallo is adjusting to life in MLB. 

 

Cowser...I got nothin' He's 26, he's not a kid and he has enough games under his belt. This is who he is. He flashed a couple of years ago, he can carry those memories with him for the rest of his life. There are countless players that never achieved that much. And the Holstein O's hats were fun. If the O's want to demote Beavers and let Cowser be the bench guy, that's fine. But he isn't a MLB caliber hitter, and shouldn't be starting games.  

[russsnyder]

Other than popping up too much Basallo may be the unluckiest hitter in baseball so far this season. .135 BABIP despite a 85th percentile average exit velocity, 60th percentile barrel%, and 65th percentile hard hit %. He has more than doubled his walk rate, K rate and ISO are basically the same as his first taste in the majors last year.

Other than letting that get in his head, not worried.

Beavers - feels like traditional first full season adjustment

Mayo - Playing good defense at least, taking walks. Still think there's time

Cowser - Wouldn't hate an option at some point if this continues to give him a reset. EBJ is hitting the ball a lot harder this season, think he'll be up over the summer.

Yeah, Bassallo needs to get ABs as long as He's not losing confidence.

I agree with you on Beavers, besides, who is replacing him?

I'm ok with Mayo being optioned. I just don't think he can hit MLB pitching. However, I see the big picture and I'm ok if he sticks around until Holliday gets back.

Cowser may be the best candidate for a trip to Norfolk, but who is the # 2 CF if He's optioned? I guess EBJ would be called up.

[Mike B]

Beavers seems alright as the 4th OFer. Traditionally, you'd prefer someone with a better glove. But he hits and fields adequately enough to hold that bench role. I think Phelan is right. He's just experiencing the give and take of the league making adjustments against him.   

 

With Mayo, you just have to make a decision. You either stick with him and the growing pains, or you move on. He's not going to learn anything in the minors. The part of me that wants an Orioles team that can make a deep playoff run, wants to move on. The part of me that doubts that can happen, wants to stick with him. 

 

Basallo is adjusting to life in MLB. 

 

Cowser...I got nothin' He's 26, he's not a kid and he has enough games under his belt. This is who he is. He flashed a couple of years ago, he can carry those memories with him for the rest of his life. There are countless players that never achieved that much. And the Holstein O's hats were fun. If the O's want to demote Beavers and let Cowser be the bench guy, that's fine. But he isn't a MLB caliber hitter, and shouldn't be starting games.  

I agree with most of this but I am not down on Cowser as much as others.  MLB baseball is tough, and I think Cowser is all tied up in his own mind.  He is getting eaten up by off speed stuff.  Send him down, let him work on things and maybe mentally relax.  He is still our best defensive outfielder so we need him to figure it out.  

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I agree with most of this but I am not down on Cowser as much as others. MLB baseball is tough, and I think Cowser is all tied up in his own mind. He is getting eaten up by off speed stuff. Send him down, let him work on things and maybe mentally relax. He is still our best defensive outfielder so we need him to figure it out.

He a lost cause offensively. Hes that lost against secondaries. And hes not even hitting enough of the few fastballs he gets. Hes not young. Hes got to have close to 1000 MLB PA at this point. Id have him be the 4th OF for now, but hes the OF Id send down when they are ready to call up EBJ

[weird-O]

I agree with most of this but I am not down on Cowser as much as others.  MLB baseball is tough, and I think Cowser is all tied up in his own mind.  He is getting eaten up by off speed stuff.  Send him down, let him work on things and maybe mentally relax.  He is still our best defensive outfielder so we need him to figure it out.  

I have 2 points on why I no longer believe in Cowser

 

1) He's having the same results as last season. Obviously he was dealing with injuries in '25. But he was getting chewed up with off speed/breaking balls when he played. The fact that he's not adjusting against that, suggests he may not be able to.  

 

2) If he's sent down, he'll just be facing watered down pitching. It may boost his self respect, but I question how much it will help him.  

[weird-O]

He a lost cause offensively. Hes that lost against secondaries. And hes not even hitting enough of the few fastballs he gets. Hes not young. Hes got to have close to 1000 MLB PA at this point. Id have him be the 4th OF for now, but hes the OF Id send down when they are ready to call up EBJ

1052 PAs, as of today

[TwentyThirtyFive]

He knows its the MLB pitching he cant hit. Sure, he will see a lot of secondaries in AAA too. Iwould expect he would walk a lot down there but his pure BA might not be that good. I legit think hes helpless against secondary pitches.