10 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

What is the roster going to look like a month from now? Obviously you don’t know what additional injuries may occur. However, without further injuries, the roster I hope to see is:

Hammel, Chen, Matusz, Arrieta, Britton
Johnson, Strop, Lindstrom, Ayala, O’Day, Patton, Hunter

Roberts 2nd
Reimold LF
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Hardy SS
Reynolds 3rd
Davis 1st
Betemit DH

Paulino, Andino, Tolleson, Johnson

Thoughts:
A) I would not anticipate Roberts playing more than 4 times a week between 2nd and DH. Andino would continue to get time at 2nd, and with Tolleson would be a defensive replacement for Reynolds at 3rd.

B) A returning Britton would force Hunter to the pen. With Pomeranz’s injury, the bullpen becomes easier to project. You could look at things as Lindstrom replacing Gregg, and Hunter replacing Eveland. I think both would be upgrades, even with Gregg pitching better in recent weeks.

C) Reimold returning to the everyday lineup a month from now is certainly a question. If it happens, Avery goes back to AAA to play everyday. If you had the roster availability, I would not be totally opposed to Avery staying, even if Reimold was starting in LF. Doing what is best for the individual player changes a bit if the team itself is trying to win. I could picture Avery making sense off the bench as a PR, and defensive replacement in LF. Ultimately though, if Reimold gets back, the roster is going to be very crunched.

You will note that in addition to sending Avery back to Norfolk, I also do not have Flaherty on the roster. I’m not losing Johnson, because I’m tied to having Flaherty stay on the roster as a Rule V pick. Andino is obviously not leaving the roster in any form. So, if you did not work a trade for Flaherty, it would be at the expense of Tolleson. Both can play 2nd, 3rd, SS, and LF. I think Tolleson has a better bat. Getting compensation back to the Cubs, which allows you to put Flaherty back at AAA makes the most sense.

D) While I have Reynolds at 3rd above as what I would like to see, I do not believe the O’s agree. I’ll be surprised to see Reynolds play 3rd with regularity for the O’s again. I think you could live with Reynolds starting there, knowing you have multiple defensive replacements available.

[waroriole]

Here are the regulars:

C- Wieters
2B- Roberts (about 2/3 - 3/4 of the time)
SS- Hardy
CF- Jones
LF- Reimold or Avery
RF- Markakis

1B/3B/DH:

Andino (only 3B), Betemit, Davis, Reynolds, Johnson.

Non regular, bench guys:

Paulino, Flaherty

1. If Reimold is still injured (which I think he will be), Flaherty and Johnson stay with the team. If Reimold comes back, one of those two are gone.

2. Chavez may not be returning at all. I think that is tied up into what Avery continues to do.

3. I agree with Chris that Andino will be a super UTIL guy. Assuming 7 games a week, he starts twice at 2B, 2-3 times at 3B, and every other week at SS. Maybe Hardy gets a DH start some, especially if his shoulder is still "barking."

4. Chris, I notice that you don't have either Avery or Chavez on the roster. I would think that one of them have to be here to back up CF.

[BSLChrisStoner]

4. Chris, I notice that you don't have either Avery or Chavez on the roster. I would think that one of them have to be here to back up CF.

Even with Avery being a phone call away, you are probably right. Certainly a roster crunch coming. More so if Reimold does return, Chavez is brought back, and the O's don't gain the ability to send Flaherty to AAA.

Going to be very interesting to see how it shakes out.

[Andrew_G]

I agree that Reynold's days at third are over, and I think they need to be completely finished, too. It's a tricky corner the O's are backed into, though. The absolute ideal positions for these guys are:

Roberts: part time 2B/DH
Reynolds: 1B/DH
Johnson: 1B/DH
Davis: 1B/DH
Betemit: 1B/DH
Andino: 2B/3B
Tolleson: 1B/3B
Flaherty: whereever

Not a great situation. You either need to have Andino/Tolleson as the 3B starter (with Roberts/Andino at 2B) and then somehow get 4 guys into 2 positions, plus Roberts DHing, or sacrifice your defensive value. That leaves a weak 3B offensively, and we're still not sure what's left in Roberts' tank, or how well Davis and Johnson are going to hit moving forward. And Flaherty, as you allude to, doesn't look like much of a major leaguer right now.

Tricky.

I guess my plan A is: Andino at 3B, Roberts at 2B, Reynolds DHing, and Johnson/Davis platooning at 1B. Not sure how to fit in Betemit, but I am glad Buck seems a lot better at this kind of thing than the average manager.

[JeffLong]

I think the following guys should be locks for the roster:

C Wieters
1B Davis
SS Hardy
RF Markakis
CF Jones

Unfortunately, I don't think Davis is a lock as Johnson or Reynolds could see time at 1B. Davis, for the first time in his career has gotten full-time ABs and has rewarded us with a triple slash of .305/.339/.513. His fielding and baserunning are improved and he's .1 fWAR away from tying a career high (through just 40 games).

Other guys who should be starting:

2B Roberts
3B Andino
DH Reynolds
LF Reimold

Guys I'd like to see on the bench:

OF Avery
IF Tolleson
IF Betemit

Guys I'd like to see traded/released:

Nick Johnson
Kevin Gregg
Wilson Betemit?!?!

Guys in AAA hopefully:

Ryan Flaherty
Endy Chavez

[waroriole]

As far as pitching goes:

Hammell
Chen
Britton
Matusz
Arrieta

JJ
Strop
Ayala
O'Day
Lindstrom
Pomeranz
Hunter

1. We probably won't go with all those guys in the bullpen, but I think that is our best group. Very likely to see a LHP and Gregg. I hope we can move Gregg, and I hope that D&B don't have any hang ups about no LHP in the bullpen.

2. I think it's possible--depending on if we continue our current pace--that we go outside the org. for a SP. Oswalt is probably unlikely, but I could see DD making a move early in the deadline season.

[FlavaDave10]

What is the roster going to look like a month from now? Obviously you don’t know what additional injuries may occur. However, without further injuries, the roster I hope to see is:

Hammel, Chen, Matusz, Arrieta, Britton
Johnson, Strop, Lindstrom, Ayala, O’Day, Patton, Hunter

Roberts 2nd
Reimold LF
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Hardy SS
Reynolds 3rd
Davis 1st
Betemit DH

Paulino, Andino, Tolleson, Johnson

Thoughts:
A) I would not anticipate Roberts playing more than 4 times a week between 2nd and DH. Andino would continue to get time at 2nd, and with Tolleson would be a defensive replacement for Reynolds at 3rd.

B) A returning Britton would force Hunter to the pen. With Pomeranz’s injury, the bullpen becomes easier to project. You could look at things as Lindstrom replacing Gregg, and Hunter replacing Eveland. I think both would be upgrades, even with Gregg pitching better in recent weeks.

C) Reimold returning to the everyday lineup a month from now is certainly a question. If it happens, Avery goes back to AAA to play everyday. If you had the roster availability, I would not be totally opposed to Avery staying, even if Reimold was starting in LF. Doing what is best for the individual player changes a bit if the team itself is trying to win. I could picture Avery making sense off the bench as a PR, and defensive replacement in LF. Ultimately though, if Reimold gets back, the roster is going to be very crunched.

You will note that in addition to sending Avery back to Norfolk, I also do not have Flaherty on the roster. I’m not losing Johnson, because I’m tied to having Flaherty stay on the roster as a Rule V pick. Andino is obviously not leaving the roster in any form. So, if you did not work a trade for Flaherty, it would be at the expense of Tolleson. Both can play 2nd, 3rd, SS, and LF. I think Tolleson has a better bat. Getting compensation back to the Cubs, which allows you to put Flaherty back at AAA makes the most sense.

D) While I have Reynolds at 3rd above as what I would like to see, I do not believe the O’s agree. I’ll be surprised to see Reynolds play 3rd with regularity for the O’s again. I think you could live with Reynolds starting there, knowing you have multiple defensive replacements available.

I'd keep an extra outfielder around because lord knows Reimold can't stay healthy. Replace Chavez with Tolleson. I'd be OK with losing Flaherty. He hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire. His ceiling appears to be right around what Wilson Betmeit is now anyway: a super utility guy.

[Andrew_G]

I'd be interested to hear what acceptable compensation for Flaherty might be. Would L.J. Hoes be too much from the O's perspective, or not enough from the Cubs perspective?

[FlavaDave10]

I'd be interested to hear what acceptable compensation for Flaherty might be. Would L.J. Hoes be too much from the O's perspective, or not enough from the Cubs perspective?

Too much from the O's perspective. The Cubs would be getting a fringe prospect at best.

[Oriole85]

What is the roster going to look like a month from now? Obviously you don’t know what additional injuries may occur. However, without further injuries, the roster I hope to see is:

Hammel, Chen, Matusz, Arrieta, Britton
Johnson, Strop, Lindstrom, Ayala, O’Day, Patton, Hunter

Roberts 2nd
Reimold LF
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Hardy SS
Reynolds 3rd
Davis 1st
Betemit DH

Given the extent of Reimold's injury(in addition to him not be able to stay healthy), I'd be surprised to him here. I have serious reservations, if Avery can stick as an everyday player. If he proves too be somewhat viable, I think he'll continue to get playing time. And as we've previously discussed if he looks very viable, given Reimold's age/injury history, he probably should get playing time ahead of him.

With the way that lineup is constructed, I agree with B-Rob leading off. However does Andino bounce back? I think all things being equal, you go with the younger player in Andino (my guess is the opposite is true with Buck though). I am not sure B-Rob is an upgrade from Andino at 2B defensively at this point. I know they'll be a lot of sentimentality to just hand B-Rob his job back and if we're out of the race by then, I won't mind that so much, if we're playing to win, I want the best team on the field, regardless if that's pushing B-Rob aside. That being said, it will be great when B-Rob is up in Baltimore and I would love to see him contribute.

I recall I big concern at the beginning of the season was how long Davis would last at 1B. He had a strong start but has been a bit disappointing recently. His raw power is unmatched only by Reynolds and he should continue to prove his worth for the time being. I'm not so sure he's still playing everyday a month or so from now.

I like the lineup construction but I must say that's one K-prone lineup at the bottom of it.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I recall I big concern at the beginning of the season was how long Davis would last at 1B. He had a strong start but has been a bit disappointing recently. His raw power is unmatched only by Reynolds and he should continue to prove his worth for the time being. I'm not so sure he's still playing everyday a month or so from now.

We can discuss this more in the Davis thread (http://baltimorespor...c.php?f=3&t=362), but this is not accurate.

He has hits in 8 of his last 10 games, including 6 multi-hit games. He also has 3 homers, and a double in that stretch, pushing his OPS back over .850. Obviously his walks (7) to k's (44) remains an issue.