1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: When you have an actual owner, somebody who is serious, 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: unlike the ownership that they had previously, it does add pressure. 3 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 2: And there he is. 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 3: Jacob, Welcome to foul Territory. We appreciate you taking the 5 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 3: time to be with me and aj and Eric and 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 3: you recently wrote an article on the O's woes, saying 7 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 3: is this the Orioles a rock of bottom or is 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 3: it just who they are? 9 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 4: Now? 10 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 3: What did you learn from that piece? 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, listen, it's been a tough start to the season 12 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: for these guys. It's sort of an extension of what 13 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: happened in the second half last year. Inconsistent starting pitching, 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: offense also inconsistent, and really struggling with runners in scoring position. 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: This team has an amount of injuries that makes it 16 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: extremely difficult for them to kind of get over this hump. 17 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: Zach Eflyn, Grayson Rodriguez, a bunch of other starting pitchers, 18 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: Colton Kaowser, Tyler O'Neill. It's hard to overcome those injuries. 19 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: But at the same time, with the way they're playing. 20 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: This past week, outscored something like fifty three to twelve. 21 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: They went one in six. Last Sunday they got blown 22 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: out twenty four to two and then only won one 23 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: game in the next six. It's tough to see them 24 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 1: turning this around, but it is early. They're gonna get 25 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: guys back from injury, and the expected stats offensively do 26 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: suggest that some of these guys are going to start 27 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: to break out. But honestly, they need to tread water 28 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: here in the next couple of weeks so that maybe 29 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 1: by the summertime they can go on a little bit 30 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: of a run. But it looks like they're starting to 31 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: fall behind. 32 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 5: This is when they were supposed to be good. And 33 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 5: don't give me listen. Injuries are injuries, okay, but every 34 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 5: team has them. The Cubs lost Justin Steele, the Dodgers 35 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 5: of don't have Kershaw Glass now Snell. I mean, there's 36 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 5: every team can look at it and say, oh, we 37 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 5: have injuries. What do they need, first of all, to 38 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 5: do to get out of this besides a pitch better 39 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 5: and score more runs, that's the obvious answer. And then 40 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 5: how much of this is on their offseason? We keep 41 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 5: harping on this that they didn't go out and get 42 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 5: them make the moves they needed to make, whether it 43 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 5: was a big arm, a big bat, whatever they need 44 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 5: to do. Trade some of these young guys. So the 45 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 5: question is how do they get out of this? And 46 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 5: how much is this goes back to the off season? 47 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, so how do they get out of this? Honestly, 48 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 1: I don't know. That's probably above my pay grade. I 49 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: think in the short term, like I said, you just 50 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: got to tread water. They got the Yankees coming to 51 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 1: town than Kansas City. The schedule in May gets a 52 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: lot easier. Seven of the eight teams that they play 53 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: in May are are below five hundred right now. But 54 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: what could they have done to avoid this? I think 55 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: you hit the nail on the head there with the 56 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 1: off season. Listen, two things can be true. At the 57 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: same time, this team didn't. The injuries are a major 58 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: factor here, right You mentioned everybody has injuries, but for 59 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: this team, it's tough not to say that a significant 60 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: portion of this pie is the fact that the injuries 61 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: have really taken a toll. At the same time, people 62 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: looked at their off season and said that they needed 63 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: to acquire a starting pitcher who was close to a 64 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: guarantee of being solid, at least somebody that could be reliable. Instead, 65 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: they went out and got two guys on one year contracts. 66 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: One of them has been good in Tomo Sagano, and 67 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: the other one in Charlie Morton, has has a ten 68 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: point three to nine ERA, and so there's all. I 69 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,119 Speaker 1: think the off season discourse was sort of hijacked by 70 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: the quote unquote ace discussion with Corbyn Burns and acquiring 71 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: an ACE, and all of that was fair to an extent, 72 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: because you do need a pitcher like that for the 73 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: most part to go far in the postseason. But for 74 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: this team it was less about an ACE, especially when 75 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: you consider the fact that Corburn Burns seemed almost like 76 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: a certainty that he was going to be out West. 77 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: Instead of an ACE, it was about getting a starting 78 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: pitcher who you could bank on, somebody that was more 79 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: reliable than a forty one year old and somebody coming 80 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: over from Japan, because those one year deals have a 81 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: high have a high rate of missing, and one of 82 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: those guys, it appears, has been a whiff Listen, this 83 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: team is ten and eleven in games not pitched by 84 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: Charlie Morton and their own six when he does pitch. 85 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: So I'm not saying that the only reason that this 86 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: team is struggling right now is Charlie Morton and the rotation. 87 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: It's deeper than that, But what could they have done? 88 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: I think you have to get in a time machine, 89 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: go back in time and maybe invest more in your 90 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: rotation this offseason. 91 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: Have there been answers to that because we've heard rumors 92 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 2: of Sonny Gray was look to be traded to the 93 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: to the oreas we heard what came out about Corbyn Burns, 94 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: you know, getting the huge deal AAV but getting more 95 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 2: over the long term of the contract from the Diamondbacks 96 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 2: and wanting to go out west. Have there been answers 97 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 2: from Michaelias and the ownerships saying, you know what we 98 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 2: did misstep, We're gonna make the difference at the trade deadline. 99 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'd say yes and no. Right, So, like Mike 100 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: has given some information about the dealings with Corbyn Burns. 101 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: You know, the team did offer a four year, one 102 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: hundred and eighty million dollar contract that would have made 103 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: Corbin Burns the highest AAV pitcher in base but that 104 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: was a shorter deal than what he ended up getting 105 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: from Arizona, and the deal from the Diamondbacks did include 106 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: an opt out. And at the same time, it was 107 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: the first offseason with David Rubinstein, and they did spend 108 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: seventy three you know, about seventy three million dollars in 109 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: their payroll, jumped from being bottom five and every year 110 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: under Eliath prior to now being a round league average 111 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: I think fifteenth in baseball. And so they did go 112 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: out and spend money. But it's how they went about 113 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 1: spending money. And in terms of looking at the other 114 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: pitchers who were on the market, I'm not again, I'm 115 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: not talking about the aces right Blake Snell's hurt right now. 116 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 1: The chance that they were going to be able to 117 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: outdid the Yankees on Max Freed was small. There weren't 118 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: really any aces other than Garrett Crochet who were traded. 119 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: But when you look at guys like Nathan Yavaldi, Luis Severino, 120 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 1: Use Kakuchi, Nick Povetta, guys like that, that would have 121 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: made a lot more sense for this team. I'm not 122 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: quite sure why they opted to go for Charlie Morton 123 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: over those guys. Now again, if they had sign one 124 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: of those guys instead of Charlie Morton, where would this 125 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: team be. I don't know, maybe a five hundred team, 126 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: maybe slightly below five hundred. I don't think the the 127 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: I don't think there would be panic among the fan 128 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: base if they had invested more in the rotation this offseason. 129 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: But if they had done that, I still don't think 130 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: that this team would be anywhere near where people expected 131 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: them to be. And that's because of all of these 132 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: other factors, the underperformance of the offense and the injuries. 133 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 2: Jose King Thomas four and oh for the Brewers, like, yeah, 134 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: you can, you can keep going down the list Hindsight's 135 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 2: twenty twenty. But does this seventy three million dollars that 136 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: the new ownership group allowed Mike Mike Elias to spend 137 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 2: put mich Elias on an unnecessary chopping block that he 138 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 2: didn't think he needed to be on because he kind 139 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 2: of maybe punted right now or he didn't he didn't 140 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: do as well to start the season with these with 141 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 2: that seventy three million. 142 00:06:55,360 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, Listen, it's tough to be overly critical of Michaelias, 143 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: his regime and this offseason considering generally speaking, how well 144 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: this front office did at the beginning of the rebuild. 145 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 1: And you can't forget despite the postseason failures, that they 146 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: were the American League's winning his team from twenty twenty 147 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: three through twenty twenty four. With that said, when you 148 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: have an actual owner, somebody who is serious, unlike the 149 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: ownership that they had previously, it does add pressure to 150 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: everybody in the organization, Michael Lias especially, and so is 151 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: David Rubinstein willing to look past a ten and seventeen start? 152 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: Is he willing to look past giving Charlie Morton fifteen 153 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: million dollars for a ten point three to nine ear 154 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: a in April? Is he willing to look past a 155 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: three year, fifty million dollar contract for Tyler O'Neil, who's 156 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: now on the injured list for the fifteenth time in 157 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: his career. In the short term, I think so right. 158 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: But in the medium term, if this lingers throughout the season, 159 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: if they bleeds into next season, if they don't get 160 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: this turned around at some point, if they don't start 161 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: capitalizing on what was perceived to be a championship window, 162 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: then yes, the the onus is on Michaelias, and that 163 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: is when the pressure will start to build. 164 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 4: If you want a razor that looks good, makes you 165 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 4: look good, gets the shave done, and doesn't cost much, 166 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 4: uh oh oh, it is it nice? 167 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 2: That's a hairy john and you can smell it too, 168 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 2: smell it. Oh wow, that's Harry's. That's the shave tel. 169 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: I'm telling you. Look, I mean you. 170 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 6: Look scary man shut fresh coming, coming, come, and I 171 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:43,959 Speaker 6: don't want to touch it. 172 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 4: Looks like German engineered blades made in their own factory 173 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 4: that stays sharp longer. 174 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 6: I'm using the razor and it does not. You can 175 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 6: start to feel when it gets dull. I mean, you 176 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 6: guys only do like here, at like up here. True, 177 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 6: I'm doing acreach. Get the edge on your shave with Harry's. 178 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 6: Normally their trial set is ten dollars, but right now 179 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 6: you can get it for just six dollars at harrys 180 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 6: dot com slash foul. That's our exclusive link, harrys dot 181 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 6: com slash foul for a six dollars trial set. 182 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 5: Okay, So then the question becomes for you and for 183 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 5: everybody that's an Orioles fan. Is Michael oas great at 184 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 5: rebuilding and not great at taking the next step? 185 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:28,719 Speaker 2: Is he? 186 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 5: Because he was never the guy in Houston, he was 187 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 5: the guy under the guy. So is he great at rebuilding? 188 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 5: But maybe he doesn't know how to take? And there's 189 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 5: I don't know, it's just a question that I've seen 190 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 5: in oriole Fans I've talked to say, maybe Elias is 191 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 5: great at getting the prospects, but not great at taking 192 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 5: them to the next level. 193 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, listen, I think that's gonna be something that in 194 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: five to ten years we can look back on and 195 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: answer that question. It is something that goes through my 196 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: head on a consistent basis when I look at this 197 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 1: front office. I think the more important question when I'm 198 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: looking at Michael Ayas in this front office is how 199 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: quick is the learning curve? So let's say that there's 200 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: some partial truth there, which is that Michaelias and Matt 201 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 1: Blood and all of these guys in the front office 202 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: they're great at the rebuilding portion, the scouting, the development, 203 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: the drafting, but maybe they're a little bit behind on 204 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: some of the other aspects of this. The question is 205 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: are they going to be able to learn from the 206 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: mistakes over the past couple of seasons. Are they going 207 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: to be able to learn from this or are they 208 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: going to keep making the same mistakes. I look at 209 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,959 Speaker 1: the rotation or the starting pitching editions that Michaelias has 210 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: made since twenty twenty three. There are some real successes there, 211 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: right they went out and traded for Corbyn Burns for 212 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: a year, and they did give up some prospects, but 213 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: it's not like they gave up a haul to get 214 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: Corbyn Burns, and he was outstanding for them. They made 215 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: the best starting pitching addition at the deadline last season 216 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: when they went out and got Zach Eflin, who I 217 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,079 Speaker 1: believe has a two point seventy five ER with the 218 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: Oriels since that trade. They signed Kyle Gibson in twenty 219 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: twenty and despite the fact that I think he had 220 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: a five ERA, he was important for that team and 221 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: was good. But then you look on the other on 222 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 1: the flip side, they've had some real swings and misses 223 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: when they've tried to acquire starting pitchers. Jack Flaherty at 224 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty three deadline had a seven ERA. You 225 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: look at Charlie Morton ten point three point nine ERA 226 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: right now, and then at the deadline last year, the 227 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: other starting pitching addition they made was Trevor Rodgers. They 228 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: gave up Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers, two guys that 229 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: it didn't exactly have places on the major league roster 230 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 1: in Baltimore, especially Stowurs, but those two guys are playing 231 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: really well in Miami right now. They were MLB ready 232 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: bats when they traded them away, and all they got 233 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: was Trevor Rodgers, who started four games for them last season, 234 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: had a seven ERA and is currently on the injured list. 235 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: So the question for this front office moving forward, and 236 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,079 Speaker 1: something that I'm going to be tracking, is how do 237 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: they let what's happened in the past inform their decisions 238 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: in the future. 239 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 3: Jacob, there seems to be more questions than answers right 240 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 3: now for the O's. But if you're looking at a 241 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 3: silver lining, I just go to the tweet that you 242 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 3: had on X about the schedule upc. You really broke 243 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,679 Speaker 3: it down in terms of the April opponents and what 244 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 3: they have to look forward to, and it seems like 245 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 3: there's a bit of an upswing at least they could 246 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 3: take advantage of the teams in May tell us more. 247 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, like I'm let's I think there's two sides 248 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: of this coin, which is, let's look at the If 249 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: I'm going to be sort of negative or bearish about 250 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: this team, there's a pretty easy case to be made. 251 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: They're ten and seventeen. Their run differential is like negative 252 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: forty At this point, it's just hard to envision the 253 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: rotation getting back on track. And there are some young 254 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: guys who have been struggling over the past, you know, 255 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: five months or so that there's questions about whether they're 256 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: going to turn it around. And they also play in 257 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 1: a pretty competitive division. So that's the bearish case. The 258 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: bullish case is partially this tweet, which is that the 259 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: schedule so far has been difficult. And if you look 260 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 1: at the guys who are going to be returning, presumably 261 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: Zach Eflin will return in May, Colton Kowser in June, 262 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: Grayson Rodriguez in July. Those are not team timelines, to 263 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: be clear, that's just me guessing. And then you look 264 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: at Andrew Kittridge could come back in May or June. 265 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: He was supposed to be a big reliever in that bullpen, 266 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: and then Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells can come back 267 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: second half of the season. There is a case to 268 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: be made here that this team could easily get back 269 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: on track in May. I just think they need to 270 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: get to the point where maybe by the time the 271 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: team gets to June first or even the break, or 272 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: they're five hundred or a little bit above five hundred, 273 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: so that at the deadline they can go out make 274 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: a big splash and then make a push in the 275 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: second half. But the question is they're ten and seventeen. 276 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: Let's say they lose this Yankee series, they're gonna be 277 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: eleven and nineteen. Then they have the Kansas City coming 278 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: to town, a team that they've struggled against, and then 279 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: you're looking at it and the team's really behind the 280 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,199 Speaker 1: eight ball. 281 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 5: Jacob, you mentioned guys struggling. I got to ask, there's 282 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 5: two guys that come to mind. Adley was hurt, so 283 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 5: we'll give him a path. I mean not Athley Gunnar. 284 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:50,719 Speaker 5: Gunner was hurt at the beginning of the year, so 285 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 5: we'll give him a pass to his early struggles. Adley 286 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 5: Rutchman has struggled since the second half of last year. 287 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 5: What's going on there? And then Jackson Holiday is a 288 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:00,439 Speaker 5: guy they brought up. He obviously had huge x mecas 289 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 5: he's still young, but did they rush him to the 290 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,959 Speaker 5: big leagues? I know they sent him back, but did 291 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 5: they rush him by giving him what they gave him? 292 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 2: And does he need more seasoning? 293 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 1: Yeah? So what's funny about this offense which ranks. I 294 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: think bottom ten in baseball and run scored in OPS, 295 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: and the numbers with runners in scoring position is a 296 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: big reason for that. I think they're twenty seventh in 297 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: baseball there and sixth for their last sixty in those situations. 298 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: Those are fickle numbers that you would think would positively 299 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: regress for them across the season, but who knows. On 300 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: an individual basis. What's weird about this team is that 301 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: I'm not really concerned about any of these guys individually 302 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: compared with what I expected them to be. You mentioned Gunner. 303 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: I think he's third in Major League Baseball in average 304 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: exit VELO at like ninety six miles per hour. Gunner's 305 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: going to be fine, Adlee Rushman. I know the baseline 306 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: numbers look like this has been an extension of what 307 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: the second half looked like for him last year. The 308 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: underlying numbers do not suggest that. The underlying show that 309 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: he has been much better at the plate. The plate discipline, 310 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: the chase rate, the ability to put the bat on 311 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: the ball, all of those things have been much better 312 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: for him. I just think that there's been some bad 313 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: luck there. Again, the expected stats for a lot of 314 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: these guys have have been are much better than the 315 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: overall numbers. Jackson Holliday, I'm not too concerned about just 316 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: because I thought in the first half he would be 317 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: about this, which is like a two thirty to two 318 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: to fifty hitter. I think his OPS is in like 319 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: the six to fifty range. I expect him to get 320 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 1: better as the year goes on. I don't think they 321 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: rushed him I don't know what else there was for 322 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: him at Triple A. I do think that it's okay 323 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: if they give him some days off against left handed pitchers, 324 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: especially since Ramona Reus, like low Key under the past year, 325 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: has been one of this team's best hitters, and so 326 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: getting him in the lineup as much as possible is important. 327 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: The really only guys that I think that there's legitimate 328 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: concern about is Tyler O'Neill. He really struggled before he 329 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: went on the IL, and he's always had some injury concerns. 330 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: And then Ryan Mountcastle that the Wall coming in was 331 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: supposed to be a big boost for him. That hasn't 332 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: really been the case yet. That could be something when 333 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: the weather warms up, he could go on a little 334 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: bit of a hot streak. But I think his ops 335 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: right now is like five point fifty, so he's been 336 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: struggling and they really need him to be a thumper 337 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: in the middle of the order. And then just one 338 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: guy I want to talk about that I think is 339 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: sort of forgot here because everything about this team is 340 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: about how bad the rotation is, and that's fair to 341 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: focus on. Colton Kowser is a really important part of 342 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: this team in so many different ways. He makes When 343 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: he's in the outfield, he turns the outfield from being 344 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: a below average defensive outfield er to win above average one. 345 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: When he's in the lineup, he is the guy that 346 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: sees the most pitches per plate appearance of anybody in 347 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: the lineup. He has the pop to hit four, and 348 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: he has the plate discipline to hit leadoff, and also 349 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: just for the vibeshich which aren't great right now, just 350 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: because how could they be great when you've been out 351 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: scored fifty three to twelve in the past week. He's 352 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: somebody that keeps things light and he's an important part 353 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: of this team. And the fact that he's been out 354 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: is pretty It's been evident since he got injured. 355 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 2: Any idea of how soon he's going to be back, 356 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 2: because I haven't heard that. 357 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, we don't know that. The team loves to be 358 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: pretty cag on these things. My mental guess is like 359 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: June ish early June. I think the original timeline was 360 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: eight to ten weeks when he got hurt, which was 361 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,040 Speaker 1: around April first, So I'm expecting some time in June. 362 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 2: All right, Well, let's talk about it's all been doom 363 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 2: and gloom in Baltimore. I get it, they're under five 364 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,680 Speaker 2: hundred team. Is this Cedric mullins last chance with the 365 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 2: Orioles And if they don't turn this around, does he 366 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 2: become a monster trade chip for a team who doesn't 367 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 2: want to trade prospects so they could trade some of 368 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 2: the older guys. 369 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: Yeah. So if Cedric Mullins keeps playing like this, which 370 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 1: is kind of vinted Cedric Mullins twenty twenty one, Cedric 371 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: Mullins when he was a thirty thirty guy, That's the 372 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: way that he played in the first half in twenty 373 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: twenty three when he was this team's best hitter before 374 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 1: he got hurt that year. And it's really the way 375 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: that he played in the second half last year after 376 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: he had a really tough first half. If he can 377 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,199 Speaker 1: keep this together for a full season and return to 378 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 1: the type of guy that he was in twenty twenty one, 379 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: this will almost certainly be his last year in Baltimore 380 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 1: because he's going to price himself out for, you know, 381 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: get himself presumably a four or five year contract, sort 382 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: of like what's Anthony santan dere got, maybe a little 383 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: bit more. Because Cedric Mullins has the ability to play 384 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: a good plus centerfield defense, now is that going to happen? 385 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 1: I do expect some regression here for Cedric Mullins. I 386 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 1: don't think that that's any slight on him at all. 387 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: He's he's just been so outstanding this season. It's a 388 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: little bit surprising considering that we have a three year 389 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 1: sample now from twenty two to twenty four, where he 390 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: was a slightly above league average hitter and a good 391 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: defensive center fielder. A player like that, Let's say he 392 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,679 Speaker 1: regresses back to being that a seven to twenty to 393 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: seven fifty ops guy with good but not elite center 394 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: field defense, at least what the metrics would show. If 395 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: he ends up being that, then I think that there's 396 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: a possibility that this team looks at this and says, hey, 397 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: this is an important piece for us. We don't necessarily 398 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: have the prospects and the miners who are ready yet. 399 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: Enrique Bradfield advance, honeycut. You know those guys aren't exactly 400 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: ready to be every day center fielders that they won't 401 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: be next year. Could the Oilers look at that and say, Okay, 402 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: Cedric Mullins is worth a two year deal? And is 403 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: that possible for Mullens to take something like that. I 404 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: think that that could be within the runner of possibility 405 00:19:24,840 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: if he ends up being what he's been the past 406 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 1: three years. But if he stays this hot, I think 407 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: he's going to price himself out of Baltimore. To your 408 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: second question, could they trade him at the deadline? Man 409 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: Oriols fans are close to riding right now, and if 410 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: that happened, I think Oorals Twitter would probably burn to 411 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 1: the ground. I would not rule anything out because of 412 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 1: how shrewd this front office is. If they get to 413 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: the point where they conclude that they have no chance 414 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: of making the postseason, would they trade Cedric Mullins potentially? 415 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: Remember in twenty twenty two, when they were still quote 416 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: unquote rebuilding, they were a couple of games back of 417 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: a wild card spot, and they traded Jorge Lopez and 418 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 1: Trey Mancini, and those trades worked out really well for 419 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: them and got them important pitching prospects, but that did 420 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: hinder their chances of making the playoffs that season. And 421 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: then what did we see the next year? We saw 422 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,360 Speaker 1: the Arizona Diamondbacks in a similar position, had just come 423 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: off or rebuild. They acquire guys at the deadline, and 424 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: then they go on a surprise World Series run. So 425 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 1: nothing would ever surprise me with this team, but I 426 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: would be a little bit surprised if they had the 427 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: trade that Tedrick Comunt was at the deadline. 428 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:28,959 Speaker 3: A lot to keep our eye on, for sure, Jacob 429 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 3: great information is always incredibly prepared. We appreciate you being 430 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 3: a part of foul territory today. You can catch him 431 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 3: on Jake Calvin Meyer on X and you can read 432 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 3: him in the Baltimore Sun.