Minor Monday: Rutschman keeps focus on present

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• "Adley Rutschman has managed to ignore the outside noise." ..... uh right.

  'We’ve got to play them one day at a time. I’m just happy to be here. Hope I can help the ball club. I just want to give it my best shot, and the good Lord willing, things will work out.

  • Hysterical & true…go O’s…

• It's going to be interesting to see if the Orioles do indeed get a shot at selecting Elijah Green.

  I'd say their chances are pretty good--they have 19 games left to play; 3 against the NYY, 6 against Boston, 3 against Tor, 4 against Texas and 3 against the Phillies. Most of those games have real meaning for their opponents..

  I know it is way early here but, if they do have to ability to Draft Elijah Green will they? He will likely command absolute Top Dollar, has the ability to play College Ball at Miami, and may even have Boras as his Advisor. Elias will not be "drafting under slot value" with this fellow.

  If you are Elijah Green would you want to play for the Orioles? The answer may surprise you---I believe that he would relish the opportunity to play w the young group of players coming-up through the System at this time.

  Wishing you all a non-tortured day of Orioles watching, they are off you know..

  • Just because I love this topic of whom the O's should pick at 1:1 or 1:2, here's a link (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CRtv1fP4mDlXy7GrWn6iduN5u6tVUt9i-O9-H4lT_f0/edit#gid=1949220356) to a Top Prospects list developed by Mason McRae, who's really great at his evaluations. Elijah Green isn't even in the Top 3 prospects.

    • Tremendous spread sheet!

      Wow.

  • Very interesting name at #25 on that list.

  • Rocker was taken with the 10th pick by the Mets. As far as I know he hasn’t signed because he wanted more money. Seeing as he’s now, according to that list, the 25th ranked prospect, I’d love to hear the conversations he and his agent are having.

    • Rocker had an "elbow issue" come up in medical exams. I was not revealed prior to the draft. The Mets apparently were concerned enough to not pay the price Boras was asking. That's what I remember from the news stories in a nutshell.

  • Ex-agent?…any truth to him not passing a physical?….go O’s…

  • Don't know much about yet to be drafted players but the top choice will go to the highest bidder even if it means playing college ball or sitting out a year.

• The only reason he hasn't been called up is that Austin Wynns’ bat is tearing up the league, so Elias feels it’s not necessary !

  • I must have missed that.

• Adley will be up early next year. Same with Rodriguez. And the future outfielders are looking good. Stewart better figure it out quickly. With all the guys that need to be protected against the rule five he’s very expandable particularly with guys like Stowers start to show that they could be pieces of the future. Watson looks like he could be something too. And where all the fans complaining about under slot to Cowser? He’s showing he’s the real deal. He’s got more walks then strikeouts. And he’s been driving in runs as well which shows he can slow down the game when it matters most.

  • ...starting think that Cowser and Norby may be the best two players taken in this year's draft.

    • Agreed. And it’s not just those two. All of the hitters we drafted are hitters. This is the main reason i think Elias loves drafting college hitters. He knows for the most part there more advanced and are more likely to move quicker than a high schooler.

      • I agree also, but next year if you can draft Green 1st you do it and do not underslot it. Then draft the best pitchers out there, after that! Until we get better pitching this rebuild will never end.

      • --contrary to some of our unhappy/disgruntled friends on this terrific page, I have full confidence in Mike Elias. He KNOWS how to to spot talent, he KNOWS how to develop talent, he is SMART, and he has a PLAN.

        Remember this; as bad as we thought this Franchise was before Mike's arrival--it was way worse than that... we are suffering the full-on consequences of years of benign neglect. I will leave it at that for today's purposes.

        The future is bright for this team. Am not sure at all that the future is quite so bright for Baltimore Baseball...

        • Mike, attempting to clarify here. Do you mean that the future may not be as bright for the Orioles playing in Baltimore or that our site's future is not bright?

        • Define "years of benign neglect" .... Nevermind, I understand what you're saying. However I would spin that to "actively trying to win some baseball games".

          I propose to you that so far under Elias, we've suffered 3 years of benign neglect. At this point, I'm simply hoping this turd of a GM doesn't intend on stretching that number to 4. Wouldn't surprise me one bit.

          One more note BC, I agree with you in that this team may not be long for Charm City. I feel as this whole charade the past 3 years is an end game to sell the team.

  • Orioles 20, neither Stowers nor Watson has to be protected this year. More on this subject tomorrow morning.

    • I saw that it’s a lot of pitchers that need to be protected. I would imagine the the orioles would try to keep as many of those guys as possible. Which is I mentioned Stewart who’s on the cusp of being passed. Lots of fringe guys might lose their forty man roster spot.

    • Hi Rich,

      Not looking to stir-up "bad old feelings" here, but I think that there is a more than small chance that Baltimore City will not be an ideal location for an MLB Team over the next 20+ years... there are some powerful forces in-play that lead me to believe this. I could go on, but I will not today. We have the whole off-season for this. Also know well that this is a highly emotional topic, filled with strong opinions.

      I also want to compliment you Rich for the manner and style to which you have built this Site...it is my favorite place to learn and catch-up with all things Orioles.. well done Sir.

      BC

      • Thank you, Mike.

  • O's20, I know it's just a fortuitous typo, but the notion of DJ being more "expandable" than he is just pops
    my buttons.:)

  • I must have missed that.

• Obviously Diaz will not be called up. How much longer will they keep him on the 40man. The hitting looks promising a few starting pitchers possibly but zero bullpen without the two boys spending money on relief help

  • Diaz still has 2 more years he can be optioned. So I can’t see the Orioles removing him from the roster and exposing him to waivers. Still only 24 and not that far removed from being a top prospect. Hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Think of it this way. If Diaz was on another team and put on waivers, does anyone doubt Elias would put in a claim, like he did with Mateo. Diaz will still be with the Orioles in Spring Training, assuming there is a Spring Training

  • What a disappointment so far as most of the guys we got in the garage sale. I wonder how young healthy guys like Diaz and Harvey get injured so easily

    • They do have one important thing in common--they each play like they don't need the money....I am convinced that each of these guys --from very different backgrounds, share a lack of fire, grit and desire to excel in this great game. They are weak-minded.

  • Diaz has had many injuries and setbacks since joining this organization and I am sure management has recognized that , however I would only give him one more year to prove his talents at AAA. If he again doesn’t produce as his talent suggests then maybe include him in a trade package or place him on waivers. There seems to be a plentiful amount of young talent as far as outfielders go in the system. I would venture to say that DJ Stewart may get released in the off season or traded.

    • Why would DJ Stewart get released? He's not eligible for arbitration, and as I explained today, without Diaz as a candidate, there aren't any outfielders pressing him for a spot.

      He could certainly get traded because I think if the DH is adopted in the National League for next season in the new CBA, he could be valuable as a left-handed power DH.

      The Orioles certainly could sign for or trade for a veteran outfielder while they wait for Robert Neustrom, Kyle Stowers and others, but there's no reason to cut ties with DJ.

  • Hello Rich
    It would be better to trade DJ and maybe another to pick up someone to help in other other areas. But I disagree and think that with McKenna, Hays, Mullins and Santander that the O’s can give Neustrom a shot at the 5th outfield spot.

• So I’m gonna step in it here a little bit. As an old timer I’ve been a bit critical of Mr. Elias in regards to making no effort to help the parent club while building up the “pipeline”. Many on here rave about the O’s having the “#1 rated farm system”. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a good thing, but here’s the deal. I think ANYONE who thinks in 2-3 years all these guys tearing it up in the minors are gonna be doing the same in MLB, you are woefully mistaken. It just doesn’t happen like that. There is ZERO comparison between MiLB and MLB. Among all these players in the “#1 rated farm system”, if even 3 become All-Stars that would be surprising.
  I’m simply saying they’re gonna need FA help to become great and I’m skeptical the Angelos’ will do that, considering what happened with CD and also the financial outlay they’ll need to keep some of the guys that do become great, if that happens. I’m crossing my fingers for a brighter future but not seeing it without help coming in the form of FAs.

  • DLG,

    Your points are well-taken.

    I do believe that a good number of the players currently and soon-to-be in the System will turn out to be excellent players---many more than we see on the current horizon.

    FA's will come into play when getting will make a difference on the 26 Man Roster.

    All of this of course, is contingent on the Brothers holding-up their end of the deal w Elias & Company...which is; 1) give us the leeway to remake this team from top to bottom, 2) stay-out-of-the-way, and 3) pay up when we ask for additional resources down the road.

    They have done the first two very well, let's see if they pay up when they need to.

    I do not believe that they are in this to win. I DO believe that they are looking to sell the team at the right time for a helluva payout to themselves.. A vibrant System will add a lot of value to the price of the Franchise.

    • To me the question is - WHO do they sell to? If it is a consortium of people committed to Baltimore (with perhaps Cal as member) - GREAT!
      But there are waaay too many deep-pocketed folks in other places that are hungry for chance to scoop up a weak franchise.
      Abandoning the major-league team on the field for the last 3 years -- along with covid-- has only worked to anger and damage the fan base. I believe the 4000+ attandance game last week was THE WORST attended MLB game this year.
      And the business side of the team doesn't seem to have a clue.
      Waiting 3-4-5 years for a 'consistently winning team" isn't going to wash.

    • So, you are 100% sure that PA's minority partners don't have right of 1st refusal for any sale; that MLB would approve a sale that allows a new owner move the team to another city; that MASN could be sold off in pieces and somehow be worth more than the O's and Nats' rights combined?

      The sad reality is the brothers cannot sell the team to anyone until their father passes away - capital gains taxes would be ginormous compared to estate taxes. Also, PA has controlling interest, not sole interest. PA sued MLB and the case is not settled yet; the owners will not approve a sale if it benefits PA or his heirs more then them.

      • Phil770

        I am not 100% sure of ANYTHING in this world, let alone the world of Billionaire owners and their world.

        You're also right about Mr. Angelos's status as being the majority owner.

        I think we can agree on some things though;

        - MLB goes out-of-their-way to screw the Orioles and their owners every chance they can--there is no love lost between this POS Commissioner and the Orioles Franchise

        - The MASN contract w the Nats must be resolved before anything could ever happen

        - Baltimore is not the idyllic place to be the home of the Orioles at OPACY like it was beginning in 1992. (Don't hate on me...I love the place and have spent 100's of games there, but is has some terrible and limiting flaws with its bandbox dimensions and constant rain delays)

        - the Baltimore Business Community is a shell of its former self--no Legg Mason, no USF&G, no BGE, no Alex Brown, no MNC, no F&D, etc--you get the picture. The Inner Harbor is a desolate and dangerous place--likewise Harbor Place. I find it to be a DISGRACE that the Orioles lead sponsor is a heavily promoted Draft Kings Gambling Syndicate....really??? Baltimore has become a de facto Bedroom Community for D.C.

        Other than these things, I don't have any strong feelings about this stuff.....

        • BC, Looking at a 20 year horizon is even more difficult to project than the world in which billionaires live and operate. You have laid out a scenario that notes the importance of establishing the downtown ecosystem. Inner Harbor, Convention Centet, Downtown arena, Orioles Park, close by restaurants, hotels. OPACY will get renewed and refreshed within the next five years. The Inner Harbor and Harbor Place is integral to attracting convention business. There will be more public-private partnerships to fund all of this, making the somewhat bleak outlook you offer less so. To your 1st point, MLB will not allow the O's to move, especially if it benefits PA and his heirs.

        • BC - I agree with you regarding your first and second points that MLB goes out-of-their-way to screw the Orioles. You can times this by a bazillion. Starting with their back-handed way regarding the MASN conflict and the All_Star game or lack there of. MLB tried to use a 3 team panel to officiate the conflict with their attorneys also being/representing the Nationals has to be blatantly obvious!!! I couldn't believe the Supreme Court couldn't do more then just agreeing with the Orioles but sending them back into that hornets nest to resolve. And second taking away the Orioles from having the All-Star game at Camden Yards which would have brought in huge funds for the Orioles has to be a close second and again pretty obvious ploy by MLB.
          However, your point regarding that Baltimore is not the idyllic place to be the home of the Orioles at OPACY is up for debate. I'm not saying the brothers Angelos and their minority share wouldn't sell the Orioles for a major profit because they could and if MLB restricted that the buyer to stay in Baltimore would also benefit them as well. Hear me out. Selling the team to a multi multi multi -billion dollar owner, someone say like Stan Kronke would be huge!!! He and his wife are both loaded with more $$$$ than any other owner in sports today. He also owns the Los Angeles Rams, Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets. He's the one that helped the Rams move back home and helped build their brand new beautiful stadium and surrounding businesses . He's the one that bought out the old, not used anymore horse race track in the suburbs of LA and some surrounding areas to build this new stadium. He could do the same by buying the Orioles then buying the majority surrounding areas of Baltimore like he did in LA which real estate prices could be so enticing to him that this could be his next major project and nest egg! Just a thought, for him or someone like him!!!! MLB would now be dealing with a new owner which would be good for MLB. He would revitalize the city of Baltimore, by buying the surrounding areas and bringing major company's back to the city. He could work with the city to help make this happen and the city would love him for it. He definitely has the funds to do so, which he proved so in Los Angeles, where real estate is a lot higher price and all of this is great for baseball and MLB. And he could help resolve the MASN squabble by paying off their debt and expanding his real life empire!!!

  • Who knows if the Angelos brothers are going to sell. But the Orioles are a great investment for a rich ( very rich) person. Great stadium, and a fan base that will show up when they start winning again. Attendance is down, but payroll is now bare bones with the Davis retirement. Plus having a 70% or so ownership in MASN can be a gold mine. Low overhead and they control the TV market of both Baltimore and Washington. 70% of the profits MASN gets from carrying Nationals games goes to the Orioles. No wonder the Nationals are suing the Orioles. In the end MASN makes the Orioles a desirable investment

    • Phil,

      Nothing would make me happier to see your Vision of the Future of Baltimore come true.

      Have lived in a beautiful neighborhood for 20+ years not far from the Inner Harbor and OPACY. I have become discouraged with the utter lack of competence w our Elected Leaders.

      Hoping that I am wrong Brother...

• Please, just no comparisons to Wieters, we don't want to jinx the guy!

• Cowser has had an incredible season so far too! I honestly couldn't believe all of the whining when we used the #5 pick on....the #6 player. Meanwhile Rocker didn't even sign. LOL.