Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 80 | Baltimore Orioles | Profile & Projection

Episode Date: February 11, 2020

Let's talk about this Baltimore Orioles team. You guys voted them as the worst team going into the 2020 season. Why? What are they up to? Who did they add? Who did they lose? What prospects do you need to know and who may be moved at the deadline? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What's going on, everybody? It is Talking Baseball, and this is the first of our mini-series, teams profiles and projections. And if you're wondering, hey, why did they name that such an awful name? It's because on our other show, Talking Yanks, it's the player profile and projection, and we didn't want to get creative and make a new name. So we just did the team profile and projection. So there you go.

The TPPs. My name's John Boy, and I got Jake with me. and we are excited to do these for you guys here. We're starting off with the Orioles, Jake. Tell them why we're starting off with the Orioles. You down with TPP? Yeah, you know me, man. Yeah.

I had a math teacher in college that made an OPP joke like that. It was some stats class, and literally there was an audible groan from the class. I was like, oh, no, you didn't try to make that work. Jim, our first T. P, P is the Baltimore Oreos, Natty Bose, Stroes and Oreos, man. And we did that because you did that. Because here on talking baseball, you, the listener, you have a voice.

We did a poll because that's how we work. And we kind of wanted it ranked worse to first to a degree. And we kind of got that. The people did well. Yeah, the order is pretty, I was like, holy shit. And I went in and looked at the individual results. And a lot of them that were joke ones, but glad to see that, you know, maybe democracy does work.

They got it right in the end with the TPPs. Democracy can work, at least in baseball. And yeah, we're going to talk some O's and we're excited about it. I think we were a little scared at first because we be, we be honest on this podcast. We're an on pod. An on pod. Yes. That is what they were saying.

And these O's suck. Oh, man. They're bad. They're bad. Is it a hot take to say they might be better, though? Is that your spin if you're an Orioles fan? That they might be better? Maybe.

Yeah. Well, okay. I guess they lost the yard. Let's go through it. They're from Baltimore, which is on the East Coast in Maryland. Huge. They play at Oriole Park, which is at Camden Yards. Everyone just calls it Camden Yards.

It's actually called Oriole Park. Great Stadium. One of my favorite stadiums. Great stadium. I believe the designer brought it to Chicago for the White Sox, and they were like, no one wants old baseball stadiums anymore. And then the Orioles were like, yo, we'll take it.

And then everyone started making those quaint old stadiums. Cool. According to Wikipedia, they've been the Baltimore Orioles since 1954 to present. And their other nicknames are the O's, the Birds. Why not Orioles? The buckle up birds and Birdland PowerCrow. company. Yes.

Everyone knows all of those nicknames perfectly. More importantly, last year, they won 54 games and they lost 108 games on purpose. They weren't really trying to win. You know, the players on the field were, but the guys they put together, it was very much a first year of the tank, no more Manny Machado, no more Jones, no more all these guys, Tank City. And Jake, want to know. even like more sad about losing that many games.

They only had one month where they had double digit wins. Yeah. Think about like a diehard Orioles fans. Bless your heart. Thank you for listening. One month where they won more than 10, more than nine games. It's bad. Shout out to my real Orioles fans and we probably got a few listening that are A, blown away that there's a baseball podcast doing something.

on the Orioles. We like to include everyone, baby. But yeah, I mean, they are bad, bad, but they admit that they're bottoming out. They're coming out of the Machado, Zach Britton, Buck Show Walter years. And they traded Mani. And now here we are. Last year was, and you're right. And you and I are trying to figure out kind of our ideal full rebuild plan. And I think there's just two years of pure misery. And essentially, this should be year number two. We're going to talk about some young guys getting called up. Hopefully that can lead into next year.

I think, Jim, I told you before this, I had a fun term that I don't know if there's a fun way to look at it, but I think you're fully out of the rebuild when you become last year's Blue Jays. Like, you're still not competing, but you're fun as hell. You got good guys to watch. you got to have hope um yeah hope's an interesting word there i'm gonna fight you on that because i mean it's not hope of winning it's being competitive the future yeah or being like being competitive who does who does the orioles have to latch on to here john means they got one guy

john means uh and hey tray mancini i think we should talk about him a little bit we are still this year is going to be terrible year next year i think we're going to see some Adley Rushman. I'm sure he's going to get a couple shoutouts as well. And then I think the year after that. So 20, 21. So 20, 22, if you're the Orioles, you can be last year's Blue Jays, which, hey, still sucks. But we'll talk about how we're going to get there. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, let's talk about the Orioles. Let's talk about who they added and who they dropped Jake. It's quite simple for them. As we said, they're not really trying to do much. They did trade away Dylan Bundy.

and they did let go of Jonathan Villar. And the Dylan Bundy trade, they got four prospects back from Anaheim. I'm not sure who or what they are. But the VR one, is it Valar or VR? Let's go VR. VR one was kind of a not fun move. It was the guy played really well and they didn't want to pay them because they're still trying to not spend money and lose.

So he doesn't get rewarded for having a good season for the Orioles. Or maybe he does get rewarded because they shipped him away. But they lose VR and Bundy. They brought in Cole Stewart from Minnesota, Jake. Got him. Cole spelled like Coles, the store. Yep. That's all.

Those were their moves. Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's tough to be the Orioles. I mean, they brought in Jose Iglesias, the shortstop, too, right? So, I mean, that's, that's something you can look forward to as a replacement for VR. He comes over from Cincinnati. And again, I mean, you weren't going to make a big free agent splash. But the VR thing was as sour as it gets. Like, I don't want to say that was the rock bottom moment.

But it kind of felt like it because he put up a four war season. He had a crazy amount of swipes and home runs when you put it all together. And they end up DFaying him. And they do trade for a prospect. but I don't know. If you're an Orioles fan, what could you have gotten for him at the deadline? What if you brought him back this year and then you flipped them at this deadline? The whole DFA thing didn't sit well. Basically your best player, you're saying we don't want to bring you back. Hey, Boston Red Sox can talk to you about that a little bit.

But a different scene for Baltimore. And last year they had, I was, you could quote me from saying this that they had the worst pitching staff ever. They ended up giving up the most home runs in Major League history. And they trade away Dylan Bundy, who I've been tough on, but he did have some decent stretches for them last year. But right now it's John Means and should we do the rotation or the lineup, Jim? What do you want? Yeah. There are some other like ads.

If we have any like deep Orioles fans are like, you didn't talk about them picking up Richard Urania. Well, they got Dicky U and they got Pat Velika off waivers. Oh, yeah. Also, yeah. Let's do the rotation. So you have John Means who had a really good year. One of the nastier change-ups out there, I think. He's shot down the hit. Yeah.

Alex Cobb comes back. Only played three games last year, I believe, three starts because he was hurt. And that's their one-two. And you know what? For a team that's, like, destined to be as bad as the Orioles are, that's a pretty decent one, too. I mean, Means is the, I don't want to say he's the white knight. He's, I mean, he's Harvey Dent for them.

He showed up. He went to the All-Star game. He struggled a little bit at the end. And I think he had an injury or two. And they were being careful with them. He's the guy. Alex Cobb, man, he was that, he signed that year that all the free agent pitchers signed late and then were terrible.

It was what him, Lance Lynn. Was there someone else? That was the main two, 2008. So, yeah. And then he gets hurt last year. He's got a career 385 ERA. He was a really a tough, a tough guy in the AL East when he came up with the raise. So if you could get means and Cobb twirling some games, you might win some series. I think more so you're hoping Alex Cobb figures it out so you could flip him for something. This should be a big flip guys here. Yo, Alex Cobb had two really good years for the race. Like his good, his best season is. is a really good season for a pitcher. 27 games started 2.87 ERA. Yeah.

But we haven't seen that guy in four years, five years, six years. And hey, if they get 2017-366 ERA Alex Cobb over a buck 80 innings, they would be elated and they would flip him for prospects in a heartbeat. He's a guy that you definitely are circling and saying, if he can be good for us, you can flip him and he's on the books for 15 million. next year, which again, if he's good, a team would be very into that. If he's bad, a little bit of a yikes party again. But you're looking at those two.

And then, Jim, I did the other pitcher who got me excited because the rest, I mean, let's be honest, I mean, is nothing. Our guy Wojjahowski from last year. If you remember, he came up on Enfuego a couple times. He figured something out in the minor leagues. He came up for the Orioles and he pitched okay. 492 ERA. But I'm excited.

I hope he's a story that's like, hey, this dude really figured something out and the Orioles can turn him into something. But otherwise, I mean, it's an atrocious pitching staff. Wojahowski. Yeah, all of his advanced analytics are bad. Oh, yeah.

Yikes. But he went from... LaBonk, played at free agent signing. Played at the Citadel, so that's cool. That's nice. The rest of the projected rotation is John Means, Alex Cobb, Roger Houski. Did you talk about Cole Stewart?

We did. They picked him up from the twins and Brandon Bailey. And that's like kind of a lie. Like those guys will start there and then we'll see what happens. Yeah, and they picked up Wade LeBlanc a couple days ago. Hopefully he can twirl some innings for them. He's 35. I mean, that's a guy that shouldn't be finishing the season for the Orioles.

It's just a matter of he can hit the trade deadline with an ERA under 5.5. but yeah, I mean, this is, I mean, could easily be the worst rotation in baseball, especially if means were to regress or Cobb doesn't figure it out. Speaking of, oh, go ahead. I mean, I was just going to go to the bullpen. I mean, Michael Givens is a guy that if you followed MLB baseball. He's got some good arm talent and he could put it together for a little bit. After that, I mean, it's a, I mean, it's a bunch of young guys trying to figure it out.

There's Frye, who's a solid lefty when he's right. I think his brother's on the white socks. Miguel Castro's got limbs for days. Dick Blyer will piss you off because he's a sidewinder. But there's no, I mean, we're digging deep here. Givens on the mound. He's got a lot of attitude. Attitude.

A style out there. Jake, Alex Cobb is under contract for the 2021 season. or $15 million. So if he is lights out, which we're asking a lot, but if he's really good up until the deadline, would teams still take him? Because you have next year coming with you.

Absolutely. For 15 million. That's kind of what I was saying. I mean, yeah, and it's a big if. It's if he looks good this year. Because think about it, the big thing with teams is they don't really care about that year to year number.

They care about the length. So if Alex Cobb looks good next year, and you get him at the trade deadline. I mean, the worst case, you have Alex Cobb for the next season for 15 mil, and then if he's good, he's good. If he's not, he's off your books. So it's going to be a, I guess if we're circling things to watch for the Orioles, a big first half from Alex Cobb would be huge for them.

Yeah. And I was trying to see they have no one that is on a contract year. They don't have anyone that's naturally a free agent in 2020. and the next closest guy is Michael Givens. So like maybe if people inquire about him, you take that, I don't know. So there's not even a lot of trades to be made there.

So, Orioles baseball. Let's go to the... It's tough. I mean, the pitching is going to be brutal in Baltimore again. And with the current state of baseball, I mean, they are going to give up some yobos. They do, like a lot of teams in baseball,

they've got a lot of young guys in the pin that Hunter Harvey was a first round pick if he could find something. I mentioned Castro's limbs. So, hey, if they could find a guy or two, that would be great. But, hey, things do get a little more positive with the Orioles lineup. Okay. Speaking of, the projected lineup is Hanser, Alberto, Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander, Renato Nunez, Rio Ruiz, Chris Davis, God bless his heart, Austin Hayes, Jose Iglesias,

and Chance Cisco. Jim, I do have to correct you because it's one of the best names in baseball, Santander. Yeah, that got corrected again. No one knows that story. They were calling him Anthony Santander. And then they were like, actually, we just found out it's pronounced Santander. And then a lot of the announcers were doing that. And then they're like, wait, never mind.

Correction. Bring it back. It's Santander. Like, obviously. Because it's not funny. Really good, really good Paul O'Neill sound fight on that. Maybe I'll retweet it the day that we released the Orioles TPP. But James, we stumbled into a little bit of talent.

I mean, Hanser Alberto had a really nice year last year. Tray Mancini, 35 yabos. And what we realized, because we saw a decent amount of the Orioles coming from the Yankees side last year, was if you're a lefty, you're in for kind of a tough day. They've got a lot of righty bats, Renato Nunez. I'm excited to see Austin Hayes this year because he's actually a legitimate prospect. But if you're a lefty,

that top of the Orioles lineup isn't easy. Yeah. Tray Mancini's good. Like, they should trade him. They should. How many years does he have left? He had a 135 OPS plus last year. So, like, it's not just that he's good for the Orioles.

He has a career 119 OPS Plus. In 2017, he had a 120. So, I mean, this dude's put together three seasons in the big leagues, and two of them have been very above average, and one has been bad, average, slightly below average. Yeah, and it was funny. Everyone talks about him as the old man on the Orioles. Last year was his age 27th season.

And his third year in the league. Yeah. He finished with like a 900 OPS on the nose. Trey, you'd like to think this is the last year, especially if they DF someone like Vy R, I mean, what's your plan with Trey Mancini? But yeah, hopefully, I mean, Trey's going to hit. He's a pretty well-respected MLB hitter. I got to get into my Hanser Alberto splits, because if I'm remembering this right, he is like top level against lefties. Yes, listen to this, Jim.

Hanser Alberto last year hit 398 versus lefties in 227 plate appearances 398 batting average I mean 948 OPS against righties 238 with a 600 OPS that's got to be one of the bigger splits you'll see but yeah if you're a lefty literally sit them against the Orioles because it's not worth it

yeah that's yeah that's crazy That's that's that's that's 390 against Lepties. Yeah. That's nuts. And a good samasize. All right. We are going to phone in a good friend if he'll answer. He doesn't know we're calling him.

If he'll answer. This is live. And let's ask him about the prospects in the rookie in the Oreo system. He won't be able to hear you, Jake, so you're going to have to funnel your questions through me. That's fine. I'll funnel them through you. Okay. Jake from Cessbitist family barbecue.

Wow. Come on. Answer. Hello? Hello. Is this Jake from Cesswood's Family Barbecue? This is Jake from Cesswood's Family Barbecue. I'm currently recording a podcast with my better half-door and choose for me.

So are we. So are we? You're currently on our podcast right now. You're on our Division III Baseball podcast. Wow. You are on our Orioles preview podcast, and we just need to know which two prospects you're most excited for. Which two prospects?

I mean, Adler's restaurants because he has the same birthday as Babebers. Is he coming up to this? how about that? Okay. Oh, that's so cute. And then, I mean, like, I'm just going to tell you the top you got, like, and then Grayson Rodriguez, who's their large man from Texas, who throws really hard. A guy maybe a little bit further down that I'm excited about.

Austin Hayes, who had the big league time at the end of last year. He's still prospect eligible. I think he could be really good. He had an Austin September. And then a sleeper for you, Penn State birth, third basement, Kobe Welk, was a 20th round pick last year out of a small division's school in Pennsylvania and then hit like 390 in the

short season league. So those are the guys I'm excited about. Wow. Okay. What about the infielder who can hit like crazy but can't field? Is he going to learn how to get a field? Mountcastle. Yeah. I mean, I like him, but the one thing I've seen the Orioles have a lot of recently is guys

who can't really, like they're like an outfield corner or a first basement and can't really play defense but can hit. Like right, like that's Cray Mancini. that we had Trumbo when he was good. That was Chris Davis. Like, they, those guys brought in trees.

And I think Mountcastle's going to be really, really good at hitting. But I don't know if you can play defensively. Okay, thank you. Do you have any questions for the other Jake before we hang up? Can you guys name eight current Orioles without looking at it? Well, we just did the whole, we just did the whole team preview. So we've looked at it. Okay.

You are each of your favorite Orioles. John Means is an easy favorite for me. I think he's the only Oriole with talent right now besides Trey Mancini. Jake, who's your favorite? Hanser Alberto versus Lefties. And Jake's is Hanser Alberto versus Lefties only. Don't you dare put him against the righty. What's the point?

All right. Thanks, Ben. Be good. See you. See, yeah. All right. So there you go. He's excited for some prospects.

One of the world's most Famous Oriole fans Do we have famous Oriole fans? Speak up if you are. Cow Ripkin? No, he doesn't. I mean, you think Cal Ripkin's walking around With like an Orioles hat on?

He hates him. I don't know enough about it. He may like the birds. Okay, real quick. Where do the Orioles rank in terms of MLB birds? Ooh. And then we'll do the over-under. Do you have them above or below Cardinals?

Below. Yeah, same. Yeah. Okay, what about, is a Blue Jay a bird? Blue Jay is a bird. I have Orioles above Blue Jay. Blue Jays and Orioles are tight. I think Blue Jays get the nods because they can be like beautiful.

Like a Blue Jay can stop you when you're walking. Can an Oriole? I mean, I think in Orioles, it's not an ugly bird, but. No, Blue Jays way better than Oreo. I just Google. Oh my God, a good-looking Blue Jay. Yeah, okay. That'll change, that'll, a good-looking Blue Jay will change your day.

Yeah, that'll be like, I saw a Blue Jay today, so that's great. You'll tell people. If you see an Oriole, you don't tell a soul. You might be like, I think that's an Oriole. And then you ask for someone to look, but then it flies away and you're like, it doesn't matter. A Blue Jay, you take your phone out, you take a picture of it. All right. Is that the only birds?

A lot more birds than the- It feels like we're missing birds. Well, no, no, no. Astros, Angels, Athletics, Mariners, Rangers, twins, royals, tigers, Indians, white socks, blue jays, rays, that's the sun now. Red Sox, Orioles, Giants, Pagers, Dodgers, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Pirates, Brewers, Reds, Cubs, Nationals, Phillies.

Yeah, there's only three birds. A lot more birds than the NFL, I believe. How about that? Oriel's not only voted. Top three bird. Top three bird. Good spin, Jake. That's a good spin. Because I was about to say voted worst as a baseball team

and voted worst as a bird represented a baseball team. Yeah, I will, my last baseball thing that I think I had as a note coming in. Well, A, I think this is going to be the last year of Chris Davis. I think it's got to stop, whether it's during the season or after the season. Like, just stop. What are we doing? And I like Austin Hayes. I think he's got a pretty good hit tool, Jim.

So I'm excited to see him get full run out there. All right. And we project them to finish fifth in the AL East. I think it's an easy agree there, right? Oh, yeah. And Jake, the Vegas over-under is 57 and a half games. Are you taking the over or the under? They won 54.

I'll go first. I'm taking the under. I'm going over, baby. Do you think they break 60? No, no. All right. Hard 59. Hard 59.

Okay, there you go. Cobb solid. Means is the real thing. And there's still here. Oriel's. take. They have a decent record against lefties next year. They're like two games. They're two games under 500 against lefties next year. I have, okay, I was about to end it, but now I got to look at the schedule. So I have the

Orioles on pace to be over, the over under until the trade deadline. And then they trade Cobb. I don't think this is true. I think I think you're messing. I think you're messing with yourself because I think that's when the Orioles catch some wins and the season. I didn't believe anything I was just saying. Okay. Go O's. I mean, they opened up. I was trying to see where they open up, Jake.

They opened up Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, pirates. Wow, weekend series, Orioles first pirates. That'll be a riot. Hey, what happened to opening season last year versus the Yankees? Took two out of three. Yeah, they won three in a row the first week of the season. They never won three in a row again, or maybe a couple times. They never won four in a row again.

That's the end. Thank you guys very much for hanging out with us. We'll be back tomorrow.