As another painful Orioles season drones on, headlines are hard to come by. Besides the debuts of a few prospects and the everyday heroics of Cedric Mullins, there isn’t a whole lot to get excited about. That being said, Orioles beat writers are still doing their best to keep the fanbase interested in what the remainder of this season has to offer. So let’s take a look at a few of the more interesting articles out there about Birdland.
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
What to watch for from the Orioles in the season’s final two months
Earlier this week Camden Chat’s Drew Bonifant gave his take on which Orioles storylines are the most fascinating to follow for the next few months. The most obvious, and perhaps most exciting, is which prospects we will see in Baltimore come September. Bonifant mentioned Yusniel Diaz and Mike Baumann, though I think the most obvious player ready to see some MLB action is Jahmai Jones. He could provide some much needed consistency in the Orioles infield. In addition, I hope we see Kevin Smith and Kyle Bradish at some point before the end of 2021, though that doesn’t seem quite as likely.
The other four players mentioned on Bonifant’s watchlist included Matt Harvey, Trey Mancini, Ryan Mountcastle, and John Means. I’m not too worried about Harvey’s production as even if he continues to impress for the remainder of this season he’s unlikely to be a part of the next winning Orioles team. As much as it pains me to say so, the same may end up being true for Mancini, though I still hope he can finish out strong to show just how deserving he is of his imminent Comeback Player of the Year Award. Mountcastle and Means, however, have been a joy to watch and should continue to be so for years to come. All of Birdland will be watching carefully to see if Mountcastle continues to rake like he has been for the past few weeks and Means can get back to his early season success, and I thoroughly hope they come through.
Sizing up the Orioles competition for a top 2022 draft pick: August edition
Continuing with Camden Chat, let’s take a look at an article from Mark Brown examining the Orioles odds at landing the top pick in next year’s MLB draft. The success of Adley Rutchsman illustrates just how important landing the number overall selection can be, and while no one wants to root against their favorite team, each Orioles win makes them less likely to have a shot at that pick. According to Brown, the four teams in contention with Baltimore for the worst record in baseball are the Diamondbacks, Rangers, Pirates, and Twins. Of those teams the Orioles are the only one that didn’t trade away all of its best players at the trade deadline. As a result, Fan Graphs projected record has the O’s finishing ahead of both the Rangers and Diamondbacks and earning the third overall pick in the draft. Fortunately, unlike in the NFL, the success of baseball prospects has much more to do with their development in the minor leagues than what they may have already shown in college or high school. In my mind, moving down one or two spots in exchange for some winning baseball down the stretch is absolutely worth it. I know a lot of Birdland may disagree but I think now is the perfect time for the rebuild to turn a new page and I’m okay if that means we don’t get the top pick in the draft.
Mancini: ‘I had a feeling I was going to stay, and I was happy to’
In one of the more heartwarming Orioles articles out there, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com transcribed an interview with everyone’s favorite Oriole, Trey Mancini. In the midst of an incredible comeback campaign, hearing Mancini speak honestly about his experiences is fascinating. The interview focuses on two main subjects, Trey’s battle with cancer and his thoughts on the future of the Orioles having recently learned that he would not be traded. And even when faced with difficult questions, every response he gives illustrates his incredible ability to look at the bright side of situations. Perhaps most inspiring is the fact that despite all that he’s been through, Mancini refuses to jump ship on this Orioles team. No one would blame him if he wanted to take off for a World Series Contender, but hearing that he was happy and excited to learn that he wasn’t going anywhere should bring a smile to all of Birdland. My last article for BSL focused on Trey Mancini the player, and his chances of winning the Home Run Derby. Now, getting a look into Trey Mancini the person, I am even more impressed by all that he has done. As a lifelong fan of the Orioles there’s no better feeling than knowing that one of the true good guys of the MLB plays for your team, and there’s nowhere he would rather be.
Orioles GM Mike Elias On Deadline, Future
In another post-trade deadline interview, Orioles General Manager Mike Elias spoke with reporters, including DuBroff. Here MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald gave some reaction to Elias’s comments on the future of the franchise. I was happy to read that Elias’s perspective on the state of the Orioles is rather similar to mine. He views much of the current roster as building blocks and potential members of the next winning team in Baltimore, and therefore was not tempted to trade players away as he may have been in past years. His optimism for the future further illustrates a turning point in the Orioles rebuild. Elias feels as though it’s no longer necessary to trade away MLB talent just to restock the farm system. Clearly he, and the rest of management, feels good enough about the players in the system to believe that they are just a few years away from contention. I think all of Baltimore can agree that this is a good sign for the O’s.
However, McDonald does make a good point later on in the article. He points out that despite the fact that the Orioles currently have the 7th best farm system in baseball, two other teams in the AL East are still above them (Blue Jays and Rays). Furthermore, both Toronto and Tampa Bay have more young talent at the major league levels than the Orioles, so it will certainly be an uphill battle for the Orioles to make a run sometime before the contracts of John Means and Cedric Mullins expire. If the Orioles are unable to compete with the other franchises in the division by that point, Elias may have wasted his best chance to bring in some top tier prospects. But, if the second half of this season has been any indication of what is to come from Baltimore, then the Orioles GM may end up looking like a genius.
O’s first-rounder Cowser homers in pro debut
Lastly, for an update on the Orioles newest prospect we turn to Michael Charles of MLB.com. In his very first game in the Orioles system, first round pick Colton Cowser crushed a solo home run over the right field fence. In three games in the Florida Complex League, Cowser is mashing 6 for 9 with 5 RBIs and a stolen base. It’s a very small sample size for someone who is years away from making his major league debut but the former Bearkat’s hot start gives Oriole fans something to get excited about. Hopefully he can find his way to Delmarva sooner rather than later. A potential outfield of Cowser, Cedric Mullins, and Heston Kjerstad (with some Austin Hays sprinkled in) would give any pitcher nightmares, and the sooner Kjerstad and Cowser can get going in the minor leagues, the sooner that possibility can become a reality.
Luke Rollfinke is a student at Vanderbilt where he is pursuing a career in sports journalism. A recent graduate from the Friends School of Baltimore, Luke has spent his entire childhood in Charm City and is a devoted Orioles fan. In the past, he has written for SB Nation and has worked closely with Ravens columnist John Eisenberg. From nights at Camden Yards to Sunday afternoons watching NFL Redzone, Luke eats, sleeps, and breathes sports. He is excited to bring his perspective to BSL.