MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

I mentioned defense a few times earlier. Another factor in Judge's favor is his ability to shift over to center field. That has allowed more lineup flexibility for the Yankees, though I imagine we will see more of Bader in center now that he is back.

All of that said, JC brings up a fair point. Just as I don't think we should accuse anybody of cheating lightly, we also shouldn't assume anybody is clean.

 

I see the Cardinals are gonna be a postseason participant again. For a team that's in the playoffs almost every year, they don't win the chip a very high percentage of the time.

 

They’ll be good just when the Angelos family move the team to Nashville

 

I keep seeing references like yours, but has there been any actual evidence an O’s move to Nashville could be a possibility?

 

I don't think it will affect anything. If they're going to pay him what he's worth on the market, they're going over the threshold or they're going to be the Angels.

 

I'm not sure why you posted all these pictures of Rik Emmett from Triumph. Can you explain?

 

The Labor Day doubleheader sweep was a crushing blow. O's fans held out a modicum of hope that the Jays and Rays would beat up on each other but Baltimore has lost series since then to Boston and Detroit at home, so, yes, your diagnosis is spot on.

 

The thing is, they have to be taken seriously going forward. The pipeline is far from exhausted, from Grayson Rodriguez to D.L. Hall to Heston Kjerstad.

 

Oh, for sure. This was definitely just the start of something, but to your point, the pitching isn't there to overcome the lack of hitting. Let's see if Elias is true to his word re: making some splashes in free agency. There's a need for a couple of workhorses on the staff and some adult bats down the lineup.

 

Another thing that should help the Orioles (and Jays and Rays) immensely is a much more balanced schedule. Having to play 76 games every year against the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Jays is a strength of schedule disadvantage. If the Tigers, Royals or A's were in the AL East, they'd be pushing 120 losses.

 

Does that really help them, though? They'll still be playing the same teams as their division rivals. They'll all have more wins.