As the Elton John and Bernie Taupin of Baltimore sports radio, Luke Jones and Nestor Aparicio are really in the same room arguing the future of the Orioles. The Maryland Crab Cake Tour and the #TastyNes 27th WNST Anniversary brought them together at Faidley’s Seafood in Lexington Market to discuss what’s left to look for in a last place baseball team. A look to Basallo, Beavers and the youth movement for Birdland hope after more bad news on Bautista and Rutschman.
Nestor Aparicio and Luke Jones discussed the Orioles’ current state, focusing on the impact of injuries to key players like Felix Bautista and Adley Rutschman. They highlighted the need for young players like Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and Kyle Bradish to step up. Jones emphasized the importance of the Orioles’ young core, including Rutschman and Henderson, and the need for better health management. They also touched on potential trades, including the possibility of trading Rutschman for a top starting pitcher. The conversation concluded with a discussion on the Orioles’ future plans and the impact of new ownership on team management.
- [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Focus on the development and performance of the young players over the final weeks, rather than just looking at the overall team record.
- [ ] Evaluate the team’s strength and conditioning program to address the high number of soft tissue injuries.
- [ ] Consider making a trade that shakes up the young core group to send a message that complacency will not be tolerated.
- [ ] Determine if Adley Rutschman is a long-term piece worth extending, or if he could be traded for the right deal.
Orioles’ Current State and Upcoming Games
- Nestor Aparicio discusses the current state of the Orioles, mentioning the Astros’ visit and the crab cake tour.
- Nestor highlights the lack of pressure on the baseball team and the upcoming Ravens game.
- Luke Jones talks about the young core of players and the need for them to perform well.
- Nestor and Luke discuss the importance of having all key players on the field at the same time.
Challenges with Injuries and Player Performance
- Nestor mentions the ongoing issues with injuries, including Felix Bautista and other players.
- Luke Jones reflects on the past successes of players like Grayson Rodriguez and Adley Rutschman.
- Nestor and Luke discuss the impact of injuries on the team’s performance and the need for a healthy core.
- Luke emphasizes the importance of the young players stepping up and performing consistently.
Management and Leadership Changes
- Nestor and Luke discuss the potential changes in management and leadership within the Orioles.
- Luke mentions the need for a commanding manager who can push the young players.
- Nestor talks about the importance of having a respected figure to lead the team.
- Luke suggests that a new manager could bring a fresh perspective and improve team performance.
Future Plans and Player Development
- Nestor and Luke discuss the future plans for the Orioles, including potential trades and player development.
- Luke emphasizes the need for a reliable bat and a closer for the team.
- Nestor talks about the importance of having a balanced team with both young and experienced players.
- Luke mentions the potential for trading some players to acquire better talent.
Impact of Injuries on Team Dynamics
- Nestor and Luke discuss the impact of injuries on team dynamics and player morale.
- Luke highlights the importance of addressing the team’s strength and conditioning issues.
- Nestor talks about the need for players to stay healthy and perform well.
- Luke emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Potential Trades and Player Acquisitions
- Nestor and Luke discuss potential trades and player acquisitions to improve the team.
- Luke mentions the need for a reliable closer and a number one or two starting pitcher.
- Nestor talks about the importance of having a balanced team with both young and experienced players.
- Luke suggests that trading some players could bring in better talent and improve team performance.
Impact of New Ownership on Team Management
- Nestor and Luke discuss the potential impact of new ownership on team management and performance.
- Luke mentions the need for a new general manager who can bring fresh ideas and improve team performance.
- Nestor talks about the importance of having a respected figure to lead the team.
- Luke emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to team management and player development.
Final Thoughts and Future Outlook
- Nestor and Luke discuss their final thoughts on the current state of the Orioles and their future outlook.
- Luke emphasizes the importance of having a balanced team with both young and experienced players.
- Nestor talks about the need for a comprehensive approach to team management and player development.
- Luke mentions the potential for trades and player acquisitions to improve team performance.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
Orioles, young core, Felix Bautista, Adley Rutschman, injury issues, Mike Elias, Tony Mancini, Kyle Bradish, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Tyler Wells, trade possibilities, strength and conditioning, baseball season, fan base.
SPEAKERS
Luke Jones, Nestor Aparicio
Nestor Aparicio 00:00
Welcome home. We are W, N, S, T. Am 1570 task Baltimore. We are Baltimore. Positive. I am trying to get my levels right here. We’re down here. Fade least I’ll tell you what man the baseball thing and how crowded it is down here. The Astros are in town. It’s all part of our crab cake tour and our 27th anniversary doings and eatings. Gonna be eating the shrimp salad here today all are brought to you by the Maryland lottery, our friends at Curia wellness who put me up at the golf tournament. I’m gonna have RJ Shepherd by a little later on. We’re gonna talk to him about, you know, golf and Forest Park and classic five, but I’m gonna get a little baseball in today. I’m gonna get a little football in, Luke and I never get together in the same place at the same time. There’s like no pressure on this baseball team right now. They’re actually playing a little bit better. The Batista thing, the young guys, besides, oh and beavers and all of that going on, and the Ravens. It’s almost like schools going back. You know, falls coming, this bills game is going to be a crescendo of hugeness. I don’t know that the baseball thing, people are staying into the oxygen of all of it. I have stayed with it just to see how it’s being presented. Certainly the anger of the fan base in regard to the tickets and last place and all of that, that’s another story. But onto the field and where you are, it is interesting to watch, to some degree, if you like baseball, and you’re saying, Who are these guys and who’s going to be a pile diver Well,
Luke Jones 01:37
and that’s the big thing I’ve tried to stress to you, even as this season has been the nightmare that it’s been in so many different ways, is no matter if it’s Mike Elias or everyone you know, people who don’t like Mike Elias get their wish, and there’s another general manager. And like, everything goes the way you want it to, from a free agency standpoint, making a couple trades, finding a new closer, because, you know, we’ll get into Batista more specifically, we’ve all acknowledged that you can be perfect with all those other moves. But if this young core, at least the bulk of it, it doesn’t have to be every single guy. And we’ve already seen it’s not going to be every single guy. I mean, we’ve talked about Kurt, we’re not even talking about kerstad right now. And as I’ve kind of said, Let’s at least put that on the side, and so we find out exactly what’s going on. But the point is, they need these guys to work out this was built starting six years ago, when Adley rutschman was drafted, that it was going to be a young core of position players. We know that they haven’t emphasized drafting pitching as much, whether they’ve done that enough or not. We’ve talked about that. They have started to emphasize it a little bit more, but we’ve said all along these young guys like they’re it. And the one thing that I’ve kind of liked from Tony mancellino here over the last couple of weeks is acknowledging that publicly and saying, like, look, Cedric Mullins isn’t here anymore. Ryan O’Hearn isn’t here. Kyle Gibson and Anthony Santander and Austin Hayes and all these guys that had kind of sort of been veteran leaders, not in the way that you thought of Eddie Murray and Cal Ripken or Jim Palmer way back when, or Frank Robinson in 1966 but they were the most veteran guys they had. They’re all gone now. So it really is a case of like, Guys look around. You need to make of this what you want to make it, and I think hopefully, and I I want to be I’m hesitant in saying this, because I said this to you last summer, and we see how this year has turned out. I’m hoping that this is going to pay some dividends for them long term, from a standpoint of these young guys kind of realizing we need to grow up. But ultimately, it comes back to this. They need to be better. We’ve talked about this. I mean, Adley rutschman, we’ve talked about for a calendar year now. Jackson holiday, yeah, step forward this year. But he needs more. You need more from Kobe mayo. You need more. You need Jordan westburg to stay on the field, as he’s now banged up again. So
Nestor Aparicio 03:55
I was going to say in looking at it, I just want to see all of them on the field at one time, sure, right? Like, for a series a week, a month, you know, let alone a season. But, like, that’s been problematic, and that’s not like, and you know, Joe poorly. My buddy, who I know watches out there down in Tampa, comes on all the time. He wrote me a note about like their training staff and how now Batista is another guy gone again. After means after wells after Brad is twice after bed, the bed. Here we go. Rodriguez. I mean, we’re going down a list here of you and I getting on an airplane in Arlington now, two years ago, sure. You know, after the disappointment of all of that and saying, What will this be when it grows up? I mean, look, you can beat Elias up all you want. He did bring Corbin freaking burns in, sure, and gave it a chance. He did trade for this Rogers guy who looks like he’s going to be the opening starter, not really. As bad as two months ago, he’s the one guy who stole his arm is still on right? So I look at it and and it is sort of, or you’ll tragic in the way that we’ll never know and all of that. And we’ll get to Lamar step over and missing practice too. But you know, Lamar would have been that guy two years ago, three years ago, where he’s not playing the playoff games, right? If you’re not playing the playoff games, you can be 12 and one and get hurt December 12 and like, and it’s over, right? So from the baseball perspective, the Westberg thing problematic, and just really getting where Richmond is going to be precise. Oh, beavers, we talked about kerstat with some maybe off the feet, you know, like physical, whatever it is, whatever it is, it’s not allowing it to play um, and their inability to stay healthy as a theme, as a team. Well,
Luke Jones 05:59
I think a lot of that. And you know, maybe this is where we use Batista as the example here. I think it’s a reminder that you think back to where they were, think back to the night Batista hurt his elbow. It was late almost two years ago, to the day we’re coming up on the two year anniversary for that. And you think about the days before that. You thought about where this team was, how Bradish was pitching the second half of the year. I mean, he pitched great that entire year. Grayson Rodriguez, the way he pitched that second half. You had Batista Cano was an all star reliever. You had gunner being rookie on his way to being Rookie of the Year. Adley rutschman was a fringe MVP candidate. You had the older but still, young guys that were still around Westberg had arrived, kauser had had a cup of coffee. We knew that there were more guys on the way. And you were thinking at that point, what this team’s window is wide open. Maybe this is a lesson. And you said it in defense of Mike Elias. It’s not as though he just sat back and said, Oh, it’s all the young guys. Now, I think there have been some times where there’s been a thought process of, maybe you’re counting on too much to go well, you know, internally, like, for example, this past off season and Grayson Rodriguez is going to be your new Ace. And how that
Nestor Aparicio 07:13
man, there is a point with baseball where you bring in even burns the Duquette era, to have the weigh in chance and and for this era, for canoe to have gone as well as it did for O’Hearn, for Santander. I mean, they turn, I mean, the water into wine
Luke Jones 07:34
for Corbin burns, I know, as a rental, but deal Hall is still not anything. And I’m not saying he won’t become something, but he’s certainly not the guy that the Orioles were hoping he was going to be eight years ago. And Joey Ortiz profiles more as a kind of a utility infielder, right? Certainly not an all star shortstop. But you know, the point I was trying to make is, if you’re waiting for all everything to come together perfectly, and the stars to align perfectly. And, okay, this guy’s only going to be two years in the club control, and this guy’s going to be on the way like it’s not all going to work perfectly,
Nestor Aparicio 08:10
herniated just away from mass. And, I
Luke Jones 08:13
mean, look at what we’re talking about with Felix Batista now. I mean, now the question is very fair. If one, is he going to pitch again? Two, is he going to be anything close to what he was when you’re talking about Tommy John surgery and then rotator cuff and torn labrum? I mean, ask anyone. I mean, relative of mine goes to my church, you know, in my extended Walker side of the family, for my mom, you know, he’s in his 60s, works hard, still active, all that he recently had rotator cuff surgery, just for a civilian having rotator cuff surgery, that anyone will tell you that is a, you know, what to go through in terms of rehab and everything, so a rubber band on the door. No, it’s one thing that it’s one thing to talk about Tommy John surgery, which, as I’ve pointed out to you, not that it always goes perfectly, but you can find so many, so many. I mean, I think the statistic I saw about a year ago was roughly a third of the pitchers in Major League Baseball have had Tommy John surgery at some point in time. So that tells you it has a high return rate, or those guys wouldn’t be in the majors. But when you start talking about rotator cuff and labrum, and you know that term I’ve used with you, the kinetic chain, three, one point. Yeah. I mean, so but, but there’s a perfect example. But there’s a perfect example of why you need to take full advantage of this. We’ve talked about this with the Ravens. You know, where Lamar and where this young core was six years ago now, 2000 window was six years ago. Now, they’ve kept their window has been open almost this entire time, except when Lamar hasn’t been healthy, right? But the point is, it’s a nonsensical idea to say, Oh, this team’s ahead of schedule, or oh, well, don’t worry, this team’s window is open for six more years or 10 more years. It might turn out that way, but you can’t count on that. You don’t, you can’t. Just sit back and just wait for great things to happen, because this year was a perfect example of just how terribly it can go wrong. So
Nestor Aparicio 10:07
Well, I mean, we could talk about that with the ravens, whether if this is the year that Marlon Humphrey, Ronnie, Stanley and roquan Smith age, or they get hurt and Mark Andrews ages and likely doesn’t come back. And Derrick Henry ages, right? I mean, like, if this is that year, you better have a bunch of young guys that step up then, you know, I’m not saying it is sure. I’m saying there never know at that point where you question that this, Orioles, this is not. No, no, no, dude, this is, this is this needs to be an ascending operation.
Luke Jones 10:40
Oh, no. Question. You used to have too many guys that are in the never was category before. You just start saying, oh, that’s you know, you and I’ve used Colton cowser as a case study, right? I’ve been, I’ve been higher on him in the past than you have been. I’m down on Colton cowser right now. Now how much of it is he missed two months with the thumb, and you’re pressing to get back to where you were and showing you’re healthy and and all that he needs to be better. I mean, there’s no doubt he has to be better, right? I mean, for one thing, he’s playing center field right now. I mean, you’re hoping, and I think as an athlete, he can handle that and play center field to the point where you don’t necessarily need to go out and get a center fielder if he shows he can handle it. But
Nestor Aparicio 11:22
so the current product, and I would ask you this, by the way, Luke and I are down here at Faith Lee’s. We’re eating crab cakes. I’m getting the shrimp salad because I love the shrimp salad here. I’m also getting the fried oysters because Dami really sort of inspired me to do the oyster tour, which is sort of inspired my 27 favorite foods brought to you by Curia wellness and foreign daughter. You know, I, the last couple days I’ve been doing pastries, so I’m, you know, I mean, I got to be careful here. I don’t know if you’ve ever got extra padding for football season, the blueberry morning biscuit at rise on Timonium. I have not I’ve heard about it’s all brought to you by our friends at the Maryland lottery. I have lucky sevens in the pressure locks, so this is where I am with firing Mike Elias last week at Baltimore positive based solely on just leadership and just the fact that there’s a new owner, and that’s just what new owners would do. Now I’m not saying that’s going to happen or not. I also feel like, in our case here, as the Red Sox series, may be the beginning of bringing up a side, oh, bringing up beavers, whatever they’re going to be. And it would be nice to get westburg back, getting everybody all the style
Luke Jones 12:33
radish is set to pitch next week.
Nestor Aparicio 12:35
Fair enough. Yeah, so do you. And by the way, manzalino now with a above 500 record, right? I mean, as a manager, so okay, and they’re about to play the Dodgers, teams that need to win team, teams that are all the
Luke Jones 12:47
schedule, the schedule is going to be a bear. I mean, for whatever that’s worth, for the Orioles
Nestor Aparicio 12:53
games every night, even nobody’s watching, sure, than us in the nerds, right? So, um, do you give most of these guys the clean slate, that when you and I are being hard asses on them in the off season, we’re never hard asses on them. We’re not even going to pay attention to them so much in the off season, because they’re probably the football team’s going to ascend and we’ll start talking about baseball again February, whenever, whenever they make a move. No, no, no. February, the day after the ravens are eliminated, whatever that is, or January, or whatever that hopefully after a parade, about being I’m trying to be fair about just right? So to me for to be fair to Colton cows, or to be fair even to Ryan mountcastle, right? I want to say for all of these guys, none of these guys are washed up, right? There’s no Charlie Morton here, right? There’s nobody they are putting out there. There’s no more Cedric Mullins. There’s no more O’Hearn. There’s no more like these are the baby babies of all of them, right? Do we judge their bubblegum card in the off season by what they did in September, what they did the last 50 games? Yeah? Do we just look at it and say, All right, if ruchman can hit 278 for six weeks and hit seven home runs, the rest of the way, five home whatever, if we just look at it and say they’re driving in runs, Hey, man, they played 612 ball against contenders for 40 days. I mean, sure, like, I mean, I’m trying to find something to hang my hat on, other than, let’s fire lives. I can play that all day, because all of that’s true. And I’m sitting here in the Astros, or time we get a convention here at fade least. But like, you know, people are going to fall asleep on this baseball team right now, especially when the football team starts playing next week. That’s all,
Luke Jones 14:39
yeah. And look, I mean, that’s reality, right? I mean, and that’s kind of reality around the country, unless your team is going to the playoffs. But how about those Padres football and how about the brewers? Brewers are unbelievable, but unless your baseball team is really special and on the way to the playoffs, college football? And the NFL are going to suck up college football,
Nestor Aparicio 15:03
right? I mean, but I don’t, you know, I don’t think like that, but the world
Luke Jones 15:07
does. But the world does, you know, the country does most, most of the country, let’s say so. Look, is there any path for the Orioles to really take up a lot of oxygen the rest of the way? No, but I will say this this last month, and what I wrote this past weekend at Baltimore positive.com It was a time when they finally produced some good news, in a sense that they really, really needed it because of what’s happened on the field and off with the Birdland memberships and all of that, which is another conversation for another time,
Nestor Aparicio 15:36
but I really need to talk to an expert, sure. Buddy out there, if you’re in YouTube, Landia, yeah, if you’re out on the radio at wnsd, if you’re in my world and you are a bird land person, and you want to explain it to me like Schoolhouse Rock, like I did last week at the beach with all the politicians I’d love to I mean, apparently Katie Griggs called into Ed Norris, who’s never bought a baseball ticket. I mean, like, talk to somebody that was a PSL holder, somebody that went all over the country for 30 years, seeing both. I was in Toronto eight weeks ago, dude, you and I were going to travel together. I had a flight for us next week, like, literally, to go out to the West Coast for the San Diego thing, right? San Francisco. And I was, like, trying to work Dodgers. You never been to Dodger Stadium, and I feel like, before I die, you die, this dies, we die. Trump gets us all killed, I think you should go to Job Dodger Stadium. That’s what I yeah, I’m not wait for the Orioles to get in the first place, for that to do that, you know, yeah, nonetheless, I digress, no, but I
Luke Jones 16:36
think there’s a path here for them to for people to pay attention during the week. Yes, when Kyle Bradish is making his next start, coming back from the i L and a 13 or 14 month recovery from Tommy John Tyler Wells is has, I think one more outing after he’s I think he was pitching Thursday, you know, kind of as the Orioles come home for the start of this home stand, as you and I are talking in real time, so he’s right around the corner too. You want to see, not that those guys are going to be like completely all the way back, but good enough signs,
Nestor Aparicio 17:10
right? Beavers is overmatched. And that was looks like a 21
Luke Jones 17:15
year old. And that was the great that was the great thing about both of their respective debuts. They actually looked like they belong. They didn’t like we didn’t see this. And it’s not a knock on coming into a pennant race either, right? It’s not a knock on. But like Jackson holiday, when we saw him called up April of 2024 10 days into the season, he was completely overwhelmed. Kobe Mayo looked completely overwhelmed last year when he was called up. Colton cows are two years ago, looked completely overwhelmed. And look, that’s not the bury those guys. I mean, Robinson was overwhelmed, exactly. But it is nice if you can choose one or the other. You’d rather have that guy taste some success right away. And we’ve seen that with beavers. I mean, I don’t know if you I don’t know if you saw this. You know me. I’m a big fan of MLB Network, Mark DeRosa, who, by the way, and I’m not holding my breath on this one, I think he would be an really interesting managerial candidate as kind of a middle of the road longtime former major leaguer. He’s coached or managed the US for the World Baseball Classic, and I think he is well versed enough in the modern era of analytics, that that’s the kind of guy, even though he’s not a experienced major league manager. But I digress. Anyway, he did a package on Samuel basayo after his first two major league games, and he was just singing the praises that he’s like, look, this kid’s just now 21 he’s going to scuffle some. He needs, he’ll need to be more selective and things of that nature. But he was just going through it, and he’s just like, you see it with this guy? Like, I’m not this isn’t me completely being out of hand, overreacting. You see it. And I’m assuming a lot of that is also he talks to a lot of people around the game. I’ve been saying to you for months, people around like, you know, the baseball America scouts, you know, people within the industry, around the game, have all asked about the sail when the Orioles have been in trade talks the last couple years, and the Orioles have said absolutely not, because everyone thinks this guy might be the grand piece when it comes to the bat now, whether he’s going to catch, whether He’s going to ultimately be more of a DH like David Ortiz, not saying he’s going to be David Ortiz, but like that, whether he’s going to be a first baseman, that is still to be determined. But the bat people love it. I mean, they absolutely love it. So, you know, I’m not saying that means he’s going to
Nestor Aparicio 19:38
hit 15 home runs. She’s going to question,
Luke Jones 19:41
but, yeah, but their offense has
Nestor Aparicio 19:44
been incredibly Bloom to note, and they need to bloom in darkness right absolutely the middle of the pennant wrestling in LA and you know places San Diego, they’re gonna, they’re gonna go in stadium where they’re the bad guys. They got Bill Simmons all pissed. Off at them in Boston this week. You know, like they need to be a spoiler here, but they need to. They’re not going to invigorate the city. They’re not even going to invigorate their own database feeling better to get them to invigorate you and me from perspective that in the offseason, we can speak with them about what they’ve done with some level of credibility, that there could be a bounce back next year, ifs and buts and candies and nuts? Well, I mean, you know, I mean, let’s think about this. These guys can’t stink to the finish line and play 380 ball the rest of
Luke Jones 20:31
the way. Because, again, as I’ve, as I’ve said to you the moves that we know they have to make, they can’t replace four of those guys also, right? There’s
Nestor Aparicio 20:41
no if. Trevor Rogers is this, and if Bradish comes back, at least they got two guys. They can feel way dark on, feel way better about, you know, Kramer in there and you start to color. Still need, still need to get a number one or a number two. Like, even, even if that, like, you still need a top half guy to go with them. I listen like I am not going to stop you from spending Mr. Rubenstein’s money, sure, this office. And again, I want to encourage
Luke Jones 21:04
you on paper. As we’ve said, on paper, there should be plenty of money to spend, even if we’re just going off of what they spent this past off their payroll, right? Exactly, you know, so,
Nestor Aparicio 21:14
but I guess for me, but they also got a billion aid into this. Let
Luke Jones 21:16
me, let me see these young guys trending in the right direction. Besides, who doesn’t need to hit 15 home runs over the last five weeks of the season? But can he hit eight with a 280 average? And he’s, you know, looks looks like he can be a pretty solid catcher that you’re going to have in tandem with Adley rutschman and and looking like can Dillon beavers. Can does he look the part of a guy that you’re going to say, All right, I’m not handing him a 162 game, you know, job, no questions asked, but I’m confident enough that he’s going to be a big part of that equation for me, because they’re going to need another outfielder. I mean, you look at this, cows are again, some projecting there. Hopefully he finishes on a high note. Hopefully he shows a good enough center field that you say he’s part of that equation. Tyler O’Neill, who is the biggest part of their payroll for next I mean, this is where you get tricky, and this is where I think you could end up seeing a trade, not him. I mean, you’re not gonna trade him, but when you consider some of the needs they have, outfield, obviously, pitching. I mean, especially now, I mean the bullpen, Felix, Batista. I mean, they’re gonna need a closer out here. Tyler wells could fit into the late inning picture. You can’t make him your closer, right? I mean that that’s just that’s not so they’re gonna have to go out and get that we’ve talked about starting pitching. I hope it goes better than Craig Kimber, sure, sure, which, if you recall, I wasn’t a fan of that from the day they did that. I’m like, I see it, but I don’t know. But the point is, you do kind of look at best case scenario for Tyler O’Neill within the reasonable realm of expectations, let’s say, let’s say, stays healthy enough to play 110 120, games next year, which is a lot for it based on his career, I’m guessing a lot of that is going to be serving as a D, H, you know, he’ll play some outfield. I’m not saying he has to, you know, burn his glove or anything. So you have him I’ve already mentioned. Besides, oh and the questions there, you have Kobe mayo, who I think is showing progress as he defensive first baseman. But you still come back to, like, is it going to hit enough to that he’s going to be an everyday player? You know, you just in a general set. I mean, Mount Castle, I think is either going to be traded or non tendered. I really have a tough time buying him on the team next year. That’s what I’m saying. Yeah. But my point is, I’ve just named three or four guys that kind of fit the they might have to DH a decent amount that there’s only one that gets to be busy. So my point is, maybe, maybe maybe Kobe Mayo gets traded this offseason as as part of something for a picture. Because I still think, I’m not saying his values as great as it was a year ago, but I don’t think it’s down here, either, like at the floor, either. I think he’s what he is. He’s young and unproven, and he’s flashed, but he’s also had some periods where, yeah, he struggled.
Nestor Aparicio 24:00
So she at the big league level. So you look at that,
Luke Jones 24:03
I mean, I will continue to say very little sign at the big league level. They need a they’re going to need a bat this offseason. Like, even if all these young guys are trending in the right direction, I think we, we’ve learned now and that bats got to be an outfield it’s got to be something that’s more dependable than Tyler O’Neill. So I’m not saying it’s going to be a guy that’s going to win MVP, like I would love them to go after Kyle schwarter, although he’s another D, H type, but that bat, I’m not holding my breath on that. I wish I’d like it to happen, because I think that would be he would also be a veteran, established trial diver. He’d be an established veteran who’s played in World Series and
Nestor Aparicio 24:42
all that 8 million too much to come in and,
Luke Jones 24:46
yeah, but I guess you know the point. And I’m kind of all over the place here, because they have a lot that they have to address place team, but this comes with other than gunner Henderson. I don’t know what they have. I mean, I’ll see one man more than. That, you know, like they have potential, but they have more than that. I mean, like, Jordan Westberg has already been on an all star team. Adley rutschman’s already been on two All Star teams. But in terms of, yes, a guy that you’re saying is
Nestor Aparicio 25:11
your extension guards me on my own premise of this whole thing, which is, I’m not here. I’m going to be like Mark McGuire. I’m going to be here not to talk about the past I got you. So I’m just saying. My point whatever they are the next six weeks is what they are. Yeah, that’s what that’s the value. I think it’s important next opening day,
Luke Jones 25:32
and that’s fair. I think it’s important. If it goes extremely well, my point is, I think it’s important not to just say, All right, well, we’re fine. You know what I mean?
Nestor Aparicio 25:42
24 against Adley rutschman, yeah, but I will if September looks like 2000 my issue
Luke Jones 25:50
with Adley rutschman At this point now is, I will say this, and this is where I want to credit him. His defense has been much better this year than it was last year, and the metrics kind of support that as well. My issue is he’s now dealing with another abdominal issue, like, look, pitching health is an entire industry wide crisis. It’s an epidemic whatever. There’s no way of there’s no euphemism that’s inappropriate, that said this team has had an inordinate number of soft tissue issues with hamstrings, and not just hamstrings, but long term hamstring issues. They’ve had obliques, they’ve had rib cages, they’ve had all of that. That’s my biggest question. One of my biggest questions for Mike Elias at this point is, are you looking at your strength and conditioning that there was some kind of gap or something that was lost this year, something that needs to be tightened up, because it’s one thing. When you’re talking about a 36 year old, dH, who’s on his last legs and he pulls his hamstring running the first base
Nestor Aparicio 26:51
or 56 year old, soon
Luke Jones 26:55
to be, 42 year old, guy with a bad shoulder, you know, like anything like that, but, you know, but you know, but it’s flat north but it’s what, but it’s another thing. When you’re talking about these guys that are 25 years old and like they’re suffering a hamstring, and then they’re done, like Jorge Mateo had a hamstring issue with just now finally going on a rehab assignment. I mean, we’ve talked westburg had a hamstring and then had a setback in the middle of his rehab. Like that, to me, is something that you’re never going to eliminate injuries. And yes, injury luck is a real thing, and we’ve seen that. I mean, I think back to Joe Flacco having James Hearst pushed into his knee right, ripped up his knee in 2015 so you’re not going to avoid injuries entirely, but when you have a lot of those types of injuries, I’m asking questions about what you’re doing strength and conditioning wise, and that, by the way, that doesn’t always mean the coaches and the trainers. Sometimes your players need to work harder. Then sometimes maybe it’s that. It’s that. So that’s a big question that I have, and I have that question for Adley rut. I mean, just when his bat was really looking as good as it had looked in a calendar year, is when he had the oblique back in what, mid June, I guess it was, you know, right after that West Coast, you know, out in Seattle, when he hit the heck out of the ball. So it’s been a crazy skit in this era of young players. It’s gone horribly. It’s gone so horribly in that way that, again, elbows and shoulders for pitchers, the person that that solves this is going to
Nestor Aparicio 28:23
make bang. Well, look to five years ago, if you’d have told me, Rodriguez, Bradish, Batista, all of these guys would well, be not a factor at all because of injury to shame and that rutschman would be not good enough. Westberg would be more injured. Cows are would be so, so Henderson would be not really ascending, would be still looking to come back. And at the kind of
Luke Jones 28:51
gunners had a really good year since the first month to six weeks, and he was basically Well, I think, I think we’re going to find out that when you and I don’t even know if there’s going to be, like, a this grand proclamation about it, I think when you’re talking about a rib cage injury for a hitter in spring training, I think there’s a lot that shuts down. Strength and Conditioning wise, gunner’s numbers are absolutely fine. Other than the home runs are down. I mean, he’s he’s hitting a lot of doubles the what his walk rate is better than other guys. Since June, he’s been way better against left handed pitching than he was the first two months of the season. Everything, his defense has been way better than it was last year. We want to talk about six of these guys, sure, offseason, sure. No question. I mean, there’s a lot that they have to play for. And again, these young guys, like some of this is also, this is why, and you mentioned this in passing, and I’ll address it right now. Tony mancillino, I think, has done a perfectly okay, adequate job as a. A caretaker, that an interim manager is no like before anyone asks, no you need, you need to bring in a legit command, or a respect commanding kind of manager that in the way that buck Showalter when he came in,
Nestor Aparicio 30:17
is that in your house, somebody that’s already managed,
Luke Jones 30:22
if it had aligned a year later. Terry Francona would have been perfect, but he’s in Cincinnati, so I digress.
Nestor Aparicio 30:30
Tito’s unavailable,
Luke Jones 30:31
yeah, and look, I don’t, and you know me, I don’t want to be a hypocrite here, because I’m always the type that said, you know, don’t, don’t hire a name just because the fans know who they are, and so that’s that’s me. That’s my way of couching this and saying it doesn’t need to necessarily be someone that, you know, bucks show, Walter like, and I’m just using bucket just because name recognition, but it needs to be someone that makes these guys a little uncomfortable. And what I mean by that is not by like berating them or belittling them. But I’ve said this to you from the moment that Hyde was was tossed off the boat. I want someone to come in that doesn’t give a you know what, that all these guys are former top 100 prospects, and that doesn’t doesn’t mean that he’s not going to respect them as young men or but like they are what they are. You guys are coming off of a last place like all that. This
Nestor Aparicio 31:23
is so giving them all a free pass, saying I would start for sure, right? So my thoughts saying what you are in September is what you are. So my thought on that is, to me, or any other general, I want all these guys to, like, step up knowing that that’s coming, whether a new role, that is the
Luke Jones 31:38
reality. Sure, you know, and I think, you know, I’ve talked about this with you, I think there. I don’t know this for certain, but there’s probably something to be said about making a trade that deals someone in that core, that shakes things up a little bit to basically
Nestor Aparicio 31:56
sours, yeah? I mean, I mean, sure, but, but, oh, he was, but I’m not even necessarily one of the bros in that group. Yeah, no, no question.
Luke Jones 32:03
But I’m not even talking about like, oh, well, this we’re trading this guy because we’re down on him. You know, it might just be okay. We we still like this player, but if we can go get someone’s number one or number two starting pitcher that has two years of club, and I’m just, I’m speaking in generalities right now, then I’m not so sure it’s not the worst thing to shake this group up a little bit and to let them know that, hey, this
Nestor Aparicio 32:24
isn’t and that would be happening. Why? Because they’d be willing to pay this picture, and they’d be willing to pay a team that’s looking to get rid of Paul ski.
Luke Jones 32:33
Because it always depends. It always depends, how much are they How much are they making right now, how much are they going to make the next couple years? Are they under club control? Is it a case like Zac efland, where it’s maybe more of a veteran pitcher that has a couple years ago? How about
Nestor Aparicio 32:47
are they going to be any good?
Luke Jones 32:49
Well, what you mean the Orioles? No, oh yeah. I don’t care what I’m saying. You’re not if you’re going to trade Colton cows, or you’re not trading Colton cows are for some teams, number five starter, Colton cows still has a lot of value, regardless of what he looks, of how he’s playing, we’re gonna find that. I mean, I’m just telling you he does because he’s got, because he has what four years of teaching has more
Nestor Aparicio 33:10
value, especially
Luke Jones 33:13
when well, but ask the Seattle Mariners what their lineup looked like the last couple
Nestor Aparicio 33:17
years. Look, you know, we’ll ask the Seattle Mariners if they want to send one of their pitchers over here, what are they going to look at to fleece? Do they want ruchman? Do they want cows? Or do they want holiday? You brought it? Do they want me?
Luke Jones 33:31
You know, I would be completely open to trading Adley rutschman in the right deal at this point, completely because I have the style as Adley rutschman is now two years away, well from free agency. And you
Nestor Aparicio 33:45
wonder how any of these guys get dealt if you had no intention of giving gunner Anderson $400 million now’s the time
Luke Jones 33:52
there is the man, whatever that thing is, you know? Sure, sure. Well, and that, to me, is where I bring up rutchman. And let me be clear, this isn’t me saying because I’m down on Adley rutschman over because of the last year that I’m just going to give them away for spare parts or a reliever or something. But it’s if you, if you have the right deal, that comes together. Yeah, I trade them because I’m because I have no interest in extending him on a long term contract. There you go. I mean, I just don’t you’ve already made the match I have, I have plenty of interest whether I’m going to be able to do it or not. If I’m speaking as a fictional General Manager with an unlimited budget. I have plenty of interest in extending Gunnar Henderson. I have strong interest in extending Jordan Westberg, although I, you know, come on, man, you got to stay on the field. But he’s dealing
Nestor Aparicio 34:37
Hollywood Brown was sure, you know, we just weren’t going to sign him. Orlando, they
Luke Jones 34:41
weren’t going to sign him. Orlando Brandon. And then they, you know, that year it hurt. But then they drafted zay flowers, who’s a better version of Hollywood, and they like him enough to put him in there. And zay might be the guy that gets the contract, although I don’t know, man, I look at wide receiver contracts now, and I’m just
Nestor Aparicio 34:57
like, zay flowers did the thing right in front of them. You’re. Over here. Okay? Luke Jones, is here. We’re at fatally. My hips are sore and I need to sit down. Dr, Steve, I love you. La, chiropractic, we’re fatally. It’s all brought to you by the Maryland lottery. I am eating my 27 favorite things today is Day 10 on the countdown. We’re here at fatally, and I will be eating the shrimp salad and the fried oysters. I’m going to have a crab cake too. Don’t tell anybody. You mean, you tell everybody, because I’m going to eat it. But you know, I did a crab cake on the eastern shore at the old salties in Hooper’s Island, partially because I just think everybody should drive there, because it’s so beautiful, and also to educate themselves about Harriet Tubman, about the birds, the sanctuary, all the amazing things over there, and the marshland. But like everybody knows how good the crab cakes here are, so I’m going to feature the shrimp salad, because really good. I’ve had a shrimp salad, and I love the fried oysters here, and I love being at the market. So we’re here at Lexington market in beautiful downtown Baltimore. It’s all brought to you by our friends at GBMC got a new sponsor out there. They’re trying to, trying to get me to the hospital, dude, like, check up, colonoscopy. It
36:12
was, take care of that stuff. I know. I know
Nestor Aparicio 36:16
that’s why I’m here. All right, I’m gonna go eat now. We’re gonna come back. We’re gonna talk some football. I have RJ Shepherd coming over from classic five and from Forest Park golf. I’ve been threatening him with a crab cake. He went to BMW. He’s got a son. They love the Orioles, so it’s going to be a great crab cake tour stop with RJ Shepherd. Dami is going to come by. I’m going to feed her delicious shrimp salad, which isn’t too mayonnaise. It’s not mushy gushy. It’s fresh. Because, you know, we’re at fade lease the sign up here says read that there are fish come from the best schools. It’s a dad joke. Back for more word fadely. Stay with us. We’re Baltimore positive. You.
