As was mentioned on today's episode, I've put together a 2023 Locked On Orioles Fan Survey!
I wanna hear your thoughts on the podcast and on the 2023 Orioles season!
All answers are anonymous, and some of them will contribute to an episode next week.
Here’s what the Orioles and John Angelos get this year:
Revenue sharing: $110 mil
National TV deal: $60 mil
BAMTECH payout: $30 mil
MASN deal: ~$40 million
Gameday sales: ~$80 mil
That’s ~$320 million this year that they’re bringing in.
Still think the team isn’t profitable???
It’s the second inning on opening day and David Rubenstein is drinking a ginger ale live on air and talking about the rights of the 13 colonies
We’re so back
THREAD:
Opposing teams' announcers calling the Orioles biggest moments of the first half of the 2023 season:
Starting with Adley Rutschman's bases-clearing double in Chicago
The “Free Kevin Brown” chants were heard LOUD AND PROUD on the radio broadcast.
And I don’t know if it was on purpose, but Melanie was silent for a few seconds and that was all you could hear.
Hell yeah, Birdland.
The Orioles just swept the Blue Jays in Toronto for the first time since 2005.
They have the second best record in baseball.
And John Means will pitch in extended spring training on Tuesday.
Vibe check: incredible.
The worst part is we can’t just turn on the TV and watch the Orioles again tomorrow.
It becomes a huge part of your life for 6 months and then poof, we’ll see you in February
Remember when the A’s intentionally walked Adley Rutschman so they could pitch to Ryan Mountcastle with the bases loaded and then he hit a grand slam that traveled approximately 7,000 feet?
That was funny.
Everyone's favorite thread is BACK!
Opposing teams' announcers calling big Orioles moments.
Starting with Cedric Mullins' home run to blow the game open on Opening Day
The three homers that Félix Bautista has allowed this year:
-Adam Duvall (best hitter in baseball the first two weeks of the season)
-Aaron Judge (reigning MVP)
-Mike Ford (what the hell)
Adam Frazier has 6 home runs in 48 games this season. His career high is 10.
He also sports a career-high 10.1% BB rate, and a career-low 9.5% K rate. And he was already one of the toughest guys to strike out in MLB.
I’d say this signing is working out.
Your updated Orioles projected Opening Day rotation:
1. Corbin Burnes
2. Grayson Rodriguez
3. Dean Kremer
4. Cole Irvin
5. Tyler Wells
Depth: the friends we made along the way
Saturday’s game against the Red Sox is on FOX.
Let’s clinch this thing before then. Kevin, Ben, and Jim deserve to call that moment, and we deserve to enjoy their call.
DL Hall's Double-A debut was an absolute dandy. Fastball was up at 99 🔥🔥🔥 and the breaking ball was FILTHY.
4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 10 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP
All 10 strikeouts from Hall's first start of 2021:
So the mailbag has been put on hold.
Tomorrow’s episode will be more focused on a short man who failed the Bar exam and thinks Oriole Park is only a concert venue.
Damn it’s almost like Félix Bautista’s performance in an exhibition game has no impact whatsoever on how he will perform for the rest of the season 🙄🙄🙄
Good morning Orioles fans.
Before you all lose your collective minds, please remember that neither Yennier Canó (pitched 4 of the last 5 days) nor Félix Bautista (25+ pitches each of the last two days) will be available out of the bullpen today!
Of all the impactful players that Mike Elias and staff have “found” since 2019, Tyler Wells has been the most impressive.
Rarely do you ever find an above-league-average starter in the Rule 5 Draft, let alone a guy who has the lowest WHIP in baseball.
Lowest strikeout rate in MLB among hitters with at least 80 PA this season:
1. Luis Arraez 6.9%
2. Steven Kwan 7.6%
3. Ryan O'Hearn 8.3%
Now let's look at the average exit velocity for those three hitters:
Arraez: 86.3 mph
Kwan: 84.4 mph
O'Hearn: 92.1 mph
O'Hearn is special.
The Orioles just chased Stephen Strasburg from the game with a 5-run 5th.
Here's how the O's acquired the lineup that did that:
1. Waivers
2. Rule 5 Draft
3. Waivers
4. Waivers
5. Trade for Int. bonus pool $
6. 3rd-round pick
7. 2nd-round pick
8. Waivers
9. Minor league deal
The Orioles on pace to lose 106 games this season--and in their previous two full seasons, they lost 115 and 108 games, in 2018 and 2019. This is unprecedented in AL history. When the players' union cites non-competitive behavior, the Orioles could be Exhibit A. It's just wrong.
Thinking about the rotation of:
Grayson Rodriguez
DL Hall
Legit FA/Trade acquisition
Kyle Bradish
Bruce Zimmermann
And that’s just at the start of next season. Then John Means returns… 🔜
One of the these players will make the Orioles opening day roster over Jackson Holliday:
Tyler Nevin, Nick Maton, Kolten Wong, or Ryan McKenna
Read that again and tell me where it makes sense.
Félix Bautista has thrown 208 splitters this year and has allowed only 5 hits on the pitch.
Opposing batters are hitting .066 against his splitter this season. Lmao.