The Week in Chat: 5/28/12

Dan Szymborski, Fangraphs.com

12:05 Comment From Dauer With Power
Still a lot of deep-engine work left to do to turn the O's into a winning franchise, but Dan Duquette's got a winning team now. What do you want to see him do at the deadline?

12:06 Dan Szymborski:
I expect the O's to be a bit off the pace by that point, hopefully pressure from the brainuntrustworthy upstairs won't make them go all-in now.

12:29 Comment From sds
Dan, if Dylan Bundy could replicate his early-season single-A performances (3 IP, 0 hits, 5 Ks) at the MLB level every five days, how valuable would that be? More than a LAIM like Bruce Chen?

12:30 Dan Szymborski:
That could be useful in very creative hands, but baseball's thinking doesn't usually allow that kind of experimentation. Also, you usually get creative with a guy with a more limited skillset - the O's probably aren't going to have Bundy in the majors until they think he's ready for a full workload

12:55 Comment From The Oriole Bird
Someone in the Orioles' front office was reading your last chat. I asked about Xavier Avery, and they called him up. He has not disappointed. Do you think he'll actually try to steal a base this year?

12:55 Dan Szymborski:
Hasn't he already? Didn't he have one over the weekend?

1:02 Comment From The Oriole Bird
Over/ under on Orioles' true-talent win percentage, if you include soon to return players, like Reynolds and Reimold: .440?

1:02 Dan Szymborski:
81. Lower if we're including injuries here.

1:22 Comment From STiVo
Machado's development seems on track. How will the O's screw this up?

1:23 Dan Szymborski:
They could always decide he's too tall to be in the middle infield or something and move him to 3rd

1:31 Comment From Steve
Wouldn't the Orioles want Youkilis? What could they trade for him?

1:32 Dan Szymborski:
They probably wouldn't trade much. At least he can field 3B.

2:15 Comment From Dan Szymborski
Jason Hammel and Jake Arrieta. Both underrated?

2:15 Dan Szymborski:
I think they're both about rated now.

Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

Aaron (Baltimore, MD)
The Orioles are going to throw the money at Adam Jones right?.....RIGHT?

Jerry Crasnick (2:00 PM)
Aaron, I have to think they'll try. There aren't many center fielders that young with an all-around skill set like Jones has. But Matt Kemp set the standard with an eight-year, $160 million deal, so Jones isn't going to come cheaply.

Jack Moore, Fangraphs.com

12:42 Comment From Clark Griswold
Adam Jones- Over/Under 32 home runs?

12:42 Jack Moore:
Push? Right around there, over if you put a gun to my head.

Jim Callis, Baseball America

Kyle (Dallas):
If the 2012 Milb POY was picked today, who would get your vote?

Jim Callis:
Dylan Bundy. Would probably rank him No. 1 on my overall prospects list as well.

Richard Z (North Brunswick, NJ):
All of the mock drafts I've seen so far have the Orioles taking a college pitcher (Gausman or Zimmer). Is that the general feeling?

Jim Callis:
Yes. Can't see them taking Zunino with Wieters on hand. Correa would be tempting, but they have Machado. I think a college arm will be the top guy on their board at No. 4.

Tyler (Harrodsburg, Ky):
Does Jurickson Profar or Trevor Bauer have any say in that #1 prospect ranking (currently) or do you think Bundy is clearly above everyone else in the minors?

Jim Callis:
Sure they do. As of today, I'd take Bundy. Profar would be No. 2 on my list.

Doug Thorburn, Baseball Prospectus

dianagram (VORGville):
Best "non-pitcher" pitching performance you've ever seen? Chris Davis?

Doug Thorburn:
Best? That's a tough call, but Davis' changeup was filthy, and you rarely see that kind of secondary stuff from a non-pitcher. The most comical position player to take the mound had to be Jose Canseco

Sky (The Roc, NY):
Have you noticed anything qualitatively different with Adam Jones this year? New approach, new mechanics, better at anything?

Doug Thorburn:
The glaring statistical difference is in the HR/FB rate. His other rates are relatively close to career marks, but more of his flies are finding the seats. He is also swinging at fewer pitches overall, which suggest a change of approach. He could be sitting dead-red on certain pitches early in the count and laying off anything that does not fit a certain profile until he gets two strikes, and perhaps he has picked up no a particular trend that pitchers had established against him. This is another area where batters who do their homework can reap an advantage.

As Crash Davis said, "If this guy starts me off with the breaking ball ... I'm taking him downtown"

Ben Badler, Baseball America

@Jaypers413 (IL):
Do you believe the Orioles made the right decision to promote Bundy by one level up instead of two?

Ben Badler:
I don't think it's going to make much of a difference, but I usually do believe in a one level at a time schedule.

Matt (VA):
Dylan Bundy is facing his first real stiff test Saturay vs Salem. How much attention should we pay attention to it?

Ben Badler:
Just enjoy the ride. I can't imagine a guy with his combination of stuff and polish running into much difficulty.

Kyle (Indianapolis):
I know everyone has raved about the polish of Dylan Bundy, but shouldn't that be somewhat expected given the fact that he was a fairly old high schooler. Bundy turns 20 in November in comparison to someone like Mike Trout (I know comparing a pitcher and hitter) who turns 21 in August. They are only 16 months apart, but Trout has experienced 2+ years in the minors. Shouldn't Bundy be more polished or mature than any other high schooler in last year's class.

Ben Badler:
He was old for his grade, but the guy has been about as flawless as you can get and is doing it with arguably the best pure stuff in the minors. He's the best pitching prospect in baseball and he might even be the best prospect overall, although Jurickson Profar has a pretty compelling argument.

Keith Law, ESPN.com

Jon V. (Cleveland, OH)
How do Profar, Machado and Lindor compare? How would you rank the three in each of the 5 major scouting categories?

Klaw (1:30 PM)
Profar and Lindor are no-doubt shortstops, both better runners than Machado. Machado is much bigger and I think he'll produce a lot more offense, but there's a non-negligible probability he moves to third base.

Studebaker (NJ)
Would you have skipped Bundy to AA? Does he need a challenge, or is there no rush?

Klaw (1:38 PM)
I would have started him in AA. Throttling his innings AND starting him at a level for which he was overqualified made - and still makes - no sense.

Scotty D (Rochester, NY)
Given O's pitching coach Rick Peterson's reputation for mishandling young pitchers, what are the chances that Bundy can overcome this coach's tutoring and emerge as a #1 starter by 2014?

Klaw (1:40 PM)
Does he have that reputation? I don't think I've ever heard that.

Shoshana (Boston)
Hey Keith any thoughts on X. Avery? Was always known as a tools guy, but really improved his BB% in Az and has carried it through to this year. SSS obviously but he's been fun to watch in Bal

Klaw (2:03 PM)
At bats in Arizona were pretty poor. I'm inclined to say still an extra outfielder, but there's at least cause for optimism.

Chris (AZ)
Will Gausman be gone by the time the Royals pick? How about Zimmer?

Klaw (2:24 PM)
Baltimore is the only team ahead of KC who might take Gausman.

Jay (Florida)
How do you project Jonathan Schoop? All-star/starter/bench guy?

Klaw (2:26 PM)
Above-average regular. Not a SS, though.

Matt Klaasen, Fangraphs.com

12:20 Comment From Andrew
Can Matusz keep it up?

12:21 Matt Klaassen:
You mean keep up being okay? Sure... Not that excited about him being average, but I guess it's an improvement.

12:43 Comment From Andrew
Are you bullish on Matusz?

12:44 Matt Klaassen:
which animal stands for apathy?

1:09 Comment From inquiringmindswanttoknow
Who wins AL East?

1:09 Matt Klaassen:
Rays. Except that I've jinxed them now...