How are Orioles’ lineups constructed? | MAILBAG

Question: I know Brandon Hyde writes out the lineups but how much say does Mike Elias have on a daily basis of making these lineup decisions? I get analytics and all but at what point does Hyde and or Elias just say let’s play our best players no matter what the analytics say. From: Dan Wolf

Answer: Dan, Mike Elias said on Tuesday that he doesn’t construct lineups. That it’s up to Hyde. Elias said the analytics department prepares information for Hyde’s use. Hyde said on Wednesday that he would play the right-handed hitters acquired over the winter early in the season.

If things don’t get better, I would expect changes in the roster, but they’ve still only played barely 10 percent of the season.

Question: Compared to recent Orioles’ waiver acquisitions, Scott Blewett‘s recent MLB record is quite respectable. He was acquired for waiver claim money alone. Yet in the vast majority of previous waiver acquisitions, the O’s seemed so anxious to get guys with embarrassingly poor statistics (e.g. Matt Krook’s ERA of 24.75 in his previous four innings of MLB experience) that they hastened to either trade minor leaguers or pay what was presumably above-waiver prices for them. Why would there be concerns that other clubs were so eager to obtain these underachievers that the team chose not to wait for the waiver process to clear? And why were they so unconcerned with losing out on Blewett, a potentially good addition to a decimated pitching staff, that they were content to wait to claim him? From: Steven Cohen

Answer: Steve, I think the difference in the two cases was timing. Krook was acquired in February in the early days of spring training when there are many players claimed off waivers. In April, rosters are tighter, and there are fewer roster changes made than later in the season. It’s much easier to get a player through waivers now than in February.

In the case of Krook, the Orioles didn’t want to risk not acquiring him and weren’t afraid to pay $100,000 instead of the $20,000 waiver claim. It didn’t work out well for the Orioles, but as you well know, they’ve made some excellent waiver claims, specifically Ramón Urías.  

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.