July Banter 2025

[snowfan]

The forecast for KMWN is downright refreshing. 
 

 

[BxEngine]

7 hours ago, RaleighNC said:

John Burns

Hello everyone. I am writing with sad news. My father, John Burns, who you know as your moderator jburns, passed away on Monday at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer that returned after he beat lymphoma in 2020. AmericanWX was really important to him, and I know he considered many of you to be friends. He became highly involved on this site after he suffered a heart attack about 15 years ago, and this became a key outlet for him and his love and impressive amateur knowledge of meteorology.

Whenever there was going to be a storm in North Carolina, I had two sources to check: WRAL and my Dad. I remember him texting me before an ice storm was expected to hit Raleigh. No "hello," no "how are you."  Just:  "get a damn generator." He was absolutely never happier than when a snowstorm actually hit. He was known to drive hundreds of miles just to get into a blizzard. 

Thank you to all of you who made his later years fun and engaging. He loved it here. He loved arguing, he loved the weather, and he LOVED the ban hammer.

John D. Burns
Son of jburns

Raleigh, NC
 

I know it was discussed in your obs thread but wanted to share the post from other subs. He was a genuinely good man, gonna be missed. 

[mappy]

10 minutes ago, BxEngine said:

I know it was discussed in your obs thread but wanted to share the post from other subs. He was a genuinely good man, gonna be missed. 

Randy will be posting a forum announcement with the news. Sad to hear about it. 

[nw baltimore wx]

If there are any cycling fans, and even for those that hate cyclists , some info on the return of the MD Cycling Classic on September 6th.

[Chris78]

I can't remember the grass ever being this thick heading into August as it is right now. 

It's not that it's growing fast but there's just so much of it.

[GramaxRefugee]

13 hours ago, Chris78 said:

I can't remember the grass ever being this thick heading into August as it is right now. 

It's not that it's growing fast but there's just so much of it.

I was thinking this last week. I usually set the cutting height on my mower low in spring, and then when the hot/dry comes along I start cutting it higher. Typically in June. But this year I'm still stuck on the low cut. It think in a week or 2 it will slow down. At least at my location.

[WxUSAF]

Embarrassing loss

[Chris78]

The fall of the Orioles from just 2 years ago is really unbelievable. 

I watched a good portion of the game tonight. 

Playing the atrocious Rockies.

From coughing up a 4 run lead ,to Holiday getting picked off first after a leadoff single, to only getting 1 hit in inning 3- 6 after having their starter on the ropes after hitting 4 home runs in the first 2 inning, they just flat out stink.

They will probably end up 30 wins worse this year than 2 years ago. Pretty harsh fall.

Yes, the pitching has issues but that is something that could be fixed with a trade and a few off season acquisitions.

There young core is either all having an off year or have been overrated/over valued.

I'm more concerned about their line up moving forward than the pitching.  Look at all their batting averages and OBP. It's not good enough.

Unless your heating 40+ Homer's batting .210 isn't good enough.

I don't know where they go from here but the line up needs help in 2026 and beyond. 

Oh and somehow Adley went from one of the best catchers in baseball to below average on offense and Defense since the all-star break last year. Head scratcher 

[nw baltimore wx]

If Adley returns by the trade deadline, he’ll be dealt. And then he’ll have a great year next year.

[Maestrobjwa]

2 hours ago, nw baltimore wx said:

If Adley returns by the trade deadline, he’ll be dealt. And then he’ll have a great year next year.

What is this take? Lol C'mon man...they're not trading Adley or any of our other young players! This trade deadline is more about expiring contracts--Elias said that the other day, actually.

[Maestrobjwa]

3 hours ago, Chris78 said:

The fall of the Orioles from just 2 years ago is really unbelievable. 

I watched a good portion of the game tonight. 

Playing the atrocious Rockies.

From coughing up a 4 run lead ,to Holiday getting picked off first after a leadoff single, to only getting 1 hit in inning 3- 6 after having their starter on the ropes after hitting 4 home runs in the first 2 inning, they just flat out stink.

They will probably end up 30 wins worse this year than 2 years ago. Pretty harsh fall.

Yes, the pitching has issues but that is something that could be fixed with a trade and a few off season acquisitions.

There young core is either all having an off year or have been overrated/over valued.

I'm more concerned about their line up moving forward than the pitching.  Look at all their batting averages and OBP. It's not good enough.

Unless your heating 40+ Homer's batting .210 isn't good enough.

I don't know where they go from here but the line up needs help in 2026 and beyond. 

Oh and somehow Adley went from one of the best catchers in baseball to below average on offense and Defense since the all-star break last year. Head scratcher 

Coaching. I am becoming more and more convinced that this is on the coaching and the organizational philosophy of hitting. They need to clean house in that area with the exception of Britton, Chirinos, and Mabry. We need a complete reset--I refuse to believe this is on the players suddenly not being good. May 2022 to mid-2024 wasn't some fluke, imo

[LordBaltimore]

On 7/24/2025 at 9:35 AM, nw baltimore wx said:

If there are any cycling fans, and even for those that hate cyclists , some info on the return of the MD Cycling Classic on September 6th.

Lived in station north for the last two. They never did a good job announcing these things outside the cycling community so every time I woke up boxed in. Last one they towed my car a few blocks away off of St. Paul. Not the worst thing that went on in that neighborhood but still 

[Chris78]

1 hour ago, Maestrobjwa said:

What is this take? Lol C'mon man...they're not trading Adley or any of our other young players! This trade deadline is more about expiring contracts--Elias said that the other day, actually.

I doubt they trade him at this trade deadline but the writing is on the wall. 

They have Basillo at Norfolk and their top 2 picks in the draft wete catchers.

Says alot about what they think of Adley

[Chris78]

1 hour ago, Maestrobjwa said:

Coaching. I am becoming more and more convinced that this is on the coaching and the organizational philosophy of hitting. They need to clean house in that area with the exception of Britton, Chirinos, and Mabry. We need a complete reset--I refuse to believe this is on the players suddenly not being good. May 2022 to mid-2024 wasn't some fluke, imo

Yeap. Makes you wonder what the hell is going on

[Maestrobjwa]

7 hours ago, Chris78 said:

I doubt they trade him at this trade deadline but the writing is on the wall. 

They have Basillo at Norfolk and their top 2 picks in the draft wete catchers.

Says alot about what they think of Adley

I don't think that means they've given up on Adley yet. (And the 1st pick is likely to become an OF, imo). Now I'm thinking they eventually alternate Basallo and Adley at DH...

[nw baltimore wx]

1 hour ago, Maestrobjwa said:

I don't think that means they've given up on Adley yet. (And the 1st pick is likely to become an OF, imo). Now I'm thinking they eventually alternate Basallo and Adley at DH...

Trading him doesn’t mean they are giving up on him. They’ve got Basallo at AAA and Adley is going to want a multi year deal. If he’s healthy and we can get something good in return, trade him.

[Maestrobjwa]

19 minutes ago, nw baltimore wx said:

Trading him doesn’t mean they are giving up on him. They’ve got Basallo at AAA and Adley is going to want a multi year deal. If he’s healthy and we can get something good in return, trade him.

Err...yeah it kinda does because there's still like 3 years left on his rookie deal, man! And I do not believe Adley is going to wanna negotiate any early extension right now given his struggles. He is a piece of the young core that you don't want to get rid of unless you're sure he's a bust or whatever (for me next year will be telling). And why can't we can have Adley and Basallo together? Basallo is not gonna be ready to be the main catcher from the jump, imo

[WVclimo]

Pretty sure Rutschman is a free agent at the end of the 2027 season. Which leaves two seasons to try and contend with him.

The Orioles probably don’t want to wait until his walk year to deal him if they hope to get back a decent package.  Which means offering him sometime between now and next year’s deadline.

Of course, this precludes them extending him.  Because they have shown no willingness to do that with any of their players.

[Chris78]

3 hours ago, Maestrobjwa said:

I don't think that means they've given up on Adley yet. (And the 1st pick is likely to become an OF, imo). Now I'm thinking they eventually alternate Basallo and Adley at DH...

At this point there's not much positive to say about Elias/ and ownership. Their  unwilliness to lock up there home grown talent is disheartening and I think the ship has sailed on Gunner now too. ( too extend him)

Kansas City locked up Bobby Witt to a deal that will be pretty team friendly in the future.

Smart on KC's part.

[Maestrobjwa]

9 minutes ago, Chris78 said:

At this point there's not much positive to say about Elias/ and ownership. Their  unwilliness to lock up there home grown talent is disheartening and I think the ship has sailed on Gunner now too. ( too extend him)

Kansas City locked up Bobby Witt to a deal that will be pretty team friendly in the future.

Smart on KC's part.

Unwilling? Think about the situation: Gunnar, Westy, and Holliday are all Scott Boras clients. Boras does not do early extensions, and his clients follow that everytime. Bobby Witt Jr. is not a Boras client. Any early extension you hear of? That's not a Boras client--I don't know why some of ya can't understand that.

And for Adley--would you really wanna negotiate an extension this past off-season with how your second half was last year? So that's on hold too. So who do we have...Cowser? Too early! 

Tell me what of that is the (still new) ownership's fault.

[Maestrobjwa]

1 hour ago, WVclimo said:

Pretty sure Rutschman is a free agent at the end of the 2027 season. Which leaves two seasons to try and contend with him.

The Orioles probably don’t want to wait until his walk year to deal him if they hope to get back a decent package.  Which means offering him sometime between now and next year’s deadline.

Of course, this precludes them extending him.  Because they have shown no willingness to do that with any of their players.

Because Scott Boras has no willingness, lol

[Chris78]

12 minutes ago, Maestrobjwa said:

Unwilling? Think about the situation: Gunnar, Westy, and Holliday are all Scott Boras clients. Boras does not do early extensions, and his clients follow that everytime. Bobby Witt Jr. is not a Boras client. Any early extension you hear of? That's not a Boras client--I don't know why some of ya can't understand that.

And for Adley--would you really wanna negotiate an extension this past off-season with how your second half was last year? So that's on hold too. So who do we have...Cowser? Too early! 

Tell me what of that is the (still new) ownership's fault.

I'm not getting into this with you again lol.

At the end of the day no extensions have been done. It's on Elias and ownership to make it happen if they want it to happen.

[Maestrobjwa]

2 minutes ago, Chris78 said:

I'm not getting into this with you again lol.

At the end of the day no extensions have been done. It's on Elias and ownership to make it happen if they want it to happen.

Neither am I because I think your argument is illogical. It's just not been possible or feasible. Boras. Does. Not. Do. Early. Extensions. If it were so easy you tell me why practically NOBODY has done with his players. You answer me that and I'll concede.

[Chris78]

Just now, Maestrobjwa said:

Neither am I because I think the argument is illogical. It's just not possible. Boras. Does. Not. Do. Early. Extensions. If it were so easy you tell me why practically NOBODY has done with his players. You answer me that and I'll concede.

Look it up. I just did. He's known for taking clients to FA but he has done early extensions.  I'm not going to take the time to type all the players out but he has done for some big time players over the years. 

[Maestrobjwa]

14 minutes ago, Chris78 said:

Look it up. I just did. He's known for taking clients to FA but he has done early extensions.  I'm not going to take the time to type all the players out but he has done for some big time players over the years. 

And those have been rare. I looked at the list...what didn't happen was those players being signed after their rookie season. Longest I saw on cbssports was a Year 3 extension. I'm assuming that's what you meant by what you said about Gunnar that they should've signed him in his?

Now if you make that case ya gotta remember Rubenstein was not in control then. That was on Angelos They were in full control this past off-season. But the more I think about it...the timing wasn't right. Here's what I mean:

Adley: Terrible second half

Gunnar: Bad second half (errors, sloppy play)

Westy: Bad second half because of injury.

Now...if you were any one of them, would you wanna negotiate after that kind of a dip? I meansure the team could reach out, but why would any of those three?

[Chris78]

17 minutes ago, Maestrobjwa said:

And those have been rare. I looked at the list...what didn't happen was those players being signed after their rookie season. Longest I saw on cbssports was a Year 3 extension. I'm assuming that's what you meant by what you said about Gunnar that they should've signed him in his?

Now if you make that case ya gotta remember Rubenstein was not in control then. That was on Angelos They were in full control this past off-season. But the more I think about it...the timing wasn't right. Here's what I mean:

Adley: Terrible second half

Gunnar: Bad second half (errors, sloppy play)

Westy: Bad second half because of injury.

Now...if you were any one of them, would you wanna negotiate after that kind of a dip? I meansure the team could reach out, but why would any of those three?

Rubenstein has had full control for over a year now.

[Maestrobjwa]

2 hours ago, Chris78 said:

Rubenstein has had full control for over a year now.

But that's what I mean, though--they gained full control around June--just before last season started teetering. So realistically it's not like they could come in just before the second half drop off and sign everybody real quick, lol So really this past off-season was the first real opportunity to extend somebody. But...again was the timing for both sides right?