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***Official 2018 Baltimore Orioles Thread*** Pitching Can’t Get Any Worse (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter avoiding injuries
- Start date
Koya
Footballguy
Any thoughts on the upcoming season? The Orioles have looked pretty bad in spring training, especially the starting rotation. Even though the games don't count, it has to be a concern. Miguel Gonzalez in particular has looked bad in just about every outing.
The Orioles signed Hyun Soo Kim to from the Korean leagues to be the starting LF. He has not looked good at all. The latest word is the Orioles are trying to buy out part of his contract so they can release him.
Gausman is going to start the season on the DL. Paredes, Matusz, and maybe McFarland will join him. I think Weiter's elbow soreness is ok and he will avoid the DL.
On the plus side, the latest Rule 5 player, Joey Rickard, looks like a very useful player. He has speed and an arm. So if he doesn't hit, he at least will be a David Lough type player. He is hitting well in spring training, but that may not translate to the regular season.
I am not very optimistic about the Orioles this year. The will hit and score a lot of runs, but the key to the season is the starting pitching.
The Orioles signed Hyun Soo Kim to from the Korean leagues to be the starting LF. He has not looked good at all. The latest word is the Orioles are trying to buy out part of his contract so they can release him.
Gausman is going to start the season on the DL. Paredes, Matusz, and maybe McFarland will join him. I think Weiter's elbow soreness is ok and he will avoid the DL.
On the plus side, the latest Rule 5 player, Joey Rickard, looks like a very useful player. He has speed and an arm. So if he doesn't hit, he at least will be a David Lough type player. He is hitting well in spring training, but that may not translate to the regular season.
I am not very optimistic about the Orioles this year. The will hit and score a lot of runs, but the key to the season is the starting pitching.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
They'll hit a lot of HRs, strike out a bunch, walk very little, give up a lot of HRs, and the bullpen will have to pitch 4+ innings many nights. There's very little team speed, so manufacturing runs is out. And the think the outfield defense is a big liability.
I hope I'm wrong, but I think .500 might be wishful thinking
I hope I'm wrong, but I think .500 might be wishful thinking
The Orioles announced Tillman, Jimenez, and Gallardo will start the first three games. Gonzalez has been released, so he is out. Guasman may come back on April 19, which is further out than originally expected.
Wilson and Wright are most likely to fill out the rotation. Vance Worley is also in the mix.
Wilson and Wright are most likely to fill out the rotation. Vance Worley is also in the mix.
ClownCausedChaos2
Footballguy
Has Bordick always been this hard to listen to? He's never been my favorite announcer, but it seems like this year he is trying way to hard to put extra "oomph" into a lot of his statements. It's horrible.
Gary Thorne is still the man, though.
Gary Thorne is still the man, though.
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
How long does Rickard keep it up? I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out, and he keeps having solid at bats. Some of these hits are seeing eye singles, but the guy is taking 7-8 pitcher each at bat.
To jinx him, I've added him to my fantasy team. So it probably ends tonight.
To jinx him, I've added him to my fantasy team. So it probably ends tonight.
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
Best start ever
The_Man
Footballguy
Hey, wanted to get in here sooner, but then had to stay away until the O's lost so I wasn't the jinx that ended the winning streak.
Outfield D is scary, and Buck is going to have to be a genius with the bullpen to avoid blowing up their arms after 4-inning starts every night, but it's been a lot of fun so far - even without AJ! And the bullpen management has been astonishing. Getting 3 innings out of McFarland and Bundy and the other guy (Wilson?) night after night to keep the back end fresh and ready to close out wins has been amazing.
I love how much hate Red Sox fans have for Crush.
Outfield D is scary, and Buck is going to have to be a genius with the bullpen to avoid blowing up their arms after 4-inning starts every night, but it's been a lot of fun so far - even without AJ! And the bullpen management has been astonishing. Getting 3 innings out of McFarland and Bundy and the other guy (Wilson?) night after night to keep the back end fresh and ready to close out wins has been amazing.
I love how much hate Red Sox fans have for Crush.
ClownCausedChaos2
Footballguy
No one on this team can pitch and when they decide they can, they can't last longer than five innings. But hey! Anyone in the lineup can hit a home run at any time!
ClownCausedChaos2
Footballguy
In Saturday's game, T.J. McFarland came into the game when Texas had a bunch of left handers up. He faced 4 batters, getting 1 out, 2 hits, and an intentional walk. Charged with 3 runs and the loss.
Sure miss Brian Matusz. Saw an article that McFarland will probably be sent to the minors when Matusz returns this week.
Sure miss Brian Matusz. Saw an article that McFarland will probably be sent to the minors when Matusz returns this week.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Team is performing about as expected so far this year. Starting pitching is full of problems and anytime they last more than 5 IP is going to be a huge bonus. Bullpen is solid if we can get to our main guys. Offense will be among the best in the league and strikeouts will be a problem all year. Nice start so far at 8-3, but we're going to need more from the rotation if this team is really going to be contenders all year.
The first week of the season, the starting rotation held up pretty well and they got off to a great start. The starting rotation has struggled a bit more and some losses have come now.
Mike Wright stuggled in an early inning yesterday, but ended up pitching 6 inning and giving up 3 runs. A solid start, which is what the Orioles need from him. Worley did the same earlier, struggling early, settling down, and pitching 6 innings., giving up 4 runs. That is the back of the Orioles rotation when it is working well.
Hopefully Gausman will be back soon.
Maybe the Orioles barren farm system has something to do with the fact that they have the fewest number of scouts of any team?
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/statheads-are-the-best-free-agent-bargains-in-baseball/
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/statheads-are-the-best-free-agent-bargains-in-baseball/
If there is one aspect that has been a real disappointment under Showalter/Duquette, the hasn't been much improvement in the farm system. It is either in the scouting to bring in good players or it is in the player development. Or both.
Article in the Baltimore sun on whether the Orioles will be extending Machado before his contract expires.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-schmuck-column-orioles-0511-20160510-column.html
He is the one player I really want them to keep for his entire career. One thing the Orioles have done is have some home grown players, Hall of Fame players, who player their careers for the Orioles. Think of Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Eddie Murray (except the last couple of years). I want to see Machado on that list.
I realize we are talking about 10 years for $400M, although the price could be a little lower if they buy up the remaining arbitration years.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-schmuck-column-orioles-0511-20160510-column.html
He is the one player I really want them to keep for his entire career. One thing the Orioles have done is have some home grown players, Hall of Fame players, who player their careers for the Orioles. Think of Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, and Eddie Murray (except the last couple of years). I want to see Machado on that list.
I realize we are talking about 10 years for $400M, although the price could be a little lower if they buy up the remaining arbitration years.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Whatever Manny wants, we should give it to him. I honestly don't care what the price is, he is well worth it.
Technically, Murray played only a little more than half his career as an Oriole. But yeah, they should sign Machado to a long-term deal; whatever it takes.
I just looked it up. I did not realize Murray played so many years after he left the Orioles.
I watched last night's game. I am appalled at how bad Bad Ubaldo was.
His final stat line:
5 IP, 9H, 4BB, 5 R, 4 ER.
He allowed 14 batters to reach base (one reached on Machado's throwing error) in 5+ innings. He actualy gave up 3 ER through 5 innings after a 1-2-3 5th inning. In the previous 4 innings, he allowed 12 base, averaging 3 per inning. He was continually pitching into and out of jams. And he needed 100 pitches to get through 5 innings.
In the 6th inning, Ubaldo comes back out. After Machado's error and a single, Worley comes into the game. Worley gives up 2 hits and allows both inherited runners to score before getting out of the inning.
Worley's final stat line:
2 IP, 4H, 0ER, 0BB
But it was not pretty at all. It looked like Ubaldo part 2.
The Orioles come back in the 7th inning and O'Day and Britton are lights out like they always are. After the game, Dempsey talks about the great Oriole bullpen, with 4 shutout innings. I cringe when Worley's effort is included in that.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Man, since you posted this AJ has been red hot. Raised his average about 50 points in 5 games and just jacked one off of Verlander.
Post something about Weiters, ok?
Unlike Ubaldo's performance, Tillman pitches 7 shutout innings and the Orioles get a 1-0 win against Verlander, who looked really good. Pitching like that gets me excited about the possibilities for this team. The other notable pitching performance: Kevin Gausman against the Yankees. 8 shutout innings, matching Tanaka's 8 shutout innings. The Orioles eventually win 1-0 in extra innings. Guasman gets a no decision, but awesome pitching wins games.
These two wins really help you feel the Orioles can do something this year.
These two wins really help you feel the Orioles can do something this year.
ClownCausedChaos2
Footballguy
ClownCausedChaos2
Footballguy
I'd be interested in seeing a Stat about Gausman's run support since the beginning of last season. It seems as though they never produce any runs for him.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Not my money, but I'd offer something like 10 years for $300 million. If he stays another decade, he'll be the greatest player in Orioles' history.
It's a pretty sparse crowd (the Orioles were loaded with "pretty damned good" for 20-some years but have had few truly transcendent players), but I'd put their Mount Rushmore at Brooks/Cal/Palmer/Murray. Frank was a better player than all of them except Eddie, but only spent 6 years in Baltimore.
Anyone know what Britton's contract status is? Also, when does Jones' run out?
This website looks pretty good:
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/
Jones, Britton, and Machado become free agents in 2019.
http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/baltimore-orioles/
Jones, Britton, and Machado become free agents in 2019.
ClownCausedChaos2
Footballguy
According to this site, Gausman's run support was 3.19 in 2015. That's rough.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?t=p&year=2015&id=gausmke01
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
He's cooled down recently, but he sees a bunch of pitches. He's quick and he makes contact. It used to be so frustrating watching Brian Roberts start the game seeing 1-2 pitches and setting the tone for an 8 pitch inning. Joey let's the batters behind him see what the pitcher is working with.
Plus, he's Joey ####### Rickard.
Also, outside of Rickard, the Orioles don't have anyone who profiles as a lead off hitter. Machado batted lead off the first two games of the season. Reimold had done it in the past, but he is not a classic leadoff hitter.
They could move him to the bullpen when Gallardo comes back. Vance Worley is also an options, which does not excite me at all.
I don't think there are many starting pitching options in the minors. T.J. McFarland, who I think they like, is getting an MRI today.
MattFancy
Footballguy
There really aren't many better options right now, unfortunately. They can't keep trotting him out there to get shelled, but I'm not sure who you replace him with? Maybe give Bundy a shot?
Bundy is no where near ready. He has pitched 60 innings the past 2 years combined. The Orioles are slowing trying to give him longer outings. He pitched 3 innings on May 19. He could be an option later in the season. My guess is his pitch limit will be quite low this year, maybe 120 innings or so.
It is scary to think the Orioles will go into a pennant race with two rookies who are not very well regarded, Wright and Wilson, in the staring rotation. An effective Ubaldo would make this look a lot more attractive.
MattFancy
Footballguy
Good point on Bundy. Though, we have to find out what we have in him sooner or later, right? Maybe now isn't the time, but I hope by season's end he is in the rotation getting a few starts.
avoiding injuries
Footballguy
You "Garrett Atkins" him.
When you're winning, you can't punt every 5th game.
When you're winning, you can't punt every 5th game.
Orioles traded Brian Matusz to the Braves. They also traded the #76 overall pick in the draft and picked up two minor leaguers, RHP Brandon Barker and LHP Trevor Belicek.
Camdemchat.com believes this trade is basically a salary dump for the Orioles, trading away a draft pick for the Braves to pickup Matusz's $3.9M salary. The Braves bought a draft pick for about $3M. The Braves have already DFA'ed Matusz.
Here is the Camdemchat article: http://www.camdenchat.com/2016/5/23/11756390/orioles-news-brian-matusz-trade-braves-salary-dump
On a related note: I thought the Orioles should have signed Sean Burnett, formerly of the Nationals. But he was just signed by the Twins.
Camdemchat.com believes this trade is basically a salary dump for the Orioles, trading away a draft pick for the Braves to pickup Matusz's $3.9M salary. The Braves bought a draft pick for about $3M. The Braves have already DFA'ed Matusz.
Here is the Camdemchat article: http://www.camdenchat.com/2016/5/23/11756390/orioles-news-brian-matusz-trade-braves-salary-dump
On a related note: I thought the Orioles should have signed Sean Burnett, formerly of the Nationals. But he was just signed by the Twins.
