Comments on: Spring Training Roundup

By: Steve Price

Steve Price — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:47:36 +0000

It just makes sense and since Homer’s struggled, put him in spots where he can succeed and build his confidence.

By: Mark in CC

Mark in CC — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:52:47 +0000

Steve,

That is some great stuff on the Orioles.

Storm Davis is another of Weaver’s Orioles that could fit that mold when he was age 20 in 1982, 29 games 8 Starts 8 wins, 101 innings.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:47:44 +0000

“Everyone’s talking about Homer Bailey”

That’s because they’re all standing around in a pack, content to all file the exact same story every day.

By: Steve Price

Steve Price — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:56:12 +0000

Volquez is talented, but not nearly consistent enough to be considered a #1…as of now, he’s still more talent than established.

Harang, bad 2008 or not, had reasons to not excel; unless he can’t pitch in the spring, he should start opening day.

As for Bailey….I think starting the season in the bullpen may be the thing he needs….

Earl Weaver’s record with the Orioles may be a good example to follow:

Doyle Alexander, 21 year old rookie, 106 innings, 35 games, 9 starts

Roric Harrison, 25 year old rookie, 94 innings, 39 games, 2 starts

Wayne Garland, 23 year old rookie, 91 innings, 20 games, 6 starts,

Paul Mitchell, 25 year old rookie, 57 innings, 11 games, 4 starts

Mike Flanagan, 24 year old rookie, 85 innings, 20 games, 10 starts

Dennis Martinez, 22 year old rookie, 166 innings, 42 games, 13 starts

Scott McGregor, 23 year old rookie, 114 innings, 29 games, 5 starts

Pretty darn good track record, if you ask me; in fact, I found one–only one–starting pitcher that joined the Orioles as a youngster and started the majority of his games his rookie year, and that was Jesse Jefferson….who didn’t work out. In fact, he was sent to the bullpen the next couple of years to try to work it out.

Jim Palmer was brought along the same way as a 19 year old rookie.

Oh…you may notice…the best pitchers started younger than the others….

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:53:25 +0000

I’d love to see Homer step up and take the #5 starter, but I’ll believe it when I see it. I just don’t see him beating out Owings for that spot.

By: GregD

GregD — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:44:48 +0000

What worries me is Volquez’s 2nd half:
5-3, 4.60 ERA 80 K (in 78.1 IP)

By: Mark in CC

Mark in CC — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:56:33 +0000

I don’t know how you look at stats. But if the premise is that the honor of pitching opening day is a reward to the outstanding starter from the pevious year, then in the three pitching triple crown categories:

Volquez 17-6 3.21 ERA 206 K
Arroyo 15-11 4.77 ERA 163 K
Harang 6-17 4.78 ERA 153 K

By my calculations that is third in every category. Is that the way I hope it ends up in ‘09? Nope. But it sure ended that way in ‘08.

By: RiverCity Redleg

RiverCity Redleg — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:45:07 +0000

“I would have to put Harang third on that list coming into Spring Training.”..
Idiot!

By: GregD

GregD — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:23:20 +0000

“Isn’t pitching Opening Day usually given to the pitcher who was the most outstanding the previous year. ”

Not always. It usually goes to the team’s “#1 starter” but that’s not always exactly true, either. Tenure and other circumstances can sometimes play into that.

I’d still label Harang this team’s #1 starter if I had to rank the rotation 1-5.

By: GregD

GregD — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:21:30 +0000

Encarnacion avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing to a 2-yr deal with the Reds today (actually 2am last night) according to The Enquirer.

By: Mark in CC

Mark in CC — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:52:06 +0000

Isn’t pitching Opening Day usually given to the pitcher who was the most outstanding the previous year. Did I miss something or shouldn’t it be Volquez? (All Star, 17 wins,?). Hopefully he is back but I would have to put Harang third on that list coming into Spring Training.

If Homer isn’t a starter he should start in the bullpen. I don’t think he can learn anymore in AAA and if he can hit 95 mph for an inning or two he would be great in the pen. Hopefully being aroud the big leaguers will have an impact on his head.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:39:18 +0000

Bailey has such good heat, I could see him being successful as a reliever — preferably a long reliever (2-3 innings at a time, 100-125 innings for the season). I think it’s silly that relievers almost never pitch more than one inning at a time.

And when I say “long reliever,” I don’t just mean mop up guy, for when the starter gets shelled and we’re down 8-1 in the 4th. I mean pitching in close games in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings.

All the reliever specialization of this era (including LOOGY’s, and the fact that almost no one ever goes more than 1 inning) costs the team a roster spot — this is why teams all carry 12 pitchers now (and only 13 hitters). If you knew you could get over 100 innings from one of your relievers, I think you could carry 11 pitchers and 14 hitters. I would think that would help!

By: GRF

GRF — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:41:18 +0000

I was hoping wiser heads than mine would reach a consensus on Bailey

My two cents worth is that if we had a defined job for him in the pen, pitching the 8th the way the Yankees used Chamberlain for example, that works. But if he is going to be pitching long relief at random intervals in blowouts, he might better in AAA.

By: David

David — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:06:53 +0000

Personally I see Owings being the 5th starter. Unless the Reds move Arroyo for a bat, Bailey should be in the minors.

By: preach

preach — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:30:27 +0000

veteran presence, baby.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Oil-Can-Boyd-wants-another-chance-at-the-bigs-at?urn=mlb,141780