Revisiting Komminsk's evaluation of Tillman
I noticed that Double-A Bowie manager Brad Komminsk caused a bit of a stir, here and on orioleshangout.com's minor league message board, when he appeared to hang a "No. 3" starter tag on Chris Tillman during a recent interview.
Komminsk wasn't lowering the ceiling on Tillman. I doubt that he'd be stunned if Tillman matured into a staff ace in the majors. But given what he's observed so far, he estimated that Tillman could be a third starter.
Here's the exact quote: "I see a major league starter, maybe a No. 3."
Maybe.
I didn't run this sentence in the previous entry, choosing instead to pass along his evaluation as a means of setting up a lengthier quote. But there it is. And if Tillman develops into a middle-of-the-rotation starter for the Orioles, there won't be any complaints. They'll gladly take it. But he's only 20, so it's virtually impossible to know for sure.
Tillman doesn't blow people away with upper-90s heat. His command isn't always where it needs to be. But again, he's just a kid. And he started and finished strong this season, with a few rough patches in between. Let's see how far he's progressed next year at Triple-A Norfolk and revisit the debate.
(I'll stay away from the orioleshangout debate over whether I'm a "journalist" because I have a blog. Twenty-one years as a reporter at The Sun, the last 12 working the Orioles beat in various capacities, provide all the assurances that I need. I don't work out of my parents' basement, and I'm usually wearing pants. Props to Lucky Jim, and a few others, for understanding the difference. But like I said, I'm staying away from it. Really. I'm moving on. This is me...moving on).
Here are some other observations from Komminsk as we cruised through his roster:
"Blake Davis has a chance to be a big league shortstop. He has above-average range and arm. He worked hard all year and definitely improved a lot. He worked on some of his weaknesses. His angles were off at times and he couldn't make plays, but he got some instruction from a couple of people and he adjusted really, really well. It seemed like he only had two or three errors in the last two months. For a Double-A guy, that's good.
"Offensively, he has a ways to go, but he was hitting a buck-80 in mid-May and ended up hitting .280 (actually .284). He made huge strides. He hits lefties pretty well. He doesn't have a lot of pop. He probably needs to increase his body strength, but he's definitely got a chance, in my book.
"I think Jason Berken could pitch in the big leagues. And I think David Hernandez could pitch in the big leagues, too. I look at him as a No. 4 or 5 starter. He's got to work on his command, but guys don't get good swings on him. There are a lot of swings and misses. He just needs better command and more experience. His confidence isn't where Bergesen's is, but when he has confidence, he's pretty nasty. Maybe there's a little bit of insecurity there, since he's not a high draft pick."
Hey Roch, the people criticizing your reportorial skills because you have a blog are living in caves without benefit of heat or light, especially light. Across the country, all and I mean all major market newspapers feature their best sports reporters as bloggers and publicize their blogs. You know, build up hits-sell more ads. One major newspaper about 40 miles from here just merged their print and online editions to give the print edition more benefits from the Internet people. Kepp blogging man, you are fun to read. Alan
At least you know we've followed you from the Sun...
By the way, my Mom's going to be really proud - I'm sending this along with a link.
I got admitted to the NY bar, got a mixed CD on my local bar's jukebox, and I got mentioned in Roch's blog. It's been a big year in the Lucky Jim household.
Keep up the good work, Roch.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've gotten kicked out of a few NY bars, but I guess that's not the same thing. Seriously, congrats! And I don't mind being No. 3 on that list of accomplishments. Sort of makes me your version of Chris Tillman. - Roch
If Tilman is a #3 doesn't that make him the O's ace?
" ... and I'm usually wearing pants. ..."
BING!
At this point, I'll be happy w/an Oriole pitcher being of major league quality! W/the right coaching, there's always room for improvement.
What Brad Komminsk meant is that Chris Tillman has a chance to be Babe Ruth.
roch... First off i coached chris tillman in high school and i just want to sa that i agree with you, he is still young.. He is a hard worker and i am confident that he will do everything he can to become a great ML starting pithcher.. As for blake i am a good friend of his.. Look at his past. From high school to a connie mack championship, two college world series appearences ( winning one of them) to frederick last year, and bowie this year. He finds a way to hit, it might not always be pretty but+he+knows+how+to+play+the+game+the+right+way+and+is+always+on+winning+teams.+I+hope+that+he+is+give+a+chane+at+baltimore+next+year+because+i+know+he+will+rise+to+the+occassion!
Roch
Seems to me the placement in the rotation or "numbering" of pitchers is moot after opening day. It comes into play if a team reaches the post season but other than that during the regular season, do managers actually re-align the rotation for a particular series? If not, then what's the big deal if Tillman is considered a #3 vice a #1?
Good job MASN techies!
I just noticed that you can navigate between posts by clicking on the previous or next posts at the top of the page. Next thing you know the site will remember your personal info.
Roch, I for one would give my front teeth for your job. You are doing a great job with the blog. You blog is like mini newspaper article but in a timely manner, not the next morning. Besides who really reads the paper to get there news anymore. The internet and cable tv have changed the why people get the news, by the time we read it in the paper the next morning it is old news. Masnsports.com has really become a one stop shopping source for area sports news.
Back to the O's, is there a web site that will allow us to monitor box scores in the instructional league?
Also do you think Todd Heaps days in Bmore are numbered? He is always hurt and the last two years he as dropped a lot of passes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not aware of box scores for the instructional league, but I'll check. Also, Heap needs to stay healthy or I wouldn't blame the Ravens for cutting ties. - Roch
I trust Roch before I trust a site that reported Brian Roberts has been traded and that they received exclusive comments from Brian Matusz when, in fact, everyone with an email address got the same message. Having said that, orioleshangout.com is a great site as far as providing minor league info and a place for the fans to debate and discuss the important topics of the day. The Hangout and Roch's blog are both must-visits for any Orioles fan.
Um, don’t the Hangout people know that not only did you have a nice run at the Sun, but you had a highly successful blog there to boot which you’ve since taken to MASN? You can look at what the Sun has currently and what they’ve had before to see that it’s difficult to do the blog thing successfully. One thing to do is take it seriously and post regularly, as Roch always has, and not demean your readership or fellow members of your profession, two things which Roch doesn’t do.
I’m not sure if they were using something equivalent to the pants-less/parents’ basement cliché of bloggers to describe you, but are they aware that blogging is not only legitimate and a part of reporting but that it’s 2008 and traditional newspapers are dying a slow death and are relying more and more on a digital presence to survive?
And there’s nothing wrong with Tillman being considered a no. 3 starter. Looks like Komminsk’s thoughts are a reasonable line of thinking on a 20 year old pitcher. Heck, we’ll take a no. 6 starter around here if only we could find one.
I just hope that he didn't say that Olson or Liz had a chance to be a 5 starter as well.
Wasn't Bedard supposed to be a # 3 as well, he did ok when he was with us. Guthrie couldn't even make the Indians team, he's not bad either. It's ok to hypothesize, but we really need to wait a several more years before we know.
p.s. Rock you roch! err. . . Roch you rock! keep up the good work.
To be fair, it was one poster in a thread who questioned Roch's journalism skills because he has a blog and he was almost immediately overcome by multiple people who know better.
Birdbrain, we did screw up the Brian Roberts trade report this off season and I apologized for it after being misled by two previously solid sources. In 13 years it's the only report we didn't get accurate and I know I personally learned a lesson from it so I would say our credibility still stands.
As for the Matusz situation, the e-mail I received was addressed to me personally with a "Mr. Pente." I've been contacted with press releases often, but I've never had one addressed to me personally. Any time I've been addressed personally it was an exclusive. Once it was obvious that we received the same e-mail as the other media outlets in the area, I removed the word exclusive.
We do appreciate the fact that you still believe we're a must-visit site despite you misgivings over our credibility.