Surprising roster move
The Orioles made two more cuts, optioning Brad Bergesen to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning Andy Mitchell to the minor league camp in Sarasota.
Bergesen looked like he was making a hard push for a spot in the rotation, but he hasn't pitched about Double-A, and the Orioles will give the veterans first crack at holding down the remaining jobs.
Jeremy Guthrie, Koji Uehara and Adam Eaton are looking like the top three at the moment. The Danys Baez experiment isn't over. Alfredo Simon has jumped into the fray. Rich Hill still thinks he'll be ready by Opening Day. Brian Bass is being prepped for starter and relief duty. David Pauley is still here.
If you want to go younger, Hayden Penn is out of options, so he needs to get a longer look.
I think it's fairly safe to assume that we'll see Bergesen at Camden Yards this summer. He could be the first pitcher called up.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
WHAT!
They've lost their minds down there.
Maybe it's lack of sun...
Whatever it is, we need to dig up a rotation from somewhere, and if Baez and Simon are in it while Bergesen is dominating in Norfolk... There's going to be hell to pay.
If Bergeson is dominating at Triple-A and there is at least one starting pitcher struggling for the O's, then Bergeson will be brought up. I am sure this move was made just so he could get more seasoning, I would be surprised if he is in Triple-A all year, that is unless he struggles.
Hopefully Tillman and Bergeson will continue to be successful so we can see them in Baltimore later this summer.
Why rush him? Let him have some success at Triple A. He hasn't played above Double A. Patience is a virtue. If he blows up the first few months than, you have to make a decision. But it is a good decision to have.
Rotation...Gutherie, Uehara, Eaton, Hill & Penn
Bullpen...Sherill, Ray, Johnson, Walker, Sarfarte, Albers, Hendrickson & Baez.
We're all so desperate to see the future stars of the organization now, but by waiting another year, the future might be better served.
After all the years of losing it's hard to say "be patient"...but we finally have a bright future to look forward to. Instead of killing the GM, we should be applauding him for turning this franchise around.
Roch, Any chance the Orioles can lure Cal Ripken Jr. out of retirement for $25 mill a year? I'm sure he wouldn't turn it down no matter how busy he is at the moment. With the O's sending down Bergesen, things are looking bleak. It's a crying shame.
Roch,
I guess the O's want to give the journyman and optionLESS pitchers a chance in April before we bring up a young polished gun like Bergy.
So I guess we are looking at Penn, Pauley, Hill, Eaton, Simon, Baez, Bass and Hendrickson as the last 3 pitchers in the rotation to start the season.
I am guessing the bullpen locks are
C Sherrill
SU Ray, JJ
MR Albers, Safarte
Loggy Walker
If they go with 13 pitchers, that leaves 2 spots (maybe 3 if Albers is optioned) to the bullpen.
Prediction:
Eaton, Simon and Baez are starters
Hill goes the DL
Albers, Hendrickson and Penn in the bullpen.
They try to pass Pauley through waivers but it doesnt happen.
Bass is optioned.
Bass, Liz, Perez, Bergy, McCroy and Mickilio all are waiting on someone to falter.
I'm dumbdfounded! I was really looking forward to watching Bergensen get his well deserved chance. Everybody down there had nothing but positives. Danny Baez........Roch, say something..... help!
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I guess the timing surprises me more than anything. - Roch
WAY TO GO ANDREW!
But again, I didnt think he would keep bergesen in the rotation.
He is not one of the people that ANDREW drafted himself thus they dont get priority or serious consideration. Example being Pie over Reimold or Montanez.
Let the dog and pony show continue. By The end of May this team will be so far behind the only thing they will be able to see is the mirage of a horizon.
If you are a "non ANDREW" prospect in the O's system you have to be thinking .....PLEASE JUST TRADE ME because I am not going to get a fair chance here.
WAY TO GO ANDREW
Don't worry classmates, BB will be the first guy to be recalled and, with our pitching situation, that probably won't take too long. I really wanted him to make the rotation out of spring training. I believe he truly EARNED a spot. He still has options though, which kinda makes him expendable. Please, no David Pauley though.
This Maryland/Memphis game is looking lop-sided. I keep hoping the Terps make a run, but it seems their in reverse. Missing a lot of shots they should make. Memphis on the other hand, is making their shots look easy.
Are the O's drawing straws down there to pick who goes and who stays? Maybe the Norfolk Tides should open the season agaainst C.C. Sabathia and the Yankees. I'd like their chances better than the team headed to Baltimore.
So the rotation is most likely
1. Guthrie
2. Uehara
3. Eaton
4. Baez
5. Hendrickson. (if Hill on DL - hasn't started yet)
I've got to get my season tickets before they're sold out. What a joke.
Jack
Nice to see you throwing those encouraging comments in here. I really wish there were more fans like you. I mean who wouldn't want a bunch of negative pessimistic people rooting for a team. Do us all a favor and stay of the blog.
They are not out of their minds for sending Bergeson to AAA. They realize that they damaged Penn's career and don't want to do the same to Bergeson and the others.
It can't possibly hurt any of these young pitchers to get some experience in AAA- but it can hurt if they don't.
And why not give the guys out of options a chance in the majors first? If they do well, it's great. If they suck, you cut them and you haven't lost anything.
McPhail decided to get Reimold and Bergesen out of town before they showed up his absurd acquisitions.Not surprised to see a couple of McPhail's lapdogs defend him here.
This whole idea of keeping people in the minors until they have gray beards is absurd also.Some cases yes but not Bergesen.It's no wonder the O's continue to be the laughing stock of baseball.
The Orioles, I think, made the proper move with Bergesen as the Orioles are now saying that Hayden Penn's career was adversely affected by his premature promotion to the major leagues.
Even Rich Hill needs another week or two at the ST complex before he comes north.
Was at the game yesterday sitting right behind the plate:
Pie absolutely butchered a line drive hit right at him when he broke to his left and tried to recover back to his right and wound up flat on his face....he followed that by swinging so late on a fast ball while striking out
Baez got hit really hard by a bunch a minor leaguers
Adam Jones got a bad break on a ball, but it wouldn't have mattered because it was so far over his head that he couldn't possibly have caught it
Saw Bergeson earlier in the spring and he really looked good.
The rain is really hurting this team...I live 45 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale and we got 5 inches of rain in one day
Apparently we want one more top 5 draft pick. I can't wait to watch Baez go 2-7 with a 7.00 ERA before he goes on the DL with an "injury". Can't wait for Baltimore to see Eaton show us his true value. Hendrickson was one of the few pitchers worse than Daniel Cabrera in the second half of the season. All I can say is "wow".
Some of you say "why rush Bergeson?" Because this is his chance. He is effective and efficient. The other options suck. There is no guarantee he gets another shot. We have the time. It takes time to establish oneself and if the cavalry gets here, he might get shut out again. We know what Baez, Eaton, and Hendrickson have to offer. I'll take my chance on Bergeson flopping.
Results-based?
No surprise. The options situation will determine the roster decisions for a while. Those who can be sent down will start in Norfolk. Those out of options will get a chance to show that they belong.
The Orioles aren't going to expose anyone who might be of value.
Incidentally, this will be the strongest O's AAA team in a long time. That's a good sign.
So its about competition but Mautsz, Tillman, Arrieta, Bergesen and Reimold get sent down and Pie, Baez and Pauley are still here?
One of you media types should call out DT for this rather obvious lie.
I like it.
Think about it, we are not contending this year. So we have the chance to make a story here.
The Orioles will kind of hang around or under 500 for a while and once we start to decline.. we call the cavalry. Bring up C Wieters, bring up P Bergesen, bring up P Tillman, bring up LF Montanez/Reimold, bring up SS Davis and bring down the East. Don't worry folks, we have so many people in camp, lets let the vets play themselves off the team so the competition is gone, if not they're gone by next year. Did you really think we were gonna do something this year? Its two weeks till... and we don't have a guaranteed 5 yet. Even guthrie has look horrid in the WBC. Our #2 is injured. Lets let the young guns come up when we can do something for them instead of them doing it for us.
GO O'S!!!!
Any chance this is somehow related to not needing a 5th starter much in April? Perhaps Bergesen gets his regular work, and gets called up when we regularly need that 5th starter? I'd greatly prefer him over the likes of Simon.
Jack, you present an interesting roster dilemma. Andrew signed Gomez, so we have to keep him. Andrew also signed Murphy and Cabrera, so I guess we're stuck with three utility infielders. Pie deserves his shot because he's younger than both Montanez and Reimold, fits our roster better, and is out of options. He's produced at higher levels of the minors than either Reimold or Montanez. I'd rather not have Reimold on the ML roster if he's only going to be a 4th outfielder and part of a platoon. Chances are good something will happen that will open the door for Reimold to come up to the majors and play five days a week (an injury, a mid-season trade). That's a better situation for him to be in.
They're not going to rush a mediocre prospect who has never played above AA to the major leagues?! How do the O's expect to win the World Series this year?!
/sarcasm
//sorry for the agitated post, Roch, but maybe you can attempt to calm everyone down about Montanez and Bergesen, and let them know that they are not the missing pieces to a contending team.
As I stated here this morning, it's time to stop fooling around with the rotation and make some decisions. But, this is a STUPID, STUPID, move.
It doesn't surprise me though. I've had my doubts all along. Why else would he pitch to minor leaguers yesterday?
He's ready. He was our best starting pitcher this spring. No one else even comes close. He should have been here for August and September last year. Please don't tell me he needs more seasoning and hasn't pitched above AA. AA is where the best prospects are. For most organizations AAA is loaded with retreads and has beens.
He should be the "poster boy" for what this struggling organization is looking for in a starting pitcher. Works quickly, throws stikes, challenges hitters, and fields his position. He has all the qualities and please don't tell me he doesn't throw hard enough.
I primarily blame Trembley for this move. I know AM has brought in Eaton late, but it's Trembley who is talking up Baez as a starter. For God's sake the guy hasn't started since 2002. He's coming off surgery and missing an entire season in 2008, and he was horrible in 2007. He's also now talking up Simon, who certainly has upside, but is he going to be here more than 2009? If Trembley really wanted Bergesen in his rotation he should have the guts to step up demand it. I don't believe he really does and I don't buy into his rhetoric. He talks a good game, but let's remember he continued to run Tejada out there in 2007, even when the team played better during his absence from an injury. And, oh yeah, now he'll berate Ramon(as recently as this morning), but did he once bench the guy for more than three games last season? No we fans suffered through watching his horses-ass defense for an entire season just like we suffered watching Cabrera, Liz, and Olson walk hittier after hitter.
I have two main concerns now that this move has been made. One is for Bergesen's confidence. The guy is on a roll. Minor League Pitcher of the Year and has demonstrated tremendous composure this spring. This has to be a little bit of a kick in the teeth, especially with two weeks remaining in spring training. At best, he may only be a third starter, more likely 4th or 5th, but I'll be pissed if he never really makes it after this move. I can only hope he moves on quickly and continues to perform well and is the first recall, when our cast of retreads falters.
Secondly, what message does this send to the other prospects in the organization. Bergesen and Reimold have been two of the best performers in uniform this spring, only to be sent down with two weeks remaining. It's supposed to be about performance, at least I think I read that somewhere!
I have been an Oriole fan for 55 years and all I can say is if they put Hendrickson in the rotation, I think Andy and Trembley need their heads examined.
Roch - I'm done ranting(for now), so here's a question. Noticed that Andy Mitchell was assigned to Norfolk and Bergesen was sent to the minor league camp. Does the fact that he wasn't assigned suggest that the team might still be waiting to see if anyone else goes down from injury or just completely sucks . . . . at which time Bergesen heads north with the big club?
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You have it backward. Bergesen to Norfolk, Mitchell to minor league camp. 40-man roster guys are optioned to an affiliate. The non-roster guys get reassigned to minor league camp. - Roch
Even by Andy McPhail's standards this is a colossal disaster and proves once again that there really is no plan. McPhail's plan is an illusion.
Make people think that help is on the way from the minors but then keep the talent tied down at AA or AAA using the lame argument that other guys are out of options so they should be the priority or that the minor league guys need a little more time.
Given the fact that we will now be watching retreads and inferior talent like Eaton, Hendrickson Pauley and Hill (if he ever stays healthy) try to mimic a starting major league rotation in one of the toughest divisions in baseball represents a perfect storm of incompetence within this front office.
A player being out of options is not an acceptable excuse by itself when choosing between him and a talented minor leaguer. If the two players are of equal talent then maybe, but McPhail seems to like to use the options argument as the ONLY criteria when choosing a 25 man roster.
There may be differences in the minor leagues under McPhail but on the major league roster the decision making reads a lot like Thrift/Beattie/Flanagan.
Roch, Was the pre-spring training speech about competition to win jobs a joke or did Dave hope that Pie would dash out of the gate ahead of the other guys and that Lou, Nolan and Justin would be a bust? I'm not laughing and neither is Lou.
The question is why send Bergy out so soon when you have so many walking wounded pitchers? Just keep him around for insurance to cover for injuries if nothing else and make him the last cut.
Even when Hill gets healthy he still has a lot of mental issues to deal with to become a whole player again.He is no sure thing by a long shot.
Koji I expect to be a complete bust and that's even if he stays healthy enough to pitch. All his pitches are the same speed and if he doesn't locate them perfectly,he'll be a BP pitcher. Can't wait to see Andy eat that 10 mill. Berken would have been a sure thing in that slot and he would be geting valuable innings.It's more like the O's are babying their pitchers instead of developing and challenging them. Mr. Spock's brain would explode watching these people put a team together. I think McPhail is putting his ego ahead of the team's best interest.How long will Pie have to suck to be shown the door?
Are people going to pay good money to see Hendrickson,Baez and Simon pitch when they can save their money for later in the year when the real players get called up?
Hopefully wwhen this is all over,it'll be the end of the quanity over quality aproach to improving a club.This has been a bust.
I knew when I saw "Surprising Roster Move" that it wasn't good news. The Orioles idea of a youth movement isn't the same as let's say....the Florida Marlins. Baltimore likes to let the young guys wallow in the minors only to find out they never really had any talent anyway (Penn). It's not a matter of ruining them by rushing them. If they were "naturals" and had any real talent they'd blossom regardless of how they're handled. Sure....we'll see Bergesen at Camden Yards...but only AFTER team morale is at rock bottom and the team is 25 games out of first place. At that point who really cares anymore. It's pointless to have 37 pitchers at Spring Training if performance isn't an issue. Just invite the sore armed, sore shouldered wash outs and be done with it. Inviting the kids and punishing them by having an ERA under 6 is not any way to run a team.
Hey Jack, did ANDREW draft Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts et al? Come on, man, what are you thinking? He is allowing the young talent to grow and at the same time hoping that guys like Pie and Hill (2 cheap and potentially superb acqusitions who are OUT OF OPTIONS) live up to their hype. Why not? It's a solid plan and finally this team has a direction. Sit back, relax and watch the team grow.
I forgot about David Pauley. Haven't heard his name lately. Do you think he has a legitimate shot for the team?
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He still has a chance, since he's out of options, but he needs to limit the number of baserunners. - Roch
The other day when you posted about other writers had guessed on the O's rotation and almost everyone had Bergensen in the 5 starters..I said then and I say now...he should not be treated any different than the other young pitchers...he has never even played at AAA before and this makes perfect sense to me and goes 100% with the O's insight on the young guys the have accumulated to pitch. Right or wrong they are sticking to their guns. Guthrie, Uehara, Eaton, Hill and one more will be the starters...earlier today it was mentioned that Bass (and Hendrickson) is a reliever...so he is out..that leaves Simon, Baez and Penn. Pauley has already been ruled out and a reliever..Baez is not that good but could get stronger each time till the end of ST.....Penn has been terrible and is pitching for his life tomorrow in my opinion....Simon has done great but barely pitched..and needs to keep his good pitching up...hard call to pick one of those 3...but it is becoming very clear that one of them is going to be the 5th starter..and where Pauley and the other two land is a big question...I still see a trade as a possibility for Penn or Pauley if they fail to make the team..but why would anyone trade for them if they can get them for free if released..unless someone wants one of them badly...not to much longer till we all know..2 weeks and 2 days to opening day.
Please people, calm down. Bergesen will be recalled shortly after the season starts. There will be more injuries and some will play themselfs off the team. Don't be suprised if some are not traded or released before or shortly after opening day. Hey Jack, give me some more orange kool-aid, I love it.
Actually, I'm not surprised after seeing that they had Baez pitch against the Mets and Brad pitching against A ball Red Sox players. That gave me a inkling that he wasn't long for the scene. Then when Hammock stated that he needs work on his third pitch (slider), I knew he was going to Norfolk.
Just let Hayden Penn pitch - he has the most upside of all the ones left including Simon (Simon has been through two orgs. now) and has a history of falling out of his mechanics.
Hope Tillman, Arrieta, Matusz, Hernandez, Bergeson, Patton, Erbe, Berken etal force the issue this summer.
This is a great move, we need to slow roll all the young arms, just take a look at Hayden Penn if you need another reminder of what rushing young pitching gets you. And of course I need at least one more top five draft pick in the summer of 2010.
Suprised that Bergy was sent down already. I thought the way he was pitching they would at least let him hang around until the end of spring. As soon as the young guys show sign of life there should be plenty of opportunity with this rotatin..Yuck. I guess its better off not rushing the young guys. Hate to see other guys ruined by coming up early like so many other previous O's pitchers. Cmon and hurry up Tillman, Arrieta, Hernandez, Bergy..LOL. Same story with Reimold, if Pie falls flat on his face Reimold will be up by all star break. Keep Montanez on the bench until scott is traded.
It's not about this year. It's all about next year. Yes it would be nice to win more games this year but I'd rather win a lot of games next year. See what Penn, Pauley and Eaton have. What's the rush with the other guys? They have options left and we aren't going to even challenge for the wild card this year. Seriously, this team lost what, 90 + games last year. Set the team up for 2010 which means, patience.
The scouts all say that BB doesn't have great stuff so why not make sure he is spotting all his pitches before he comes up? This puts him in the best possible scenario. Look what Joe Maddon said about Wieters today in the Schmuck blog. It's rare that you get players skipping levels up to the bigs and they stay. They aren't all Doc Gooden. Slow and steady wins the race.
If the comments on this blog were a ship we'd all be seasick by now. It's funny reading the opinions of those tossed to and fro by the waves of every performance and decision made.
Sending Bergesen down makes sense for a couple of reasons.
First of all he has not pitched above AA. Allowing him to continue to develop against better competition than he has faced before can only benefit him.
Rain outs have limited the amount of innings left to evaluate pitchers and to get those assured of a spot in shape for the season, namely Guthrie and Uehara. We also have a trio of players who are option-less (Hill, Pauley, Penn) that need those innings to determine their spot in the organization, if any.
I don't know about Pauley and Penn but I think Hill will be a steal for the O's and he needs to get some innings. Relax, Bergeson will be in Baltimore soon enough. The future is looking bright.
Roch, keep up the good work.
Hey Jack you knucklehead, did MacPhail draft Brian Roberts or Nick Markakis? How much money did he commit to them this past winter?
Is there no end to your lunacy? How do you survive in the real world?
Cue Tom C. please...
This bothers me because no matter the age, you put your best 25 on the field in Baltimore. The kid was the 3rd best pitcher this spring, not the 4th ot 5th, but the 3rd.
In late December I said that if the O's were going to have a better team in Norfolk than baltimore that I would just attend the Norfolk games and I feel that way now.
What message does this say to the long time fans of the Orioles? I believe it says we will jeopardize this year for the sake of being good in two or three. If that is the case then I will attend games in two or three years.
Anyone think Atlanta is a possible destination for Luke? I heard they are looking to deal their abundance of Starters.
And still looking for folks to form a School of Roch fantasy league. That goes for you to Roch.
Send me an email - JohnnyHamer@yahoo.com
BTW Jack, you might want to look into some info on your rants...but we know your incapable of that. How do you think Montanez got to Baltimore?? MacPhail brought him here! Without "Andrew" your favorite boy wouldn't be here! I don't think there is anything against him except he doesn't have options. I'm sure if Pie had options he would have been sent down, but he wouldnt be in Baltimore if he had options left. Also, lefthanders hit over .300 against your cy young award winner Bergerson..I would say he has some stuff to work on in the minors. After all I wouldn't want to see you walk out of Camden yards if he got smoked..LOL
I was just as shocked as everyone else here on the Bergeson optioning. But I would suggest for everyone to look at the strategic side of this. We have all of these veterans "re-treads" as everyone seems to point out. The Adam Eatons and Hills came to us a relatively low cost. Say they make an impact. That's great value to get in return when it comes to the middle of the season. I would love to say that the O's are going to win the AL East, but the reality is that they will be significantly improved. Get younger talent at the trade deadline and continue to allow the youngsters to compete and get ready for when it really counts. STAY THE COURSE!!!
Penn, Pauley and Hill need to prove if they are worth anything before they ruin Bergeson by rushing him. Its not like we are going to compete this year anyways, and he gets the benefit of throwing to Weiters for a little while longer as well. I think this is a positive move, theres always a freak accident, but who's to say that wouldn't happen anywhere else.
Roch, going off on a different track here as I don't remember this ever being discussed. Many teams are relocating their ST to Arizona. One of the major benefits is that there are FAR fewer spring rain-outs there. ST rain-outs wreak havoc on the manager's attempts to get pitchers enough innings and also eliminate several game opportunities for younger players to be noticed. Also in Arizona, there is much less travel time involved between ST sites. So, to my question- Have the O's, with their ST location plans still not finalized, considered looking at a site in Arizona?
Keep up the great work!
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No, they're staying in Fla. - Roch
Well now that came out of left field... look like it might be
Guthrie
Uehara
Eaton
Simon
Hill
Strategy wise to start the season what they should do in my opinion is use the people who must make the roster or we lose. That way when these guys get the real competition face on in games that count we will se who is worth holding on to. I would also put hill on the DL and see if he can get confidence in extended spring. The rotation should be as follows.
Guthrie
Uehara
Eaton
Pauly
Penn
My first to replace in rotation upon people faltering or injured would be
Hill
Bergenson
Simon
Patton
The bullpen should be 7 so we can carry Gomez as not to lose him. I think with as hard as Wiggenton, Freel, Izturis, Mora and Jones play we are surely going to lose 1 of the 5 due to injury for an extended period of time. That meens that GOMEZ WILL END UP SAVING US AGAIN!! I also think that is when Montanez gets his permanent call to the show.
My bullpen would be:
Baez
Walker
Ray
Sherril
Johnson
Sarafate
Albers
my replacements upon injury, inneffectivness or trade would be.
Waters
Liz
Miller
Hoey
Bass
Mickolio
my bench would be
Moeller
Gomez
Freel
Wiggenton
First to call up would be in this order
Wieters
Montanez
Reimold
Moore
we already know our starters
scott-dh
roberts-2b
Izturis-ss
huff-1b
Mora-3b
zaun-c
jones-cf
markakis-rf
pie-lf
Jak,
Your boy Bergy got sent down for more seasoning...he'll be up soon. Don't get your panties all in a bunch because the O's don't see him as you. Patience is going to win this game, not slapshot frantic decisions to bypass veteran MLB pitchers for AA pitchers.
Believe me I'm no fan of Hendrickson/Baez/Eaton, but they'll have to do until Bergy/Matusz/Arietta/Tillman are ready to come up and BEAT the AL east, not just come up and be on the mound. Until they're ready, I'd rather not have ANDREW destroy their confidence and future.
I also think Trembley has more to do with this decision than you care to give him credit.
Sometimes I think you have buck teeth, four hooves and a tail...how you mange to hit the keyboard is a wonder.
Stay the course people. This isn't our year. No need to rush these guys. Let them prove themselves at each level and let them force their way onto the team. That hasn't happened here in a long time and thats why we have sucked. Guys like Montanez, Reimold, Bergesen ect... needs to show they can play at each level first and things will work out for them. If you prove you can do it in AAA you'll get your shot in the majors, but that hasn't happened yet for those guys. Patience people, patience.
Suggesting that we would be rushing Bergesen and thus somehow damaging him like "they" did Penn is a weak comparison.
Hayden Penn made his major league debut in May 2005. He was 20 years old and had pitched in about 50 games(10 of those above A ball) over two minor league seasons.
Bergesen has pitched in 91 games(80 starts) over five seasons. He will be 24 in September.
I drove two hours and paid $30 for a ticket to see Penn's debut in '05. Why? Because he was the future. I would drive two hours and pay $40 to see Bergesen. I'm not driving anywhere to see Baez or Eaton pitch.
I think the comments about Bergesen's slider in the previous entries say it all. You just know he will be throwing it a lot in AAA and that's a heck of a better thing than getting lit up and learning under fire. Let some of the innings eaters do their thing in the mean time.
Baron, I keep Ball 4 beside my desk at work. Don't forget "I'm Glad You Didn't Take it Personally". I still howl every time I hear about Doug Rader.
Not a shock, but I thought he'd be around for a little while longer. Guess they need for him to get on a schedule and routine in minor league camp. I think the Orioles need to find out what they have in Penn and Hill, as well as Eaton and Pauley.
Roch,
I would have referred to it as a pathetic roster move instead of surprising. If Baez makes the opening day roster, then I won't be attending any games this season. I understand that 2010 is a transition year, but it's no excuse to keep garbage on the roster.
Baron: Right on about Ball Four. Bouton not only wrote a tremendously entertaining book, he also proved himself accurate and often prescient about many things, from Mickey Mantle's drinking to free agency to PEDs. He commented, almost 40 years ago, that if there were a pill that would guarantee pitchers 20 wins but might take 10 years off their lives, they'd all take it. Boy, were those words borne out. Absolutely everyone, baseball fan or no, should read Ball Four, which is by turns hilarious, insightful, and ultimately touching. Jim Bouton is certainly the only baseball player I've ever read who had the faintest idea how to write.
While I'm exposing my mancrush, maybe others here might suggest other great baseball books. It's gotta be more interesting than debating what mediocre pitcher should occupy the 5th rotation slot.
On a totally different note, we all need to pay attention to Trembley's comments, since it's pretty obvious whom he likes and doesn't. His saying that Penn is almost as good as he was in the minors suggests he isn't going to be around long, although it seems to me he deserves the same chance as Pie. Another indicator of longevity is what a player says. Last year Cabrera was asked what he had learned from his latest poor start and he said something like, "I don't gotta reflect on nothing." Olson, meanwhile, in reviewing his year said how he felt pretty good about it. After those comments, I didn't expect to see either on the 2009 roster.
So according to Jack, Wieters won't get a fair shot b/c he's not an "andy prospect"... thats a load of crap and theres nothing to back that up. Having BB start the year in AAA isn't going to cause the O's to miss the playoffs so I don't understand why everyone is making a huge deal out of it. Let em get on a roll to start the year then bring him up when needed.
ugh - what a bad idea. what were they thinking? and what veterans are they talking about for the rotation? Baez? oh please...
most of our pitching by the current major leaguers (save Ray, and a few others), has been awful so far this spring. and i don't care that "it's only Spring training" and they're just "working on their mechanics, etc." Starters on other teams are going at least 5 innings by now, where some of ours are barely making it thru 3 or 4. sending Bergeson down now is completely unacceptable, in my opinion...ugh
Roch- this is why its so tough to be an O's fan. We have to lose, as fans, while the FO tries to find the next 400k Cy Young winner.
You don't gert rewarded by this team for good performance. David Price is demanding a spot on the Rays and they are ions ahead of this crappy franchise.
WTF!!!
Baron, my love for you remains. We are all still anxiously awaiting Jack's findings after researching "irony" and "a look in the mirror", are we not? I wasn't absent that day, was I? I suspect he may try to find someone to write that paper FOR him.
I'm totally not bothered by Lou, BB, Wieters, Nolan, etc being sent down to AAA for the beginning of the season. There can't be a single person who replies to this blog who TRULY believes any of them will stay there ALL season long, right? They won't. As long as they are still there in the beginning of May when I can go see them up in Buffalo... I'm good. Greedy and selfish, but it's all good. (C'mON! BAL does not come here to CLE until the end of September! I can't wait THAT LONG!)
Roch, I was keeping up with the blog while out beveraging with friends tonight. We had a round for you. Of course none of my Cleveland friends know who you are aside from what they hear from me, but they thought you certainly deserve a round of beverages. And you enjoyed them, in case you were wondering...
Hey Roch,I have a question for Kranny..When Hill was shadow pitching,did the air look good coming out of his hand?
Inundated with reclamation projects and rejects. Rewarding mediocrity. The more things change the more they stay the same. It's going to be one helluva long year.
What happened to 'earning your way on the team' or 'taking advantage of the opportunity' that Trembley has been preaching all spring. Most of our guys have done nothing to earn a spot in the rotation, so I am dissapointed that we sent down the one guy who has (Bergeson).
Maybe we are terrified of rushing him, but some guys just know how to pitch and Bergeson might be one of those guys. He sure showed it in the spring.
I think people are reacting to the years of losing and knowing that none of Koji, Eaton, Baez, Bass, Pauley or Hendrickson are capable of changing that. That said, I don't understand how people could have watched the likes of Olson, Liz and even Penn in his prior stint and think it was time to promote a guy from AA to the ML rotation. The point is, this move does nothing to hurt our plan for 2010 and beyond. I like Bergesen, but frankly he's the least likely to be able to come in and make a difference right away. He's a 4 or 5 starter--hopefully a very good one, but still a back of the rotation guy.
Guthrie, Koji, Hill, Eaton and Penn should be the rotation. It's time to put Penn out there and see if he makes or breaks it. Give the guy 10-15 starts and if he can't do it, send him down. If he gets picked up on waivers by someone else, so be it. If Hill isn't ready, you move Eaton up and put Pauley or Baez in the back of the rotation. I think Pauley is just a right-handed Chris Waters, however. I like Bass as a long guy. I don't think the plan ever was for Hendrickson to be a starter, and I wouldn't go there.
Jack, I think Pie is getting his chance over Reimold or Montanez b/c he is OUT OF OPTIONS, not because MacPhail "drafted him". He was actually signed as a free agent out of the D.R. The only player Andy MacPhail drafted from those 3 is none other than Lou Montanez 3rd overall in 2000. Talk about irony, JACK.
jack,
could you please SHUT UP. just for a minute. i think you suffer from a significant case of myopia. it's obvious why pie is in over reimold. reimold is not ready and he has options. pie is closer, has some ability and might ultimately help us out. most importantly he is out of options, therefore, we need to find out what he can do now.
most spring training stats you can throw out because they don't correlate to the regular season. pitchers are trying to work on specific pitches or develop arm strength. batters are trying to work on their timing. their is a significant difference between how the game is played in the first or second week of march and the regular season.
brad bergesen, believe it or not is not a high end prospect, he does not throw that hard and relies on location and movement as opposed to velocity. if you think that bergesen will make a significant difference in the outcome of the orioles season, i can assure you you are incorrect.
please allow these people to do their jobs. if you think that the issues that exist with the orioles can be resolved in a year or two you are delusional. this mess will take years to fix. our young pitching is not just going to come up and dominate, not in this division. they will have to learn to pitch and that will take another year or two after they make it to the big leagues. please stay patient, we are finally starting to bring up some people through the minor leagues. ultimately this should translate into wins on the major league level. just not now or the next few years