Quick hits
I'll expand on this entry later by including quotes from outfielder Lou Montanez and manager Dave Trembley, but here are a few pre-game notes:
Montanez is scheduled to start in left field tomorrow night. The swelling has gone down in his right hand and he's available to pinch-hit. Montanez said he could have played tonight, but he figured that Trembley wanted to load the lineup with left-handers against Twins starter Kevin Slowey.
The Orioles are still waiting to get the test results on Dennis Sarfate's right hand. He complained of numbness in his middle finger during Friday night's game in Toronto.
Rich Hill is expected to make his next rehab start on Sunday, and the Orioles want to stretch him out to 95 pitches. They'd also like to get him through the sixth inning.
Alfredo Simon underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Birmingham, Ala.
The Orioles are taking infield today, with "extended cuts and relays," Trembley said. Roving catching instructor Don Werner is here to work with the catchers on their throws.
Trembley wants Mark Hendrickson to use all of his pitches, rather than morph into a one-pitch starter. He'd also like Hendrickson to pick up the pace, but he's not sure that's possible because the left-hander has been pitching the same way for a lot of years.
"I don't know if you can change him right now. That's his style," Trembley said.
When considering closer candidates, Trembley has to take into account whether a guy coming off arm surgery can work on back-to-back days. And we'll use Chris Ray as the perfect example. If Ray can do it and Trembley doesn't think he's risking injury, he's more more likely to get the ball in the ninth inning in save situations.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
"Trembley wants Mark Hendrickson to use all of his pitches, rather than morph into a one-pitch starter."
You mean Hendrickson has pitches? Where was I when this happened? It seems to me like he just heaves the ball over the plate and hope it lands somewhere.
But Andrew told us that Hendrickson is here to eat innings, so he must be right.
Sarfate must have a long commute to the park....
Werner helping the C on throwing? Is Mario Mendoza here to help the 7,8,& 9 hitters to get above .200 as well?
Keep the other team guessing & use Ray or Sherrill to close. If one suxs in that scenario, try McCrory.
I think this is the perfect opportunity for Trembley to abandon the designated closer scheme. Got lefties up in the 9th? Get Sherrill. Righties? Get Ray, or get Johnson if Ray worked the night before. I realize it's not quite that simple -- you can't save all three guys for the ninth, won't know for sure who will be up -- but if we don't have anyone truly better than the rest, why label anyone The Closer?
For example, best Twins hitters are lefties Mauer and Morneau. I'm using Sherrill in whichever inning they bat, and use Ray/JJ the other times... if we actually have a lead that late :)
Good to know Montanez is close now...
that is a kind fo scary thing Saarfate has....not a common injury...
Hill just get the guy read and get his butt in the rotation and let him go..see what we have...
I bet Simon is a hurting puppy tonight..
The O's need some ecxtra infield work...their D is a bit off...
If Hendrickson can pitch better picking up the pace then he should do it...I hope he has beenm using more than 1 pitch..that is crazy..
Ray as closer....I think he should be...he is 100% healthy..and he shold take his old job back if he does well back t back and throws strikes..Sherrill can not throw strikes that much any more and has not done well. Maybe he wil b etraded at the Jult deasline..no one mentioned him today with Mora, Huff, Walker and Baez...
I'm sure Trembley would love Hendrickson to use pitches he doesn't have. For example, a fast one.
I predicted before the season there would be a closer controversy if Sherill blew a couple games and it didn't take long...Honestly,I don't have any more confidence in Ray than Sherill. Ray has to come up with an off speed pitch he can get over.The other team always seems to know what's coming. If it was me I'd stick with Sherill.
Haven’t there been a lot of great pitchers who only had a couple/few years in the minors? Maddux was about 20/21 when he came to the majors with about 2 years in minors, Palmer had one minor league year, Garza only had a couple, Beckett had 2 or 3. So we come to the Os farm system and I see that:
Erbe already has more than 5 yrs
Patton has 4 yrs already
Chris Tillman is in his 3rd yr
Berken has more than 3 yrs
Hernandez is also north of 4 yrs
So why do they continue to work in the minors if we’re all agreed that this is a building year? Add to that the fact that the cynicism of the dwindling fan base increases with each start of a retread from another club. For a good, young starter, with a good attitude, the fans have a history of giving standing Os (however, Liz wasn’t ready --- I think the FO knew it, and thinks that all the others will repeat that experiment).
Roch,
Any word on where Rich Hill will be starting next? Still Norfolk? Shorebirds are home Sunday...would be great to see him throw (even if it gets me in hot water because its Mother's Day).
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It looks like it's still Norfolk. - Roch