Much closer to confirmation
I'm told that pitchers Troy Patton and Jake Arrieta are, indeed, moving up to Triple-A Norfolk, where they'll join elite prospect Chris Tillman in a beefed-up rotation.
I guess there's still room for someone else once the Orioles activate Koji Uehara, but it just got a lot more crowded down there.
Also, Single-A Frederick right-hander Tim Bascom, the Orioles' fourth pick in the 2007 draft, will be promoted to Double-A Bowie and make tomorrow night's start. That's been the talk over the last few days.
Bascom is 4-5 with a 3.40 ERA in 12 games with the Keys this season.
The Orioles promoted Kenny Moreland from extended spring training to take Bascom's turn with Frederick last night, and he retired the first 13 batters he faced.
And finally, the Orioles selected Mike Flacco, brother of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, in the 31st round.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Hey Rock, great update. Considering how early they have moved up to Norfolk, do you think we will see all three (Arrieta, Patton and Tillman) at some point in the season for the O's? Or will they play it conservative?
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It's possible that we'll see all three by September. Depends on whether they're pitching well and if the Orioles decide to shut them down. - Roch
I am really glad that the Oriole selected Mike Flacco. He is a long shot, but gee, the guy really wants to be an Oriole. He has athleticism, so he should be a quick learn.
Roch,
Any chance you think of Snyder moving up there too or is that probably all for now?
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I think that'll happen very soon. - Roch
Great news! Now how about Brandon Snyder? The Tides could use some replacement bats.
As much complaining as people do about the baseball draft, it's full of these stories about taking a chance on a kid, e.g., Mike Piazza get's drafted in like the 47th round b/c his god father was Tommy Lasorda. Now, it's Mike Flacco. Great story on him in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042801514.html
Apparently a late-bloomer. But the word is, the guy CAN HIT! If his brother Joe's work ethic runs in the family, I think this kid has a chance. Go O's... Go Raaaaaaavens!
Roch,
Would they keep both Berken and Hernandez? Salazar can play the outfield, so could they release Pie and end the "Pie Experiment"?
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Highly doubt it. And you don't want Salazar backing up Jones in CF. Pie has a role as a spare outfielder. - Roch
It sure is nice to have a legitimate farm system now.
Roch,
I can see it both ways. On the one hand, yes Hernandez is a starter so it makes sense to work him every five days. On the other hand, pitching in relief would allow him to get a feel for facing major league hitting and continue under Krany’s stewardship.
Also. this pitching staff has been incredibly volatile this year. From freak injuries, to starters getting chased in the first inning, to DT over working the pen, we’ve seen it all. You never know when we will need an emergency starter or “long man”. Yes, I know Bass has been superb in the latter role. Somehow I think Hernandez would see plenty of work if he stayed up here. But I can see your argument as well.
As for the media thing, perhaps my last line was a bit obnoxious, so I’ll retract that. But this is a u-turn by Andrew, however small or justified it may be. When prospects come up, they are coming up to stay, not be sent straight back down is what he said. It’s worth a question or two in my opinion. That's all. A u-turn is a u-turn.
Just my 2 pence.
This. Is. AWESOME.
Can't wait to see those dudes, a rotation of Tillman, Arrieta, Patton, Hernandez and ummm, hmmmm, who stays in the rotation out of Waters, Pauley and Livingston?
I'm guessing Pauley, while the other 2 go to the pen. I think Deza probably goes back down.
Pretty nice pitching rotation and bullpen down here for the time being.
I'm hoping that Patton and Arrieta continue to throw the ball well and have success. Our rotation next year will be pretty exciting if we have Patton, Arrieta and Tillman in the bigs. We are getting closer and closer to where we need to be in order to start having success.
Even if these guys don't come up and dominate, I believe our rotation will at least be solid enough to keep us in games and not give them away like in the past. We will be competitive, especially some with of the young power bats that we have joining the O's.
I assumed that Hernandez would go down because Berken's first two starts were good, Hernandez only had one good one in two starts and would not get a third start before the decision had to be made. Then Berken went and got rocked in his third start, which complicates the decision in my view. Although I'm no major league scout, I like Hernandez's stuff better. He doesn't have as many pitches as Berken but he's a strikeout pitcher with electric stuff. I guess he'll still be the one to go down, but I have a gut feeling he will be better than Berken long term.
Do you think this is being done to send a strong message to Guthrie that his spot is not as secure as it once was?
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No. The idea all along was to move up these guys at or near the minor league All-Star break. - Roch
Roch, will someone else get promoted to Bowie since two pitchers are leaving? Possibly Matusz?
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Matusz is scheduled to start tonight for Frederick. He might have to wait a little while longer - perhaps after pitching in the Carolina/California League All-Star Game. Someone from Norfolk probably will drop back down to Bowie. - Roch
Well that is one guy being bumped up from Frederick to Bowie...who could the other be?? Seriously though, any rumblings on whether or not Matusz is moving on prior to the break? Or does him being selected for the all-star game put a cramp in something like that?
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No rumblings. He might have to wait, as you say, until after the All-Star Game. Someone from Norfolk could go down to Bowie. - Roch
To a deeeeeeeeeluxe apartment, in the sky.
Arrieta and Patton will soon finally get their piece of the pie.
Anyone?
Roch-
I might have missed it (I am sorry if you have already answered this), but did anyone ask Trembley why he did not have Andino bunt with Wieters at second and no outs in the 5th yesterday?
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Nobody asked. - Roch
Players get injured, and their position needs to be filled from the minors, temporarily. Sending them back down in this type of instance is pretty standard. I really don't see what the fuss is all about. If we sent him down so we could re-sign Cabrera I would fully understand the hostility and, I might add, I would be part of it. But this is just a case of someone being brought up to fill in for an injured player and getting sent back down when that players returns. It's not the end of the world. Koji will break down again in less than a month (if anyone is daring enough to take the over on that one, let me know) and whomever gets sent down will be back up.
Roch-
PLEASE start rattling Trembley's cage about the lack of smart at-bats; why are guys swinging at first pitches (Markakis) after Jones walks on 4 straight? Why is Mora batting 5th still? Whys has hitting with runners in scoring position become a 4-letter word? SOMETHING has to be done to find a decent lineup on this team.
Wow..if hernanfez gets sne tback to Norfolk....with Arrieta, Patton and Tillman....that is one heck of a rotation...need some better position players there now....Bascom sound slike he musty be ready for AA tehm...good first game back for Moreland...
what is the deal with Mike Flacco??...I am really not familiar with him...sorry if everyone else knows....I just know about Joe??????
Guthrie is trade bait? Get what you can while you still can!
Anthony - thanks for explaining it clearly for the dimwitted folks. But just in case they overlooked what you said, sometimes you have to include the part that was left unsaid.
Namely, "Brummie, you're still an idiot." When MacPhail said the team wasn't going to be running a shuttle between Norfolk and Baltimore he was speaking of a general organizational philosophy regarding promoting guys to the big leagues. He was not talking about calling up someone to fill a hole when someone goes on the DL. Though even in that situation they are hoping to keep that to a minimum.
But the options when someone goes on the DL are to bring up a player from the minors, or sign someone as a free agent. Conversely, when someone goes off the DL, the options are to return someone to the minors or cut someone. There are only so many times you can release someone because now they are pretty much down to the guys they intend to keep around for the rest of the year and in most cases beyond.
So when Koji comes off the DL someone has to come off the active roster, and that means one of the guys who only came up because of injuries is going to have to go back. Neither Berken nor Hernandez were brought up solely because the organization thought they had done all they could or needed to do at AAA.
Reimold could back up center during a game. The phobia about a ball going over a CF head is just that, a phobia.Pie is a waste of a roster spot.Wiggy,Salazar and Scott can play left,there's no risk there for a not having a back up.Pie deserves a chance with another team if they want him.
In answer to Chas: Hitters are swinging at first pitches because they're not hitting well. Eventually, they'll run into a poor shmoe who's having a midseason swoon and pound him for eleven runs, building their confidence and making them more patient. Unfortunately, Jeremy Guthrie's on our team, so we'll just have to wait.
In answer to Craig...what language is that?
As for moving up Patton and Arrieta, I have to give that move twenty-three-point-five thumbs up.
Finally, drafting a Flacco is never a mistake.
Now that it's closer to being confirmed I can say that in my opinion Norfolk's rotation is basically just as good as Baltimore's is now with Tillman, Arrieta, Patton, now we just need those 3 to come up to Baltimore to compliment Bergesen and Guthrie/Hill whichever one decides he wants to pitch consistently and we can have a chance at .500 for the rest of the season. However I do know Arrieta won't be up for a while, but why the hell do they keep Tillman down there is beyond me, and Patton was suppost to be a starter in Baltimore before the surgery, I'm not a doctor but trust me his shoulder is fine now so why are they lolly gagging with him too?
P.S nevermind on that .500 thing, I almost forgot that no one on this team outside of Jones / Reimold / Weiters can hit anymore.