The ability of the O’s to improve quickly in the immediate horizon, is tied to the abilities of their young-arms.

You can not teach experience, you can only learn from.

Consider tonight a major learning experience for Chris Tillman.

NY and Boston are always going to be outstanding regular-season teams. That is what happens when you have even semi-competent people running their those teams, with their revenues, and their salaries.

Tampa, even with the departure of Kazmir, is still set for a several-year run of success with all of their young talent.

This means, to be able to contend in the American League East, you essentially have to be built to be the best team in baseball.

The first-step of achieving that lofty goal, is showing you can go to Fenway, and New Yankee Stadium, and capable of winning games.

To consistently be capble of winning games in those locales, you have to be able to pitch.

To pitch in the environment of Fenway, and NY; it is not just about physical ability. It is about fortitude and a little something extra, that is not easily defined.

Chris Tillman showed a lot of that tonight. The 21 year-old took the ball tonight after a long rain-delay, on 9/11 in New York.

The Yanks are again in contention, playing intimidating baseball at-home, and the crowd was electric with the idea of Jeter establishing a Yankee hits record. That is a lot of emotion to deal with. Right-away, Tillman allows a 3 run bomb to ARod. Plenty of players would have folded at that point, and been done.

Tillman found a way to battle, and allowed only 1 more er in his 5 innings of work. While he did allow 9 hits – including Jeter’s milestone – he complimented that with 8 k’s.

Some will look at Tillman allowing 4 er in 5 innings of work, and not be impressed. I am telling you, when you put in the proper context, tonight was very important.

You can now check it off the list, as Tillman has pitched in, and competed in Yankee Stadium.

Combine that with the O’s coming-back to put at-least 10 runs on the board, coupled with Matusz and Guthrie pitching this weekend; and this could be an outstanding series for the Birds.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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