First, I should state that I am a fan of them both… I think Trembley should be the manager for the long-term… he is good with the media, direct with his players… I think his game to game focus is strong… appreciate his work on fundamentals…

I think the volume of pitchers that have spoken about improved communication under Kranitz, is a testament to him.

That all said, I think this has been a rough Spring for Trembley, and Kranitz.

As the team prepares to come North… 2 of the 4 of Liz, Penn, Albers, Pauley should be the 4th and 5th starters… and the other two should be the last two in the bullpen.
Instead, they are going to release Pauley… have Liz in AAA… have limited the innings of Albers (and used him totally different than what Trembley said all Winter would be best for him)… and might still wind up releasing Penn.

All so they can carry Eaton… who is turning 32, and has been crushed the last two years in the National League… Simon… who is 3 years older than Penn… and whose only decent season in the Minors came in High A ball in 2004… and possibly Baez… ineffective as a relieve pitcher in 2007, missed all of 2008, and is also turning 32.

I still believe Hill should be making the team out of Spring Training… if they used him as their 5th starter, his first start could be April 12th… there really is not reason to believe after his four outings on a mound last week, and his start yesterday… that he could not be ready for that start.

Since they are going to DL him… and since they are going to include Simon on the team… the best remaining scenario is a 12 man staff of:

Guthrie, Uehara, Hendrickson, Penn, Simon
Sherrill
Ray
Johnson
Walker
Sarfate
Albers
Liz

As I said last night, I would rather carry Pauley vs Simon… but that will not happen.

Release Baez, and Eaton…When Hill returns… Hendrickson to the bullpen, and release Walker.

Liz has options, and is going to be sent to AAA… a move I totally disagree with. He has had success as a AA, and AAA starter…. if the O’s are not going to have him starting this year in particular… than he needs to be in the O’s bullpen. The idea of sending him to Norfolk to pitch out of the pen makes little sense. This is a guy that turns 26 in June…

2007 AA – 11-4, 3.22 ERA, 137 innings, 101 hits, 161 k’s, 70 walks
2008 AAA – 3-7, 3.62 ERA, 87 innings, 77 hits, 85 k’s, 32 walks

Put him in the bullpen of a AAA team, and he is going to overwhelm hitters with limited development of his game. He can help the O’s as a relief pitcher that can go 2-3 innings at a time now.

Sarfate, Liz, and Albers are all able to give some extended innings… Ray is going to wind-up being the closer more often than not… and I believe you will see Sherrill not used as a LOOGY, but as another set-up guy with Johnson… with Johnson not the primary set-up guy, he will also be available for occasional 2 inning outings. Most importantly, Hill is basically ready now… the only reason he is not going to make the team, is to give the O’s Front Office extra time to configure the roster… When Hill ascends to the O’s in mid-to-late April… Hendrickson goes to the pen… gives another guy able to give 3-4 innings at a time…

If the team carries Eaton, what they are basically saying is that they want him in the rotation able to give you 6 innings, with Penn in the bullpen, and Liz in AAA.

I fundamentally disagree with the premise, that it makes more sense for Eaton to be in the O’s rotation, than for Liz to be in the O’s bullpen.

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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