He looks horrible right now… again, not because of his stuff… but because of his lack of development with his mechanics.
The Orioles have decided he looked so horrible, that they are sending him back to Norfolk. I think the argument for sending him back to the Minors is flawed. Liz has already proven he can pitch effectively as a starter at the AA, and AAA levels… Going back to AAA as a relief pitcher proves nothing. He can either get MLB hitters out, or he can not.
Basically half of his MLB starts last year were effective… meaning his odds of being effective out of the pen are even greater.
I think he should remain with the team all year, and should be a guy that can provide 80-100 innings. He certainly is messed up right now, but I would much rather just cut Bass, and keep Liz, and allow Liz to have most of 2009 to definitively show what he is either way. You need to be evaluating him in 2009, when you have the opportunity.
Liz – Turns 26, on June 8th
2008 MLB – 84.1 ip, 99 hits, 57 k’s, 51 walks
2008 Norfolk – 87 ip, 77 hits, 85 k’s, 32 walks
2007 Bowie – 137 ip, 101 hits, 161 k’s, 70 walks
2006 Frederick – 83 ip, 57 hits, 95 k’s, 44 walks
Liz’s best 2008 starts
9/19 – 6.1ip, 8hits, 3er, 3bb, 1k
9/14 – 8ip, 0er, 5hits, 1bb, 4k’s
8/27 – 5.2ip, 2er, 3hits, 5bb, 3k’s
7/21 – 5.2ip, 3er, 5hits, 6bb, 4k’s
7/1 – 6ip, 3er, 7hits, 1bb, 4k’s
6/26 – 5ip, 2er, 4hits, 4bb, 4k’s
6/14 – 6.1ip, 4er, 4hits, 1bb, 5k’s
6/8 – 5ip, 2er, 4hits, 3bb, 3k’s
6/3 – 5.1ip, 2er, 4hits, 1bb, 4k’s
Him being horrible here on April 20th only matters so much…. What matters is that he shown an ability to get hitters out at the AA, and AAA levels as a starter… and even occassionally at the Major League level… Putting him back in the minors as a relief pitcher, to just dominate there does nothing. He can either get Major League hitters out, or he can not… Kranitz can either help his control, or he can not. Liz can help this team more than Bass.
All that will happen, is that Liz is going to go back to the minors and overwhelm hitters….. If you want to work on his mechanics, Kranitz should be as capable as anyone with that.
2009 is a year to be evaluating players who have the potential to be part of the future…… For all his problems – mechanics, control, poise – he fits the criteria of a player that could help you.
Just crazy to me that there is much worry about the 12th (well currently 13th) pitcher on the staff…. If you want to say it is about winning games now, than be prepared to make the other internal moves today that will improve your ability to win today.He is going to continue to have issues with control… because of his mechanics….. But just like last year, if he goes back to AAA he is going to allow less than a hit per IP, and have more than a K per IP. For a relief pitcher, that is basically the definition of dominating.
You have him in Baltimore, because the question of if he can get Major League hitters out his not yet been answered.
The current results speak for theirselves, but the sample size is limited.
The greater sample size is his Minor League track record, which indicates he was successful in both AA, and AAA as a starter. As a relief pitcher, I see little reason to believe he will pushed in Norfolk.
Ultimately, if Liz can not get MLB hitters out, why have him? Some believe that question has been answered… I believe that it has not, and should be answered over an extended look during 2009.
If the team is not willing to give him extended time with the Orioles in 2009, when they have no chance of contending… just cut him, and be done…
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.