Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman will turn 22 on April 15th. Watching him receive a full-season in a Baltimore uniform is something that I am really looking forward to.
In 2008, as a 20 year-old with AA Bowie, Tillman put up the following numbers:
11-4, 3.18 era, 135.2 innings, 115 hits, 154 k’s, 65 walks.
In 2009, as a 21 year-old with AAA Norfolk, Tillman put up the following numbers:
8-6, 2.70 era, 96.2 innings, 85 hits, 99 k’s, 26 walks, 5 homers.
In his initial 12 Major League starts with Baltimore; Tillman produced the following:
2-5, 5.40 era, 65 innings, 77 hits, 39 k’s, 24 walks, 15 homers.
Tillman had two back-to-back starts in September which I found very impressive.
On September 11th in New York, Tillman took the mound against the eventual World Champion Yankees after a long rain-delay. The NY crowd was going insane with the emotions of the anniversary, and of Jeter approaching a franchise record for hits. Tillman got rocked by Alex Rodriguez for a 3 run homer in the bottom of the first, and you worried that Tillman might totally crack on that Yankee Stadium stage. Instead, he battled back and found his poise, allowing only 1 more er in his 5 innings of work, while striking-out 8.
If you want 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 Yankee Stadium, and be capable of winning games. To consistently be capable of winning games in those locales, you have to be able to pitch. To pitch in those environments, it is not just about physical ability. It is about fortitude and a little something extra, that is not easily defined. After that start, you could check off that Tillman had pitched in, and competed in Yankee Stadium.
Tillman followed-up that outing with a strong game at home against Tampa. Over 95 pitches, Tillman provided 6.2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 er, and 1 bb. He continued his trend of allowing fly-balls, but his movement that night limited the Rays from being able to square-up on him easily.
I am very comfortable projecting Tillman to provide a minimum of 170 innings, at a 4.75 era this year. That would make him one of the American League’s better 4th, or 5th starters and keep the O’s in a lot of games. My expectation is that he will easily out perform that minimum projection.
Even if I am wrong, 2010 is going to be a very valuable season for the development of Tillman. He has shown an ability to dominate the upper-reaches of the Minor Leagues at a very young age. Similar to the experience he gained by going to, and pitching in New York last September, Tillman needs the experience of a full-season in the Majors. A season where you face the same Major League team 3-4 times, and the scouting reports on you continue to grow. A season where you are forced to make adjustments, and gain further understanding of what will, and will not work at the highest level. That can not be accomplished by him going back to the Minors.
For the O’s to quickly ascend up the standings, and compete in this division by 2011; the young-pitching will have to dramatically leap-forward. The first step in accomplishing that is handing Tillman (and the other young starters) the ball every 5th day.
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.