http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck/2009/03/orioles_pregame_trembley.html
As I said all last year, and I have said all off-season, going with 13 pitchers would be a mistake.
It is just not needed, if you bring the right 12 pitchers north… and more importantly, carrying the 13th pitcher will never be more valuable then having the extra positional player on the bench.
This is a huge decision which effects the roster in numerous ways… there are some additional issues with this to consider..
1) Rich Hill – There is no structural damage… so you would think, that between today March 9th, and Opening Day that Hill would still have the time available to be ready for the year.
If he is healthy, he will start the year in the rotation. If he is in the rotation, that eliminates any realistic chance of Mark Hendrickson being in the rotation… meaning Hendrickson will be in the bullpen.
2) If Hendrickson is in the bullpen, as the 2nd lefty behind Sherrill… then there is no reason to carry Jamie Walker besides the contract owed to him.
3) Baez… if you are a medicore to ineffective relief pitcher, there is no reason to believe you canr regularly start. The O’s are aware of this, they are attempting to build his value… if they can not raise his value, they will cut him prior to the start of the season…
Unless…
4) They decide to keep Baez or Walker as the 13th pitcher… if you keep a 13th pitcher, that means you will be operating with a 3 man bench…. the backup catcher Moeller, Wigginton, and Freel.
5) If you have a 3 man bench, that means you effectively have a 2 man bench, as you would be scared to use the back-up catcher.
5a) Wigginton, and Freel are not showing they can handle backing up SS.
6) With a 12 man staff, and the likely April 17th promotion of Wieters…. you can have a strong bench of Zaun, Wigginton, Freel, and either Gomez or Moore (if Moore shows he can handle SS in limited duty).
Again, my 12 man pitching staff would be:
Guthrie, Uehara, Hill, Liz, Albers
Sherrill
Ray
Johnson
Hendrickson
Sarfate
Penn
Pauley
7) While you might be skeptical on the innings the rotation can provide, the bullpen would be comprised by members that could extend.
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.