When the O’s start their 3 game home series with Oakland, what should the 25 man roster look like?
Assuming that the hamstring issue suffered by Simon today does not force him to the DL, here is the 25 man roster I would like to see by Tuesday night.
Patterson LF
Markakis RF
Scott 1st
Tejada SS
Wigginton 2nd
Wieters C
Jones CF
Bell 3rd
Reimold DH
Bench:
Montanez, Moore, Izturis, Tatum
Released: Atkins, Lugo
Promoted: Bell, Reimold
Millwood, Guthrie, Matusz, Bergesen, Tillman
Simon
Hernandez
Berken
Ohman
Albers
Armondo Gabino
Sarfate
Released: Meredith, Hendrickson
Promoted: Tillman, Gabino, Sarfate
DL: Uehara
Rationale / Thoughts:
1) Keeping Tillman at AAA for another 10 days to potentially avoid Super 2 status, and keeping him in the Minors for another month to gain another year of service time are arguments with merit. I do not believe those are arguments with greater merit then improving the team now. You can always work to extend him prior to reaching arbitration, and work to gain back his first-year of Free Agency.
2) I understand the promotion of Josh Bell for Tuesday night is not going to happen, but I think it should. His promotion would allow you to shift Tejada to SS, and improve the lineup. Tejada will make the routine play at SS, and Bell figures to out-hit Izturis on a day-to-day basis. I see red-flags on a Bell promotion (just 6 walks to 45 k’s, 4 hits in 34 at-bats vs lefties) but he is still the best option to play 3rd everyday if Tejada is moved back to SS. Additionally, you can limit the pressure on him by telling him he will play everyday and keeping him at 8th in the lineup. Izturis has a .545 OPS this year. In theory, Bell only has to be better than that for the O’s offense to improve with his addition. In his last 3 games, Bell has 7 hits.
3) Reimold has just 1 hit in his last 11 at-bats, and has done basically nothing during his time back in AAA. Still he he stayed in the Minors for the 10 days he was required to. Even though he is not hitting, he has 4 walks vs 7 k’s which shows solid plate-discipline. With Scott getting time at 1st, you could bring Reimold up and play him everyday at DH. If you bat him 9th there is absolutely no pressure on him. For their everyday lineup, the O’s do not have a better option than Reimold to be one of their 9 regulars.
4) With Tillman promoted, Hernandez goes to the pen. Immediately gives the bullpen another power-arm able to stretch a bit.
4a) Berken needs to be used more than just long-relief.
4b) Meredith’s homer today was the 4th he has allowed in 14+ innings. He is not keeping the ball down, thus he should not be on the roster. I think the O’s are better with Hernandez, Gabino, and Sarfate vs. Meredith, Hendrickson, and a Uehara you can not use.
5) It might be a lot to ask Tejada to move back to SS in-season, but its not like is a stranger to the position. I have been saying since we signed him in January, that SS is where he belongs:
http://baltimoresportsandlife.blogspot.com/2010/01/thoughts-on-signing-of-tejada.html
If the O’s decide to go with another 1 year stop-gap at SS in 2011, this gives you the chance to evaluate Tejada everyday at the position.
5a) With Izturis displaced at SS, I would rather have him on the bench as a defensive replacement, or pinch-runner vs. Lugo. Based on that, I would release Lugo.
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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.