The 2012 Orioles Winter Thread

Top 8th: 3-3
*More replacements, not listing them*
Avery walked
Machado grounded to third, Avery out at second
Reynolds grounded out to third, Machado to second
C. Davis struck out swinging

Bot 8th: 3-3
*More replacements*
*Strop relieves O'Day*
Wise walked
Wise caught stealing
Dickerson grounded out to shortstop
Hall singled to center
Molina flied out to center

Top 9th: 3-3
Hoes singled to third
Tolleson struck out swinging
Joseph hit by pitch, Hoes to second
*Paulino hits for Johnson*
Paulino singled to center, Hoes scored, Joseph to third, Paulino to second on the throw
Britton intentionally walked
Avery struck out swinging
Machado grounded out to second

Bot 9th: 4-3
*Neshek relieves Strop*
Maxwell struck out looking
Bernier flied out to right
*Mesa hits for Granderson*
Mesa struck out swinging

O's win 4-3. Notable offensive stats:
Reimold 2-4
Weiters 2-3
Reynolds 1-4, 2 RBI
Andino 1-3, RBI
Paulino 1-1, RBI

Pitching stats:
Hammel: 5.1 IP, 5H, 2 ER, 5 K
Patton: 0.2 IP, 1H
O'Day: 1 IP, 1H, 1 ER, 2 BB
Strop: 1 IP, 1H, 1 BB
Neshek: 1 IP, 2 K

Betemit doesn't have to just play DH and Davis isn't exactly an all-star. The problem is that Betemit and Abreu both hit righties well but aren't so good against lefties while Davis is a lefty. How do you platoon them (or do you just turn Betemit into a utility player)?

Then again, looks like Abreu is going to Cleveland, so...

They are saying the deal fell apart with Bobby Abreu and the Indians and he is in the Angels lineup today, so it probably was a lot of smoke with little fire.

IDK but I would imagine if the Os got Abreu and where facing a lefty that they would have the outfield consist of Nolan Reimold, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis.

I think they would DH Matt Wieters and throw the other catcher whomever that may be behind the plate. Put Flaherty or Andino at 3b, the other at 2b and have Mark Reynolds at 1b. If they dont pull a trade off involving Reynolds.

But thats also why I keep mentioning Alberto Callaspo. I think he does hit lefties well and can play multiple positions as well and really is gonna just be a platoon guy in Anaheim. IDK how he really fits in. Also it re kindles the Martin Prado talks as well. I dont believe the Orioles are going into the season with 25 of the current players they have on the team.

Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles

Pitchers are:
Duane Below vs. Brian Matusz

Top 1st: 0-0
Jackson singled to left
Boesch singled to center, Jackson to second
Cabrera doubled to right, Jackson and Boesch scored
Kelly singled to right, Cabrera to third
Young grounded into double play, Cabrera scored
Raburn reached on throwing error from Mark Reynolds
Thomas struck out swinging

Bot 1st: 3-0
Reimold struck out swinging
Hardy flied out to deep center
Jones flied out to center

Rough start so far for Matusz, but on a positive note, he's thrown 17 strikes and 0 balls.

Top 2nd: 3-0
Santiago grounded out to second
Laird reached on throwing error from Mark Reynolds
Jackson struck out swinging
Boesch struck out looking

Bot 2nd: 3-0
Weiters flied out to center
Reynolds walked
Betemit walked, Reynolds to second
Chavez walked, Reynolds to third, Betemit to second
Miller fouled out to catcher
*McCann replaces Laird*
Andino walked, Reynolds scored, Betemit to third, Chavez to second
Reimold grounded to third, Chavez out at third

Top 3rd: 3-1
Cabrera doubled to left
Kelly walked
Young flied out to right
Raburn fouled out to catcher
Thomas struck out swinging

Bot 3rd: 3-1
Hardy flied out to right
Jones homered to deep left
Weiters grounded out to second
Reynolds flied out to center

Top 4th: 3-2
Santiago grounded out to second
McCann flied out to center
Jackson grounded out to shortstop

Bot 5th: 3-2
Betemit singled to left
Betemit to second on balk
Chavez singled to center, Betemit scored, Chavez out at second
*Marte relieves Below*
Miller struck out swinging
Andino struck out looking

Top 5th: 3-3
Boesch flied out to center
Cabrera flied out to left
Kelly flied out to center

Bot 5th: 3-3
*Worth replaces Cabrera*
Reimold struck out swinging
Hardy flied out to deep center
Jones grounded out to first

Top 6th: 3-3
*Beerer replaces Jones, Paulino replaces Weiters, Flaherty replaces Betemit
*Neshek relieves Matusz*
Young popped out to second
Raburn grounded out to third
*Patton relieves Neshek*
Clete singled to center
Santiago flied out to deep center

Bot 6th: 3-3
Paulino struck out looking
Reynolds stuck out swinging
Betemit walked
*Faulk replaces Marte*
Chavez singled to left, Betemit to third
*Rojas runs for Chavez*
Miller doubled to center, Betemit scored, Rojas to third
*Webb runs for Miller*
Andino flied out to center

Top 7th: 4-3
McCann struck out swinging
Fields flied out to center
Plagman homered to deep left
Worth flied out to center

Bot 7th: 4-4
Reimold struck out looking
Flaherty lined out to first
Beerer grounded out to shortstop

(Dotel relieved Faulk in the 7th and Ayala was in for us.. the thing froze for awhile and now it's all weird)

Top 8th: 4-4
*Phillips relieves Ayala*Robbins struck out swinging
Krizan grounded out to first
Loy grounded out to first

Bot 8th: 4-4
*Villareal relieves Dotel*
Paulino grounded out to third
*Adair replaces Reynolds*
Adair grounded out to shortstop
*G. Davis replaces Betemit*
G. Davis lined out to second

Top 9th: 4-4
*Johnson relieves Phillips*
Thomas grounded out to second
Santiago struck out looking
Casali walked
Fields walked
Plagman tripled to right, Casali and Fields scored
Worth grounded out to shortstop

Bot 9th: 6-4
Rojas grounded out to second
Webb struck out swinging
*Esposito replaces Andino*
Esposito struck out swinging

Final: DET 6 - BAL 4

Notable offensive stats:
Jones: 1-3 HR, RBI
Betemit: 1-1, 2 R, 2 BB
Chavez: 2-2, RBI, BB
Andino: 0-2, BB, RBI
Miller: 1-3, RBI


Pitching lines:
Matusz: 5 IP, 5H, 3 ER, 4 K, 1 BB
Neshek: 0.2 IP
Patton: 0.1 IP, 1H
Ayala: 1 IP, 1H, 1 ER, 1 K
Phillips: 1 IP, 1 K
Johnson: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Orioles placed Alfredo Simon on waivers according to Dan Connely.

According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles have placed Alfredo Simon on waivers.

The Orioles will have to make space on the 40-man roster for Nick Johnson and Ronny Paulino, so Simon appears to be the odd man out. The 30-year-old right-hander was recently sidelined due to a groin injury and gave up six runs over two innings in his return Wednesday. Connolly notes that it's possible that he was simply designated for assignment, but either way, he's unlikely to be on the Opening Day roster at this point. Source: Dan Connolly on Twitter Mar 30 - 7:13 PM

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette told Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com via text message that Alfredo Simon "is on the roster."

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reported earlier that Simon was placed on waivers (or possibly designated for assignment), but Ghiroli is hearing otherwise. Of course, the 30-year-old right-hander is out of options this spring and looks to be on the bubble after giving up six runs over two innings Wednesday in his return from a recent groin issue. Source: Brittany Ghiroli on Twitter Mar 30 - 7:30 PM

I'd rather see Simon off the roster than Phillips. IMO, he has earned a spot in the bullpen. He has been near perfect this spring and should make the team.

Just skimming over the ST stats, Jim Johnson looks terrible. More walks than K's and a 7.71 ERA. I don't know if that is counting today's game or not, but it's bad. At this point, I'm not seeing how he's going to close. Opening day is just a few days away now and JJ is nowhere near where we need him to be.

As I said already several times, why is it even a question of whether Phillips makes the team or not? He has a 1.46 ERA, a .49 WHIP and batters are hitting .100 off of him. Two runs in 12.1 IP, again, don't know if it's counting today, but he deserves a spot in our bullpen and could even be a dark horse to get a shot at closing if JJ can't pull himself together. I hope his lack of performance is not indicative of an injury in the near future.

Kevin Gregg really just needs to be cut already. He showed last year that he's really no better than anyone else we're putting out there and I'd rather see someone like Tillman in the bullpen than him.

I thought Matusz had a solid start today despite giving up three in the first. He pulled himself together and put up four scoreless as we chipped away at the lead. He has earned a rotation spot IMO. I think he is too good to be at Norfolk and I think it will do more to hurt his confidence by sending him down especially after what he is showing this spring. He has obviously worked hard to get back to this level and has, so far, succeeded. I don't think last season had anything at all to do with a lack of talent. I still say that if he gets a full season this year, he's going to put up good, maybe even breakout numbers. He's just picking up where he left off in 2010 right now, that's how I'm looking at it anyway.

Strop was great for us last year and this spring, he has a nice 2.16 ERA. He also, however, has a 1.44 WHIP with four walks in 8.1 IP. Not good. Chris Tillman has a 2.92 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and a .267 BAA. He has only walked three in 12.1 IP. O'Day's numbers are decent except for the 1.40 WHIP and three walks in 5 IP. Ayala has a 3.00 ERA, .143 BAA and a 0.83 WHIP. I think Ayala is also a lock.

Two other locks, IMO, are Patton and Neshek. Neither have given up a run in 10.1 and 9 IP respectively. Neshek has not walked a batter all spring and has a .103 BAA and a 0.33 WHIP with 8 K's. If he can return to form, Neshek will be a HUGE addition to this bullpen at the back end. I believe before his injuries, the Twins were going to move him into Nathan's spot as closer. I've always liked Neshek and was secretly excited about the addition. His performance this spring should get him into the bullpen. I'd be VERY surprised if he wasn't there. Patton has a .211 BAA and a 1.16 WHIP, but he has walked four batters in his 10.1 IP. Even still, I think he has earned a spot along with Neshek, Phillips, Ayala and perhaps Tillman. Maybe the bullpen is what he needs to get his foot in the door that is the starting rotation if we have a vacancy VIA injury.

The question is what are we going to do with Wada? Do we start him in the minors? Due to his salary, that almost seems completely unlikely unless they are going to "put" him on the DL and have him "rehab" in the minors for a month. I really can not envision Wada not getting a spot in the bullpen even though his spring troubles have kept him from earning it. I think Wada will get more innings before the spring is over, so hopefully, he can have a strong outing or two. What about JJ? He came into the spring as possibly the favorite to close, but he is getting shelled out there and has no control as shown with all the walks. How is his velocity?

I think at this point, I would rather see Neshek or Phillips get a shot at closing. If we still start JJ as closer and he can't get the job done, I think one of those two take over, probably Neshek since he has more experience than Phillips. Phillips isn't a lefty specialist, he gets everyone out. I'm excited to see both these guys this season.

Matt Lindstrom has only pitched six innings and has a 3.00 ERA, but he also has a .190 BAA and a 1.00 WHIP.

Ive always stated that unless you have a stud closer like Mariano Rivera or Dennis Eckersley, its an overrated position. Too many managers just go into auto pilot when a game is close and go to a closer because thats his job title and what they paid him to do. I personally have always felt that is stupid. 

But  with all the trade speculation seemingly from everybody concerning the Orioles. It seems most of the writing heads believe they will make one trade. Is it possible the Os ask the Brewers what it would cost to get K Rod? He signed a 13 million dollar one year deal I believe with them this offseason and he is NOT the closer. They stated awhile back that they where interested in shedding some salary.

Like you mentioned Sess, the writing seems to be on the wall for Kevin Gregg to be released or traded. Jim Johnson has been downright awful. And than your left with a bunch of question marks like Matt Lindstrom and Pedro Strop. I would have thought that in the least the Orioles could fall back on Alfredo Simon but since he was DFA'd or placed on waivers or whatever that ship has sailed.

The Brew crew make some degree of sense to make a trade with if they where inclined to trade Francisco Rodriguez. Because wasnt it the bullpen that got obliterated in the playoffs last year? They dont have to deal with Albert Pujols and Tony LaRussa anymore but still.

IMO Wada is either gonna start the season at Norfolk or on the DL. Something isnt right with him and unlike years past the Os have options so there is no need whatsoever to rush him.

I think the rotation is gonna be at least to start the first two series.

1) Jake Arrieta
2) Chen
3) Brian Matusz
4) Tommy Hunter
5) Jason Hammel

When Wada gets back I think they may ease him into the saddle and make him the long man and or spot starter.