Radhames Liz

by nittany lion on Aug 16, 2007 2:39 PM EDT

One guy that hasnt gotten much PR lately is AA pitcher Radhames Liz. The guy just struck out 14 in a one hitter the other day and that wasnt even his best game this year.(He threw a no-hitter earlier this season). My question is what do you do with him? Is he ready for a cup of coffee this September? Some might be disappointed to see him move to the bullpen,but with our current situation would he be more valuable as a reliever?

I hope the Orioles call him up next month, but try him as a setup man or closer. It might seem like a waste to move him to the 'pen, but we have a solid core of starters in the majors as well as a bunch of young prospects. I know we still need to find a replacement for Trax sometime in the near future, but I would rather have a rotation that features 4 good starters and a mediocre fifth starter but has a dominant setup man than a team with 5 good starters but blows more leads than any team in the majors.

In summary, groom Liz for the bullpen. It worked out for Rivera, Papelbon, Gagne et. al

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yeah, i dunno...

there were a few serious knocks on liz at the beginning of the season 1) not enough variety pitches (maybe a plus fastball and curve?) and 2) lack of endurance.

i don't want to put too much on the guy, but mcgregor said he's developed a solid thrid pitch and his results seem to be bearing it out. i'm all for giving him a sniff in september.

it's going to be really interesting in the winter and spring, b/c the o's are going to have a bunch of young pitchers that are able to contribute in one form or another.

by jq higgins on Aug 16, 2007 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Bullpen

Thats where young pitchers belong. I don't know why there is an obsession with bringing kids up and expecting them to start right away, but its stupid, and you end up having things happen like what happened when they started Hayden Penn last year. It would have been a lot less damaging for Hayden, and for the team last year, if he had had the opportunity to blow up in mop-up relief, rather than blowing up in a start, and flushing the game down the toilet in the first inning. I'm just sayin'...

"Baltimore? That's like being hit in the head with a crowbar once a day."

by spike2131 on Aug 16, 2007 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

I really hope the O's

can sign Adam Dunn or some other power-hitting alternative this winter, because they really do have some interesting pitching talent coming up through the system these days.

Liz is probably better in the 'pen long-term, but there's no harm in seeing what he can do starting.

Trade Trachsel for a cheese pizza.

by NHZ @ Camden Chat on Aug 16, 2007 3:43 PM EDT reply actions

For those wondering what signing a hitting

FA had to do with young pitchers, I meant that the O's could become a very interesting team what with the relative weakening of the AL East if they get someone who kills the ball without OBP issues.

And Free Jon Knott, too!

by NHZ @ Camden Chat on Aug 16, 2007 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought it was pretty clear

Yeah they definitely need a big hitter in the lineup. Someone who just wails on the ball.

I'm hoping for A-Rod myself :)

We all love Kevin Millar. Let's all stop acting like everyone here doesn't know that Millar is the shit. He is. He is the shit. Millar is our boy. -SC

by Stacey on Aug 16, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

How about another ex-Mariner?

I doubt he'd come over, but I think Griffey would look good in an O's uniform.

by timg56 on Aug 17, 2007 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

A cheese pizza?

His last outing is worth AT LEAST a meat-lovers.

"You can tell the City of Baltimore that the old evil owner stepped up and took care of things tonight." - Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan, 08/16/07

by duck on Aug 16, 2007 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

BBQ Chicken pizza, yum

by punkrawka on Aug 17, 2007 9:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Another concern about Liz:

68 BB in 134 IP this year (does have 155 Ks). In his last 10 games, he's thrown 57 IP, 72Ks, 27 BB. So his control really hasn't gotten better as the season has progressed.

Last year in 133.1 IP across two levels, 149Ks, 75 BBs.

It's good that his K numbers haven't gone done despite pitching all this year in Bowie (as opposed to part of it), but he seems like a guy who will be dogged by control issues.

I'd prefer to send him to the AFL because his innings pitched marker won't be too bad.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Aug 16, 2007 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

Paging Danny Cabrera, Mr. Cabarera...

Haven't we seen this before?

"You can tell the City of Baltimore that the old evil owner stepped up and took care of things tonight." - Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan, 08/16/07

by duck on Aug 16, 2007 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions