People, Get Ready: Here Come Simon, Eaton and Hendrickson

by SC on Apr 9, 2009 5:23 AM EDT in News Comment 12 comments

More photos » by Richard Drew - AP

The Orioles are 2-0. Today, they go for the first 3-0 start in 12 years.

On the mound will be Alfredo Simon opposing AJ Burnett.

Jeremy Guthrie (6 IP, 3 ER) and Koji Uehara (5 IP, 1 ER) have given us starting to performances that help teams win games in our opening two against New York. Now we get to the meat of the rotation. What sort of meat that is is another story.

Simon today, Hendrickson tomorrow. The team won't need a fifth starter until April 12, when Adam Eaton will join the club. Hopefully Amber will give us another weird rambling Easter story like last year.

I'll say this, since I know I've kind of harped on how bad I think these guys are going to be: It won't be uninteresting. We can say that. Every at-bat will be pins and needles for the first few starts of all these dudes. If they get through it unscathed, then great, I'll settle down. Until then I don't trust 'em.

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Simon COULD surprise us

I’m not saying I expect it, but weirder things have happened. He’s 27. He seems to have some measure of raw talent. He’s an unknown to most major-league scouts for now. His spring numbers indicate that he might just magically have it all working for now. He could easily be a one-season wonder and we’ll be glad to have caught that one season of lightning in a bottle.

Hendrickson and Eaton… GOD. The only thing that might possibly benefit these two is that Eaton is moving out of Citizens Bank Park, which could artificially lower his ERA just a tad. Still, these two are going to be dreadful.

by punkrawka on Apr 9, 2009 8:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

re: simon

is it that time of year we bust out a quote of the book of rumsfeld? i think it is.

“There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don’t know we don’t know.”

"If they pitch to you, make them pay."

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Apr 9, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Simon is a known known

He known to suck balls. Consistently, year in and year out.

"Your wife told you to play in New York.
Well, my wife told me you look like a dork." Boo Teixeira guys.

by birdman on Apr 9, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eaten and Henmanfrengenson

are going to run screaming to a nice cozy division like the NL Central in the future. They have no business facing MFY, PHN, and the DRays this many times a year, if at all.

I hope you’re right on Simon, there’s nothing that tells me that he can’t pull it all together and get a useful number of outs.

AndHedges: soo... when do I get to throw a couple of pitches and complain about "tightness?"

by CoachOfEarl on Apr 9, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well I'd point to his gruesome minor league numbers

Those tell me he’s probably bad. But, like, whatever. I’m glad he got the job. He earned it this spring.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 9, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can agree with you there

But I see some gradual improvement. Nothing that projects as a #3 starter. Also, PCL is a notorious hitters league. Whatever, some people need a trial by fire.

And I think I like the new minor-BR layout a lot here.

AndHedges: soo... when do I get to throw a couple of pitches and complain about "tightness?"

by CoachOfEarl on Apr 9, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bullpen Alert

I was thinking last night about about the O’s chewing through the bullpen. Guthrie may get a consistent 6 or 7 innings. Koji maybe 5 or 6. That’s not exactly saving the bullpen. Now we get guys who may last 3 or 4. It could be another long year for the bullpen – not good.

by drj on Apr 9, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

3 or 4 ain't happening apparently

One of Dave’s big things is that if you go out there and suck for three innings, tough shit, you’re staying in. The organization on the whole decided that bullpen exhaustion has a lot to do with the yearly August and onward nosedive.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 9, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, MacPhail and Diamond Dave have said that.

As well as having no depth to deal with any injuries anywhere, pitcher or position. This was a hallmark of the Thrift/Beattie/Flanny/Duquette eras.

So we’ll get to see guys get shelled. So plan your early season trips to the stadium when Guthrie pitches.

by drj on Apr 9, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And hey, sometimes weird shit happens

Like the Friday night game vs. PIT last year, when Burres gave up six runs early and was left out there to suffer. Instead, he blanked the Pirates for several innings and we came back to win.

Of course, y’know, it was the Pirates.

"The United States is the New York Yankees of countries...powerful and respected until the year 2000." - Homer J. Simpson

by Brotz13 on Apr 9, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hendrickson

I don’t know what it is, but I really WANT to root for him. Maybe it’s just because he’s freakishly tall and doofy and harmless-looking. Maybe it’s because he used to be an NBA player, which gives the illusion that he’s a talented athlete. Or maybe he’s just one of the last vestiges of those early-to-mid 2000’s awful teams that were stocked with ragtag losers and misfits. Really, if he can just hang on to put up another decent April (as is his wont) we might have to consider it a small victory.

"The United States is the New York Yankees of countries...powerful and respected until the year 2000." - Homer J. Simpson

by Brotz13 on Apr 9, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This meat is undercooked and still bloody

I like my steak medium rare but I want my pitching staff well done

Also, the bullpen is already showing signs of collapse. I mean, a slow start. Yeah, that’s it. Although telling Baez he might start so he builds up some stamina so he can fill one of the many long relief roles that we will need is starting to look like genius.

Yes I know it’s early.

AndHedges: soo... when do I get to throw a couple of pitches and complain about "tightness?"

by CoachOfEarl on Apr 9, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs