Friday was the best Lineup Baltimore has put on the field.

by Graniteball on May 30, 2009 3:06 PM EDT Comment 13 comments

C M.Wieters

1B A.Huff

2B B.Roberts

3B M.Mora

LF N.Reimold

CF A.Jones

RF N.Markakis

DH L.Scott

Pinch Hitter T.Wigginton

Pinch Runner F.Pie

Back Up Catcher G.Zaun

Looks excellent!

I think their relief pitching will come around and with SP's David Hernandez and Chris Tillman pitching great in AAA, It gives Baltimore fans something to look forward to. They would be fighting for the playoffs in the AL Central. In the AL East they are going to fight to not finish last.

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About as good as it's going to get this year

We’re all excited about this youth movement, but now that Reimold/Wieters/Hernandez/Bergesen have been called up, this team isn’t going to be dramatically improving again until the second wave starts coming in August/September, and even then, Tillman/Snyder and the others are a lot less refined than Nolan/Matt/Brad.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on May 30, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Of all of the prospects

that I expect to be called up this year, I still feel that David Hernandez may be the least refined of all. Tillman’s main issue is his youth and this groin injury that has set him back a few starts. Snyder we likely won’t see this year, as his second half should be played in Norfolk.

Eventually, as in next year at spring training, we are going to have an interesting scenario. The competition for the starting rotation is going to be insane. I expect the following pitchers to be there:
Guts
Koji
Hill
Bergesen
Berken
Hernandez
Patton
Tillman
Erbe
Arrieta
Matusz

After we sort through those, the following years will bring the likes of Zach Britton and the various Delmarva starters (Rich Zagone, etc.) to the bigs. If we can’t field a dominant rotation by 2011, then there is something seriously awry.

by sickuvitall on May 30, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

There should also be a few free agents/trade acquisitions/prospect surprises as well.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on May 30, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Nope; plenty of improvement to come (hopefully)

Weiters will get progressively better as the year goes on. (No Virginia, he ain’t there yet.) Markakis hates May, so he should pick up. Mora and Huff are notorious second-half guys. Scott is just getting used to DHing. When this lineup is actually firing on all cylinders, and opposing pitchers start finding that there is no safe spot, nobody you can pitch around, it will be a thing to behold. That probably wont happen til around the ASB.

There is a lot to look forward to on the pitching front, too. I the starters finally start consistently going deep into games like they have the last week, the bullpen will be dramatically better, too, just on the rest.

by fishoutawata on Jun 2, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions