Britton"close" to being back within a month..

[Roy Firestone]

I talked to an Orioles official at the Angels game on Saturday and this person said
that they believed Zach Britton, who is re-habbing, is within 3-4 weeks of returning
to the Orioles assuming Britton has no further complications or is wildly ineffective in
minor league rehab assignments. The Orioles are taking Britton's road back from
shoulder inflammation very conservatively. If Britton comes back and can be
reasonably effective, it would give the Orioles yet another option in the rotation.
This person also said they thought Chris Tillman would be a possible option for the
Orioles if the need arrives. Despite some inconsistency, Tillman continues to show
some ML quality pitches and the Orioles want to explore that.

[atomic]

Britton being back would be great news. Tillman pitching in the major leagues again would mean the depth that they claimed we added doesn't exist.

[SoBo]

Long term speaking if it takes a legit 1-2-3 to truly compete the Orioles have to have Britton or Matusz as that three. Assuming Arrieta is a #2 (still in question) and Bundy is that very rare #1 Verlander type. Because right now I don't see anyone else in the organization that is close to filling that #3 spot.

[xKHx]

Long term speaking if it takes a legit 1-2-3 to truly compete the Orioles have to have Britton or Matusz as that three. Assuming Arrieta is a #2 (still in question) and Bundy is that very rare #1 Verlander type. Because right now I don't see anyone else in the organization that is close to filling that #3 spot.

Hamel has looked solid #3 to 4.....

[SoBo]

Hamel has looked solid #3 to 4.....

I'll give you that. Very impressive. How good would a Bundy, Arrieta, Britton/Matusz (at their best), Hammel and Chen look?

[OFFNY]

I talked to an Orioles official at the Angels game on Saturday and this person said
that they believed Zach Britton, who is re-habbing, is within 3-4 weeks of returning
to the Orioles assuming Britton has no further complications or is wildly ineffective in
minor league rehab assignments. The Orioles are taking Britton's road back from
shoulder inflammation very conservatively. If Britton comes back and can be
reasonably effective, it would give the Orioles yet another option in the rotation.
This person also said they thought Chris Tillman would be a possible option for the
Orioles if the need arrives. Despite some inconsistency, Tillman continues to show
some ML quality pitches and the Orioles want to explore that.

Woo hoo. Thanks for the update, Mr. Firestone.

[pinkfloydrayford]

While I hope he comes back healthy and pitches well, it seems like shoulder issues never end happily. "Close to being back within a month" sounds an awful lot like "Close to being dead within a lifetime".

[The Rick]

While I hope he comes back healthy and pitches well, it seems like shoulder issues never end happily. "Close to being back within a month" sounds an awful lot like "Close to being dead within a lifetime".

I hear ya, but there seems to have been some break through's recently with shoulder treatments. Check out this thread, and this article on Britton's surgery. Very interesting stuff.

That's a great update Roy, thanks!

[Tom13206]

This is great news! I wasn't expecting to see Britton again for at least two months.

[jonesing4pie]

I'll give you that. Very impressive. How good would a Bundy, Arrieta, Britton/Matusz (at their best), Hammel and Chen look?

Hammel turns 30 this season. If you are projecting Bundy to be here in 2 years that puts him at 32. Even if Bundy races up to speed and lives up to huge expectations you wouldn't imagine he would be in MLB Ace form for a year or two. Basically, there is a good chance Hammel is on the downside of his career by the time Bundy is projected to be that #1 starter we hope for.

[pinkfloydrayford]

I hear ya, but there seems to have been some break through's recently with shoulder treatments. Check out this thread, and this article on Britton's surgery. Very interesting stuff.

That's a great update Roy, thanks!

Good stuff. Thanks.

[SteveA]

Hammel turns 30 this season. If you are projecting Bundy to be here in 2 years that puts him at 32. Even if Bundy races up to speed and lives up to huge expectations you wouldn't imagine he would be in MLB Ace form for a year or two. Basically, there is a good chance Hammel is on the downside of his career by the time Bundy is projected to be that #1 starter we hope for.

If Bundy does indeed turn into our first legitimate #1 ace since Mussina, and we have #2, #4, and #5 set from tehsystem, I wou ld think at that point we could go out on the market and find a #3.

I hope we have such worries as only being a #3 starter away from being a contender.

[Ven6]

If Bundy does indeed turn into our first legitimate #1 ace since Mussina, and we have #2, #4, and #5 set from tehsystem, I wou ld think at that point we could go out on the market and find a #3.

I hope we have such worries as only being a #3 starter away from being a contender.

This, plus Chen is young and looks promising. Could be the solid #3.

[Gurgi]

I talked to an Orioles official at the Angels game on Saturday and this person said
that they believed Zach Britton, who is re-habbing, is within 3-4 weeks of returning
to the Orioles assuming Britton has no further complications or is wildly ineffective in
minor league rehab assignments. The Orioles are taking Britton's road back from
shoulder inflammation very conservatively. If Britton comes back and can be
reasonably effective, it would give the Orioles yet another option in the rotation.
This person also said they thought Chris Tillman would be a possible option for the
Orioles if the need arrives. Despite some inconsistency, Tillman continues to show
some ML quality pitches and the Orioles want to explore that.

Did we get any news on how Steve Johnson looks? I know he doesnt project very high but what are the scouts saying about his stuff this year?

[crowmst3k!]

Did we get any news on how Steve Johnson looks? I know he doesnt project very high but what are the scouts saying about his stuff this year?

Not happening unless Arrieta steps on a nail. That's what I've heard from the O's.